25 Best Salad Recipes – Academy of Culinary Nutrition

Salads and salad recipes have come a long way in the last few decades. There’s much more to a delicious salad than iceberg lettuce, some cucumber chunks and a few soggy tomatoes. We adore salad recipes because they are: 

Of course, no salad is complete without a tasty dressing. The best salad recipes below have them, but if you’d like the ultimate winning salad dressing formula you can learn that here.

25 best salad recipes

Carrot Salad

Carrot Salad by Life and Lemons (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Most of us have a few carrots lying around in the crisper! Use them to make a super sweet and simple summer salad. 

Veggie Salad with Creamy Vinaigrette

Veggie Salad with Creamy Vinaigrette by Cocinable (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Say yes to all the bright and crunchy veg! This salad recipe is all tied together with a dressing that uses cashew butter for creaminess. 

Simple Kale Salad

Simple Kale Salad by Jessica Mitton (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

This is one of those salad recipes you’ll want on hand for lazy days. Anything goes in here, and you can adjust the toppings and veggies to your liking. 

The Best Vegan Caesar Salad

The Best Vegan Caesar Salad by Sweet Potato Soul

This recipe lives up to its name! We especially adore the crispy roasted chickpeas for croutons. 

Grilled Corn Salad

Grilled Corn Salad by Rainbow Plant Life

There are layers upon layers of flavour in this summer salad – plus instructions for how to make it using a cast iron pan. 

Arugula Peach Salad

Arugula Peach Salad by Wife of a Grocer (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

What says summer more than peaches in your salad? Give this recipe some extra zing with your go-to dairy-free cheese recipe.

Japanese Cucumber Salad with Roasted Sesame Dressing

Japanese Cucumber Salad with Roasted Sesame Dressing by I Heart Umami

Cucumbers get a total flavour bath with the most delicious sesame dressing.

Paleo Pasta Salad

Paleo Pasta Salad by Heal Me Delicious

This veggie-packed, summery salad also happens to be grain-free and AIP-friendly.

Pink Grapefruit and Avocado Salad

Pink Grapefruit and Avocado Salad by Sage and Celery (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

With only a handful of ingredients, this is one of those simple salad recipes that will really impress your guests.

Slow Roasted Tomato Bean Salad

Slow Roasted Tomato Bean Salad by Planted and Picked (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Using a low oven temperature really brings out the flavour of the tomatoes in this summer salad – plus it enhances its anti-cancer lycopene content.

Shirazi Salad

Shirazi Salad by Proportional Plate

Tomatoes, cucumbers and red onion are the base of this salad, and then you fold in a whack of herbs, lemon juice, olive oil and sea salt to enhance its flavours. So simple, so yum.

Jicama Chayote Mango Salad

Jicama Chayote Mango Salad by Fresh is Real (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

A bright, fresh salad recipe that has a slaw texture, making it a nice option if you want to switch it up from cabbage coleslaws.

Chinese Seaweed Salad

Chinese Seaweed Salad by The Woks of Life

We are massive seaweed fans around here, and we enjoy discovering new seaweed recipes. You’ll definitely want to use the dressing in this one on many other things!

Whole 30 Broccoli Salad

Whole 30 Broccoli Salad by Produce Pack

Popping your broccoli under the broiler gives it some extra char and flavour, but you can easily give it a quick steam instead (or have it raw if that’s your thing!).

Spicy Peach and Chickpea Salad

Spicy Peach and Chickpea Salad by From My Bowl

Cooked chickpeas are an amazing source of plant-based protein and have a robust flavour, making them an ideal protein choice for salad recipes. 

Chicken and Berry Salad

Chicken and Berry Salad by Teresa Ryce (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Have some leftover chicken in the fridge? Chop it up and toss it into this salad recipe!

Greek Pasta Salad

Greek Pasta Salad by Good Gut Feelings (*Culinary Nutrition Expert + Program Coach)

A tangy pasta salad recipe you can make with your go-to gluten-free pasta brand.

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Salad

Mediterranean Chicken Quinoa Salad by The Bewitchin Kitchen (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

This beautiful salad recipe is sure to wow you with both its colours and flavours. 

Dairy-Free Potato Salad with Purslane and Fresh Herbs

Dairy-Free Potato Salad with Purslane and Fresh Herbs by Ashleigh Grange (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

What’s purslane, you may ask? It’s a weed – and Ashleigh has loads more to tell you about it. But if you can’t find it in the wild or at the grocery store, you’ll still love this dairy-free potato salad.

Lemon Sorghum Salad

Lemon Sorghum Salad by Happy Eats Healthy (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Sorghum is a highly underrated gluten-free grain. In salad recipes, it makes a wonderful gluten-free substitute for couscous. 

Tiger Salad

Tiger Salad by Omnivore’s Cookbook

A salad for the cilantro lovers! This is also one of those salad recipes where the way you slice ingredients matters – so we recommend brushing up on your basic knife skills. 

Peach and Tomato Panzanella

Peach and Tomato Panzanella by Well Vegan

Now THIS is what happens when you combine two of summer’s best fruits with yummy bread. Try a gluten-free sourdough or one of these simple gluten-free bread recipes. 

Paleo Crispy Chicken Salad

Paleo Crispy Chicken Salad by What Great Grandma Ate

This Paleo salad is basically chicken fingers atop a salad and we are here for it. This also includes an air fryer option if you have one!

Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad by Tammie Duggar (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

It’s not obvious in the picture, but there are tomatoes in this recipe too. Find more ways to use watermelon right here.

Chipotle Potato Salad

Chipotle Potato Salad by All The Healthy Things

Add a little heat to your potato salad with some chipotle peppers – plus, in this recipe, you’ll find loads of potato-cooking tips to end up with the best-textured potato salad.

Photo Credit: Nadine Primeau on Unsplash