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25 Salads So Flavor-Packed, They’ll Have You Wondering Why the Main Course Even Exists

Get ready for salads that’ll make you question your life choices—specifically, why you ever considered skipping them. With 25 mouth-watering options that hit all the right notes, these salads offer a flavor experience so good, it might just steal the show. Why settle for a side when the salad could easily be the main event? You might even forget what a “main course” is altogether.

Bowl of Radish Salad with red onion, radishes, and fresh herbs on a plaid cloth, accompanied by a fork.
Dairy-Free Radish Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Smoked Tomatoes

A plate of Mediterranean Couscous Salad With Smoked Tomatoes topped with parsley.
Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Smoked Tomatoes. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Salads don’t always need to be boring, and this one proves it. Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Smoked Tomatoes brings bold, Mediterranean flavors to your plate, creating something both hearty and fresh. It’s the kind of dish that can easily take the place of any main course. You’ll love how it fills you up without leaving you feeling heavy.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Smoked Tomatoes

Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad

Close-up shot of Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad on a white plate.
Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Not all salads are created equal, and this one definitely stands out. Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad combines hearty potatoes with smoky, grilled veggies for a filling and flavorful experience. This salad is the perfect balance of light yet satisfying, making it a great meal on its own. You won’t miss the main course once you try it.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Asparagus and Potato Salad

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Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes

Spring salad with asparagus and potatoes on a white plate.
Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Fresh and filling, this salad is perfect for when you need something light but satisfying. Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes brings the best of the season to your plate in a way that’s both hearty and refreshing. It’s a dish that could easily be your main course, with no need for anything else. You’ll find yourself reaching for this one again and again.
Get the Recipe: Spring Salad with Asparagus, Peas & Potatoes

Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes

A black bowl filled with tabbouleh salad with smoked tomatoes.
Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

Salads can sometimes feel like an afterthought, but this one is anything but. Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes offers bold flavors and a satisfying texture that turns it into the main attraction. It’s the perfect balance of lightness and filling, with just the right amount of freshness. If you’re tired of the same old side dish, this salad will have you rethinking what a salad can do.
Get the Recipe: Tabouli Salad with Smoked Tomatoes

Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes

A plate with Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes.
Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes. Photo credit: Grill What You Love.

This salad brings a little sweet and a little savory to the table in a way you didn’t think was possible. Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes blends smoky flavors with vibrant freshness, creating a dish that could steal the spotlight. It’s not just a salad—it’s a full-flavored experience in a bowl. You won’t be craving anything else once you dig in.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Peach Salad with Tomatoes

Wild Rice Salad

Wild rice salad served on a white rectangular plate.
Wild Rice Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

If you think salads are always light and unsatisfying, think again. Wild Rice Salad takes heartiness to the next level, offering a filling dish that holds its own. It’s packed with flavor in every bite, making it a great option when you want something more substantial than your typical side. This salad doesn’t need anything else to be the main dish.
Get the Recipe: Wild Rice Salad

Cucumber Salad with Feta

Cucumber and Feta salad in a black bowl.
Cucumber Salad with Feta. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Simple doesn’t always mean boring, and this salad proves that. Cucumber Salad with Feta is light, refreshing, and surprisingly filling, making it a great choice for anyone who wants something satisfying without the heaviness. It’s the kind of dish that can easily replace a main course without sacrificing flavor. One bite, and you’ll be hooked.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Salad with Feta

Copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl

A plate of Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl.
Copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

This salad is for anyone who loves bold flavors and satisfying textures. Copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl takes everything you love about a fast food favorite and turns it into a salad that can stand on its own. It’s hearty and filling, with just the right mix of ingredients to make it feel like a full meal. No need for a main course when this one is on the table.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Taco Bell Cantina Chicken Bowl

Pizza Pasta Salad

A fork with pizza pasta salad in a bowl.
Pizza Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Who says you can’t have pizza and salad in one dish? Pizza Pasta Salad combines the best of both worlds, offering a hearty and flavorful salad that feels more like a main course. The combination of flavors and textures makes this a dish that’s sure to satisfy. You won’t need anything else once you’ve had a bite.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad

Chinese Chicken Salad

A bowl of Chinese chicken salad with shredded chicken, snap peas, carrots, and peppers, accompanied by a bottle of dressing on the side.
Chinese Chicken Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Salads don’t have to be light and boring—this one is anything but. Chinese Chicken Salad brings bold flavors and a satisfying crunch that make it feel like a complete meal. It’s packed with textures and flavors that leave you full and happy. No need for a heavy entrée when you’ve got this salad to dig into.
Get the Recipe: Chinese Chicken Salad

Easy Salmon Pasta Salad

A bowl of salmon pasta salad with a creamy dressing, garnished with a sprig of dill.
Easy Salmon Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

When you want something hearty yet fresh, this salad is a perfect choice. Easy Salmon Pasta Salad combines the richness of salmon with pasta for a satisfying meal that won’t weigh you down. It’s the kind of dish that’s easy to make but still delivers on flavor and satisfaction. You’ll find yourself choosing this over a main course every time.
Get the Recipe: Easy Salmon Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Chopped Salad

Mediterranean Chopped Salad with crumbled feta cheese, on a yellow plate with flower designs.
Mediterranean Chopped Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

A good salad should be satisfying, and this one definitely hits the mark. Mediterranean Chopped Salad is a mix of fresh ingredients that comes together in a way that’s both filling and full of flavor. It’s so satisfying, you might forget you’re eating a salad at all. Perfect for any meal, this dish is sure to take the place of a main course.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chopped Salad

White Bean Salad

A plate of white bean salad on a wooden surface next to two vintage forks.
White Bean Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

When you want something hearty but not heavy, this salad is the perfect choice. White Bean Salad combines a simple mix of ingredients to create something that’s both filling and full of flavor. It’s a satisfying dish that can easily replace any main course. You won’t miss anything else when this salad is on your plate.
Get the Recipe: White Bean Salad

Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

A bowl of Deviled Egg Pasta Salad with chopped vegetables and herbs, is set on a black plate, and a spoon rests in it.
Deviled Egg Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

This salad takes everything you love about deviled eggs and turns it into a pasta salad you won’t want to put down. Deviled Egg Pasta Salad is creamy, savory, and filling enough to stand as a meal all on its own. It’s a dish that’s perfect for any occasion when you want something satisfying but not too heavy. You’ll never look at salad the same way again.
Get the Recipe: Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

A bowl of Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad on a wooden surface with a striped cloth nearby.
Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

When you need a salad that’s both light and hearty, this one fits the bill. Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad is packed with flavor, offering a filling dish that won’t leave you feeling weighed down. It’s a refreshing take on the usual salad, making it an easy choice for lunch or dinner. This one could easily become your go-to meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Horiatiki Salad

Horiatiki Salad with feta cheese on top served on a plate.
Horiatiki Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

A salad doesn’t need to be fancy to be satisfying, and this one proves that. Horiatiki Salad brings classic Greek flavors to the table in a simple yet flavorful way. It’s a filling dish that will make you forget you ever needed a heavy entrée. You’ll love how it hits all the right notes without being overly complicated.
Get the Recipe: Horiatiki Salad

Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts

Top-down shot of Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts on a bowl.
Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

When you want a salad that feels like a full meal, this is the one. Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts combines hearty turkey with a touch of sweetness, creating a satisfying salad that fills you up. It’s the kind of dish that could easily stand in for a main course without missing a beat. You’ll keep coming back for more of this one.
Get the Recipe: Turkey Salad with Cranberries & Walnuts

Creamy Radish Salad

A bowl of Creamy Radish Salad garnished with dill, with a spoon lifting a portion above the bowl.
Creamy Radish Salad. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

If you’re looking for something different but still satisfying, this salad delivers. Creamy Radish Salad combines the sharpness of radishes with a creamy dressing for a salad that’s as unique as it is filling. It’s a refreshing dish that won’t leave you hungry, making it perfect as a main course substitute. A bite of this one and you’ll be hooked.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Radish Salad

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

A Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts in a white bowl, accompanied by a fork.
Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

A salad that’s hearty enough to be the main course is a rare find, but this one does the trick. Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts combines earthy beets with creamy goat cheese for a salad that feels substantial without being heavy. It’s the perfect balance of flavors and textures that make it easy to forget you need a main course.
Get the Recipe: Beet Salad with Goat Cheese and Walnuts

Creamy BLT Pasta Salad

A white bowl filled with BLT pasta salad, featuring spiral pasta, creamy dressing, pieces of bacon, and other visible ingredients, is shown with a spoon. Red onions, lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and parsley are in the background.
Creamy BLT Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

If you’re a fan of BLTs but want something a little different, this pasta salad is your answer. Creamy BLT Pasta Salad combines the best elements of a BLT with pasta for a dish that’s hearty enough to be the main event. It’s savory, satisfying, and perfect for anyone looking for a filling salad without the heaviness of a traditional entrée.
Get the Recipe: Creamy BLT Pasta Salad

Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad

A white bowl filled with Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad.
Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

Looking for a salad that feels like a full meal? Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad combines fresh ingredients with a hearty bread base, making it a filling and flavorful option. It’s the kind of dish that could easily replace a main course, with plenty of satisfying flavors to keep you full. Perfect for any occasion, this salad will steal the show every time.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Panzanella Salad

The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

A white bowl filled Hawaiian with macaroni salad with a spoon inside.
The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Sometimes, a salad needs to be a little indulgent, and this one nails it. The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad brings the flavors of a classic macaroni salad in a way that’s both filling and satisfying. It’s the perfect side dish that could easily stand in for a main course. You’ll love how it adds a little something extra to your meal.
Get the Recipe: The Best Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Sunshine Salad

Sunshine salad with slices of oranges in the center served on a white plate.
Sunshine Salad. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

Looking for a salad that’s as bright and refreshing as a sunny day? Sunshine Salad combines vibrant flavors and textures that make it a meal in its own right. It’s filling, fresh, and perfect for when you want something that leaves you satisfied but not stuffed. This salad will have you skipping the main course every time.
Get the Recipe: Sunshine Salad

Ambrosia Salad

A colorful Ambrosia Salad beautifully arranged in a serving bowl.
Ambrosia Salad. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

If you’re craving something a little sweeter, this salad delivers. Ambrosia Salad combines creamy, sweet ingredients to create a dish that’s both refreshing and filling. It’s the perfect side that could easily steal the show as a main course. One bite of this and you’ll never look at salad the same way.
Get the Recipe: Ambrosia Salad

Dairy-Free Radish Salad

Bowl of Radish Salad with red onion, radishes, and fresh herbs on a plaid cloth, accompanied by a fork.
Dairy-Free Radish Salad. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

This light but satisfying salad is perfect for anyone looking for something refreshing yet hearty. Dairy-Free Radish Salad combines the crispness of radishes with a creamy, dairy-free dressing, creating a dish that feels full but not heavy. It’s a great choice when you want something that satisfies without weighing you down. You won’t miss the main course with this one on your plate.
Get the Recipe: Dairy-Free Radish Salad

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