Salads are such a good side dish. And, you can really vary them so they’re not boring. Get inspired with our list of Easy Side Salad Recipes.
For more ideas of what to make, check out all of our recipes.
I love salad. We used to have a simple green salad almost every night with dinner, but then I started making us fancy salads. Because plain salad greens can be boring. And if you’re bored, you’re not gonna enjoy it.
And every part of dinner, from the sides to the main course, should be enjoyed. So elevate your meals with a great side salad.
There are so many different ways to define salad, right? There are pasta salads, green salads (which include any fresh greens as a base), and potato salads.
And then there are miscellaneous salads. That’s what these are. No lettuce base, but still something delicious.
If you’re always cooking meals at home and you need some inspiration, check out our list of easy recipes you can make at home. There are lists by topic and by ingredient too.
Easy Side Salad Recipes
Japanese Cabbage Salad
I love when I’m in Japan and my meal comes with a side of cabbage salad. It’s so light and fresh.
Making it at home is a lot cheaper than buying a plane ticket to Japan every time I want it.
Horiatiki (Classic Greek Salad)
If you’re looking for a side salad that’s filled with fresh vegetables, this Horiatiki (classic Greek salad) is it. It’s topped with a simple homemade vinaigrette that’s made from ingredients you already have at home.
It’s so fresh and delicious, you’ll keep coming back for more.
Broccoli Salad
My mom makes broccoli salad for almost every backyard barbecue she’s invited to and it’s been a hit for over two decades now. The secret is red wine vinegar in the dressing.
You need a little pre-planning for this recipe because it’s best if it sits overnight so the broccoli absorbs the flavor of the dressing. So just keep that in mind.
Cucumber Salad With Tajín And Lime
If you’re looking for a way to use the cucumbers growing in your garden this summer, make this cucumber salad with Tajín and lime, which takes less than five minutes to make.
We always serve this popular Mexican salad family style, but you could serve everyone their own salad in a small bowl if that’s easier for you.
Shaved Asparagus And Radish Salad
This shaved asparagus and radish salad takes a little bit of time because you’re shaving the asparagus with a vegetable peeler and cutting the radish with a mandolin, but it’s worth it for this really fresh side salad.
It’s lightly dressed to really let the fresh vegetables shine.
Spicy Kani Salad
If you’re looking for a side salad for your next sushi night, make this spicy kani salad.
It’s an American version of a traditional Japanese recipe, which features shredded imitation crab sticks with julienned cucumber and carrots, all covered in a spicy mayo dressing.
Mexican Corn And Zucchini Salad
If you like Mexican street corn, but you’re looking for a twist, this Mexican corn and zucchini salad is it.
It’s similar to esquites, but with zucchini added in. Which I know it’s traditional, but it is tasty.
Garden Tomato Salad
This garden tomato salad is a great way to use the fresh tomatoes and fresh herbs growing in your garden. But, if you don’t have a garden, cherry tomatoes from the grocery store are the perfect substitution.
You get the best flavor from this tomato salad if you let it rest overnight in an airtight container and serve it the next day. But, if you’re making it for that night’s dinner, you can serve this as soon as you dress it.
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican street corn salad (also called esquites) was our go to potluck salad a few years ago. Everyone who eats it is obsessed with it.
I love making it in the summer when we’re already grilling because I just throw the corn on the grill too to give it a charred flavor, but you don’t have to do that.
Cucumber And Avocado Salad
One of the most simple recipes on this list is our cucumber and avocado salad. It’s basically just chopping the veggies and stirring the dressing.
What’s great about this is you can make it ahead of time. So if you need your hands free to make everything else for dinner or a potluck, you can make this earlier in the day and pull it out of the fridge when you’re ready to serve it.
Which of these easy side salad recipes are you going to try first? Let us know in the comments.
Nicole
Thursday 2nd of April 2020
So many delicious options in this post, thank you so much for sharing!! :)