Close
After a long and festive holiday season, I tend to crave simple yet nourishing meals. My taste buds are ready for crunchy, crisp vegetables, flavorful proteins and luscious sauce or dressing—and these recipes have all that and more. These are some of my favorite high-protein salads for when I want to eat something that helps me feel my best. With at least15 grams of protein per serving, these salads are super satisfying meals that can help you stay nourished and energized for the start of a new year. Taco Salad and Salmon Caesar Salad firmly fall in the comfort-food category for me. And unique recipes like our Cheesesteak Salad and Breakfast Salad with Egg & Salsa Verde Vinaigrette help keep it interesting. Not to mention, a tuna salad might be my most-made lunch of all time. There’s a protein-packed salad for every occasion and every palate on this list. For more beginner- and budget-friendly tips and recipes, check outThrifty.
01of 13Salmon Caesar SaladView RecipeThis easy Caesar salad subs creamy Greek yogurt and buttermilk for the traditional egg yolks and olive oil and mixes in mildly bitter radicchio in addition to classic romaine. Using just a small amount of flavorful Parmigiano-Reggiano shaves calories and sodium too.
01of 13
Salmon Caesar Salad
View Recipe
This easy Caesar salad subs creamy Greek yogurt and buttermilk for the traditional egg yolks and olive oil and mixes in mildly bitter radicchio in addition to classic romaine. Using just a small amount of flavorful Parmigiano-Reggiano shaves calories and sodium too.
02of 13Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken SaladView RecipeCharlotte & Johnny AutryKohlrabi (a bulbous vegetable related to broccoli and Brussels sprouts but with a milder, sweet flavor) and almonds add crunch to this crowd-pleasing salad. Baked tofu or shrimp can be used instead of the chicken.
02of 13
Sesame Kohlrabi & Chicken Salad
Charlotte & Johnny Autry
Kohlrabi (a bulbous vegetable related to broccoli and Brussels sprouts but with a milder, sweet flavor) and almonds add crunch to this crowd-pleasing salad. Baked tofu or shrimp can be used instead of the chicken.
03of 13Taco SaladView RecipeA super-quick blend of sour cream and salsa serves double duty as salad dressing and seasoning for the meat in our updated version of Tex-Mex taco salad. Depending on the type of salsa you use, the salad will vary in heat. We keep this version light with lean turkey, but lean ground beef (about 95%-lean) would also keep the nutrition marks reasonable. Just hold the deep-fried tortilla bowl and instead serve this salad with baked tortilla chips and wedges of fresh lime.
03of 13
Taco Salad
A super-quick blend of sour cream and salsa serves double duty as salad dressing and seasoning for the meat in our updated version of Tex-Mex taco salad. Depending on the type of salsa you use, the salad will vary in heat. We keep this version light with lean turkey, but lean ground beef (about 95%-lean) would also keep the nutrition marks reasonable. Just hold the deep-fried tortilla bowl and instead serve this salad with baked tortilla chips and wedges of fresh lime.
04of 13
Chili-Rubbed Flank Steak Salad
05of 13Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Quinoa SaladView RecipeMushrooms, carrots and onions are roasted with garlic and fennel seeds in this roast chicken and quinoa salad. Preparing the quinoa with a little less water than is typical makes it cook more quickly and keeps it fluffier' perfect for soaking up the sherry-vinegar dressing in this salad. Serve with garlic-rubbed toast.
05of 13
Roasted Chicken & Vegetable Quinoa Salad
Mushrooms, carrots and onions are roasted with garlic and fennel seeds in this roast chicken and quinoa salad. Preparing the quinoa with a little less water than is typical makes it cook more quickly and keeps it fluffier' perfect for soaking up the sherry-vinegar dressing in this salad. Serve with garlic-rubbed toast.
06of 13Salad Primavera with Creamy Mustard VinaigretteView RecipeEva KolenkoThis is a salad where the vegetables really shine and the lettuce plays a supporting role. It requires a bit of work up front to blanch all the veg, but the results are impressive.
06of 13
Salad Primavera with Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette
Eva Kolenko
This is a salad where the vegetables really shine and the lettuce plays a supporting role. It requires a bit of work up front to blanch all the veg, but the results are impressive.
07of 13
Cheesesteak Salad
Photography / Greg DuPree, Styling / Ali Ramee / Christine Keely
08of 13Superfood Chopped Salad with Salmon & Creamy Garlic DressingView RecipeCurly kale forms the base of this salad, but you could use chard or spinach. To the greens, add a multitude of chopped veggies, such as broccoli, cabbage and carrots. Finish with rich salmon for protein and a drizzle of creamy yogurt dressing to bring it all together.
08of 13
Superfood Chopped Salad with Salmon & Creamy Garlic Dressing
Curly kale forms the base of this salad, but you could use chard or spinach. To the greens, add a multitude of chopped veggies, such as broccoli, cabbage and carrots. Finish with rich salmon for protein and a drizzle of creamy yogurt dressing to bring it all together.
09of 13Chickpea Tuna SaladView RecipePhotography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth BlackburnThis chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).
09of 13
Chickpea Tuna Salad
Photography / Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling / Ruth Blackburn
This chickpea tuna salad with capers, feta and cucumber makes for the perfect lunch to pack for work or school. You can prep the salad the night before (just be sure to keep the spinach separate and dress the salad right before serving).
10of 13Breakfast Salad with Egg & Salsa Verde VinaigretteView RecipeSalad for breakfast? Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. We love how this meal gives you 3 whole cups of vegetables to start your day.
10of 13
Breakfast Salad with Egg & Salsa Verde Vinaigrette
Salad for breakfast? Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. We love how this meal gives you 3 whole cups of vegetables to start your day.
11of 13Caesar Salad with Grilled SteakView RecipeJason DonnellyTraditional Caesar salad dressing uses egg yolk to make it creamy. Here we use mayo instead for the same rich results without the raw egg.
11of 13
Caesar Salad with Grilled Steak
Jason Donnelly
Traditional Caesar salad dressing uses egg yolk to make it creamy. Here we use mayo instead for the same rich results without the raw egg.
12of 13Tuna & White Bean SaladView RecipeThe time-honored Italian pairing of canned tuna and cannellini beans makes a super-simple, satisfying lunch. Serve over salad greens, on grilled whole-wheat country bread or tucked in a whole-wheat pita pocket.
12of 13
Tuna & White Bean Salad
The time-honored Italian pairing of canned tuna and cannellini beans makes a super-simple, satisfying lunch. Serve over salad greens, on grilled whole-wheat country bread or tucked in a whole-wheat pita pocket.
13of 13Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini DressingView RecipeDeep-fried falafel can be a total grease bomb. But these pan-seared falafel still get crispy in just a few tablespoons of oil with equally satisfying results. Be sure to use dried, instead of canned, chickpeas in this healthy recipe—canned chickpeas add too much moisture.
13of 13
Falafel Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing
Deep-fried falafel can be a total grease bomb. But these pan-seared falafel still get crispy in just a few tablespoons of oil with equally satisfying results. Be sure to use dried, instead of canned, chickpeas in this healthy recipe—canned chickpeas add too much moisture.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
