Think salads are boring? These 13 healthy recipes will change your mind
For way too long, salads (consisting mainly of wilted lettuce leaves drowning in bottled dressings) have withered away on the sidelines of dining tables, relegated to unappetising accompaniments and forgettable starters.
But what if we gave salads the spotlight they deserve?
Whether you’re looking for portable salad recipes to bring to work or vibrant salad-sharing platters perfect for leisurely weekend lunches, we’ve got you covered.
From zesty, crisp greens with creamy dressings and crunchy toppings to protein-packed grain bowls, our collection of salad recipes will inspire you to make salad the highlight of your meal (not just a measly side dish).
Here, then, are our favourite salad recipes for 2025 – and they're anything but boring!
13 best salad recipes for 2025
Dense bean salad
Inspired by the classic green goddess salad, this green, mean protein and fibre machine is the perfect meal prep lunch idea.
Courgette salad
You might grimace at raw courgette, but this salad shows it at its best. Our courgette salad is packed with goat's cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and peas too.
Crab and potato salad
Bursting with brain-boosting benefits of B12 (which helps maintain energy levels and aids in the production of red blood cells), crabs are also one of the richest sources of selenium for our bodies. We love this light, zesty, and refreshing mustard salad for easy lunches.
Winter salad
This super-nutritious wintery salad hits the protein, fibre and healthy fats you need to feel fuelled, as well as bringing bags of flavour and crunchiness. The star of the show? The maple-roasted nuts and seeds.
Satay chicken chopped salad
Our satay chicken chopped salad combines chicken, coriander, chilli and a load of crunchy veg that's coated in a speedy satay sauce. You can swap out the chicken for your favourite protein but don't skip the yummy sauce – it's packed full of nutty peanut butter, fragrant garlic, ginger, lime and sweet chilli sauce.
Grilled chicken Caesar salad
When I say we're OBSESSED with chicken Caesar salad, there's really no denying it... but the way to make sure it's the best you've ever had is a) make your own dressing, b) chargrill your chicken and c) get those lettuce leaves nice and warm.
Lebanese lentil salad
Super simple to make the night before, this Lebanese lentil salad actually tastes even better the next day, when the lentils have soaked up this dish’s middle Eastern-inspired flavours.
Summer prawn salad with avocado and courgette
We love a prawn salad, and this one in particular is as fresh and vibrant as they come. The salad is packed with prawns, courgette ribbons, avo, lettuce, watercress and fresh herbs - and topped with a delicious sun-dried tomato and basil dressing.
Harissa and feta chicken tabbouleh salad
We love this combination of spicy harissa chicken, fresh herbs and pomegranate. It makes the ideal veg-packed meal. Grating the veg saves on cooking time; if you’re in a hurry, swap out the uncooked grains for a couple of ready-cooked pouches.
Sesame soba noodle salad
This 10-minute soba noodle salad is such a tasty lunch idea or a light dinner. Fill up with seasonal veggies and tuck in – the tahini sesame dressing is a must.
Smashed cucumber salad
Bursting with refreshing vegetables and based on a very popular cold appetiser from China, this light bite is packed with tangy flavours from the sesame, ginger, coriander and rice vinegar-based dressing.
Pesto pasta salad
This deliciously fresh pesto pasta salad is made with pistachios, basil and mint, and packed with lemon. Perfect for lunchboxes, this will keep in your fridge for 2-3 days.
Buckwheat breakfast salad
Crunchy buckwheat groats, sharp aged Gouda, and perfectly jammy eggs make this Buckwheat Breakfast Salad a slam-dunk for breakfast (and beyond).
Read next:
Chew slowly, don't skip breakfast and eat 30 plants a week: 14 easy food changes for 2025
Can pasta ever be part of a healthy eating plan? A registered nutritionist explains
'I ate a high-protein breakfast every day for 30 days – here's how my body changed'
Cut through the noise and get practical, expert advice, home workouts, easy nutrition and more direct to your inbox. Sign up to the WOMEN'S HEALTH NEWSLETTER
You Might Also Like
