18 Salads That Make A Full Meal

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Some people think of salads as a side dish and don’t believe that they can be filling enough to make a complete meal. These salads will prove them wrong. These eighteen delicious salads make a filling, tasty, and hearty meal that you can enjoy for lunch or dinner, and no one will leave the table hungry. In fact, whether you have these for lunch or dinner, these recipes will keep you full until your next meal.

1. Fresh Cucumber Salad

A fork lifts a piece of dressing-covered cucumber out of a white bowl full of cucumber salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Cucumber salad is a very tasty way to make sure that you are getting your fruits and veggies in for the day. This salad is easy to make and so delicious you’ll want to have it all the time. You can cut the veggies as large or small as you like to fit your preferences and it packs well to for a meal on the go.

2. Cobb Salad

Cobb salad with avocado, bacon, tomato, grilled chicken, eggs on dark grey background.
Photo Credit: Maria Tebriaeva/Shutterstock.

It has no bacon or blue cheese, but this six-ingredient Cobb salad is still a winner. It’s full of nutrient-dense ingredients like avocado, chicken, and boiled egg, topped with a tangy Italian dressing that can be made creamy if you like.

3. Chicken Apple Salad

The finished Chicken Apple Salad having dressing spooned over the top.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

The simpler the salad, the better, and this chicken apple salad is the perfect case in point. It has all the flavors of a classic green salad but with added crunch from apples and protein from chicken.

4. Cavatappi Pasta Salad

An overhead view of a white mixing bowl filled with cavatappi pasta salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Cavatappi pasta salad is a delicious, complete meal with plenty of protein, carbs, and veggies. Serve it up with a green salad and some crunchy garlic bread to round out the meal if you want, but it’s pretty filling all by itself.

5. Shrimp And Avocado Salad

An overhead view of a white bowl filled with shrimp and avocado salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Indulge in a light and refreshing dish that combines the succulent flavors of shrimp with the creamy richness of avocado in a tantalizing symphony of tastes. This shrimp and avocado salad is a true celebration of freshness and simplicity, perfect for those seeking a healthy and satisfying meal. Purchase pre-cooked shrimp to avoid turning on the stove.

6. Broccoli Salad

An up close view of fresh broccoli salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

If you love broccoli, you simply must make this delicious broccoli salad. Nothing needs cooking. It’s just a raw salad with amazing flavors. It has great crunch and will keep you full well past dinnertime.

7. Cauliflower Salad Recipe

A white bowl filled with cauliflower salad sitting on a wood surface.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This cauliflower salad recipe is a completely raw salad that packs a truly flavorful punch. It actually fills you up, and you never have to turn on the stove. It’s super high in fiber and healthy fats, so you’ll feel full much longer than you’d expect.

8. Spinach Summer Salad

A plastic container holds a fresh looking salad filled with greens, raspberries, strawberries and more.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Escape into a world of vibrant flavors with this spinach summer salad, a refreshing and invigorating dish that celebrates the best of the season. Nuts, berries, fresh vegetables, and more come together in this delicious and nutritious meal without having to turn on the stove.

9. Orzo Salad With Pesto

An overhead view of a white bowl filled with orzo pasta with pesto sacue.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Orzo salad with pesto is one of those meals that the entire family will love. Pesto is delicious, and this salad will even give you some much-needed fresh veggies. It can be a complete vegetarian meal on it’s own, or you can toss in some pieces of grilled chicken to get more protein.

10. Indian-Style Chickpea Salad

A white mixing bowl filled with Indian chickpea salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Love the vibrant flavors of India but hate breaking a sweat in the kitchen? This no-cook, simple Indian-style chickpea salad is a fantastic solution if you want a delicious and hassle-free meal that requires no cooking. So, let the spices take center stage, and savor the flavors of India with this no-cook sensation that brings the vibrant spirit of Indian cuisine right to your plate.

11. Strawberry Spinach Salad

An overhead view of a strawberry spinach salad in a white bowl.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This salad is a delightful medley of contrasting yet harmonious flavors and textures, bringing together the sweetness of ripe, juicy strawberries and the earthiness of fresh spinach leaves. Strawberry spinach salad is a must-make if you don’t want to heat up the kitchen with cooking.

12. Chickpea Salad

A large white mixing bowl with tongs in it sits halfway filled with chickpea salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This salad is a celebration of wholesome ingredients and bold taste. Chickpea salad can be enjoyed as a standalone meal, a protein-packed side dish, or even stuffed into a pita for a tasty sandwich alternative.

13. Wedge Salads

A salad wedge sits on a white plate smothered in bacon bits, chopped tomatoes and ranch dressing.
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This classic salad takes the concept of no-cook simplicity to new heights, delivering a mouthwatering combination of textures and flavors. These four wedge salad ideas are guaranteed to satisfy your cravings and keep you out of a hot kitchen.

14. Simple Cabbage Salad

A white bowl filled with Simple Cabbage Salad on a gray surface.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This salad is This simple cabbage salad is all about celebrating the natural goodness of cabbage in its simplest form. It’s packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Enjoy this very filling salad without heating up your kitchen this summer.

15. Spinach And Berry Salad

And overhead view of a white bowl filled with spinach salad. The spinach is topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries and pieces of walnuts.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This spinach and berry salad is not only sweet and delicious but also a nutritional powerhouse, packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. And the best part is, you don’t have to cook anything. Just add dressing.

16. Cranberry Walnut Salad

An overhead view of a white bowl filled with cranberry walnut salad.
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Enjoy a hassle-free meal with this cranberry walnut salad, a flavorful combination that requires no cooking. This salad is perfect for those moments when you crave a nourishing and satisfying meal without the need to turn on the stove.

17. Corn Salad

A brown bowl filled with corn salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

Corn salad is a refreshing side dish or light lunch and is an amazing addition to your summer picnics and barbecues. Let the combination of sweetness, zest, and crunch transport you to the sunny days of summer with every delicious bite.

18. Simple Kale Salad

A white bowl holds a small serving of kale salad.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

This simple kale salad is not only nourishing but also incredibly versatile. Enjoy it as a hearty meal on its own or as a tasty side dish to complement your favorite main course. Either way, you don’t have to cook it.

More From The Gracious Pantry

A closeup of a Carolina Gold BBQ Chicken sandwich topped with creamy coleslaw on a whole grain bun.
Photo Credit: The Gracious Pantry.

If you prefer sandwiches instead of salads, I’ve gotcha covered there, too. Here’s a fabulous collection of sandwich recipes that taste amazing and might actually be good for you, too.

Author: Tiffany McCauley

Title: Food and Travel Journalist

Expertise: Food, cooking, travel

Bio:

Tiffany McCauley is a nationally syndicated writer and an award-winning cookbook author and food blogger. She has been featured on MSN, Huffington Post, Country Living Magazine, HealthLine, Redbook, and many more. Her food specialty is healthy comfort food recipes.

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