By Lisa Esile, MS,
For a healthy, easy lunch or dinner, you can’t beat a big salad. We’ve rounded up our favorite meal-worthy salad recipes, which are tasty, satisfying, and packed with good-for-you ingredients. The trick to making a salad that keeps you satiated long after you leave the table is to include heftier ingredients such as whole grains, beans, and/or nuts, along with lighter fare such as fruits, veggies, herbs, and spices. Make plenty: These scrumptious salads will last up to three days if kept in the fridge in an airtight container. (For the best results, store the dressing in a separate airtight container and wait until just before serving to dress the salad.) Use these recipes as a springboard for your creations, and feel free to mix and match with other beans, whole grains, and veggies—experimenting is half the fun! All of the salads are free of added oil, ensuring they’re low in fat while high in nutrients.
Gluten-Free?
For salads that call for gluten-containing grains, such as wheat berries, barley, bulgur wheat, or farro, you can substitute gluten-free alternatives such as quinoa, brown rice, or millet. Be sure to check the other ingredients to make sure there’s no gluten lurking, and you’re good to go!
![Szechwan Coleslaw recipe](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Szechwan-Slaw-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Szechwan Coleslaw
![](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/spinach-apricot-salad-lentils-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Spinach-Apricot Salad with Spiced Lentils
![Farro and Blueberry Salad](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Farro-and-Blueberry-Salad-Wordpress-scaled.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Farro Salad With Blueberries and Lemon Dressing
![Southwest Salad Bowls with Quick Mango Salsa in white ceramic bowls](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/southwestern-layer-salad.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Southwest Salad Bowls with Quick Mango Salsa
![Wheat Berry and Roasted Vegetable Salad with Kale for Wordpress](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Wheat-Berry-and-Roasted-Vegetable-Salad-with-Kale-for-Wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Wheat Berry and Roasted Vegetable Salad with Kale
![Spinach Tabbouleh Salad with Watermelon Radish on green ceramic plates](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Spring-Tabbouleh-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Spinach Tabbouleh Salad with Watermelon Radish
![Strawberry Pistachio Salad](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Strawberry-Pistachcio-Salad1660-e1496692111518.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Strawberry Pistachio Salad
![Bulgur-Bean Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette on a gray ceramic plate with a green cloth napkin](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Bulgur-Bean-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Bulgur-Bean Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette
![](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Quinoa-Corn-Avocado-Salad-WP.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Quinoa, Corn, and Avocado Salad
![Hearty Kale Salad with Warm Citrus and Wheat Berries on blue plates](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Warm-Citrus-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Hearty Kale Salad with Warm Citrus and Wheat Berries
![Eat-the-Rainbow Salad on a blue plate with metal fork on a teal tabletop](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Eat-the-Rainbow-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Eat-the-Rainbow Salad
![Southwestern Potato Bowl](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/southwestern_potatoes-e1484248480451.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Southwestern Potato Bowl
![Vegan Taco Salad Bowls on a light pink plate](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Wild-West-Taco-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Vegan Taco Salad Bowls
![Mason Jar Salad with Creamy Pesto Dressing](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Layered-Pesto-Salad-1.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Mason Jar Salad with Creamy Pesto Dressing
![A large bowl of kale salad set alongside a plate with kale salad and a bowl with green avocado dressing](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/kale-and-orange-avocado-salad-for-thanksgiving-flipped.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Kale and Farro Salad with Orange-Avocado Dressing
![Spicy Thai Cabbage and Rice Salad with Sweet Potatoes in a blue ceramic bowl with a metal fork on a gray tabletop](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Rice-Cabbage-and-Grape-Salad-with-Thai-Chiles-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Spicy Thai Cabbage and Rice Salad with Sweet Potatoes
![Mojo-Seasoned Plantain Salad with Black Beans and Rice in a white ceramic bowl with wooden serving spoons](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Mojo-Seasoned-Plantain-and-Black-Bean-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Mojo-Seasoned Plantain Salad with Black Beans and Rice
![Vegan Kale Caesar Salad in a wooden bowl topped with croutons and tomatoes](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Kale-Caesar-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Vegan Kale Caesar Salad
![Cilantro Ranch Bean Salad in an orange bowl on a wooden tabletop](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Cilantro-Ranch-Bean-Salad-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Cilantro Ranch Bean Salad
![Italian Chopped Salad with Farro in a wooden bowl](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Italian-Chopped-Salad-with-Farro-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Italian Chopped Salad with Farro
![Blood Orange-Farro Salad with Crispy Chickpeas on a blue plate with a larger bowl of salad in a white dish](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Blood-Orange-Farro-Salad-with-Crispy-Chickpeas-wordpress.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
Blood Orange-Farro Salad with Crispy Chickpeas
About the Author
![Headshot of Lisa Esile, MS](https://www.forksoverknives.com/uploads/Lisa-Esile.jpg?auto=webp&auto=webp&optimize=high&quality=70&width=1440)
About the Author
Lisa Esile, MS
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