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There’s really nothing like crunching on a refreshing, flavor-filled lettuce salad. Whether you’re eating it as a meal or as a side, they always have a wonderful element of freshness. No matter what season it is, there are plenty of delicious and healthy salads that can satisfy your appetite! With these 21 salads with lettuce ideas, you will never have to agonize over finding a recipe to satisfy your salad craving ever again!
Best salad recipe ideas to make
Between all the different types of lettuce and all the possible vegetable, fruit, and dressing combinations, coming up with a salad recipe that is equal parts filling and tasty can be overwhelming!
Want more lettuce recipes? Try these one of these delicious lettuce wrap recipes.
In the following 21 recipes, you will find salads that trend in all seasons, flavors, and occasions. Fall salads, summer salads, sweet, savory, or side salads, there’s no limit to what you can create with a lovely bed of lettuce, some toppings, and a drizzle of your favorite dressing.
Now, “lettuce” get into these salad recipes!
1. Simple Green Salad
Simple does not mean boring when it comes to this green salad! Made in just 15 minutes and topped with an easy-to-make dressing using just 6 ingredients you probably already have, this salad makes the perfect last minute side dish for any meal.
The best part about this? It’s totally customizable!
2. Chopped Wedge Salad
This chopped wedge salad topped with a buttermilk feta dressing is delightful on warm days, as it is best served very cold.
The crispiness of the bacon and cold lettuce against the creaminess of the dressing and avocado is going to have your taste buds dancing with joy.
3. Best Green Salad Recipe
The secret to this salad is red spring onions, which will give the overall taste a nice jolt of flavor. Topped with a dressing combined of oil, vinegar, mustard, salt, pepper, and sugar, your taste buds will be thankful you decided to make this recipe!
4. BLT Salad
Deconstruct a classic sandwich into a delicious salad! The smokey, crispy bacon amongst fresh tomatoes and creamy ranch dressing makes for a succulent summer afternoon lunch salad.
If you’re a fan of crunchy salads, definitely consider adding some croutons into the mix for that extra bite and texture!
5. Autumn Chopped Salad
This salad has all your fall favorites! Crispy, juicy apple chunks, crunchy pecans, sweet, chewy cranberries, all topped with a tangy, velvety poppyseed dressing to pull it all together.
The flavors of this salad will be unforgettable. Saltiness from the bacon, earthiness from the crumbled feta cheese, and the saccharine elements of pecans, cranberries, and diced apple.
6. Strawberry and Goat Cheese Salad
This is the perfect summer salad! Fresh, sweet, earthy, this strawberry and goat cheese salad is a must make dish on warm days.
Plus, it comes together so quickly it will be on your table within minutes. Top this elegant salad with colorful strawberry poppy seed dressing to really make the dish pop!
7. Italian Salad
A hearty salad that is topped with a velvety Italian dressing, and a medley of flavorful, healthy ingredients.
Including chickpeas, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and sharp parmesan cheese, this salad is delectably zetsy. This salad is served best as a companion to a big Italian dinner as a refreshing counterpart.
8. Butter Lettuce Salad
Revisiting the butter lettuce salad, but this time, with ingredients that make it perfect for a summer day! This salad combines the bright components of radishes, avocado, and chives to create a clean, satisfying dish.
Top with a homemade zesty, flavorful dijon and lemon dressing to pull all the flavors together.
9. Greek Salad
Greek salads always pack such a lively punch. Crumbling tangy feta cheese atop a mixture of cool cucumbers, salty olives, ripe cherry tomatoes, and crunchy red onions will make you feel like you’re on a Greek island holiday no matter where you are!
10. Tex-Mex Chicken Chopped Salad
Taco seasoned, juicy chicken bites paired with the best taco toppings and dressed in a taco-flavored ranch dressing, you’ll skip over the tortillas and make this for your taco Tuesdays going forward!
It’s equal parts healthy and heavenly flavored, definitely try this recipe out!
11. Black Bean Taco Salad
This delicious vegetarian salad deserves a place on your dinner table! With perfectly mushy black beans as the star of the show, and piled high with sharp cheese, it’s hard for this salad to not be a favorite.
All your favorite parts of a taco in one bowl over refreshing lettuce? Yes please!
12. Homemade Ceasar Salad
No salad list would be complete without the famous caesar salad! Dreamy, creamy dressing on top of a mountain of incredibly refreshing romaine lettuce, delicious parmesan cheese, and of course, crunchy croutons, is divine.
Also, this recipe equips you with not only a luscious homemade caesar dressing, but also a how-to make your own croutons!
13. Classic Waldorf Salad
Crisp apples, succulent grapes, crunchy celery, and nutty walnuts all find their home atop of romaine lettuce for this elegant Waldorf salad.
The pleasantly smooth dressing is a simple make up of mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt and pepper to pair nicely with the raw textures of this salad’s contents.
14. Shrimp Avocado Salad
Shrimp has a robust flavor that pairs perfectly with summer weather. Using bright, light, fresh ingredients like corn, cucumbers and tomatoes will create an intensely satisfying salad.
Dress this salad with an easy-to-make lemony cilantro dressing that is sure to make all the flavors pop!
15. Fattoush Salad
A Lebanese salad that combines the freshest vegetables along with fried, crispy bread that gives every bite of it texture and a distinguished taste, you won’t be able to get enough of it.
The perfect summer salad with a fresh, garden flavor that will keep you cool on warm days.
16. Maroulosalata
This classic Greek lettuce salad is so simple to make and so fresh, you’ll be using this recipe constantly!
With very thinly chopped lettuce, feta cheese, fresh dill and scallions drenched in a dressing made up of oil, lemon juice, and salt, this dainty salad will easily become a kitchen staple.
17. Copycat Maggiano's Chopped Salad
This light, refreshing salad incorporates fried prosciutto, tender avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crumbled cheese with romaine to make a divine chopped salad emulating the flavors of the famous Maggiano’s.
This recipe also includes how to create the perfect, smooth homemade vinaigrette to drizzle on top!
18. Simple Butter Lettuce Salad
Butter lettuce adds a slightly sweet, buttery flavor to the overall dish, which complements the savory toppings.
Tossed with salty olives, crispy panko breadcrumbs, robust Manchego cheese, and topped with a tangy, zesty, apple cider vinegar-honey vinaigrette, the flavors in this recipe reach every part of the palette.
19. Wilted Lettuce Salad
While it may seem odd to have a salad intentionally wilt with a warm topping, don’t knock this ‘til you try it!
Using bacon and bacon grease as main ingredients for the dressing makes it taste smoky, sweet, and seasoned all at once. Add chopped hard boiled eggs and voila!
20. The Best Side Salad
The key to this satisfying salad? Chop the stems off your romaine lettuce, combine it with spinach, and add basil and garlic powder!
Chop your favorite toppings into bite sized pieces, toss, and drizzle with your favorite dressing. You can even elevate this salad to a meal by adding your choice of protein.
21. Pear Salad
With arugula being the green used in this salad, it’s peppery aroma complements the sweetness of the pears wonderfully. There’s a myriad of other delectable flavors in this salad as well — candied walnuts, creamy avocado, semi-spicy red onions, and rustic gorgonzola cheese.
This fall season, pick up pears and try this gourmet autumnal dish!
📖 Recipe
21 Salads With Lettuce
Ingredients
- 3 cups green leaf lettuce, chopped
- 2 cups butter or Boston lettuce, chopped
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Dressing
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Whisk together lemon juice, olive oil, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Place lettuce, onion, and tomato in serving bowl. Add dressing to taste.
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