Made with fresh ingredients and perfectly paired dressings, these main dish salads make a satisfying alternative to a full three-course meal.

Collage of four recipes: Shrimp Cocktail Salad, Steak and Potato Salad, Salmon and Kale Salad, Chicken Salad with Herb Dresssing

Adding more vegetables to your diet is a healthy choice you can make without sacrificing flavor, and having a salad for dinner is the perfect way to do it.

Healthy greens for main dish salads

Creative main dish salads combine vegetables and salad greens with everything from steak to shrimp. Let’s take a look at those salad greens and see what each has to offer in the way of nutritional value.

  • Romaine Lettuce: Romaine lettuce is a nutritional powerhouse, full of minerals like calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and potassium. It is also high in vitamins C, A, and K, and folate! It’s the lettuce of choice for Caesar salad, but its crisp texture and mildly bitter flavor, makes it a great choice for all types of salad recipes.
  • Iceberg Lettuce: Although iceberg lettuce has a negative nutritional reputation, it is still good for you! It’s not as vitamin-packed as its dark leafed cousins, but it still contains vitamins A, C, and K, as well as calcium, folate, and potassium. Iceberg lettuce has a very mild flavor and can easily be combined with other greens for a satisfyingly crunchy texture.
  • Spinach: Spinach is another superfood. High in fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A and C, spinach promotes healthy skin, hair, and digestion. With mildly sweet leaves and tender texture, spinach compliments the flavors and textures of our favorite salad ingredients.
  • Kale: Kale is yet another leafy green that offers a myriad of nutritional benefits. It contains fiber, calcium and vitamins C and K, and iron as well as an antioxidant called alpha-lipoic acid that may help to lower glucose levels. Kale has a mild flavor reminiscent of cabbage but with a slightly bitter undertone.

Now that you have a little insight on salad greens, browse our collection of main dish salads. Each one is made with just the right combination of ingredients and dressing to make a healthy, satisfying dinner.

Satisfying Main Dish Salads

Chopped Salad with Roasted Root Vegetables and Bacon

This hearty, main dish salad is full of healthy ingredients like fresh spinach, romaine lettuce, apple, bacon, roasted root vegetables, candied walnuts and blue cheese.

Glazed Salmon and Kale Salad with Creamy Citrus Dressing

This colorful oven-roasted salmon and kale salad is loaded with healthy ingredients, easy to prepare and makes a satisfying dinner or hearty lunch.

Garden Salad with Chicken and Creamy Herb Dressing

This light and healthful dinner salad is topped with pan-seared chicken tenderloins, homemade garlic croutons and a creamy buttermilk dressing flavored with lemon, garlic, basil and parsley.

Classic Greek Salad with Shrimp

This classic Greek salad topped with pan-seared shrimp makes a healthy, delicious dinner that's ready in less than 30 minutes.

Warm Steak and Potato Salad

This tasty combination of grilled sirloin, baby potatoes, cherry tomatoes and mushrooms is served over mixed greens to make a hearty main dish salad.

Taco Salad with Avocado Dressing

Made with taco-style spices, ground beef and a creamy avocado dressing, this tasty taco salad is a hearty one-dish meal.

Grilled Turkey Salad with Low-Fat Avocado Dressing

This healthy main dish salad recipe features tender, juicy slices of grilled turkey, toasted garlic croutons and a creamy, low-fat avocado dressing.

Shrimp Cocktail Salad

A satisfying main dish salad made with sautéed shrimp, romaine lettuce, ripe tomatoes, sweet onion, avocado and a light, creamy version of a classic cocktail sauce for dressing.