30 healthy salad recipes

Looking for healthy salad recipes? Check out our nutritious dishes including easy chicken salad recipes, vibrant potato salad recipes and healthy rice salads.

Salads are probably one of the most versatile dishes around, for they work great on their own as a main course or as an accompaniment on the side. The array of fruit of vegetables that can be include also provide a whole host of health benefits through the many different vitamins, such as vitamin C and vitamin A, and the wide variety of phytonutrients each. Did you know that different colours of different fruit and vegetables contain different phytonutrients and therefore health benefits? They are also a great source of all important antioxidants which help protect the body from damage by free radicals (unstable atoms that can lead to illness and aging).

Healthy salad recipes

Za'atar chopped salad

This low-calorie chopped salad is crunchy, colourful and fresh. The za’atar yogurt and tahini dressing adds a lovely creaminess too.

Summer butter bean salad

The flavours in this low-calorie salad only get better over time, so it’s a great one to prep ahead. Even better, it only takes 15 minutes to assemble.

Moroccan cauliflower salad

Make cauliflower shine by roasting florets with ras el hanout, dried cranberries, dates, nuts and pomegranate seeds, then drizzle the whole lot with a tahini and mint dressing

Healthy chicken and lentil salad

This griddled chicken salad with crunchy green beans, mangetout and mustardy lentils is low calorie and ready in 30 minutes.

Kung po chicken salad

Quick, delicious and filling – Donal Skehan's kung po chicken salad has got midweek winner written all over it.

Warm black rice, edamame and prawn salad

For a delicious, low-calorie and gluten-free lunch, throw together this nutritious, spicy black rice salad with prawns. It also includes edamame beans and peas, so you'll get plenty of protein.

Baja shrimp and blackened corn salad

The cool coastal food of southern California relies on sensational seafood married with Mexican flavours. Use smoky ancho chillies to flavour the shrimps and serve with grilled corn and green chilli dressing for a light and vibrant salad. Try more sweetcorn recipes.

Roasted cauli and couscous salad with zhoug and crispy shallots

Check out our colourful cauliflower salad recipe with giant couscous, crispy fried onions and a punchy zhoug dressing. This nourishing salad is packed full of flavour and is vegan, too. Discover more cauliflower recipes.

Coronation tofu salad

Check out our easy vegan coronation salad recipe with smoked tofu, fragrant madras curry powder and sweet mango chutney – it's super speedy, light and offers a great source of plant-based protein.

Ginger chicken noodle salad

Toss nutty soba noodles, shredded chicken, crunchy sesame seeds and fresh aromatic herbs with a zingy ginger dressing for a high-protein, veg filled lunch.

Orzo, bean and tuna salad

Turn storecupboard staples into this vibrant, nutritious orzo pasta salad with roasted red peppers and black olives.

Courgette and chimichurri salad

Looking for a healthy lunch recipe? Check out this courgette and green bean salad tossed in a zingy chimichurri dressing for an extra flavour boost. Try more healthy summer recipes.

Prawn and watermelon salad

This low-calorie dish is sweet, salty, spicy and tangy – you really have to try it to know how good it is. Perfect for hot summer days.

Healthy bean salad

This super speedy salad offers fresh, healthy flavours and plenty of crunch, complete with a green tahini dressing to boost the flavour.

Chargrilled tuna steak with crunchy bulgar lemon salad

Check out this flavour packed tuna steak with zingy lemon bulgar wheat salad. Ready in 30 minutes, this nourishing recipe is a quick and easy midweek meal for two.

Griddled chicken with red rice salad and mango dressing

Check out this easy griddled chicken breast with sweet, juicy mango dressing and wild rice. This simple recipe is the perfect marriage of sweet and savoury - ready in just 35 minutes.

Quick Japanese-style rice salad

Use a pack of ready-cooked or leftover rice to put a super fast king prawn salad together. Make it green with edamame beans, cucumber and avocado.

Kale chicken caesar salad

For a low-calorie, high-protein salad, try this kale chicken caesar. It's much healthier than the classic version.

Roasted courgette, chickpea and lemon salad

Check out this quick and easy vegan salad recipe with roasted courgettes and crunchy chickpeas tossed in punchy harissa. It's ready in 20 minutes and low in calories too

Chicken pasta salad

Throw together this quick and easy pasta salad using leftover chicken, tomatoes and greens for a protein-packed lunch or midweek dinner.

Grains, greens and beans salad with pesto dressing

On the table in 15 minutes, this nutritious salad is packed with greens and tossed in fresh pesto.

Farro, grilled peach and pecan salad

The grilled peaches deliver a satisfying sweetness, balanced by the zing of lime-pickled shallots and the smoky nuttiness of toasted pecans in this vibrant vegan salad. This healthy recipe has it all: fruit, veg, wholegrains and protein.

Feel-good winter salad

This nourishing salad is packed with lots of fresh ginger and garlic, full of antioxidants and vitamins. Raw kale is great for digestion, along with beetroots, broccoli and avocado.

Cauliflower, walnut and apple salad

For a light, gluten-free lunch combine thinly sliced cauliflower florets, cubed apples, raisins, toasted walnuts and a quick mustard dressing.

Roasted veg and feta grain salad

Go gluten-free with this vegetable salad using roasted peppers, cherry tomatoes and onions.

Pickled turnip, cucumber and ginger salad

In just 15 minutes, toss together a vibrant side salad of pickled turnip, cucumber, and ginger. It’s the perfect crunchy companion to grilled meats, adding a refreshing kick to your plate.

Spelt and apple salad with crispy nuts and seeds

Pack plenty of crunch into this balanced vegetarian salad and sprinkle with a homemade nut and seed mix.

Warm red rice, herb and salmon salad

This nutritious, spice-packed rice salad will go down a treat as a midweek meal, with aromatic ground cumin and coriander.

Purple sprouting broccoli, blue cheese and almond salad

Match purple sprouting broccoli with a blue cheese and garlic dressing, then sprinkle with toasted almonds for added crunch in this filling green salad.

Kale Waldorf salad with buttermilk dressing

This kale Waldorf salad is a clever update on a classic and with a good amount of crunch and tangy dressing, it makes the perfect side dish or light evening meal.