I don’t know if you have noticed yet but I really love salads. I love a big ol’ salad because I can get in a bunch of nutrients, protein and fats all in on one plate. I keep my salads pretty simple and I just truly love the taste of them. I never get sick of salads, it’s weird.
I have had a few readers request a list of my favorites so here ya go!
Steak and Gorgonzola Heaven
Steak, spinach, avocado, gorgonzola cheese and sautéed zucchini and red peppers. I use this basic vinaigrette dressing.
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Strawberry Feta Poppyseed Salad
Spinach, grilled chicken, feta, strawberries, walnuts with poppyseed dressing.
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Lettuceless Salad
1 baked sweet potato, 1-2 cups fresh edamame, 2 ears of fresh corn cooked, 2 cooked and cubed chicken breasts and 1 can black beans. Mix it all up with some salt and pepper and as much Italian dressing as you like! (I also refrigerate it for a little while so it is chilled when I eat it)
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Healthy Nachos
Not quite a salad but whatever—> slice up two sweet potatoes and put some olive oil and garlic salt on them and bake them for 40 minutes at 425 degrees. Top with black beans, corn, sharp cheddar cheese and put them back in the oven for 5 minutes. Add some tomatoes and avocado. ***Adding chicken and roasted red peppers is my favorite:)
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Chicken Taco Salads:
Chicken + water + taco seasoning + crockpot. Tortilla, lettuce, Spanish rice (from a box), guac, mango salsa and sour cream.
Spring lettuce mix, crockpot salsa chicken (chicken plus a jar of your favorite salsa), guac and a quesadilla on the side.
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Turkey Burger Salads:
Spinach, turkey burger (pan seared… from Costco), avocado, feta, carrots, cucumber, almonds and TJ’s Thai Peanut Dressing.
And a pretty similar one but throw a sweet potato with guac on the side:)
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Salmon Quinoa Salad
-Cook quinoa in a rice cooker (I always throw in some garlic and oregano when I cook this).
-Lay out your mixed greens (spinach, spring mix, arugula) and top with cooked quinoa and thinly sliced radishes.
-Season both sides of your salmon with lemon pepper and heat pan with a little butter and garlic. Cook salmon 10 minutes per inch of thickness (flip salmon 1/2 way through). Throw it on top of the quinoa and top with fresh lemon juice and/or balsamic vinaigrette.
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Quinoa Summer Salad
Cook quinoa in the rice cooker and then add a cubed baked sweet potato and some sautéed mushrooms, cabbage, spinach and asparagus. Let that chill in the fridge for a few hours and then add walnuts, feta and cranberries right before serving it.
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The Janae Salad
Spinach, grilled chicken, hardboiled eggs, cheddar cheese, avocado, tomatoes and bacon. For the dressing I mix equal parts of ranch and bbq sauce.
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Fruity Salad
Spinach, apples, blueberries, pecans, feta and TJ’s Champagne Pear Vinaigrette dressing. AMAZING with grilled chicken on top too:)
Blueberries, feta cheese, nectarines, red onion, red peppers and TJ’s Goddess Dressing.
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Shrimp Salad
Salad kit from Costco (The Grand Parisian Complete Salad), shrimp, roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli.
Throw some mango salsa and guac on top and that is also delicious.
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Just a classic salad on one side and my favorite baked sweet potato + bbq chicken + tomatoes on the other side. TRY IT.
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Snickers Heaven Salad. Because life needs to have chocolate too.
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Here is a list of my favorite restaurant salads! I also love any restaurant that has a killer salad bar!
Cafe Rio—> Steak salad, extra pico, whole wheat tortilla, black beans and the cilantro vinaigrette dressing.
Wahoo’s—> Spicy fish salad with added bonzai veggies, guac and extra salsa.
Oregano’s (in Arizona)—> Pablo Picasso salad and/or the Chicken Caesar Salad.
Kneaders—> Bacon Avocado Turkey salad and the Turkey Cranberry one is pretty amazing too!
Pluto’s—> THE BEST salad place. I always get the steak salad and put on tomatoes, bleu cheese, edamame, sweet potatoes, peaches and pineapple with the creamy vinaigrette.
Wild Zucchini (I think there is just one here in Utah)—> The chicken salad with the house dressing and every vegetable topping (they have SO many), fresh mozzarella balls and crispy sweet potato strips).
California Pizza Kitchen—> BBQ Chicken Salad (add the avocado… it’s worth it).
Panera Bread—> I also love the BBQ Chicken Salad here too.
Cheesecake Factory—> The Luau Salad
Other amazing salad places in Utah—> Zupas, Costa Vida, Cubby’s, Mountain West Burrito, Tacos 180.
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How often do you eat salads?
What are your go-to salad toppings?
Favorite restaurants to get a salad?
Current favorite dessert?
74 comments
Flower
My salad go to topping is goat cheese, i love the kick. Your Janae salad is similar to my cobb salad that I eat at least 3 times a week and never get sick of.
Flower
Oh, and since this weekend, my favorite dessert is reeses peanut butter cupcakes and yes, they are a real thing and pretty much a life changer!
Rachel Runs Music City
You’re making me hungry! Salads are kind of my go-to and I have learned to love them :)
I try to eat a salad everyday because otherwise, I don’t eat leafy greens and I know I need em!
Favorite salad toppings: Eggs, feta cheese, and bacon
Favorite restaurants to get a salad?
Favorite salad restaurant: Back home in Chicago the salad bar, Sweet Tomatoes
Favorite dessert: Ice Cream! Current favorite flavor: Edy’s Cinnamon Bun
Amy @ They May Be Light
Oh man! I’m going to have to try a bunch of these! I’ve been slacking on healthy eating lately and I need to get back on track! Thanks for the post!
Megan @ Skinny Fitalicious
Every one of these looks incredible! Lately I’ve been doing a lot of kale salads. They seem meatier to me for some reason. I particularly love adding roasted butternut squash with a dijon mustard and spiced pecans. It’s like candy salad. My stand by’s are Jason’s Deli, Oreganos, Pita Jungle, Chipotle and Cafe Rio.
Laura @ This Runner's Recipes
I like goat cheese, steak/chicken/ahi tuna, and any and all vegetables on my salads.
Panera, Crushed Red (a St. Louis chain), and Chipotle are my favorites for salad.
Current favorite dessert: oatmeal chocolate chip cookies!
The Hungry Runner Girl
I guess I just need to come to St. Louis to try Crushed Red:) AHHHH I forgot about ahi tuna—> the best!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma
I eat salads once a day, there’s usually a burger or salmon in there, baby spinach and other “good stuff” like sweet potatoes, olives, and avocado and I like making my own dressings! Your salads always looks amazing and I love the sweet potato nachos especially!
Sarah @ SarahRuns26
I eat salads a few times a week. I usually toss whatever veggies we have in the fridge and make a salad with it. Some are better than others! I like the sweet potato nacho idea!
I love Sweet Tomatoes – there is EVERYTHING you could possibly want on a salad there!
I’m a big brownie fan. Or ice cream. Not too picky. Just no nuts!
The Hungry Runner Girl
I totally forgot about Sweet Tomatoes… that place is amazing!
Combine brownies and ice cream and life is perfect (I agree with you about no nuts).
Annie R
I just made a DELICIOUS salad last night, even my bf liked it and he is not a salad fella.
Pearled Roasted Garlic & Olive Oil Cous Cous, Arugula, Tomato, Avocado, Baked Sweet Potato (buttered, salt & peppered), cucumber, yellow pepper, and a healthy dose of feta. No dressing needed! It was so delicious. I wish I had the makings to do it again tonight.
You 100% got me hooked on sweet potatoes again :)
The Hungry Runner Girl
Okay, can you PLEASE deliver that to us for dinner tonight. The description made me drool.
Sweet potatoes 4 life.
Sally @ sweat out the small stuff
I eat salads a lot too. Usually a first course vs a meal. I tend to go Greek with feta, kalamata olives and cucumber, tomato and red onion. I like using spinach and romaine combined for the base. Sometimes I’ll add shrimp or steak to make it a full meal. And pita with hummus to go with.
I love warm chocolate chip cookies ice cream desserts. Like the ones that get baked in a skillet.
Casey @ Runnin' With the Pups
I eat salad at least once a week and like any topping except beets and olives. my favorite salad to make is a taco salad, it’s easy to make and you put tortilla chips on top which adds a nice crunch :). All of those salads you mentions look and sound great!
Alyssa
That decides it. I’m coming to live with you and I will help you eat all your salads. I’m just really selfless like that. Also, I will babysit. I know, I’m a bargain! ;)
I love to go to Harmon’s and get their salad bar for lunch! Lettuce, chicken, strawberries, bluberries, cucumbers, and raspberry vinaigrette. Yum!
Natalie @ Never Serious Blog
THIS IS MY FAVORITE HRG POST EVER OF ALL TIMEEEEE!
But seriously, salads 4 LYFE.
Valerie
This post is AMAZING!! I freaking love salads too. Picking my salad at the restaurant I’m going to for dinner.. now :)
Jessica @ VEGGIE RUNNING MOMMA
Yum yum yum.!! the colors in all of these pictures are just amazing.! looks so good.
and I’ve been eating a lot more salads lately.! I love it. my go to topping is Cucumbers. they go so good. crunchy yet soft.
Thanks for all these great salad ideas :)
Kristina @ Blog About Running
Mmmmm those healthy nachos look so ridiculously good! I bet that’s such a good post-run meal! Not too heavy but still super flavorful!
[email protected]
This reminded me about how much I need to start using my barely used crockpot. Favorite dessert: eclair cake. Or anything eclair/Boston cream.
Natalie
Oh my gosh!!! I am so, so hungry now :)
Love all of these – I would eat any one of them anytime.
That fruit salad….!!!
I eat salads probably 5 out of 7 days.
I love a good Cobb, I love a good mixed baby greens with grilled chicken and tons of veggies. Love having red and yellow bell peppers included!
Love having pears in my salad too. I could go on and on.
We have a restaurant here called Hillstone that had wonderful salads!!!
Erin @ Her Heartland Soul
Mmm give me all the salads! Now I’m hungry! :D
Morgan @ Managing Mommyhood
Well, I guess I’m having salad for dinner! I usually do some kind of fridge salad – whatever is in my fridge gets thrown on in!
Muggle in London
I’m bookmarking this post!! I love these salad ideas, and the pictures are so drool-worthy. mmm. makes me want to eat more salads, and I’m not a big salad person at all.
and technically chocolate is a vegetable because it comes from cacao aka a plant.. ;)
Kayse
Yum – thanks for all the ideas! I had a sort of lettuce-less salad today for lunch. My recent favorite has been chickpeas or sweet potato, with broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, a boiled egg, 1/2 an avocado with some balsamic vinegar on it. Its super yummy!
I love salads with fruit and goat cheese, the cafe at Nordstroms does a yummy chicken, dried apple, goat cheese salad.
Meghan@ GetOffYourButtAndRun
I eat a salad everyday for lunch. I change the toppings constantly so I don’t get bored. My favorite salad is any cobb salad!
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me
The sign of a good salad for me is anything with either 1) avocado 2) cottage cheese 3) hard boiled eggs 4) ranch 5) all of the above.
The Hungry Runner Girl
I’m going to have to completely agree with you on this one Julia!
Laura
I love Plutos too! I always get their steak salad with feta cheese, tomatoes, edamame, banana peppers, cucumbers, broccoli and balsamic vinaigrette. Delicious!!
Molly Rose
My salads almost always include 1 hard boiled egg white and grape tomatoes! The rest of the party varies each time.
I eat a salad every day for lunch, so I almost never order one at a restaurant!
Laur
My favorite salads have blue cheese, red onion, and buffalo shrimp. Preferably a blue cheese yogurt dressing with it. OR CAESAR SALAD. I can’t get enough.
My favorite dessert right now is the strawberry trifle I made for Mother’s Day. It’s so good, I could probably eat the whole thing.
Susan
Wow–those all look amazing. I was hungry and now I am starving and wasn’t planning on it but am now making a salad for dinner!!
Brittany
Lazaranda’s Lazaranda salad! (So many fresh off-the-grill veggies, peanuts and panela cheese!)
and I love Sweet Tomatoes bc they have an amazing salad bar AND a rotating dessert like chocolate molten lava cake omg I’m so hungry now hahaha
My favorite combo for a homemade salad is a mix of baby spinach and mixed greens, goat cheese, crushed peanuts, chopped red bell peppers and mushrooms, chopped green apple and Balsamic vinaigrette on top. Taco salad is totally up there too!!!
Current favorite dessert is avocado chocolate mousse – so so good!
Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s day!
Jennifer @ JenChoosesJoy
I eat a salad for lunch everyday.
I love fruit on my salads.
I love a sofritas taco salad from chipotle!
Dana
Am I the only person who doesn’t love salads? I’m a vegetarian, so I really should love them, but I just don’t. However, I frequent Chop’t at least 3 days a week and make my own “salad” sandwich: romaine, avocado, black beans, tomato, corn, and Greek yogurt dressing, all in a grilled honey wheat wrap . It’s delish!
The Hungry Runner Girl
There are a ton of people that don’t love salads! That salad sandwich sounds like heaven!! I need that asap!
Julie
Thank you so much! I love this! I’m always doing random searches on your blog to see what you put in your salads since I cannot for the life of me come up with good salad creation ideas!!!
But… WHERE are the Brooke pictures??????
Jenny
I would love almost every single one of those!! Salads are so beautiful…and delicious!!
I eat a different kind of kale salad every day for lunch! I would be lost without it!! We also have salad as a side for dinner most nights.
I like yams, black beans, pintos, Avacodo, tomato, tuna, salmon, grilled chicken, or even a spicy black bean burger chopped up on it…Maybe not all at the same time, but I probably would go for it if it was in front of me!
I’m not really a dessert person…don’t judge me!! Lol If skittles count as dessert then their might be hope for me! Love my skittles!
Kristin
We eat potato nachos all the time and my kids love them! I am intrigued by your dressing mix of bbq sauce and ranch…will have to try! My favorite salad is a bunch of greens topped with beets, sunflower seeds and TJ’s goddess dressing. Could eat that every day.
My favorite dessert is…dessert. Doesn’t matter what kind ;)
Jen C
Thank you for this! I have no imagination when it comes to salads, so this is going to help me make things much more interesting!
Caroline @ The Little Things Blog
I’m making salads for lunch every day this week- YUM! I make salads a lot, although a lot of the time they are lettuce-less salads with quinoa and various veggies. YUM!
Amanda B @ Cupcakes and Miles
Oh wow! This post really should have had a disclaimer on it. ;)
All of those sound so delicious!
I eat salads almost everyday. My favorite toppings are feta cheese and clementines.
And, my favorite restaurants for salads are: Sweet Tomatoes, Panera, ABC Pizza, and Hungry Howie’s.
Polly @ mytimerunner
Thank you for this awesome post!!!! I eat salads every day, but kinda stuck in a rut and not knowing how to spice them up!!!! This gives me a bunch of ideas!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!!!!! YUM!
Nina
This post just gave me life!!! One of the best posts over on HRG!! Any salad with grilled chicken or grilled salmon is a keeper for me.
Kate
I eat salads almost daily. Usually just as a side dish to my meal.
I loved my salad today for lunch!! I made a Greek salad full of tomato, red peppers, green peppers, olives, red onion, and romaine. (I don’t like cucumber and didn’t have feta) And I used homemade dressing which was olive oil, red wine vinegar, lots of seasoning and some honey. I’ve learned for me, the trick is to have just as many of the other veggies as the lettuce. I think this would have been great with a piece of grilled chicken. That’s my plan for tomorrow!!
My favorite place for a salad…I’m not sure I have a favorite. But I do love the ranch dressing from Outback!
I love ice cream! I can’t narrow it down to one favorite dessert but I’m really craving a Dairy Queen ice cream cake! So good!!
Emily
I usually eat some sort of salad everyday which includes an assortment of random, leftover condiments from the fridge. It’s always delicious. I like being creative so it doesn’t get boring.
You are SUPER creative, and someday I will take one of your salads that look crazy to me and make it, just to jump into another world of SALAD.
Jane M
Thanks so much for this post! All of the salad ideas sound amazing, I can’t wait to try many of them! Great way to include so many veggies into your diet. Keep the food posts coming! :)
Kristen
These salads are beautiful!
Check out my new post: Runonoatmeal.com
Elena
I eat salads daily – my husband makes the BEST chopped salad with no less than 14 ingredients in it. We go to Costco and buy ridiculous amounts of veggies and fruits on Saturday and the he makes a HUGE bowl and we eat it for a few days – amazing. It even has some raw sweet potatoes (diced small – they remind me of carrots).
Favorite restaurant for salads was Palmer’s when we lived in Iowa – they made them custom and then tossed with your choice of dressing in a large bowl before putting on the plate – YUMMY!
Favorite dessert – So Delicious Coconut Milk Ice Cream – could be any flavor :)
Natalie
I like salad, but most of the time I feel like the lettuce is my least favorite part. I always have to have something crunchy on my salad–preferably croutons, but I also like adding mixed nuts on there, too. And avocado is a must, obviously.
I love chicken caesar salads, and La Madeleine has a pretty good one. I don’t get salads at restaurants that often, though. I always end up getting to-go boxes, and salads are so complicated to box up and don’t usually taste as great as leftovers.
You know what’s really tasty on salads? Harvest Cheddar Sun Chips–just crush some up, and toss them on there. They are a great addition!
My current favorite dessert is sugar cookies. Hands down.
amy
I just need to tell u how much I loved this post. All your salads look so yummy and can u make me one of each please?!
I would eat salad every day if someone would just make them for me. I’m so lazy when it comes to making them..
Our favorite dessert is your brother’s s’more bars! We make it every time we need to take a dessert somewhere.
Tricia @ A Couple of Dashes
YUM! All of these look so good! I’m always looking for new salad ideas so I’ve saved a few of these for later :)
Will Run For Coffee
In my (seemingly) constant battle to eat loads without eating too much (you see the dilemma) salads are definitely my friends! You can make them huge without all the calories of a similar-sized bowl of pasta. Plus, they are topped with things which are actually good for you. Bonus!
These salads all look fantastic – thanks for sharing. I will definitely be making one of these for dinner this week.
meredith @ The Cookie ChRUNicles
I forgot about that snickers salad- used to make it all the time and also used to make it with my preschool cooking class (when I taught it years ago lol)…Favorite restaurant salad is by far the BBQ ranch from The Cheesecake Factory – the best!
JC
There is so much salad info there.
I am in LOVE with thai chicken salads and peanut dressing right now. Sweet peppers, edemame, cucumber, carrot, salty fried wonton strips….. so good.
Also grilled veggies salad, onion, pepper, zucchini, corn, grilled and then tossed with lettuce, and whatever else i have with a creamy ceasar like sauce.
Arthi
These all look so great! I’m not much of a cook but these ideas are so inspiring!
I’m in Michigan for work this week and had dinner with a friend last night at a fancy-ish Italian restaurant. I paid $15 for a salad and it literally consisted of lettuce, croutons, and some Parmesan cheese.
Ridiculous.
Marissa @ Run Riss Run
How can I save just this one post?? Great salad recipes!!
Carol
I love this post – salads are by far my favorite meal and I eat them daily.
My favorite warm weather salad is mixed greens/spinach with dried cherries, sliced pear, feta, pistachios and avocado w/ balsamic vinaigrette. I never get tired of this combination.
My favorite winter salad is spinach with roasted beets, mushrooms, shredded carrots, goats cheese and pine nuts also with balsamic vinaigrette (I make my own)
I love Hale & Hearty for their chopped salad and my other favorite is SweetGreens. Chipotle is also good because anything with salsa and avocado is amazing.
Kaci @ Running the Next Step
Thanks for sharing! Those sweet potato nachos just made their way to the top my “things I need to try” list!
Kathi J
you’re a genius, and you’re a good blogger friend for sharing allll those recipes with us! I’m a little obsessed with the sweet potato nachos and want to run home NOW (it’s 8:48 am) to make them. THANK YOU!!
Kristen
Lately I’m obsessed with strawberries and pineapple in my salads with strawberry dressing on top. Yum! I think I’m just so happy to finally have spring weather!
Katie Did What
Okay, this post is making me SO HUNGRY. For a salad. Go figure. ;) My fave toppings are avocado, chicken and feta cheese. Mmmmmm.
xo
Erin @ Erin's Inside Job
These all look amazing! I love how colorful salads can be. I tend to eat them more in the warmer months for some reason, so be on the lookout for more salad pictures! Thanks for all the suggestions :)
Michelle
Panera’s thai chicken salad is what my dreams are made of and I insist on getting one everytime I go. Usually in the pick 2 combo with the mediterranean flatbread.
Lindsey C
Oh my gosh, these all look AMAZING!!!! I just bookmarked this page for whenever I need a little salad inspiration – thank you!!!! :)
Rachel @ Simply Rachel Nicole
Yum! I cannot wait to try some of these!!! SO GOOD!
Runwright
This is probably the most beautiful thing I’ve seen all day. All the salads! All the goodness.
Great stuff here, HRG!
I’m definitely having salad for dinner now. Cobb salad. hold the bacon.
Nina
So many fun choices, I like the blueberry nectarine but remain skeptical of the Snickers one. I know you’re not a fan but roasted beets would be delish on that steak salad. I generally eat salad twice a day and/or I sneak greens into my smoothie.
Favorite toppings: chickpeas – roasted if I want crunch, lentils, radish, avocado and sometimes a little gorgonzola. (I like strong tastes).
There places in Manhattan where you can build your own salad so I like those. The Italian restaurant I go to with my in-laws always has really good salads.
Leigha @ The Yooper Girl
Girl how long did it take you to put this post together?!?! lol it’s awesome!! Wish I didn’t already eat dinner because these all look so good.
Lately my salads have been spring mix, strawberries, blueberries, feta, hemp seeds, and cashews. I even started making my own dressing!! I feel so good about myself haha:)
Melissa
-I try to eat 1 to 2 salads a day (try is the key word)
-Favorite toppings : tomato’s on a spinach salad or fruits: strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries on a mixed green salad.
-I mainly make salads, I usually don’t eat them when I’m at a restaurant. But I do always order steamed broccoli.
-I like raspberry vinaigrette or olive garden light Italian dressing.
Okay I’m hungry now :)
Leigh
Thank Janae for this post. I’ve been seriously lacking motivation to make salads lately and this has been the perfect boost I needed. You and wee Brookie are awesome!! Love your blog.
Leigh
Thank Janae for this post. I’ve been seriously lacking motivation to make salads lately and this has been the perfect boost I needed. You and wee Brookie are awesome!! Love your blog.
short-range
You really make it seem really easy together with your presentation however I in finding this matter to be actually
something which I feel I’d by no means understand.
It sort of feels too complicated and extremely extensive for me.
I’m taking a look ahead to your subsequent put up, I will attempt to get the hold of
it!
MairaNutrition
Hi, this is probably the most beautiful thing I’ve seen all day. All the salads! All the goodness.
Great stuff here, HRG! I’m definitely having salad for dinner now. Cobb salad. hold the bacon.