Food and Recipes Party Food and Drink 16 Main-Dish Salads That Will Leave You Feeling Full By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 4, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton There is no rule that says salads have to leave you feeling unsatisfied. In fact, they especially shouldn't when they're topped with a mix of the season's best vegetables and your favorite proteins. Our recipes will push you to reimagine your basic bed of greens by adding in whole grains, roasted vegetables, toasted nuts, and fruit. Think salads are only for hot summer afternoons? Think again. By introducing seasonal ingredients you can have a satisfying meal that's full of flavor year-round. Easy enough to pull together last-minute yet still impressive upon presentation, these recipes will wow your family and friends. Plus, they can make you feel like a chef extraordinaire as you experiment. You can make them your own by throwing in some pantry favorites of your choice. Whether you're looking for a hassle-free dinner or a filling weekday lunch, try one of these hearty main-dish salad recipes as your lunch or dinner. 01 of 16 Crispy Shrimp Salad with Avocado Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Crispy Shrimp Salad with Avocado Dressing Avocado dressing can be made in advance and drizzled over salad right before serving so the greens don't wilt. 02 of 16 Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad Add the chicken right before serving to make sure these bite-size pieces keep their crispy coating. 03 of 16 Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Orzo Salad with Shrimp and Lemon Dressing Adjust the amount of vegetables you use for this dish depending on what ratio of shrimp and orzo you want. 04 of 16 Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Coat chicken with a pecan, panko, and paprika mix and grill the romaine to add smoky flavors to this easy dinner. 05 of 16 Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberries, Goat Cheese, and Pickled Onion Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberries, Goat Cheese, and Pickled Onion Add candied pecans on top for an added sweet crunch. 06 of 16 Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Crunchy Okra and Corn Salad with Ranch Dressing The trick when making this recipe is to have your cast-iron skillet hot so you can properly sear the okra and fresh corn kernels. 07 of 16 Kale-and-Chicken Salad with Jalapeño-Lime Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Kale-and-Chicken Salad with Jalapeño-Lime Dressing This recipe makes about 8 cups, offering a hearty salad perfect for family meals. 08 of 16 Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas Recipe: Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad Roast your romaine to give it a caramelized flavor in this staple dish. 09 of 16 Chicken Tortellini Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Chicken Tortellini Salad The toasted pecans on top of this salad add a depth of flavor that elevates the dish. 10 of 16 Summer Hoppin' John Salad Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Summer Hoppin' John Salad While Hoppin' John is usually served hot, this one is served cold over your favorite cooked whole grain. 11 of 16 Fried Green Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Fried Green Tomato Salad with Buttermilk Dressing Put fried tomatoes on top of salad and it gets a whole lot more enticing. The buttermilk dressing is what perfects this indulgent combination. 12 of 16 Grilled Corn-and-Salmon Salad with Tomatoes Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Grilled Corn-and-Salmon Salad with Tomatoes Fresh corn and tomatoes bring a refreshing and sweet taste to this summer favorite. 13 of 16 Steak and Bell Pepper Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Steak and Bell Pepper Salad Homemade croutons bring a delicious crunch to this simple salad. 14 of 16 Field Pea Fattoush Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Field Pea Fattoush Salad This Middle Eastern dish is best served with toasted Pita. It's a wonderful vegetarian option, but feel free to add a protein of your choice on top. 15 of 16 BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons Deconstruct the classic sandwich to get this easy crowd-pleaser. To get the most flavor, bake the croutons and bacon together. 16 of 16 Harvest Salad Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Recipe: Harvest Salad Kabocha squash, Brussels sprouts, kale, and honeycrisp apples are combined to highlight our favorite flavors of fall. Add other personal favorites like pepitas or shaved carrots to make your harvest salad a hit. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit