Food and Recipes Healthy and Light 20 Healthy and Hearty Salad Recipes for Dinner Tonight 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 July 10, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis If you think salad is just a boring side dish, let us change your mind. We're here to make the case that tossing together a salad can be one of the easiest shortcuts to a stunning weeknight supper. Healthy, filling, and utterly delicious, these hearty salads will become your family's new favorite weeknight suppers. Lighten up your dinner while still delivering maximum flavor with these all-star salad recipes, which all come together in no time. If you want something hearty and filling, choose a salad with protein, like our Grilled Steak Salad with Green Tomato Vinaigrette or our Steak, Sweet Potato, and Blue Cheese Salad. Our Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken highlights beautiful fall produce, while our Grilled Salmon Panzanella Salad belongs on your barbecue spread. All of these salads are substantial and filling—and come together lightning-fast. As an added bonus, any leftover salad will make a great lunch to pack for the next day. 01 of 19 Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad This hearty salad will come together in just 15 minutes. 02 of 19 Grilled Salmon Panzanella Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Grilled Salmon Panzanella Salad In addition to pantry staples, you'll need just five ingredients for this summer salad. 03 of 19 Grilled Scallop-and-Mango Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Grilled Scallop-and-Mango Salad Use fresh scallops for the most delicious results. 04 of 19 Grilled Steak Salad with Green Tomato Vinaigrette Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Recipe: Grilled Steak Salad with Green Tomato Vinaigrette Green tomatoes are key to the tart flavor of the vinaigrette dressing. 05 of 19 Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad Stephen DeVries Recipe: Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad If you're tired of basic salads, this chopped salad with a Southwestern flair will change your mind about having salad for dinner. 06 of 19 Steak, Sweet Potato, and Blue Cheese Salad Greg DuPree Recipe: Steak, Sweet Potato, and Blue Cheese Salad Sweet, savory, and salty come together in this flavor-packed dinner salad. 07 of 19 Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Chicken You can also substitute spinach or romaine hearts for the kale if you prefer. 08 of 19 BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: BLT Salad with Buttermilk-Parmesan Dressing and Buttery Croutons Enjoy the classic sandwich reimagined into a salad 09 of 19 Chicken, White Bean, and Spinach Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Chicken, White Bean, and Spinach Salad If you thought you could only use your slow cooker for heavy soups and stews, think again. 10 of 19 Chicken Niçoise Salad Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chicken Niçoise Salad This composed salad can be served family style or on individual plates. 11 of 19 Spring Shrimp-and-Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Spring Shrimp-and-Orzo Salad with Lemon Dressing You'll pack three cups of veggies into this fresh salad. 12 of 19 Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Greg DuPree Recipe: Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Homemade dressing comes together much easier than you'd think. 13 of 19 Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton; Recipe: Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad This no-cook recipe can be on the table in just 15 minutes. 14 of 19 Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Roasted Chicken Caesar Salad Roasting the lettuce to caramelize it for extra flavor will instantly elevate Caesar salad. 15 of 19 Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chicken-Quinoa Salad with Green Goddess Dressing Rotisserie chicken and quinoa pack this salad with protein and flavor. 16 of 19 Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Oven-Fried Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing A lighter version of a fried chicken dinner. 17 of 19 Greek Chicken Salad Wedges Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Greek Chicken Salad Wedges Deli rotisserie chicken will help your dinner come together in under 30 minutes. 18 of 19 Sesame Chicken Garden Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez Recipe: Sesame Chicken Garden Salad The flavors of this salad will get even better overnight so you'll want to make sure you have leftovers for lunch. 19 of 19 Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Southern Cobb Salad with Cornbread Croutons It only takes 10 minutes to toss together this main-worthy salad. 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