• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Laura Fuentes
  • Healthy Eating
  • Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • About
  • #MOMLIFE
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Eat Healthy
  • Fasting
  • Meet Laura
  • Contact
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • Eat Healthy
  • Fasting
  • Meet Laura
  • Contact
×

Easy Everyday Side Salad

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

Have a couple of minutes before dinner is ready? Make this easy side salad.

It’s so good and it goes with everything, that by the time you toss it together you’ll want to make it the main dish. It’s loaded with fresh veggies and crunchy toppings coated with tangy vinaigrette!

closeup of a large bowl of an side salad

Best Ingredients for Everyday Side Salad

Crisp lettuce and your favorite veggies are the best ingredients for an everyday side salad! Below is a list of everything I like to include in my recipe, but you can add ingredients to your heart’s content.

  • Green lettuce: has a crisper texture and sweeter flavor than Iceberg. You could also use Romaine or mixed salad greens.
  • Bell pepper: red peppers are sweet and high in vitamin C. Swap out the color for green, orange, or yellow peppers.
  • Cucumber: super refreshing and add more volume. Use regular or English cucumbers.
  • Tomatoes: juicy, grape tomatoes are a favorite, but chopped Roma or garden tomatoes work great.
  • Olives: if you like olives, they are a great salad addition. Make sure to use pitted olives.
  • Red onion: optional, but they add a nice sharp flavor.
  • Parmesan cheese: sprinkled right over the top.
  • Croutons: crunchy and coated in delicious vinaigrette flavors.
  • Roasted sunflower seeds: provide this salad with healthy fats and a salty-crunchy element.
  • Balsamic vinaigrette: my homemade recipe is tangy-sweet and comes together in 3 minutes.

Side Salad Recipe

In just a few minutes you’ll have a perfect side salad ready to serve with dinner. Here’s how to make it:

  1. Prep
    Wash and chop the lettuce, bell peppers, tomatoes, and onion. Layer the ingredients into a large serving bowl.
  2. Add the toppings
    Top the salad base with olives, Parmesan cheese, croutons, and sunflower seeds.
  3. Drizzle
    Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine, now you’re ready to serve.

Watch this video to see how the salad comes together.

You could also prep this recipe a couple of days ahead. Just assemble the lettuce and toppings, but leave out the croutons and dressing. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

When you’re ready to eat, add the croutons and dressing, and toss to combine.

overhead photo of large side salad

Customization Ideas for Side Salads

Salads are easy to customize and these combination ideas will have you excited to make a new one every night.

  • Italian: grape tomatoes, black olives, shaved Parmesan cheese, and Italian vinaigrette.
  • Asian: steamed edamame pods, shredded red cabbage, shredded carrots, mandarin oranges (rinsed and drained), Asian vinaigrette.
  • Mediterranean: Kalamata olives, sliced cucumber, green bell pepper, feta cheese, and Greek vinaigrette.
  • Farmer’s Market Salad: diced tomatoes, homemade bacon bits, steamed corn, cucumber, shredded cheddar cheese, and Ranch Dressing.

Homemade Dressings for Side Salads

Looking for a yummy homemade dressing to drizzle over your salad? Whether you’re craving ranch or a zippy vinaigrette, I’ve got plenty of delicious recipes that are easy to whip up and beat the bottled version any day.

  • Homemade Ranch
  • Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Avocado Lime Ranch Dressing
  • Citrus Vinaigrette
  • Maple Dijon Vinaigrette
  • Thai Peanut Dressing
Print

Easy Side Salad

Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

You’re going to want to serve this easy side salad every night! It’s packed with fresh veggies and yummy toppings in a tangy vinaigrette. 

  • Author: Laura Fuentes
  • Prep Time: 7 minutes
  • Total Time: 7 minutes
  • Yield: 4
  • Category: Side Dishes
  • Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • ½ head green lettuce, chopped
  • 1 bell pepper, sliced
  • ½ English cucumber, sliced and halved
  • 1 cup grape tomatoes
  • ½ cup olives
  • ¼ red onion, sliced
  • ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ cup croutons
  • 2 tablespoons dry-roasted sunflower seeds
  • ¼ cup Balsamic vinaigrette   

 

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, layer the salad ingredients.
  2. Drizzle the vinaigrette over the salad and toss to combine. 

Equipment

chicken ebook displayed on an ipad and phone screen

Chicken. It’s What’s for Dinner

Buy Now →

Salad Spinner

Buy Now →

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 side
  • Calories: 150
  • Sugar: 4.6 g
  • Sodium: 498.3 mg
  • Fat: 7.6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 18.7 g
  • Fiber: 4.2 g
  • Protein: 6.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 4.9 mg

Keywords: side salad

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @MOMables on Instagram and hashtag it #momables

More Side Dishes

  • Salads without Lettuce
  • Vegetable Side Dishes
  • Easy Roasted Frozen Vegetables
  • Garlic Chicken and Green Beans

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

Primary Sidebar

Hi! I'm Laura.
I inspire moms to live a healthy lifestyle while juggling their family and work with fresh recipes and practical advice.

More about me →

Let's Be Social!

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram YouTube
Download The Busy Mom's Guide to a Healthier Life

Fresh Favorites

  • Authentic New Orleans Chicken Gumbo
  • Fluffy Chocolate Chip Pancakes
  • 20+ Low Carb Lunch Ideas
  • Baked Pesto Chicken Thighs

Trending Now

  • Valentine’s Day Gifts for Daughter
  • Homemade Gluten-Free King Cake (Beginner-Friendly Recipe!)
  • Air Fryer Salmon
  • Intermittent Fasting Food List

Footer

^ back to top

Browse

  • Recipe Index
  • Weekly Meal Plan
  • Clean Eating Program

Download the Busy Mom's Guide to a Healthy Life

laura holding meal plan guide in front of prepped food

Useful Links

  • Contact
  • Permissions
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy

COPYRIGHT © 2023 LAURA FUENTES · DESIGN BY FUENTES MEDIA