Do you love salads but want to take a break from lettuce? These recipes are full of veggies and nutritious ingredients to show that salads without lettuce are also fresh, light, and delicious!
You’ll find filling salads that can be made ahead for filling healthy lunches for work or enjoyed as a main meal or side dish for dinner.
Does a Salad Have to Have Lettuce?
Of course not! A salad is simply a mix of ingredients that can include but is not limited to veggies, cooked meats, pasta, grains, and more all tossed in your choice of dressing -whether it has lettuce or not is completely up to you.
These salads without lettuce taste amazing, are packed with nutrition, and are easy to make. Check them out and click to print the ones you like!
Salad Recipes Without Lettuce
Avocado Egg Salad
Perfect on its own, with crusty bread or crackers, or used to fill a sandwich or wrap!
Sweet Potato Salad
Put a spin on the classic with this sweet and tangy version that’s much healthier than the original.
Southwest Quinoa Salad
Quinoa, black beans, corn, and many other epic flavors come together in this yummy salad you can prep ahead of time and enjoy both warm or chilled.
Avocado and Shrimp Salad
Refreshing and super quick to assemble, this will become one of your go-to salads with high protein.
Summer Salmon Pasta Salad
Do you need a salad that is also a complete meal? Enjoy salmon, pasta, and all the freshness you want from a summer meal by making this easy and scrumptious recipe!
Tomato Tuna Salad
Filling, light, and refreshing, this salad with no lettuce or mayonnaise has tons of nutrition, and it’s ready to eat in 5 minutes!
Chopped Panzanella Salad
Who needs lettuce when you have a mouthwatering combination of fresh ingredients tossed with juicy-cooked chicken and homemade vinaigrette? Simply epic!
Carrot Raisin Salad
Inspired by the Chick-fil-A recipe, this healthier version of the carrot raisin salad is full of tangy, sweet flavor and crunchiness in every bite!
Mediterranean Chicken Farro Salad
Whole grains, juicy chicken, cucumber, and tomato come together in this delicious recipe. It’s simple, fast, and fresh: all you need from a salad in one bowl!
Bruschetta Salad
Make this easy and fresh salad without lettuce in just 5 minutes. It’s sooo good!
Cajun Jambalaya Pasta Salad
This Cajun Jambalaya pasta salad is full of New Orleans flavor. A terrific meal for lunch or dinner that comes together in a flash!
What to Use in a Salad Instead of Lettuce
There are so many different ways to toss a healthy AND great-tasting salad without using lettuce as the base. Check out these other nutritious options that taste just as good, if not better!
- Arugula: has a peppery taste with plenty of vitamins and minerals. It’s my personal favorite lettuce alternative.
- Spinach: offers plenty of iron. If you find regular spinach too bitter, baby spinach tends to have a sweeter flavor and softer texture.
- Kale: massage raw, chopped kale with lemon juice to help soften it. It’s an excellent source of vitamins K and C and tastes great with vinaigrette.
- Cabbage: is also high in vitamins K and C. It has a sweet and delicious crunch you can pair with any cooked protein and salad toppings. I like using creamy dressing for this option.
- Spiralized veggies: from zucchini, beets, broccoli, carrots, cucumbers, and more, a spiralizer is a great way to transform a veggie into a filling base!
- Shaved Brussels sprouts: similar to cabbage but slightly sweeter. Compared to kale and cabbage, it’s the HIGHEST source of vitamins K and C.
- Quinoa: high in protein and super filling.
- Rice: a great base to make a satisfying meal as well as a great way to use up leftovers.
- Farro: wheat kernels can be cooked and made into a rice-like base for any salad.
- Cooked pasta: ANY kind of whole-grain pasta tastes super satisfying and makes a great source of fiber.
- Couscous: similar to quinoa in texture and takes less than 5 minutes to cook!
- Cubed bread: ever heard of Panzanella? This will change your life.
- Potatoes: are a healthy starch that offers fiber and makes a satiating base for salads. Cubed potatoes can be boiled or roasted and tossed with your favorite salad ingredients.
Salads with greens other than lettuce
If you love salads with greens but want to leave lettuce aside, these recipes hit the spot! A few greens mixed with tasty and nutritious ingredients show that salads without lettuce can be awesome!
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Bacon
The bacon takes this salad from great to epic to show that simplicity can taste amazing! An easy and flavorful side you’re going to love!
Blueberry Spinach Salad
Simple spinach gets even better by adding the sweet touch of blueberries. You can prep this salad in 5 minutes and don’t even need to chop!
Healthy Breakfast Salad
This delicious salad will keep you full for hours, no matter if you enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! It’s made with tons of tasty ingredients, and you can add the greens of your choice!
Cranberry Quinoa Salad
Spinach adds a green -and optional- touch to this tangy-sweet fall salad made with quinoa, cranberries, and pecans. Easy, quick, and super nutritious!
Popcorn Shrimp Salad
Did anyone say crunchy? This spectacular salad is made with popcorn shrimp, slaw mix, and a delish dressing that will have everyone asking for more!
Asian Kale Salad
This Asian-inspired vegetable salad may look green but has no lettuce at all! Instead, kale, red cabbage, and carrots are the stars of the show. Super quick and delicious!
Watermelon Feta and Mint Salad
When you look for a side dish that screams summer, this fresh salad is it! It’s fresh, healthy, and can be assembled in just 10 minutes.
18 Epic Salads without Lettuce
Pick from one of these salads without lettuce, or get started with this simple couscous salad.
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4
- Category: Salads
Ingredients
- 1 cup couscous
- 1 ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 lemon, juiced and zested
- 1 garlic clove, grated or minced
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups broccoli florets, steamed & chopped small
- 2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
- ⅓ cup parsley, finely chopped
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pot, bring the water to a boil. Add the couscous, stir, cover with a lid, and turn off the heat. Let it rest to absorb the water and cook for 5 minutes. Once the couscous is ready, fluff it with a fork.
- Meanwhile, in a large salad bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, salt, and pepper. Add the cooked broccoli and fresh tomatoes.
- Transfer the cooked couscous to the salad bowl, top with parsley, and toss to combine all the ingredients with the dressing at the bottom of the bowl.
- Enjoy it warm or refrigerate it for 1 hour or overnight.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 315
- Sugar: 2.7 g
- Sodium: 25.5 mg
- Fat: 14.6 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40.4 g
- Fiber: 4.3 g
- Protein: 7.6 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Katie
LOVING all these lettuce-free salad ideas!
★★★★★