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40 High-Protein Salad Recipes That Are Crisp, Refreshing *and* Satisfying

Not today, snack drawer

high-protein salad recipes: chili crisp burrata salad, sheet pan chorizo and potato salad and curried chicken kale salad, side by side
Heami Lee/Kristin Teig/Kristen Kilpatrick

You know what sounds like delicious lunch? A big salad. But is it just me, or do they always leave you wanting more an hour later? Since a bunch of lettuce just won’t cut it, add a boost of protein to your next bowl. Aside from keeping you satisfied longer, it’s essential to muscle-building, hormone production and energy (and you can get it from grains, vegetables and fruits, in addition to the usual meat or tofu).

From citrus-shrimp quinoa salad to corn fritter caprese with peaches and tomatoes, these high-protein salad recipes are hearty and sure to please. Most importantly, they're easy enough for beginners to tackle and impressive enough to serve to guests.

36 High-Protein Lunches That Are Simple, Satisfying and Scrumptious


How Much Protein Should You Eat in a Day?

According to the FDA, women should aim for 46 grams of protein a day, while men should consume 56 grams per day. Here's why:

1. Chickpea Caesar Salad with a Cheater’s Dressing (15g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, gluten free

"It features roasted chickpeas for a boost of protein that happens to be cheaper than chicken," explains PureWow senior food editor Katherine Gillen, "plus a magical cheater’s Caesar dressing that skips the raw egg and anchovies." Bake the chickpeas ahead to save time before dinner.

2. Fall Cobb Salad with Maple Vinaigrette (15g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead, beginner-friendly

This autumnal twist on a Cobb salad doesn't call for traditional tomato or chicken, but I promise you won't miss them. "I used roasted sweet potatoes and Brussels sprouts, but you could also try winter squash and broccoli," Gillen writes. And the maple dressing? Revelatory.

3. Tomato and Halloumi Salad Bowls with Farro and Basil (21g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 40 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, beginner-friendly

"If you’ve never cooked with halloumi, it’s a semi-hard cheese that holds up well to heat, developing a golden crust but retaining its shape when cooked," Gillen explains. "It’s briny, chewy and ideal for tossing in a skillet or even on the grill." Need I say more?

4. Make-Ahead Spicy Chicken and Rice Salad (18g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, make ahead

This will actually make you want to bring lunch from home. "I chose purple cabbage because I like the pop of color it adds, but know that it will probably stain your salad a pinkish hue as it sits in the fridge," Gillen advises. "It’ll still taste just as delicious, but you can also use green cabbage if you want to avoid this."

5. Spicy, Crunchy Tuna Salad Lettuce Cups (17g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: no cook, gluten free, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes

Lunch is only eight ingredients away—and there's no cooking required. "It's like your protein-packed, cheap lunch staple, but with lettuce instead of bread (refreshing!) and plenty of my fave condiment," Gillen says. "I like the one from Fly by Jing, but you can also make your own if you're feeling ambitious."

6. Chicken Caesar Salad Pizza (32g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, kid-friendly

"This recipe for chicken Caesar salad pizza is basically a cheesy, bubbly flatbread topped with the crowd-pleasing entree," Gillen writes. Even better, you can use a store-bought rotisserie chicken for the topping to save yourself some prep work.

7. Summer Steak Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing (36g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, gluten free

You don't technically need to fire up the grill to make this seasonal stunner. "Using the broil feature on your oven (highly underrated, in our opinion), you can create enough heat to give steak and veggies that char we all love so much," write recipe creators and cookbook authors Holly Erickson and Natalie Mortimer.

8. Kristin Cavallari’s Salmon BLT Salad with Spicy Tomatillo Ranch (58g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, special occasion-worthy

"This salad has a few of my favorite things," writes cookbook author and reality TV star Kristin Cavallari. "Salmon (which has omega-3s and is so, so good for you), bacon (no explanation needed), avocado (healthy fats) and spicy tomatillo ranch dressing (just yum)." Prepare the bacon and dressing in advance so all you have to do before dinner is assemble.

9. Curried Chicken and Kale Salad with Creamy Harissa Dressing (50g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy

A few pantry heroes (honey! Champagne vinegar! olive oil!) give the goat cheese-spiked dressing its magic. "The dressing is then tossed with kale, apples, golden raisins and crunchy pumpkin seeds, and topped off with warm chicken that is sautéed with curry powder and cumin," writes recipe creator Alex Snodgrass.

10. Malibu Farm’s Vegan Chop Salad (13g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 50 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegan, gluten free, make ahead

Don’t let the long ingredient list deter you: The dressing, squash and beets can all be made days in advance and kept in the fridge until the salad is assembled. It's also endlessly riffable, so feel free to sub whatever veggies, legumes or pickled ingredients you have on hand.

11. Smashed Potato and Chorizo Sheet Pan Salad (25g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: sheet pan recipe, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly

Meat, potatoes and minimal cleanup—that's my kind of salad. The spuds soak up all the spicy juices from the chorizo in the oven before being dressed in zingy lime vinaigrette, tossed with lettuce and crowned with tangy queso fresco.

12. Fall Roasted Vegetable and Lentil Salad with Pine Nut Cream (13g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, dairy free, gluten free

"This is a hearty salad that can be served on its own as a main course," says recipe creator Aran Goyoaga, "but also as a side for a meat roast. It's complex in all its textures but simple to put together." If you don't like cilantro, use dill or parsley in its place.

13. The Ultimate Dinner Salad (37g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, gluten free

Chickpeas, corn, chicken and goat cheese make this dinner salad one for the books. I especially love the spicy lemon-herb sauce, spiked with parsley, mint and cilantro. Use the leftovers on roasted potatoes, grilled fish or bruschetta.

14. Lemony Swiss Chard Salad with White Beans and Garlic Breadcrumbs (29g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegan, beginner-friendly

Fun fact: Swiss chard can be enjoyed raw. "Swiss chard makes a wonderful addition to or base of a salad," asserts recipe creator Kat Ashmore, "because it’s both tender and sturdy, meaning it holds up well to weighty additions like white beans and a robust, lemony dressing."

15. Falafel Salad with Spicy Yogurt Sauce (18g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly, gluten free

"I nestle homemade falafel (or premade, if you so choose) in a bed of crisp greens topped with tomato, onion, cucumber and herbs (hello, fresh mint)," writes PureWow's recipe developer. It's then generously drizzled with yogurt sauce, but I wouldn't fault you for adding tahini, too.

16. Chili Crisp Burrata Salad with Arugula, Apple and Walnuts (31g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, no cook, <30 minutes

Hosting a dinner party? This high-protein salad is dressed to impress. "The thrill and joy every­one gets from seeing the oil and bits of chili crisp fall into the cracks of ooey, gooey burrata is simply marvelous," writes recipe creator James Park. "The creamy burrata balances the spicy chili crisp, creating a party of flavors that will make you roll your eyes with pleasure."

17. Roasted Red Cabbage Salad with Oranges, Hazelnuts and Feta (11g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: gluten free, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

This stunner puts your usual camping dishes (read: canned beans) to shame. Prep all the components at home before packing them in a cooler and heading to the campsite, or make the salad from start to finish—and on the grill—for a backyard soirée.

18. All-Year-Round Tomato and Mozzarella Salad (20g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, kid-friendly, vegetarian

You only *think* you don't love tomatoes. This bread-heavy twist on caprese will change your mind. "A bit of heat from the oven, a sprinkling of sugar and salt and some good-quality oil can tease out special flavors so your salad always tastes fresh and intense," writes recipe creator Rosie Reynolds.

19. Cucumber Breakfast Salad with Jammy Eggs (18g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

A.M. salad is a thing, and this superbly refreshing one is just right for balmy summer mornings. "Use plenty of seeds on this," advises recipe creator Jess Damuck. "They give great flavor and crunch. And use your best olive oil, as it makes a big difference. It’s also great served with a slice of sourdough or pita." Roger that.

20. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing (11g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy

The secret to making lunch the highlight of your day is to serve halloumi cheese. But the charred summer peaches, tender green beans and crunchy pine nuts are pretty drool-worthy, too.

21. Lemon-Herb Chicken and Avocado Salad (54g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, no dairy, make ahead

The toppings are always the best part. (No offense, lettuce.) Cook the chicken in advance, store it in the fridge and assemble a salad whenever a craving strikes.

22. Shrimp Fajita Salad with Avocado Cilantro Dressing (41g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

This dressing is a choose-your-own-adventure situation: Use olive oil instead of yogurt to make it dairy-free, swap in basil for the cilantro or try a mix of herbs for a homemade version of green goddess. Just don't skimp on the jalapeño.

23. Salmon and Fennel Dinner Salad (32g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 55 minutes
  • Why I Love It: high protein, make ahead, beginner-friendly

The salmon offers richness, the couscous adds heft and chewiness and the creamy yogurt dressing feels indulgent (even though it’s not). It'll taste divine warm or cold, so feel free to prep this high-protein salad in advance and serve it straight from the fridge.

24. Citrus, Shrimp and Quinoa Salad with Feta (15g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, <10 ingredients

This hearty grain salad takes just 20 minutes to make and keeps for two days in the fridge—genius. The bittersweet grapefruit pairs beautifully with punchy olives, tangy feta and smoky shellfish.

25. Aran Goyoaga’s Niçoise Salad (20g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy

One of the perks of a Niçoise salad is that you can rely on canned tuna, so there’s no fussing or cooking the protein in advance. The recipe calls for bonito, a smaller variety caught along the Basque Country’s Atlantic coastline, as well as fried capers and dill.

26. Roasted Squash Salad with White Beans, Breadcrumbs and Preserved Lemon (14g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour (plus soaking time)
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, vegan

Whoever decided salad needs to include lettuce never tasted this bean-filled beauty. Take your pick of kabocha, acorn or butternut squash for the base, then pile on the breadcrumbs and sprouts to your heart's content.

27. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes (28g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly

This high-protein salad recipe is really impressive, but most of the effort goes into cooking the corn fritters. The rest is just assembly (and eating). Top it with frizzled prosciutto or crumbled bacon for even more protein.

28. Family-Style Chicken Caesar Salad (34g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes
  • Why I Love It: kid-friendly, beginner-friendly, high protein

If you’ve sworn off Caesar dressing because of the—gasp—anchovies, this version is made with Worcestershire sauce and olives for that signature sweet-salty flavor. Pair it with pizza, pasta, grilled steak, chicken cutlets or...well, anything you'd like.

29. Make-Ahead Farro and Brussels Sprout Salad (12g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: make ahead, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

Admittedly, salads can involve a fair amount of prep work, so when one comes along that’s make-ahead friendly, I'm all ears. Substitute maple syrup or agave for honey to make this gem vegan.

30. Lemon-Tahini Salad with Lentils, Beets and Carrots (22g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 45 minutes
  • Why I Love It: vegetarian, dairy free, gluten free

This grain salad is as colorful as it is nutritious. To shortcut the recipe, seek out precooked lentils and vacuum-packed cooked beets at the grocery store (I won’t tell).

31. 20-Minute Burrata Salad with Stone Fruit and Asparagus (18g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian, beginner-friendly

You had me at burrata—and again at peaches, plums and cherries. It's practically no-cook too, besides briefly blanching the asparagus and sugar snap peas.

32. Quick Guacamole Quinoa Salad (15g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 30 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan, gluten free

It might seem like a bowl of guacamole masquerading as a salad, but it’s also packed with black beans and quinoa, which are both protein all-stars. I'll take hot sauce on mine, please.

33. Keto Steak and Blue Cheese Salad for One (24g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 5 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, low carb, keto-friendly

Leftover steak has met its match. Use last night's protein to zhuzh up an otherwise simple salad. Bonus points for using pickled red onions instead of raw.

34. Radicchio, Lentil and Apple Salad with Vegan Cashew Dressing (15g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 35 minutes (plus soaking time)
  • Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, vegan

The lemon-cashew dressing is so luscious and creamy, you won’t believe it’s plant-based. The rest of this high-protein salad's components are crunchy, refreshing and filling.

35. Indian-Inspired Salad Bowl with Crunchy Chickpeas (14g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 20 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, dairy free

The chickpeas are seasoned with cumin, curry powder and shredded coconut. If you’re not careful, you’ll eat them all before they make it to your bowl—you've been warned, friend.

36. Sweet Corn, Tomato and Zucchini Grain Salad with Peach-Dijon Vinaigrette (12g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy, beginner-friendly

This gorgeous salad takes just 15 minutes to toss together—bonus points if you add edible flowers. The only cooking you'll need to do is hard-boiling the eggs, which can be done in advance.

37. Joanna Gaines’s Peach Caprese Salad (14g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 10 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, no cook, beginner-friendly, vegetarian

Ripe summer peaches need little adornment, and this sweet-and-savory number requires just eight ingredients. Flaky salt and white balsamic vinegar bring both mild mozz and stone fruit to life with ease.

38. Strawberry Cobb Salad with Dairy-Free Ranch Dressing (18g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 25 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, high protein

Have you ever seen a prettier plate of greens? I think not, thanks to crimson strawberries, buttery avocado and crispy bacon. Use any store-bought ranch dressing you'd like for this high-protein salad.

39. Prosciutto and Fig Salad Board (14g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 15 minutes
  • Why I Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, no cook

The trouble with salad bowls is that all the toppings sink to the bottom. The solution? Spread your salad onto a platter and turn it into a work of art. (Fresh figs will do a lot of the heavy lifting for you in the presentation department.)

40. Veggie Niçoise Salad with Red Curry Green Beans (11g Protein)

  • Time Commitment: 1 hour
  • Why I Love It: gluten free, vegetarian,

Olives, potatoes and green beans, oh my. Parisians top this classic meal with canned tuna, but this version bulks up with loads of colorful veggies and hard-boiled eggs.


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Former Senior Food Editor

  • Headed PureWow’s food vertical
  • Contributed original reporting, recipes and food styling
  • Studied English Literature at the University of Notre Dame and Culinary Arts at the Institute of Culinary Education

taryn pire

Food Editor

  • Contributes to PureWow's food vertical
  • Spearheads PureWow's recipe vertical and newsletter
  • Studied English and writing at Ithaca College