“Hi Honey, what’s for dinner?”
“It’s Salad for Dinner!” quiet and not at all hidden look of disappointment and confusion follows….
But these salads will change all that! Here are my Top Ten Summer “Salad for Dinner” Salads. That means they will fill you up and are delicious enough and hearty enough to keep even my husband from complaining about where the rest of the meal is. (That is saying something HUGE by the way.)
I also love that many of them utilize already cooked proteins like leftover chicken (which a lot of have in the refrigerator post BBQing in the Summer) and even smoked trout, which is my favorite and is an awesome alternative for tuna or smoked salmon. If it is already in your fridge, then that only means it will be FASTER to make dinner!!!
There is also bacon in some of these. What I like about bacon is that a little can go a long ways in flavor and in feelings of satisfaction.
Then there are a few “all veggie” salads, but with the likes of fresh corn and hearty beets, you won’t notice that they are “missing” meat!
We are trying to substitute a few dinners a week for big salads right now so that we are feeling light on our toes for the Summer! Try and see what you think…
Rosemary Chicken, Avocado and Bacon Salad
Chicken Chop Chop Salad with Creamy Mango Vinaigrette
Kale, Beet and Bacon Salad with Goat CheeseVinaigrette
BBQ Chicken Salad with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing
Hot Spinach, Bacon and Strawberry Salad
Shrimp, White Bean and Radish Salad
Kale Salad with Charred Corn and Feta
Asian Chicken Salad with Honey Sesame Dressing
Summer Chopped Veggie Salad with Smoked Trout
I love dinner salads, these all sound incredible!
Me too Laura- it is like the perfect combo of delicious and light. Like if I am really full afterwards, I don’t feel guilty!
A big old salad with a bunch of stuff in it is my absolute favorite meal. It’s kind of like a big bowl of popcorn you can slowly munch on, except it can be more tasty and entertaining with all of the delicious stuff…and healthy, too! The only thing better would be if someone would make these for me. At the end of the work day, it’s hard to get excited about the prep, but once it’s done, what a pay-off! Thanks for sparking my salad hunger, Heather!
Nancy- you are speaking my language. I go crazy with the huge bowl of popcorn too! I think the thing that makes it the very easiest is to have pre-cooked protein in the fridge. Even if it is just a rotisserie chicken. Also- when you make salad dressing, make a double or triple batch so you can use it throughout the week.
I am a huge fan of dinner salads and these all sounds incredible!
me too!! Thanks Teighan!
Salads for dinner are the best!
Thank you for posting these recipes!
no problem Vicki! I got a few Vegetarian ones in there for you 🙂
Thanks for posting these! I got your cookbook as a wedding present and I’m thinking its the best present we got (I’m trying to make everything in there at least once and my husband is OBSESSED with the steak sandwiches and I am now obsessed with your blog). Plus we live in Seattle so its nice that things are in the same season.
Thank you!
That is SO NICE!!! Thank you so much Amanda! Congrats on being a newlywed and very warmest wishes 🙂
Always looking for different salads in the summer !
You have really inspired me to enjoy a salad, been so boring and now ready to change my eating choices. Thank you. So trying to be eating as few carbs as possible!
Want those yummy salad recipe.
Your salads are simply exquisite and your photos are a joy to look at!
Totally delicious!
Thank you!
This is just what I was looking for to get me through the hot weather. Thanks!
The salad are AMAZING! I love it..