Recipes Salad 15 Quick and Easy Side Dish Salads By Mary Claire Lagroue Mary Claire Lagroue Mary Claire Lagroue is the Commerce Editor at Food & Wine. A former associate editor at Allrecipes, she joined Dotdash Meredith in 2019. She has written about food since 2017, covering everything from product reviews to recipes to restaurants. Her work can be found in Cooking Light, Southern Living, and more. Allrecipes' editorial guidelines Published on November 17, 2020 Close Short on time doesn't mean short on flavor. A fresh, crisp salad is always a welcome side dish to any meal— from a casual lunch to the most formal dinner. But with all the time it takes to prep a meal, the last thing you need is a side dish salad that's complicated and time-consuming to make. Have we got a solution for you! Here are 15 quick and easy side salad recipes that'll come in handy, whether for a potluck, holiday, or just another weeknight. 01 of 15 Herb 'n Honey Cucumber Tomato Salad View Recipe Photo by lutzflcat. lutzflcat "Crisp and sweetly delicious, this salad is a wonderful addition to any summer picnic. May serve immediately or cover and refrigerate up to four hours before serving for enhanced flavor," recipe creator Ginny Maziarka says. A fresh, flavorful blend of delicate flavors that we highly recommend. 02 of 15 Classic Restaurant Caesar Salad View Recipe Deb C Reviewers attest that this salad truly lives up to its name. It fits in just as well at a barbecue as it would at at an upscale restaurant. The classic creaminess and rustic croutons are always reliably delicious. 03 of 15 Spinach Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing View Recipe Dianne Some of our home cooks have swapped certain ingredients for others, like strawberries for mandarin oranges and walnuts for almonds. Others make this sweet, tangy salad as it is. Do as you please—the poppy seed dressing speaks for itself. 04 of 15 Jamie's Cranberry Spinach Salad View Recipe Dianne "Very nice salad. We liked it with our Thanksgiving dinner because it was light and tasty," Julie Burke says. Perfect for adding to a holiday spread when guests are on their way and you're feeling the all too familiar kitchen fatigue. 05 of 15 Easy Apple Coleslaw View Recipe Jennifer Baker Make this easy barbecue side salad your own with add-ins like pineapple, red onion, jalapeño, pecans, or sunflower seeds — just a few of the variations our home cooks have tried. A creamy, sharp comfort that works well with lean proteins. 06 of 15 Thai-Inspired Sunomono with Jalapeno, Cilantro, and Basil View Recipe Photo by Soup Loving Nicole. Serve this aromatic cucumber side salad to spice up a weeknight dinner. A beautiful blend of warming spices gives this simple salad a kick. Try it with pork for a great balance of fat and acid. 07 of 15 Strawberry Avocado Salad View Recipe SunnyByrd The sweet, crisp, and wholly satisfying taste of this salad makes it a clear winner for potlucks or a quick weeknight side. Its lovely color and health benefits make it one of our favorites. 08 of 15 Quick and Easy Carrot and Chickpea Salad View Recipe Casablancaise "I love this fresh and satisfying salad and have had it as a side salad and as a main dish for lunch," AnnInLondon writes. "Simple, inexpensive, quick to put together and it uses ingredients that I always have on hand." 09 of 15 Baja Salad View Recipe Photo by Baking Nana. Baking Nana Home cooks recommend serving this salad with grilled chicken, empanadas, quesadillas, or even pizza. This southwestern-inspired fare has all of the colorful and tasty elements we love in a salad! Remember to toss well before serving and enjoy. 10 of 15 Taco Slaw View Recipe lutzflcat Home cooks write that this Mexican-inspired coleslaw works well as a side salad or as a topping for tacos of all kinds. Brightly colored and delicious is the name of the game for this yummy slaw. 11 of 15 Good for You Greek Salad View Recipe lutzflcat "Fabulous! I made this to go with gnocchi and baked chicken. The two little girls I made it for loved it," Melissa Goff says. Kids and adults alike agree on the yum-factor for this healthy and delicious Greek salad. 12 of 15 Kale Salad View Recipe Kale bean salad is one dish you can create from the basic slow cooker bean recipe. Photo by Kelly Cline. Kelly C "I am thrilled that I tried this recipe and that I read every review," Monique Douglas says. "It is critical to massage the kale. To do this, remove the stems, put a little olive oil on your hands, and knead the kale like you would bread for about five minutes, or until it is a dark rich green." 13 of 15 Watermelon Salad with Arugula and Feta View Recipe Simple, sweet, and delicious. Perfect for a picnic or a summer brunch. A bright, refreshing salad with a balanced combination of ingredients. Feel free to add poppy or chia seeds for added health benefits and a nice crunch. 14 of 15 Orange, Walnut, Gorgonzola and Mixed Greens Salad with Fresh Citrus Vinaigrette View Recipe Christina A beautifully flavored blend of fruits, nut, and sharp cheese. All of the elements are covered in this gourmet salad. Each bite gives you a crisp and sweet sensation that will make you glad to keep all these ingredients on hand for a repeat! 15 of 15 Winter Fruit Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing View Recipe Lake Erie Cooker "Wonderful salad for the holiday season. Great to serve for dinner at home or to take to a family gathering," recipe author Nora LaCroix writes. This colorful array of fruit would fit right in a holiday table spread. Carefully segment citrus before tossing with the rest of the fruits. More Salad Recipes Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit