Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (2024)

Eating your vegetables is effortless with these healthy chopped salad recipes. These salads are packed with vegetables and because everything is chopped, they're easy to serve and enjoy. Recipes like Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing and Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped Salad are fresh, tasty and perfect for a main or side dish.

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Eat-the-Rainbow Chopped Salad with Basil & Mozzarella

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (1)

This fresh and colorful salad has all of the delicious flavors you love from the classic caprese salad, plus even more healthy veggies. Double this and top each portion with 3 ounces grilled or roasted chicken to take it from a simple side to a quick main dish.

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Creamy Cucumber, Radish & Tomato Chopped Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (2)

A mix of cool, crunchy vegetables gives this healthy salad satisfying bite for a perfect potluck side.

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Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (3)

We've replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad. This satisfying salad takes just 20 minutes to make, so it's perfect for weeknight dinners, but it's elegant enough to serve to guests.

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Stetson Chopped Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (4)

Knock it out of the park at dinner with this composed salad recipe inspired by the crazy-popular Stetson Chopped Salad at Cowboy Ciao in Scottsdale, Arizona. It packs in colorful vegetables and a variety of textures from whole grains, seeds and a creamy homemade dressing for a photo-worthy, healthy meal. Keep it vegetarian or add smoked salmon or roasted chicken.

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Chopped Cucumber & Tomato Salad with Lemon

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It doesn't get easier than a cucumber and tomato summer salad! Fresh cucumber and juicy ripe tomatoes are all you need to really make this salad shine. Marinating cucumbers and tomatoes in vinegar with a touch of lemon zest infuses the dish with tangy citrus flavor.

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Avocado & Shrimp Chopped Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (6)

The smoky flavors of grilled shrimp and corn in this healthy chopped salad recipe are a tasty match for the creamy cilantro dressing.

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Superfood Chopped Salad with Salmon & Creamy Garlic Dressing

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (7)

Curly kale forms the base of this salad, but you could use chard or spinach. To the greens, add a multitude of chopped veggies, such as broccoli, cabbage and carrots. Finish with rich salmon for protein and a drizzle of creamy yogurt dressing to bring it all together.

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Meal-Prep Turkey Cobb Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (8)

Cubed deli turkey takes the place of chicken, while Cheddar replaces blue cheese in this easy Cobb-inspired salad. The protein-rich turkey and cheese, plus eggs and bacon, gives the salad staying power, so you won't get hungry an hour after you eat. Feel free to swap out the turkey for cooked chicken or chickpeas to mix things up. Serve the salad right away or pack it up in individual containers and you'll be set for lunch for days.

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Chopped Greek Salad with Chicken

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (9)

Chicken turns this Greek-inspired salad into a substantial main course. Feel free to substitute other chopped fresh vegetables, such as broccoli or bell peppers, for the tomatoes or cucumber. Use leftover chicken, store-roasted chicken or quickly poach a couple boneless, skinless chicken breasts while you prepare the rest of the salad. Serve with pita bread and hummus.

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Chopped Cobb Salad

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This single-serving recipe for Cobb salad swaps chicken in for bacon, which makes it a great source of protein for lunch. If you prefer another salad dressing, feel free to use that instead of our honey-mustard vinaigrette.

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Grilled Portobellos with Chopped Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (11)

This salad of grilled vegetables and beans tossed with lemon and dill tops grilled portobello mushrooms smothered in melted fontina cheese for a healthy vegetarian main course.

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Chopped Salad with Shrimp, Apples & Pecans

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (12)

Sweet and crunchy apples and celery combine with savory shrimp and nutty pecans in this easy, colorful dinner salad.

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"Use a Spoon" Chopped Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (13)

When Paul Newman and Michel Nischan opened their Westport, Connecticut, restaurant Dressing Room, Paul's request was that the menu always include a chopped salad that you could eat with a spoon. This chopped salad recipe is full of great flavors, colors and textures, featuring celery, carrots, red pepper, apple, cucumber, greens, cabbage, goat cheese and almonds. This is great for any holiday meal: you can let it stand and it stays crisp.

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Guacamole Chopped Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (14)

All of the delicious guacamole flavors you love in a healthy veggie-packed salad. Want to pump up the protein? Add leftover roast chicken or sautéed shrimp. Serve with tortilla chips on the side (or crumbled over the top) to take it up a notch.

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Roasted Cranberry, Squash & Cauliflower Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (15)

Serve this healthy salad as a main course or as a starter for a special meal. To speed up prep, look for precut butternut squash in the refrigerated area of the produce section at your grocery store.

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Chopped Rainbow Salad Bowls with Peanut Sauce

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (16)

Make good use of crunchy and colorful seasonal produce in these meal-prep-friendly vegetable bowls. With just 30 minutes of prep, you get four healthy lunches that are ready to grab-and-go. We use bulgur, which cooks faster and is higher in fiber than brown rice, but you could swap in quinoa (or any hearty whole grain). Feel free to add chopped cooked chicken, shrimp or tofu for extra protein.

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Fall Chopped Salad with Spinach, Butternut Squash, Apples & Cheddar

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Who says spinach salads are only for spring? Use autumn's tender crop of fresh spinach and other seasonal vegetables to make this fall salad with roasted butternut squash, apples, cheddar and pecans. This colorful and healthy salad would be a wonderful addition to your Thanksgiving menu, but there's no reason to save it for holidays--serve it along with chicken or pork for a healthy weeknight dinner, or turn it into a main course by adding some chickpeas or chopped chicken or turkey.

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Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (18)

This easy salad recipe allows for a wonderful use of leftover cooked chicken. Look for escarole in the produce section near the leafy greens; if you can't find it, you can use romaine instead.

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Chopped Salad with Cornbread Croutons

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (19)

At Handsome Hog, his restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota, Justin Sutherland offers this chopped salad topped with any barbecued meat on the menu. The chef recommends brisket--it takes this already Southern-inspired salad a step further.

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Chopped Salad with Sriracha Tofu & Peanut Dressing

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Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (20)

Prep four days' worth of high-protein vegan lunches using just four easy ingredients from your local specialty grocery store, including a veggie-heavy salad mix as a base. Because this salad mix is hearty, you can dress these bowls up to 24 hours before serving to allow the flavors in this healthy chopped salad to marry. If you can't find a hearty mix, go with broccoli slaw or shredded Brussels sprouts.

Our 20 Best Chopped Salad Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What does a chopped salad contain? ›

In a very large salad bowl combine corn, beans, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and half the chives. Add two or three spoonfuls of dressing and toss gently to combine. Add the lettuce to bowl.

How long does chopped salad last in the fridge? ›

How long does salad last in the fridge? Stored correctly, an average salad will last up to five days in the fridge. Any longer than this, and you'll start to see soggy, wilting leaves. Stored incorrectly, and you could be looking at no more than a couple of hours!

What is the healthiest salad? ›

10 Nutrient-Dense Salad Recipes
  • Low-Carb Asian Chopped Salad.
  • Spicy Shrimp, Avocado, and Arugula Salad.
  • Tofu and Kale Salad.
  • Pear, Grape, and Feta Salad.
  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad.
  • Blood Orange and Quinoa Kale Salad.
  • Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad.
  • Roasted Chickpea and Kale Salad.
Jul 20, 2021

Why are chopped salads so good? ›

In a tossed salad, you may taste two or even several ingredients at a time, but rarely are all present in each mouthful, and the proportion of flavors varies widely from bite to bite. But a well-made chopped salad presents you with a harmonious, balanced combination of sweet, salty, sour, and bitter flavors every time.

How do you make chopped salad last longer? ›

Use a Salad Spinner: Before chopping your vegetables, use a salad spinner to remove excess moisture. This will help to keep the vegetables crisp and fresh for longer. Store in an Airtight Container: Once you have chopped your vegetables, store them in an airtight container.

What are the 5 salads? ›

salad, any of a wide variety of dishes that fall into the following principal categories: green salads; vegetable salads; salads of pasta, legumes, or grains; mixed salads incorporating meat, poultry, or seafood; and fruit salads.

How do you meal prep chopped salad that doesn't go bad? ›

Tips to Keep Your Salad Fresh & Crisp
  1. Prep with the freshest produce possible. ...
  2. Keep your dressing separate from your salad until you're ready to eat. ...
  3. Pat your ingredients as dry as possible. ...
  4. Wrap veggies in paper towel.
  5. Make sure any cooked items have cooled down before adding to your salad.
Jun 16, 2022

Can I eat a salad that expired 5 days ago? ›

If the salad has been stored properly and looks and smells fine, it may still be safe to eat a day or two after the expiration date. However, if the salad appears discolored, has an off smell, or has a slimy texture, it's best to err on the side of caution and throw it away to avoid the risk of food poisoning.

How do restaurants keep lettuce crisp? ›

Lettuce actually needs a good amount of airflow, in addition to a bit of moisture (but not too much!), in order to stay crisp. That's why restaurants store their lettuce in special perforated bins that allow for air circulation while it's held in the fridge.

What is the most unhealthy salad? ›

Worst: Iceberg Wedge Salad

Thanks to the blue cheese or ranch dressing and bacon crumbles, it can pack in four times the fat of a T-bone steak. It also falls short in the nutrition department. That's because iceberg lettuce contains fewer vitamins and minerals than most dark leafy greens.

What is the least healthy vegetable? ›

Veggie: Celery

In fact, this vegetable doesn't contribute much to your body at all. The long, green stalks lacks many of the nutrients often found in other green vegetables, like vitamins C and A. Your body relies on vitamin C to help grow and repair cells, and vitamin A to promote eye, skin and bone health.

What is the healthiest dressing to put on salad? ›

8 Simple and Healthy Salad Dressings
  1. Sesame ginger. This simple salad dressing doubles as an easy marinade for meat, poultry, or roasted veggies. ...
  2. Balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  3. Avocado lime. ...
  4. Lemon vinaigrette. ...
  5. Honey mustard. ...
  6. Greek yogurt ranch. ...
  7. Apple cider vinaigrette. ...
  8. Ginger turmeric.
Jul 27, 2023

Why do restaurant salads taste better than homemade? ›

Restaurants salt their salads.

This resulted in every bite tasting vibrant and flavorful. "Season your salad just like you would anything else," Simpson said. "Salt is a big difference between salads at home and salads in a restaurant." This doesn't mean you have to make your salads salty!

What is the Nancy Reagan salad? ›

Grilled Chicken, Smoked Turkey Bacon, Aged Cheddar, Avocado, Meyer lemon Vinaigrette. ( First course.)

Why did McDonald's take away salads? ›

The COVID-19 pandemic caused McDonald's to reevaluate its menu. Besides just a cost factor, the company realized it could streamline its drive-thru operations by getting rid of its salads. Salads proved to be an additional hassle that took longer to make than the chain's sandwiches.

What does it mean when a salad is chopped? ›

What does it mean to ask for a salad chopped? It simply means that all the ingredients, including the lettuce, are chopped up small. This allows for the dressing to get into every inch of the salad and makes it so good.

What ingredients are served in a chopped salad firehouse? ›

Firehouse Salad Chopped Salad - Romaine, tomato, bell pepper, cucumber, provolone, pepperoncini, and light Italian dressing. Choose from smoked turkey... By Firehouse SubsFacebook.

What should a salad consist of? ›

leafy greens such as romaine, arugula, kale and spinach. whole grains such as quinoa, brown rice and bulgur. chopped or shredded vegetables such as cucumber, tomato, cabbage, and beets.

What does chopped ingredients mean? ›

Chop: This is a general method for cutting food into bite-sized pieces (about 1/4-inch in size, or the thickness of a pencil). A large-bladed chef's knife is helpful for chopping, dicing, and mincing When a recipe calls for finely chopped, aim for pieces about 1/8-inch in size (or half the thickness of a pencil).

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