23 Salad Recipes That Go Beyond Lettuce

If you're feeling stuck in a lettuce-only salad rut, try one of these 23 ideas for side salads that feature grains, fruit, noodles, pasta, beans, and more.

April 20, 2025 · 2 min · 348 words · Brian Wilson

Table of Contents

Lettuce doesn’t have to be the key ingredient in a salad, and these recipes prove it.

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

A good salad can be made of anythingno lettuce required.

Any of these would work alongside a main course like roast chicken, pork chops, or seared fish.

Bowl of Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella Surrounded by a Slices of Bread, Vase of Flowers, Utensils, and a Kitchen Linen

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Crumbly, salty feta helps bring out the savory side of tender roasted sweet potatoes.

Serve it with roast chicken at dinner and then enjoy leftovers for lunch the next day.

you might opt to use one large cucumber or several smaller ones."

Overhead view of an easy rice noodle salad in a serving bowl along with wooden claws.

Alison Bickel

Toss with barley, spinach, feta, almonds, and pomegranate seeds.

Roasted Radish and Feta Salad

Have you ever roasted radishes?

Their flavor transforms in the heat of the oven, turning juicy and sweet.

tomato quarter in a large bowl next to a smaller bowl with minced herbs for 5-ingredient tomato salad recipe

Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

Toss them with a vinaigrette and some feta for a light meal or side salad.

Southwestern Three Bean Salad

A three bean salad with a Southwestern twist!

Black Bean Salad

A fresh black bean salad, perfect for a summer picnic or potluck.

Cucumber Quinoa Salad

Elise Bauer

White Bean and Tuna Salad

A classic combination that’s so easy to make with pantry staples.

Grapefruit Avocado Salad

Grapefruit and avocado make the perfect pair in this cheerful, healthy salad!

It’s dressed with a light citrus vinaigrette.

Wild Rice Cranberry Pecan Salad

Elise Bauer

Great for a potluck.

Quick and easy to toss together and great with chicken or fish.

Slightly sweet maple brown butter dressing and tangy goat cheese balance out the savory veggies and bread.

Bowl of Roasted Sweet Potato Salad Topped with Crumbled Feta Cheese, Surrounded by Stack of Plate with Forks, a Small Bowl of More Feta Cheese, a Small Bowl of Salt, a Cutting Board with Lime Wedges, a Kitchen Towel, and Empty Glasses

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Great as a summer side, its smokiness would pair nicely withbbq chicken.

A perfect potluck dish.

Sprinkled with pistachios and drizzled with citrusy, briny dressing, it’s a winner.

Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

Classic Carrot Salad

Carrots, raisins, apples, and mayo.

That’s all it takes to make this simple salad.

If you’ve never tried it, trust us, it works.

Roasted Broccoli Salad

Sally Vargas

How to Roast Radishes

Sally Vargas

Mexican Three Bean Salad

Elise Bauer

Black Bean Salad

Elise Bauer

White Bean Tuna Salad

Elise Bauer

Grapefruit Avocado Salad

Elise Bauer

Orange and Beet Salad

Elise Bauer

Elise Bauer

Emma Christensen

cold pea salad in a white bowl

Sally Vargas

greek pasta salad in a bowl

Sabrina Modelle

beet and kale salad in a blue bowl

Elise Bauer

Classic Carrot Salad in a bowl with wooden serving spoons.

Michelle Becker

pasta and bean summer salad in a bowl with a spoon

Sheryl Julian

Endive Salad with Walnuts Pear Gorgonzola

Elise Bauer

Watercress Bacon Salad

Elise Bauer