One of the ideas I wanted to pursue in creating Refined Journey was the idea of having “collections” of recipes of certain types that we can return to over and over. One collection I have is a few main-dish salad recipes we can make for lunch and dinner, for our family or guests, with little thought and prep. Finding recipes that are delicious and nutritious makes it easy to have an allergy-friendly dinner without much notice, and it helps me not fall into the pre-made meal trap, and avoid stress over meals. These are some favorite amazing main-dish salad recipes for your own collection!
For warm weather, I can’t imagine a quicker, easier, or more unique idea than this 10-Minute Cauliflower Salad from Kaylie at Paleo Gluten Free Eats. Throw grilled or meal-prep chicken on top and it’s a delicious main-dish salad for lunch or dinner.
I love my Spiralized Chicken and Apple Salad. (You don’t need to spiralize your apples, but it’s sure pretty that way and adds interesting texture!) It’s crispy, sweet-and-sour, warm-and-cool all at once. It’s great for a ladies’ brunch, but it totally fills up the guys if you heap on the protein.
I got this Tarragon Chicken Salad recipe in my email inbox and immediately asked Cheryl at 40 Aprons if I could share it. Like her, I desperately miss the Publix version (and just about everything else about Publix – oh please, oh please, work your way up the east coast! 😉 ). This would be so good scooped up with almond flour crackers.
This Lemony Arugula Salad from the Minimalist Baker makes me swoon. I’m going to try making the shallots with a combination of 1/2 almond flour and 1/2 coconut flour. Arugula makes me smile. 🙂
Michelle’s Paleo Crispy Chicken Salad at Unbound Wellness is gorgeous. I love that you can have “crispy chicken” without a complicated process or added breading. (Her blog is full of pretty, Paleo and Whole 30 recipes that aren’t complicated and are easy to scale!)
This might just be an all-time easiest lunch recipe, and one that will keep for several days. Jennifer’s Trail Mix Tuna Salad (at Urban Poser) would be a perfect “swap” in the Refined Journey meal plan!
I called this Blackberry Brie Spinach Salad “artfully curated,” and I still feel that way. It’s beautiful. The brie adds an amazing creamy touch to a bright salad with pops of tartness from the blackberries.
Finally, we’ve had “Nancy’s Chopped Salad” on repeat in our kitchen for YEARS. Imagine my delight when I watched an episode of Chef’s Kitchen and there was Nancy, making her salad. Why is this combination so addictive?! (Try it at Smitten Kitchen or The Washington Post. – Image below via Smitten Kitchen.)
What are your favorite main-dish salads?
