Let’s get real for a second. Salads are great and all, but don’t get us started on oversized kale leaves and one giant chunk of cheese that inevitably makes its way to the bottom of the bowl. The solution? Chop up everything into tiny bites, toss with a delicious dressing and dig in. Sure, it might mean a little more prep work, but these 20 chopped salads are super easy to shovel into your mouth with only a fork.
1. New York Style: If you’re not too concerned with the health of your chopped salad, try this New York-sized salad, inspired by those ubiquitous “make your own” salad bars. It has literally everything you could want in it. (via The Pioneer Woman)
2. Summery Strawberries and Bacon: Whip up this sweet salad that’s perfect for a warmer day. A tart strawberry dressing gets tossed with fruit and bacon. Seriously, it does NOT get better than this. (via Crème de la Crumb)
3. Detox Salad: Chopped salads are more than just a way to get your veggies. They’re a tasty trick for mixing in grains, fruits, nuts and all that other healthy goodness you should probably be eating more of. This detox salad is raw, vegan and full of healthy fats from a tasty avocado dressing. You won’t even miss the cheese… we promise. (via The Glowing Fridge)
4. BLT Chopped Salad With Corn, Feta and Avocado: Get in one last taste of summer with tons of crumbly bacon, corn and creamy feta. A lemony dressing on top is all you need for a light and fresh lunch. (via How Sweet Eats)
5. A Cold Winter Side: You may have hated Brussels sprouts as a kid, but this salad will change that. And you don’t have to cook anything to make this recipe, so you can avoid stinking up the kitchen. Just toss thinly sliced raw sprouts with pecorino, some red onion and a sweet, citrusy dressing. Who says winter produce can’t be light and delicious? (via Not Without Salt)
6. A Trip to the Mediterranean: This take on a classic Greek salad has all the good stuff: tomatoes, basil, feta and onion. Honestly, the only thing that could make this salad better would be eating it by the sea, preferably on a terrace in Santorini. (via Serious Eats)
7. Classic With a Creamy Vinaigrette: The secret to this salad is in the dressing. A creamy dose of protein comes from chickpeas, blended with oil and vinegar until smooth enough to pour. It’s like hummus in dressing form, and yes, it’s good enough to eat on its own. (via The Naked Kitchen)
8. Fall Favorite: This pick is an easy way to detox your body from all those summer days filled with too much ice cream, lobster rolls and grilled corn. Unexpected maple syrup in the dressing adds a touch of sweetness. (via Oh She Glows)
9. Mean Greens: Kale, basil, avocado and sprouts make these vibrant greens practically burst at the seams with vitamins and antioxidants. A toss of pistachios and quinoa ups the healthy fat and protein content to keep you full all day. (via With Food and Love)
10. Panzanella: We might be cheating a little with this classic Italian salad of bread, mozzarella, basil, tomatoes and olive oil. It’s technically not a “chopped” salad because you only have to cut up the tomatoes. But who’s really keeping track here? Now, tear up some bread with your hands and toss everything together for a super tasty lunch. (via How Sweet Eats)
11. Chicken and Chickpeas: Chickpeas are practically made for chopped salads. All you have to do is give them a quick rinse before tossing them in the bowl with all your other ingredients. That means less time spent prepping and more time spent eating (score!). (via Ambitious Kitchen)
12. Asian Spices and Seasoned Tofu: While no one would argue against salads being a perfect food for vegetarians, they still sometimes lack the necessary protein to leave you happy, healthy and full. This light meal adds baked, spiced tofu for a boost of satisfying fullness. (via New York Times)
13. Classic French Ingredients: French lentils are one of the most delicious legumes out there. With a slight bite and earthy taste, it’s no wonder they find their way into our salads whenever we have leftovers lying around. (via In Pursuit of More)
14. Beets and Greens: Making use of all that farmers market produce can be hard, especially when you’re stumped about what to do with the green, leafy tops of all your veggies. This beet green salad takes the entire plant and chops it up finely, mixing quinoa and sunflower seeds in for protein. (via Sprouted Kitchen)
15. Kale and Pancetta: We honestly can’t think of a more perfect fall salad. Salty pancetta, healthy kale and sweet apples with pecans make for a side we can’t wait to serve at this year’s Thanksgiving table. (via Serious Eats)
16. Chicken, Bacon and Avocado: This chopped take on a cobb has a special place on our plates thanks to juicy tomatoes, crisp bacon and creamy avocado. Sure, it may not be the healthiest salad out there, but it’s healthy for your soul. That counts, right? (via Gimme Some Oven)
17. Breakfast Salad: Salad for breakfast? We thought it was kind of weird at first, too. But once we read through the recipe we knew it was a genius idea. How much better can it get than breakfast sausage, eggs and avocado? It’s like all the best breakfast foods in a bowl, just begging to be eaten… and we’ll happily oblige. (via Fed and Fit)
18. Easy Greek: This easy salad is similar to the Mediterranean version above, but adds in olives, cucumbers and a big flavor trick: fresh oregano. Those fresh herbs take you right to the heart of Greece. (via Serious Eats)
19. Blueberry Chicken Superfood Salad: Blueberry season may be gone for most of us, but if you’re lucky enough to still have blueberries coming in fresh, make this salad ASAP. It’s got a funky kick from blue cheese that’s balanced out by the sweetness from the blueberries and some spicy red onions. (via Gimme Some Oven)
20. Seasonal Abundance: Use this salad as a way to finish up all those fresh herbs you’ve been growing on your windowsill. Besides being chock full of delicious produce, cheese, seeds and nuts, the fresh herbs are used like lettuce, providing a pungent base that stands up to the spicy chipotle vinaigrette. This is no run-of-the-mill mild salad, but that’s totes okay with us. (via Half Baked Harvest)
Ready to get chopping? Tell us your favorite chopped salad recipes in the comments below!
