14 Panzanella Salad Recipes to Make for Dinner

Goodbye, hearty soups and casseroles; hello, spring salads. If you’ve long been a fan of salad for lunch, but rarely think of having it for dinner, panzanella is going to change your life. In Italy, this tasty Tuscan dish calls for day-old bread, but you can pan grill or toast your croutons in the oven before soaking them in a zingy dressing that’s rich with the juices of fresh tomatoes. Here are 14 panzanella salad recipes that elevate a humble bowl of greens to *main meal* status.

Spanish Style Panzanella

This Spanish version calls for spicy chicken chorizo and aged Manchego cheese. (via The Hungary Buddha)

Heirloom Tomato Panzanella Salad

This recipe comes with an easy-peasy red wine vinaigrette that you’ll find yourself coming back to time and again. (via Aberdeen’s Kitchen)

Panzanella Style Caprese Asparagus Salad

This salad is a riff on the simple Caprese, adding avocado and toasty bread to that classic trio of ripe tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella we’ve all come to love. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Muffuletta Panzanella for Two

This salad is piled high with salami, mortadella, spicy sopressata, provolone, mozzarella, and spicy briny olives. It’s like a classic New Orleans muffuletta sammy in a bowl. (via Pinch and Swirl)

Grilled Peach Panzanella Salad

This take on the classic features chunky torn pieces of bread, instead of square-cut croutons. The added texture is amazingly hearty. (via A Simple Pantry)

Mexican Panzanella Salad

This one’s for all the gluten-free peeps in the house! Crispy *cornbread* croutons are so tasty, you won’t be missing a thing. (via Eat Love Eat)

Panzanella Dinner Salad With Shrimp

Spicy grilled shrimp adds an extra dimension of flavor — and a real protein punch — to this option. (via Chili Pepper Madness)

Panzanella Salad With Cherry Tomatoes, Figs, and Corn

Creamy goat cheese paired with crunchy bread is the real star of this show. (via Things I Made Today)

Vegan Cornbread Panzanella

This vegan cornbread panzanella is everything you want it to be: zesty, garlicky, and crunchy. The cornbread cubes remain fork-tender in the middle so you can really taste that sweet corn goodness. (The Full Helping)

Crowd-Pleasing Caprese Panzanella Salad

This chicken and Caprese version is a real crowd pleaser, with tangy balsamic dressing and creamy bites of bocconcini cheese. (via The Girl on Bloor)

Easy Polenta Panzanella

No bread in the house? No problemo. This recipe calls for grilled polenta right out of the tube. Easy peasy lemon squeezy! (via Salted Plains)

One-Pan Roasted Butternut Squash and Chicken Dinner

Squash and bread cook together in one pan for minimal cleanup. (via Foodie Girl Chicago)

Summer IPA Panzanella Salad

You’ll kick things off the old-fashioned way with this salad, toasting bread cubes from a stale baguette, then add a savory sauce spiked with beer to bring it back to life again. (via The Beeroness)

Breakfast Panzanella

This salad delivers on breakfast for dinner in the most delicious way. The basil and tomatoes are a sweet reminder that warmer weather is just around the corner. (via CaliGirl Cooking)