29 Hearty Salads That Are More Than Just Leaves

Hearty salads are a game-changer when it comes to both taste and nutrition. These salads are packed with flavors and nutrients, making them a great choice for anyone looking to eat healthier without sacrificing taste. Whether you're after a satisfying lunch or a nutritious side, these recipes show that salads can be more than just a bowl of greens.

A plate of Moroccan Couscous Salad with Israeli Couscous. — Moroccan Couscous Salad with Israeli Couscous. Photo Credit: At the Immigrant's Table

Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

An overhead image of two bowls of lemon garlic kale salad. — Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Inspired by Il Corvo in Seattle, this garlic kale salad features pecorino cheese, toasted pepitas, and a garlic confit dressing. It’s a fresh option for fall meals, making it a good fit for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Garlic Kale Salad with Lemon

Easy Cranberry Salad with Pecans

An image of cranberry salad with pecans served in a white salad bowl with a fork on the side. — Easy Cranberry Salad with Pecans. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Tangy goat cheese, sweet cranberries, and crunchy pecans are topped with a flavorful dressing in this 10-minute salad. It provides a quick and vibrant mix of flavors and textures, ideal for hearty salads during the fall.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cranberry Salad with Pecans

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

Close up of beet salad on a white platter with two forks on the right side. — Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Roasted beets, goat cheese, arugula, pistachios, and grapefruit come together with a citrus vinaigrette for a refreshing salad. Its bright flavors make it a delightful choice as the seasons change, ideal for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese

Kale Salad With Cranberries

This salad blends kale, cranberries, lemon, and crunchy nuts for a satisfying mix of flavors and textures. It’s a quick, 5-minute side that pairs well with any main dish, making it a great choice for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Kale Salad With Cranberries

Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

An overhead image of Vegan Caesar Salad with Shaved Brussels Sprouts in wooden bowl. — Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

Featuring shaved Brussels sprouts, creamy vegan Caesar dressing, and toasted chickpeas, this salad offers a fresh take on a classic favorite. It’s an easy choice for weeknight dinners and complements hearty salads well.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Caesar Salad

Spinach Avocado Salad

Spinach, avocado, cherry tomatoes, radishes, and cotija cheese are combined with a lemon vinaigrette in this salad. Light and refreshing, it’s perfect for summer gatherings and a solid choice for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Spinach Avocado Salad

Daikon Salad

Daikon and carrots are combined with a sweet and sour dressing in this light, refreshing salad. Ready in under 10 minutes, it makes a simple and quick addition to any meal, fitting perfectly into hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Daikon Salad

Kale Harvest Salad

An overhead image of kale salad in a large serving bowl. — Kale Harvest Salad. Photo credit: Urban Farmie.

With carrots and dates, this fall kale salad is both nutritious and quick to prepare, ready in just 15 minutes. Its versatility makes it a fitting addition to weeknight dinners or as a seasonal side, perfect for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Kale Harvest Salad

Purple Cabbage and Pickled Mushroom Salad

Purple cabbage and pickled mushroom salad is colorful and packed with bold flavors. With avocado as a substitute, it easily becomes a vegan-friendly option for fall meals, making it suitable for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Purple Cabbage and Pickled Mushroom Salad

Moroccan Couscous Salad with Israeli Couscous

Pearl couscous, feta, pumpkin, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs come together with a tahini lemon dressing in this vibrant salad. It’s a versatile side or starter that adds color and flavor to your meal, ideal for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Moroccan Couscous Salad with Israeli Couscous

Roasted Koginut Squash Salad

Koginut squash, with its tender and buttery flavor, is roasted with savory sweet spices in this salad. It’s a flavorful way to enjoy fall’s tastes and makes a great addition to hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Koginut Squash Salad

Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad

Roasted butternut or pumpkin with feta and arugula creates a flavorful salad that's simple to prepare. Arugula adds a peppery kick but can be swapped with other greens, making it adaptable for fall and fitting into hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Butternut or Pumpkin Feta Arugula Rocket Salad

Roasted Winter Root Vegetable Salad

Spiralized beets and parsnips with toasted pecans, dried cranberries, blue cheese, and balsamic vinegar come together in this roasted root vegetable salad. It’s a celebration of seasonal flavors, making it a great pick for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Winter Root Vegetable Salad

Fried Halloumi Salad

The Aroma Espresso Bar fried halloumi salad features crispy cheese, mixed greens, and a tangy dressing. It’s a refreshing way to start your week with a burst of flavors, making it a great addition to hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Fried Halloumi Salad

Apple and Fig Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing

Warm apples and figs in a maple Dijon dressing, topped with crumbled bacon, create a blend of sweet and savory. It’s a comforting choice for fall dining and pairs well with hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Apple and Fig Salad with Maple Dijon Dressing

Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

A bowl of kale salad on a wooden table. — Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Kale is paired with a poppy seed dressing and apple slices in this salad, adding a fresh and tangy element. A quick and easy dish, it brings a nice touch to fall meals and works well for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Kale Apple Salad with Creamy Poppy Seed Dressing

Brussels Sprouts Salad

Shaved Brussels sprouts with a light dressing offer a fresh take on this often overlooked vegetable. Its combination of textures and flavors makes it a wonderful option for any autumn meal, fitting well into hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Brussels Sprouts Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad is packed with flavor from corn, cheese, and a tangy dressing. It’s a straightforward way to enjoy a zesty dish that complements hearty salads year-round.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad

Fall Fruit Salad

Crisp and juicy, this fall fruit salad balances sweet and tangy flavors with seasonal spices. It’s versatile enough for breakfast or as a sweet finish to a Thanksgiving meal, making it a good fit for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Fall Fruit Salad

Tabbouleh Salad with Feta

Bulgur Salad with Feta features nutty grains, tangy cheese, and fresh herbs, making it a light option for summer. Its refreshing combination is perfect for a satisfying meal on warm days and suits hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Tabbouleh Salad with Feta

Cauliflower Potato Salad

This Cauliflower Potato Salad uses cauliflower, bacon, cheese, and a hint of hot sauce for a flavorful side. Easy to prepare, it adds a bit of heat and crunch to any meal, making it a hearty salad choice.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Potato Salad

Pickled Beet and Cucumber Salad with Horseradish

Crisp cucumber and pickled beets are paired with a tangy yogurt sauce and fresh dill. This refreshing salad provides a light side dish for any occasion and complements hearty salads nicely.
Get the Recipe: Pickled Beet and Cucumber Salad with Horseradish

Tuna Salad with Fresh Herbs

Healthy Tuna salad without mayo sits on a bed of iceberg lettuce surrounded by two forks, dill, and a green linen. — Tuna Salad with Fresh Herbs. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This tuna salad uses Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and olive oil instead of mayonnaise, offering a lighter alternative. Easily adaptable with Greek yogurt for creaminess, it’s versatile and a great addition to hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Salad with Fresh Herbs

The Best Fall Salad

This fall salad features various ingredients and customization options, bringing color and flavor to your table. It’s a fresh, seasonal choice that brightens up any autumn day and fits well into hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: The Best Fall Salad

Roasted Sweet Potato, Squash and Chickpea Fall Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing

Roasted sweet potatoes, delicata squash, cranberries, and feta are combined in this chickpea fall salad. Topped with maple tahini dressing, it’s a hearty vegetarian meal perfect for fall and a solid choice for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Sweet Potato, Squash and Chickpea Fall Salad with Maple Tahini Dressing

Russian Vinaigrette Salad

Overhead view of hand lifting a spoon of salad. — Russian Vinaigrette Salad. Photo credit: At the Immigrant's Table.

Combining root vegetables, pickles, and dill, the Russian Vinaigrette Salad nods to traditional flavors. This classic dish adds a touch of nostalgia and a hearty option to your meal.
Get the Recipe: Russian Vinaigrette Salad

Marinated Beet Salad with Dill

Beets, dill, and sweet onion in a vinegary marinade bring together traditional Eastern-European Jewish flavors. This simple salad scales up easily, making it great for gatherings and a hearty choice.
Get the Recipe: Marinated Beet Salad with Dill

Savoury Steak and Squash Salad

Steak and squash salad with apple maple dressing, squash, and cranberries offers a savory option for fall. It’s a great choice to add variety to Thanksgiving or autumn meals, suitable for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Savoury Steak and Squash Salad

Roasted Beet and Plum Salad

Combining proteins, healthy fats, and rich flavors, this salad makes a complete meal. It’s a solid option for a nutritious and flavorful lunch or dinner, making it a fitting choice for hearty salads.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet and Plum Salad