Sometimes, a roast is too much to handle for dinner. But, for the times when you just want a bowl of fresh vegies, you’re left feeling hungry after a couple of hours. To keep you satisfied, in terms of hunger and deliciousness, we’ve compiled our favourite salad ideas for dinner that cover all your macros – protein, carbs, fibre and healthy fats.
Is it okay to have salad for dinner? The answer is yes, but as long as you’ve got enough variation to keep your belly full and taste buds tingling.
Our favourite salad ideas for dinner that will leave you full and satisfied
Packed with pancetta, pesto, bocconcini and baby spinach, this colourful and Italian-inspired pasta salad is so versatile.
You can whip it up for a sit-down meal or a picnic in the backyard.
Reinvent a Southern American supper into a robust salad with big, brassy flavours.
Fry up Cajun-spiced chicken and crispy bacon, then cook beans in vinegar and mustard and put it all on a bed of kale with pickled okra and sourdough croutons.
Big, hearty and full of flavour, with a great crunch of thanks to a handful of mixed nuts from yesterday’s nibbles.
The richness of the chorizo pairs perfectly with the light flavours of cauliflower and potato.
Mix grains, seeds and nuts with aromatic spices and herbs for a substantial dish filled with extra fibre.
Add pomegranate seeds on top for the perfect tart crunch to your warm salad.
This tender striploin steak comes with a crunchy fennel, cumin and peppercorn seed-coating.
Served with an egg, aioli and mint salad plus potato mash and red wine gravy, it’s a match made in heaven.
Nothing says spring like lamb, but you don’t have to stick to a traditional roast.
Instead, fry up leg steaks for a warm-weather salad. With only five ingredients to prep, you’ll have dinner on the table in 20 minutes. It doesn’t get much easier than that!
Get comfy and cosy for winter with this roast pumpkin and barley salad. Top with parsley for a kick of freshness and two boiled eggs for extra protein.
The famous Greek salad of cucumber, tomato, onion, olive and feta cheese was the flavour inspiration for this colourful quinoa dish.
You trade tomatoes for baby capsicums to add juicy crunch, and mix in quinoa, chickpeas and spinach for a protein and fibre boost.
Using storebought versions of your favourite Middle Eastern mezze (appetisers) creates a salad that’s much more than a starter.
Hummus serves as a creamy base for greens, tomatoes, quick-pickled red onion, herbs and falafel (chickpea patties).
What a way to welcome guests! Just look at all that tantalising colour. Yummo!
Feel free to swap the seared tuna for canned tuna in olive oil. Just be sure to drain the tuna before plating.
Bright, fresh and above all, extra filling, this peanut vermicelli salad is ideal for a hot day.
The addition of avocado, mango and strawberries packs a flavourful summer punch to this hearty salad.
This salad has got everything you’d want, with pops of vibrant colour and flavour with that all-important crunch.
And you’ve never tasted roasted cauliflower in a salad as mouthwatering as this, thanks to Middle Eastern flair.
Chicken and corn go hand in hand, especially when they’re tossed together in a salad.
The fiery spices of this colourful feast will have your tastebuds dancing the flamenco in a matter of minutes!
Elevate a summery salmon salad with just the one ingredient: spice rub (za’atar). It adds so much extra flavour with very little fuss!
Grilled lemons and hearty veg make up the heart of this dish, and all we have to say is yum!
You can’t go wrong with a chicken salad, especially one with Thai flavours and vermicelli to soak up all that delicious dressing.
Make this on a sunny day so your plate and the sky can be bright and happy!
This quick weeknight meal can be on the table in a flash.
Assemble the salad whilst the chicken schnitzels are in the oven, and feeling extremely accomplished when you serve up this salad in a matter of minutes!
This super simple but super delicious barbecue lamb recipe with potato salad and mint sauce is all you need to impress your guests.
Don’t forget a dash of herbs on top to finish off the look!
Barley isn’t only for soups. Its delightful, nutty flavour brings hearty balance to salads, too.
Combined with slow-roasted lamb and carrot, you’ve got yourself a well-rounded, hearty dinner.
Smokey and tangy, this chicken is as good as it gets. However, it’s nothing without its accompanying corn and pecan salad.
This salad will disappear at the drop of a hat once you put it on the dinner table.
Never let your barbecued chicken leftovers go to waste- instead, make them into a salad.
This salad is best eaten with your hands. Just roll the lettuce around the filling and off you go!
Can salad be a main meal?
Salads can definitely be a main meal, however, they should contain all of the necessary nutrients. Make sure your salad includes protein, carbohydrates, fibre and healthy fats to ensure you have a balanced meal. The salad ideas for dinner above cover all of these, so they’re perfect for you to have as your main meal.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
