25 Salads Without Lettuce (+ Easy Recipes)

Are you tired of wilted, soggy greens? Try these salads without lettuce. 

After all, sometimes you just want the fun extras! And from chicken and bacon to avocado and corn, there’s plenty to choose from.

25 Best Salads Without Lettuce

The next time you don’t know what to make for dinner, try one of these lettuce-free salad recipes.

They’re super quick, extra tasty, and beyond delicious.

Better yet, you don’t have to worry about sad, wet lettuce leaves ruining the texture.

So from bright vegetable salads to a few fun surprises, let’s dive into the world of salads without lettuce.

1. Green Salad Without Lettuce

Making a green salad without lettuce is pretty easy. All you need is green produce. 

Specifically, avocados, cucumbers, scallions, and edamame. Those four ingredients cover a range of flavors.  

You enhance it all with a lemon Dijon dressing and pine nuts for more bite.

2. Chopped Vegetarian Greek Salad (No Lettuce)

The best part about Greek salad is all the fillings. So ditch the lettuce and load up on all that goodness. 

Cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, olives, red onion, capers, and feta make up this salad. 

It has the big bold Greek flavors you want minus the lettuce. 

3. Lettuce-Free Keto Cobb Salad

Tired of salads that leave you hungry a couple of hours after lunch?

Get the energy you need with this keto cobb salad. 

It’s packed with protein thanks to the hard-boiled egg, rotisserie chicken, and bacon.

Add blue cheese, cherry tomatoes, and avocado to make it even more satiating. 

You can also get experimental with it.

For instance, I sometimes use barbecue chicken or black beans and corn for a Southwestern touch.

4. Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad

Looking for a healthy vegetarian Italian recipe? This chopped salad is your answer. 

Leave the radicchio and the lettuce in the fridge. 

Reach for cherry tomatoes, celery, chickpeas, pepperoncini, and sun-dried tomatoes instead.

Coat that in Italian dressing right before serving.

Bold and fresh, this chopped salad proves you don’t always need lettuce.

5. Chopped Vegetable Salad

Lamb, chicken, pork chops, or fish, this chopped veggie salad will go great with it. 

It’s full of greens and more appealing to the family than sauteed spinach. 

Green bell peppers, cucumbers, asparagus, and sugar snap peas give it a nice crunch.

For a flavorful twist, toss in jalapenos, feta, dill, mint, and lemon Dijon vinaigrette. 

6. Cucumber Salad

Light and refreshing, this cucumber salad is a great go-to for all sorts of meals. 

Pair it with barbecue, grilled meats, baked salmon, crispy tofu, and more. 

Sweet, tangy, and fresh, it’s a super easy side you can make in a snap.

7. Ambrosia Salad

Ambrosia salad is that old-school sweet treat that completes the holiday table. 

Somehow it gets eaten as a side when we all know it’s really a dessert. But it’s so divine, nobody will say no. 

So meld juicy fruits with Cool Whip and sour cream, toss in the marshmallows, and sprinkle on the coconut. It’s time to eat like the gods!

8. Paula Deen Potato Salad

It ain’t a barbecue without the potato salad. So someone please whip up a bowl like Paula Deen. 

The queen of comfort food, Paula Deen knows how to fix up those spuds. 

It’s super creamy, popping with dill, and has the perfect amount of bacon.

And I think we can all agree, everything tastes a little better with bacon. 

9. Grandma’s Macaroni Salad

Nobody does macaroni salad like grandma. And if your grandma is like mine, she won’t give away her secret. 

But guess what? I’ve figured it out!

With the right ratio of sugar, mustard, and apple cider vinegar, it tastes just like the one grandma makes. 

10. Amish Broccoli Salad

Salads don’t tend to conjure up images of rich comfort food. But this Amish broccoli salad sure does!

It gives you the veggies you need with the cozy flavors you desire. Plus, it sneaks a little bacon and cheddar cheese in there too. 

Potlucks, picnics, cookouts, or lunches, you’ll find plenty of excuses to eat it. 

11. Ina Garten Pasta Salad

Ina Garten’s pasta salad is sheer perfection. 

Juicy tomatoes, salty olives, sharp feta, and sun-dried tomatoes pack fusilli with bold flavors. 

So does the tangy sun-dried tomato dressing. Yet at the same time, it’s still light and fresh. 

12. Zesty Lime, Shrimp, and Avocado Salad

Shrimp, avocado, and lime? Sign me up!

This salad tastes just like ceviche, except with cooked shrimp. 

Made from bright ingredients, it’s the summer salad you’ll want all season long.

And you won’t even care that there isn’t a single leaf of lettuce in sight. 

13. Carrot and Apple Salad

From healthy snacks to holiday dinners, this salad will be your favorite fall side dish. 

It’s uncomplicated, budget-friendly, and versatile. 

You meld carrots, apples, parsley, and cranberries with a simple dressing. See, it’s super easy and only takes 15 minutes. 

14. Bacon Pea Salad

Do you know how to get the family to eat their peas?

Add bits of bacon and slather them with mayo and sour cream.

Throwing it together takes very little effort on your part.

Plus, it’s a great way to utilize those frozen peas you’ve been neglecting.

It does need to chill for a couple of hours, which is perfect because you can just bust it out when it’s time to eat.

15. Mediterranean White Bean Salad

I keep white beans on hand just for this salad. It’s a staple in my weekly rotation and my go-to for meal-prepping lunches. 

Out of all the 15-minute meals, it’s seriously the best. 

The zippy melody of Mediterranean flavors is so satisfying. Plus, it’s customizable. 

You can use goat cheese instead of feta or basil instead of parsley.

You can even swap out the white beans for chickpeas if you prefer. 

Do you want to make it vegan? That’s easy, just omit the cheese.

16. Grape Salad

Grape salad is a classic that wins over a crowd. 

Red and green grapes come together with crisp apples, pecans, and a sweet creamy dressing.

It blurs the lines between dessert and a side salad. So you have even more ways to incorporate it into a meal.

17. Strawberry Salad with Balsamic

This strawberry salad is my jam! As soon as berries are in season, you can find me munching on this salad. 

It’s brimming with juicy strawberries, creamy avocado, cherry tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella balls. 

With ingredients like this, only balsamic will do. It’s also lettuce-free so there’s no need to worry about washing greens.

18. Favorite Quinoa Salad

I do have to say, this quinoa salad is my favorite. I know there are an infinite amount of ways to make a tasty quinoa salad. 

What makes this one so great is it’s like tabouli with a high-protein take. And I just love tabouli!

Satiating and healthy, it crams a bunch of fresh flavors into a bed of quinoa with chickpeas. It’s also vegan and gluten-free. 

Am I sensing a new favorite Meatless Monday recipe? I sure am!

19. Chopped Caprese Salad

Caprese is a classic lettuce-free salad. 

The ingredients entail a very short list that includes basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes.

Toss it with olive oil and drizzle balsamic on top.

Now all you have to decide is how to serve it. Skewer it for a party appetizer or put it on crusty bread for a sandwich. 

20. Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint

Talk about a refreshing summer salad! This watermelon salad will be a hit at all your summer parties. 

Between the juicy watermelon and creamy avocado, there’s a lot to love. 

It pairs well with a wide range of dishes and it’s ready in 15 minutes. 

21. Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Let the haters say what they want, I love Brussels sprouts! If you do, too, you’ll love them in this salad.

Shaving Brussels sprouts is a genius alternative to lettuce. The hardy leaves soak up the light dressing without turning soggy.

Add cranberries, pine nuts, chives, and pecorino cheese for a festive seasonal touch.

This will look spectacular on your Thanksgiving table or with a fall spread. 

22. Avocado Mango Salad

This salad is remarkably versatile. Add it to your tacos or scoop it up with chips. 

Or, just grab a fork and dig in. 

Bursting with bright tropical flavors, it includes all the best summer produce. 

You get avocados, mangoes, cherry tomatoes, and red onions perked up with lemon. Sometimes, I like to use lime instead. 

Despite which citrus you use, there’s no need to add lettuce to this equation.

23. Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad

Need some inspiration for that head of cauliflower in the fridge? You just found it!

This raw vegan salad would be a great mason jar meal for lunch on the go.

Pour the dressing on the bottom, add the cauliflower, then layer the other ingredients on top. 

When you get hungry, shake it up and enjoy.

24. Lemon Herb Couscous Salad

Lemon herb couscous is one of my favorite couscous salads and it’s about to be yours too. 

It’s zippy, fresh, and very nourishing. 

The pearl couscous has the most heavenly texture. Although, itty-bitty couscous works too. 

Despite which one you use, it’s the healthy lunch and party side dish you’ve been missing.

25. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad

Perk up your pasta salad by making it Greek.

It’s a super-filling mix of fresh produce, healthy fats, and tender orzo. 

Thanks to the chickpeas and hummus dressing, it has protein too.

So it incorporates all the nutrients your body needs to power through the day.