Best Filling and Easy Vegetarian Salads for Lunch and Dinner

Looking for a vegetarian salad that's actually filling? These easy vegetarian salads are satisfying enough for lunch or dinner. No sad lettuce bowls here. Whether you're in the mood for something hearty and protein-packed or quick and make-ahead, this collection has you covered with plant-forward meals that nourish without restriction.

As a non-diet dietitian, I love helping people build meals that feel good both physically and emotionally. These salads are full of flavor, fiber, and variety. They're perfect for anyone exploring intuitive eating or simply looking for more satisfying ways to enjoy vegetables.

You'll find options with beans, whole grains, roasted veggies, and creamy dressings. All vegetarian, many gluten-free, and otherwise easily adaptable for your needs.

Let this be your go-to list when you want something fresh, colorful, and truly satisfying.

Jump to:

• How to Make Easy Vegetarian Salads That Aren't Boring
• How to Make Vegetarian Salads More Filling
• Vegetarian Soup and Salad Combos
• Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes
• Vegetarian Grain Salads and Pasta Salads
• Brussels Sprouts Orzo Pasta Salad
• Easy Edamame Crunch Salad
• Easy Pearl Couscous with Chickpeas
• Vegan Deconstructed Sushi Salad Bowl with Sesame Ginger Miso Dressing
• Forbidden Black Rice Salad with Beans and Mango
• Veggie Pesto Pasta Salad
• Spring and Summer Salads
• Strawberry Avocado Hemp Salad
• Spring Farro Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
• Summer Strawberry Salad with Chickpeas and Mozzarella
• Fall and Winter Salads
• Warm Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Salad
• Lemon Tahini Apple Slaw
• Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Chickpeas and Lemon Tahini
• Vegan Roasted Cabbage Caesar Salad
• Make Ahead Salads
• Meal Prep Salad
• Mediterranean Lentil Salad with Feta and Mint
• Need More Easy Vegetarian Meal Ideas?

These recipes aren't about dieting, counting, or eating a salad just because you "should." They're about savoring food that feels grounding, energizing, and satisfying, whether you're working from home, juggling toddlers, or just trying to feed yourself something nourishing during a busy season of life.

Each salad in this list is simple to prepare, made with wholesome ingredients, and designed to be flexible, so you can adapt them based on what you have on hand or what sounds good in the moment. Most of them make great leftovers, too, which means less stress and more ease throughout your week.

If you're looking for more satisfying recipes, be sure to check out my free PDF guide with 100+ Plant-Forward Meal and Snack Ideas.

How to Make Easy Vegetarian Salads That Aren't Boring

If you really want to step up your vegetarian salad game, follow these tips:

• Use a variety of colorful fruits and veggies to add to the flavor, texture, and visual appeal of your salad bowl. (And don't feel like you need to use greens - there are lots of delicious vegetarian salad recipes you can make without a single leaf of lettuce if it's not your thing!)
• Try including warm elements, such as cooked quinoa or steamed broccoli, to add a little interest. (This works especially well for fall and winter dinner salads!)
• Don't skimp on the dressing! Despite what diet culture may try to tell you, salad dressing is a fantastic way to amp up the flavor, add nutrients, and transform a blah salad into a dreamy one-bowl meal. (try my homemade Vegan Green Goddess Dressing recipe or use one of the bottled vegetarian dressing brands in this list from VegNews.)
• Aim for a balanced mix of carbs, protein, and fat. It takes more than a head of lettuce to make a satisfying salad! Include beans or chickpeas, whole grains, avocado and nuts or seeds. (More details on this below!)

How to Make Vegetarian Salads More Filling

The key to making a plant-forward salad more filling is balance. Include a mix of ingredients to get the protein, carbs, fat, and fiber your body needs to feel full.

Bonus: the variety also adds flavor and texture, which will help you feel more satisfied, too.

Try to include at least one ingredient from each of these food groups in your next main dish salad:

• Protein - beans, chickpeas, lentils, tofu, tempeh, and edamame
• Starchy carbs - pasta, orzo, couscous, quinoa, farro, sweet potatoes, rice
• Fat - add avocado, nuts, seeds, or cheese to your salad. Use peanut butter, tahini, Greek yogurt, or extra virgin olive oil to make salad dressing.
• Produce - lettuces and dark leafy greens work great, but don't stop there. Any fruit or vegetable is a great choice!

Vegetarian Soup and Salad Combos

If you're still not feeling satisfied with a salad on its own, try adding a bowl of soup! Here are a few vegetarian soup and salad combinations to inspire your meal planning.

• Portobello Mushroom French Onion Soup with Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad
• Asparagus Ramen Noodle Soup with Edamame Crunch Salad
• Creamy Spiced Carrot and Lentil Soup with Easy Pearl Couscous
• Tomato Barley Soup with Roasted Cabbage Caesar Salad

Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes

Making your own dressing is one of the best ways to kick up the flavor and and satisfaction factor of salads. Here are a few of my go-to recipes.

Vegetarian Grain Salads and Pasta Salads

Adding grains to vegetarian salads is a smart way to bump up the filling fiber content and add satisfying texture to your main meal. If you want to make a grain salad that's as filling as possible, use fiber-rich whole grains, such as brown rice or farro.

Spring and Summer Salads

With a plethora of fresh fruits and veggies at your fingertips, the spring and summer months are an ideal time to add more salads to your repertoire. Many of these seasonal salads are also no-cook recipes, so there's no need to switch on the oven when it's hot out!

Fall and Winter Salads

You might not automatically think of fall and winter as salad seasons, but I'm here to convince you otherwise. There's nothing better than a warm kale or Brussels sprouts salad with roasted sweet potatoes or butternut squash, and you can't beat the flavors of fresh apples, pears, and pomegrante!

Make Ahead Salads

Some green salads wilt within minutes, but it's possible to make a vegetarian salad that stands the test of time. One key is to use hearty veggies like kale and Brussels sprouts. Lentils, beans, grains, and chickpeas are wonderful for make ahead salads, too! If you're looking for more ideas, check out my roundup of 31 Best Healthy and Easy Vegetarian Lunches for Work.

Need More Easy Vegetarian Meal Ideas?

For more easy recipes, check out my roundups of Easy 30-Minute Vegetarian Dinners, Vegetarian Meal Prep Ideas and Easy Vegetarian Lunches for Work.

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