18 Healthy Salads You Should Try For Dinner

If you're trying to lose weight, it's inevitable: salads are going to be part of your life. But salads don't have to be sad, bland, or boring! With these 18 recipes hand-picked for the evening hours, your meal can be delicious, nutritious, and filling; that means there's no need to head back to the fridge a few hours later. Each of these recipes offers the right mix of protein, fat, and carbs to keep you satisfied and happy at dinner.

01
Summer Veggie Black Bean Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Summer Veggie Black Bean Salad

This fresh and produce-packed Summer salad needs to make its way into your dinnertime rotation. It's a vegetarian-friendly recipe high in fiber and protein to help you feel full once the meal is done. Mix up a big batch the night before, and let all the flavors meld overnight for best results.

02
Kale and Farro Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Kale and Farro Salad

Inspired by one of my favorite SF starters, this kale and farro salad is a vegetarian main that will fill you up. Two types of lettuce provide the perfect balance of hydration and nutrients and a contrast in texture, while avocado and the chewy whole-grain farro help bulk things up, so you're satisfied from dinner.

03
Chinese Chicken Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Chinese Chicken Salad

Colorful, crispy, and packed with nutrition, this Asian chicken salad will satisfy your cravings for the fried restaurant alternatives. With nearly 20 grams of protein and clocking in at just over 230 calories per filling portion, it's a much healthier alternative you'll enjoy just as much.

04
Watermelon-Bowl Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Watermelon-Bowl Salad

Could anything be more refreshing than serving up a tasty salad in its very own watermelon bowl? Highly doubtful. This vegan-friendly recipe is packed with tons of fresh produce and plenty of protein to fill you up.

05
Curried Chickpea Salad
The Hummusapien

Curried Chickpea Salad

When you're over a ton of greens but need something light and filling, opt for this tasty curried chickpea salad from The Hummusapien that's packed with ingredients you already have on hand. This is the perfect throw-together meal that will satisfy when you don't have a lot of time to spare.

06
Thai Beef Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Thai Beef Salad

If you've ever been timid about making your own Thai food in the kitchen, this healthy Thai beef salad is the perfect starter recipe for you. Cucumber and romaine will help you hydrate, while the beef offers over 34 grams of lean and hearty protein. These leftovers are delicious for lunch the next day.

07
Thai Citrus Chicken Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Leta Shy

Thai Citrus Chicken Salad

The combination of cabbage, carrot, and daikon in this citrus chicken salad is an antioxidant-rich trifecta! This recipe supports your digestive system and keeps your body hydrated in warmer temperatures. It's also high in protein and low in fat, carbs, and calories. In short, it's everything you're looking for in a filling salad.

08
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

If you're always left wanting something else after chowing down on a standard Greek salad, this Mediterranean quinoa salad is the answer to your olive- and feta-filled prayers. The addition of this complex carb fills you up with even more fiber!

09
Easy Taco Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Camilla Salem

Easy Taco Salad

If you're craving the flavors of your favorite cantina, channel them into this light yet satisfying taco salad that's loaded with fresh flavors and without all the calories and fat. To keep things even lighter, consider subbing lean ground turkey for the beef.

10
Bento Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Anna Monette Roberts

Bento Salad

Burn more fat with a delicious Japanese recipe? We're in! This beautiful bento salad is full of good-for-you, fiber-rich, and hydrating produce like cabbage, daikon, and avocado, and the green tea in the dressing works to boost your metabolism.

11
Lemony Toasted Quinoa and Cabbage Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Leta Shy

Lemony Toasted Quinoa and Cabbage Salad

This lemony toasted quinoa and wilted cabbage salad is the perfect recipe for any clean-eating endeavors; not only do the flavors meld well together, but each ingredient helps aid digestion, like the fiber in the quinoa, chickpeas, and cabbage and the detoxifying properties of lemon.

12
Black Bean and Mango Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Black Bean and Mango Salad

For a refreshing vegan recipe that's packed with protein, add this quick black bean and mango salad to your lunchtime rotation. With more than 13 grams of fiber and nearly 17 grams of protein, this light, clean, and potassium-rich dish will support your goals, refuel your body after a tough evening workout, help you rehydrate, and even help soothe sore muscles.

13
Baby Kale Chicken Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Leta Shy

Baby Kale Chicken Salad

If you want to get on the kale bandwagon but aren't a fan of the leaf's strong taste, baby kale is your new best friend. The young leaves are mild tasting, much like spinach, but still pack the same nutrients as their older counterparts. This easy baby kale and sesame chicken salad makes for a flavorful and protein-rich dinner to keep you satisfied all night.

14
Jennifer Aniston's Favorite Quinoa Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Jennifer Aniston's Favorite Quinoa Salad

It's high in fiber, iron, and vitamin C, so you can see all the healthy reasons actress Jennifer Aniston loves this simple quinoa salad. Think of it as a bulked-up tabbouleh, since detoxifying parsley lays the base of the greens, while a scoop of quinoa and diced avocado provide over 60 percent of your daily recommended fiber. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top for a brighter flavor and even more detoxifying power at dinner.

15
Rainbow Quinoa Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Rainbow Quinoa Salad

This beautiful veggie-packed quinoa salad screams Summer! A bowl of this gluten-free goodness is under 350 calories, offering 13 grams of protein and seven grams of fiber. Any vegetarians or vegans looking for a protein-rich recipe will fall hard for this supper.

16
Cucumber Caprese Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Cucumber Caprese Salad

Another riff on the classic caprese comes in the form of this hydrating and refreshing cucumber caprese salad that might turn into your new go-to recipe. Higher in protein, fiber, and anti-inflammatory omega-3s than the classic, this delicious salad is the perfect addition to your weight-loss dinner rotation.

17
Mexican Tempeh Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

Mexican Tempeh Salad

Made with cumin, cayenne, fresh lime juice, and cilantro, this Mexican tempeh quinoa salad offers the zesty, fresh flavor you're craving. In one bowl, you get a crazy amount of nutrition — almost 10 grams of fiber and 17.4 grams of vegan protein.

18
Goop's Mustard Lentils
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

Goop's Mustard Lentils

Naturally gluten-free and full of fiber, these tiny legumes are a healthy pantry staple you should always have on hand — and they're absolutely delicious in this lentil salad from Goop. Tangy and clean, this recipe makes for a light yet filling recipe and even better leftovers; the longer this salad sits in the fridge, the better it tastes.