15+ Quick Lunch Salad Recipes to Make This Spring

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On April 15, 2025

Make the most of your midday meal with one of these fresh and flavorful salads you can make in just 25 minutes or less. From quick, three-ingredient lunches that rely on store-bought shortcuts to packable lentil salads, this mix of recipes has something that can work for your routine. Recipes like our Chickpea Chopped Salad with Pita Chips and our Raspberry-Spinach Salad with Avocado & Walnuts are packed with ingredients like lemon, spinach, avocado, and artichokes for a taste of spring.

Chickpea Chopped Salad with Pita Chips

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Priscilla Montiel

Packed with crunchy pita chips, creamy feta and briny olives, this chickpea, cucumber and tomato salad is fresh and delicious. Enjoy it as a side dish or add grilled or roasted chicken or salmon to make it a main dish.

Raspberry-Spinach Salad with Avocado & Walnuts

Photographer: Jen Causey, food stylist: Julian Hensarling, prop stylist: Josh Hoggle

This salad includes juicy raspberries, creamy avocado and crunchy walnuts, which create a delightful mix of colors and flavor. The bright, citrusy dressing sets this salad apart and complements the richness of the avocado and the walnuts.

Anti-Inflammatory Strawberry Caprese Salad

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling, Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This caprese salad is a fruity twist on the classic Italian dish, with juicy, ripe strawberries standing in for tomatoes. The sweet-tart flavor of strawberries pairs beautifully with fresh mozzarella, basil and a drizzle of balsamic vinegar.

Bhel Puri-Inspired Salad

Ali Redmond

This flavorful salad was inspired by bhel puri, a type of chaat (savory snack) served across India, and features puffed quinoa and lentils for extra protein and fiber.

Cacio e Pepe Kale Salad

Heami Lee, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christine Keeley

This easy kale salad draws flavor inspiration from the classic Italian pasta dish. The signature flavors of sharp Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly ground black pepper transform kale into a delicious, anti-inflammatory salad.

Crunchy Chopped Salad

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Christina Brockman

This chickpea-cabbage salad features carrots and cucumbers, giving it a quartet of ingredients that all begin with the letter “C”! This chopped salad is loaded with fiber and prebiotic chickpeas, promoting a healthy gut.

No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

This easy salad features the classic caprese combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil and tangy balsamic vinegar, but adds tender white beans and fresh baby spinach to the mix.

Romaine Salad with Orange & Radish

Andrea Mathis

Inspired by a traditional Moroccan salad, which consists of oranges and radishes, this version adds romaine lettuce and a classic vinaigrette. Fresh orange juice contributes acidity and brightness to the vinaigrette. Pomegranate seeds bring color and crunch.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado & Walnuts

Serve this colorful strawberry spinach salad alongside soup or a half sandwich, or top it with grilled chicken or roasted salmon for a complete and easy healthy meal.

Chickpea, Beet & Feta Salad with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Addelyn Evans

This salad is a vibrant blend of flavors and textures, marrying the earthy sweetness of beets with the creamy richness of feta cheese, all tied together with a zesty lemon-garlic dressing.

Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Chicken & Fresh Berries

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickeyt, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This flavorful salad is packed with tender rotisserie chicken, juicy berries and hearty quinoa for a filling and satisfying lunch.

Chopped Salad with Chicken & Creamy Chipotle Dressing

Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Melissa Gray / Kay Clarke

This chopped salad with chicken is smoky and zesty thanks to the creamy chipotle dressing. Cilantro adds a pop of freshness to each bite.

Cucumber Chickpea Salad with Feta & Lemon

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Annie Probst

This cucumber chickpea salad with feta and lemon is tangy and refreshing. You can enjoy it on its own or toss it with greens for an easy lunch or dinner. We love the grassy flavor of dill, but another fresh herb like oregano, parsley or chives will work well in its place.

Zucchini Salad with Burrata

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop stylist: Lindsey Lower

This zucchini salad is a taste of peak-season bliss, combining sun-kissed zucchini with the creaminess of burrata cheese. Pink peppercorns offer a sweet, fruity and slightly floral taste which pairs nicely with the citrus flavors in the dressing; however, freshly ground black pepper can be used in their place.

Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios

Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. Artichokes and arugula make up the base, while juicy pomegranate seeds and cruncy pistachios add some welcome texture.

Shrimp Cobb Salad with Dijon Dressing

We’ve replaced chicken with shrimp in this delicious and easy spin on the classic Cobb salad. This satisfying salad takes just 20 minutes to make, so it’s perfect for weeknight dinners. But it’s elegant enough to serve to guests.

Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing

This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.

Vegetarian Chopped Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Dressing

Brie Passano

This healthy vegetarian salad recipe features chickpeas and quinoa for a boost of protein. Cilantro adds color and flavor when blended to make a creamy dressing. Serve this cold salad for lunch or dinner.

Couscous & Chickpea Salad

Cooked couscous and canned chickpeas come together in this quick lunch salad. The basil vinaigrette makes it taste anything but basic! When in season, we recommend adding fresh chopped tomatoes for a spin on tabbouleh.