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This is my tried and true lunch salad that I’ve been making on repeat for years. It’s easy, super satisfying and will actually keep you full! No boring salad energy here.
What makes this the ultimate lunch salad is balance. There’s plenty of volume and fiber from veggies, protein (and more fiber) from chicken breast and chickpea pasta, carbs to keep you satisfied, and flavor from dressing and cheese. It’s flexible and customizable, perfect for throwing together whatever you have!
Why You’ll Love It
Here’s why this is about to be your go-to salad:
- A fully balanced meal. Salads that leave you hungry are simply the worst. This salad is high protein, high fiber and packed with plenty of flavor to keep you full and satisfied.
- Endless possibilities. It’s so easy to customize based on your favorite flavors and what you have in your fridge.
- Prep ahead friendly. This is one of my go-to salad preps, just make sure to save the salad until right before you serve.
- Quick and easy. Keep these ingredients on hand for a fast and easy lunch whenever you need it!
I love a filling, flavorful and nutrient-packed salad for lunch. You’ll love my Grinder Dense Bean Salad and High Protein Bean Salad too!
Ingredients
- Baby greens + shredded coleslaw mix: My favorite base for any salad! You can also use thinly shredded cabbage.
- Chopped veggies: You can really use any assortment of veggies that you have. My typical go-to’s are bell peppers, sweet onion, cherry tomatoes and cucumber.
- Cooked chicken breast: You can either prep some chicken ahead of time (like my Thin Sliced Chicken Breast (Air Fryer Recipe)), grab a rotisserie chicken or even use frozen or Homemade Chicken Nuggets!
- Shredded cheese: Any kind will work, but sharp cheddar cheese is my favorite.
- Dressing: Use your favorite, or make your own. My Cottage Cheese Ranch Dressing, Garlic Parmesan Dressing, and Maple Balsamic Dressing are some of my favorites.
- Other topping ideas:
- Avocado
- Croutons
- Toasted breadcrumbs
- Crispy jalapeños
- Banana peppers
- Kalamata olives or green olives
- Sliced pickles
- Pickled onions
Easy Variation Ideas
- Keep it vegetarian. Omit the chicken, make sure to use chickpea or protein pasta, and add a 1/2 cup of edamame.
- Swap your protein. Instead of chicken you can use deli meat, grilled steak, salmon or even shrimp.
- Change up the cheese. Use something a little stronger like blue cheese, crumbled feta or goat cheese if that’s your preference.
- Change the carb. Go for cooked rice, lentils, beans, or even crushed tortilla chips instead of pasta.
How To Make The Ultimate Lunch Salad
- Add all of your ingredients to a large bowl and drizzle with dressing.
- Toss and enjoy. Either cover with a lid and shake, or toss with two forks until thoroughly coated with dressing and enjoy!
My Pro Tip
Recipe Tip
- Toppings, toppings, toppings! The key to the best salad is toppings. Don’t skimp on adding your favorite flavorful additions like croutons, olives, banana peppers, or whatever you love!
- Time savers. Use pre-shredded coleslaw mix or cabbage and rotisserie chicken to save yourself time in the kitchen.
- Shake! If you can, make your salad directly in a bowl that has a lid. After adding your dressing, give your salad a good shake so that everything gets perfectly mixed up and coated with dressing evenly. I love this Swell Salad Bowl.
More Salads You’ll Love
If you’ve made and loved this Lunch Salad or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and comments below!
The Ultimate Lunch Salad
Ingredients
- 2 cups green leafy lettuce, like baby greens
- 1 cup coleslaw mix, or finely shredded cabbage
- 1/2 cup mini or English cucumber, sliced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/2 cup bell pepper, sliced
- 1/4 cup sweet onion, sliced thin
- 1/2-3/4 cup chickpea pasta or protein pasta, cooked (I like Barilla chickpea or protein plus pasta, or Banza chickpea pasta)
- 3 oz. cooked chicken breast or chicken tenders, chopped, ex: rotisserie chicken breast
- 1/4-1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 2-3 tbsp salad dressing of choice
- 1/4 cup banana peppers or kalamata olives
- other topping ideas: croutons, toasted breadcrumbs, sliced pickles, pickled onions, crispy jalapeños or onions
Instructions
- Add all salad ingredients to a large salad bowl and toss to combine. Add additional dressing to taste.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an estimate.
Food photography by Marie-Catherine Dubé.
