Main Course Worthy Salads – Yes, SALADS!

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Salads aren’t just for sides anymore. We’re talking hearty, satisfying, main course-worthy salads that will have you saying, “Who needs anything else?” From protein-packed bowls to fresh greens piled high with all the fixings, these salads go big—because anything less just isn’t worth it. Grab a fork and get ready to dig in, because yes, these are salads!

Beet Napoleons with Garlicky Balsamic Vinaigrette

A layered salad with slices of beet and cheese, topped with edible flowers and assorted greens, drizzled with a dark dressing. Presented on a white plate next to a fork.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Roasted red and golden beets are stacked with tangy, herbed goat cheese and finished with a creamy vinaigrette featuring garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, and balsamic vinegar in this Beet Napoleons with Garlicky Balsamic Vinaigrette masterpiece. Now that’s how you build flavor.

Get the Recipe: Beet Napoleons with Garlicky Balsamic Vinaigrette

Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad

A cobb salad on a plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Cobb Salads are like edible masterpieces that always hit the spot. Adding baby gold potatoes instantly transforms this version of a Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad into a true entrée salad. You can skip them if you want, but trust me, they make this dish feel more like a complete, hearty meal.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad

Jamie Oliver’s ‘Mothership’ Tomato Salad

A platter filled with fresh tomato salad.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Wondering why a Tomato Salad in mid-November? Trust me, it works. The prep technique makes the tomatoes sweet and vibrant, not dull. Add burrata or buffalo mozzarella for an anytime Caprese that shines!

Get the Recipe: Jamie Oliver’s ‘Mothership’ Tomato Salad

Sweet Potato & Steak Salad with Carolina Mustard Vinaigrette

A plate of steak salad with fig slices, red onions, and greens, topped with dressing. Garlic bread on the side. A yellow napkin and a fork next to the plate.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

The Sweet Potato & Steak Salad with Carolina Mustard Vinaigrette is pure autumn intensity. It’s quick, easy, and perfect for those nights when you forget to marinate the steak—no fuss, just hearty, seasonal flavors that will keep you coming back for more.

Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato & Steak Salad with Carolina Mustard Vinaigrette

Sweet and Savory Chicken Salad

The image shows a plate with chicken salad as the main course. The salad includes grapes and nuts. Surrounding the plate are blueberries, crackers, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and pear slices.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

This creamy salad pairs perfectly with others like potato salad, macaroni, or egg salad when served on a platter. I love a good salad sampler and always look forward to that scoop of cottage cheese with butter crackers and fresh fruit on the side.

Get the Recipe: Sweet and Savory Chicken Salad

Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe with Marinated Feta

A vibrant Greek salad with mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, red onion, black olives, and feta cheese, all lightly tossed in dressing, served on a wooden board.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe with Marinated Feta is a rustic classic elevated by just a handful of quality ingredients. It’s the perfect example of how simplicity can be truly spectacular—fresh veggies, creamy feta, and briny olives come together effortlessly to create a dish that’s both humble and undeniably delicious.

Get the Recipe: Greek Cucumber Salad Recipe with Marinated Feta

Crispy Delicata Squash Salad

The image shows roasted squash slices, blue cheese crumbles, and leafy greens arranged on a white plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Crispy Parmesan-crusted Delicata Squash and Roquefort cheese are like cosmic twins—meant to be together. These “baked moons of deliciousness” will soon become your latest obsession, and you’ll find yourself adding them to every salad!

Get the Recipe: Crispy Delicata Squash Salad

Marinated Fresh Fig and Mozzarella Salad

Fresh figs, prosciutto, mozzarella, arugula, and balsamic glaze arranged on a patterned plate with a fork.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Bold, standout ingredients elevate ripe, juicy figs in this hearty Marinated Fresh Fig and Mozzarella Salad, bringing out their natural sweetness—no oven necessary. Perfect for those crisp fall days when you crave something comforting, hearty, and undeniably fabulous.

Get the Recipe: Marinated Fresh Fig and Mozzarella Salad

Eggs on Toast with Avocado and Rocket Salad

A poached egg on toast with greens, accompanied by creamy avocado and topped with grated cheese, served on a plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

This lightly dressed arugula and microgreen salad sits atop mashed avocado, a poached egg, and a toasted croissant, making it less of a traditional salad but still loaded with protein! It’s perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner—Eggs on Toast with Avocado and Rocket Salad is fabulous anytime you crave it!

Get the Recipe: Eggs on Toast with Avocado and Rocket Salad

Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

A caprese salad on a platter with strawberries, blueberries, and basil leaves.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

In my late autumn and early winter version of this Strawberry Blueberry Salad, I use mozzarella cheese combined with fresh strawberries and blueberries—freshly harvested from southern California—along with basil and a simple herb-balsamic dressing. Finished with delicate shavings of parmesan, this salad is always the first to vanish from the table. Equally delicious swapping out for apples and blackberries!

Get the Recipe: Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad

Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
Photo credit: Budget Bytes

This cozy Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad features roasted vegetables, toasted pecans, creamy goat cheese, and a tangy maple dijon dressing.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad

Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Roasted Eggplant

Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Roasted Eggplant
Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

This couscous salad comes together in just 30 minutes, making it a perfect choice for a light lunch or a healthy side dish. No time to spare? This recipe is your new best friend!
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Roasted Eggplant

Green Goddess Salad

Green Goddess Salad
Photo credit: Budget Bytes

This creamy, crunchy, and tangy Green Goddess salad is as delicious as it is easy to make, plus it’s ridiculously budget friendly.
Get the Recipe: Green Goddess Salad

Wilted Spinach Salad

Wilted Spinach Salad
Photo credit: Budget Bytes

Wilted spinach salad with bacon, white beans, and a tangy Dijon vinaigrette is a quick, easy, and light summer meal.
Get the Recipe: Wilted Spinach Salad

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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