20 Easy High Protein Salad Recipes That Aren’t Boring

Need to keep your protein intake high? You can do it even while eating salads! These high protein salad recipes will help you do just that.

Are you eating tons of salad, but not losing weight? The problem may be what you’re putting in your salad.

For one, you want to make sure that it has tons of fiber. Fiber makes you full longer, so you’re not reaching for those donuts later on.

Adding protein to your salads can help you lose even more weight. That’s because, of all the macronutrients (carbs, fat, and protein), protein is the most satiating.

Eating protein also boosts your metabolism. This helps you lose even more weight.

Today, I’m sharing 20 healthy salad recipes. They’re not only delicious but packed with protein.

So, they’ll fill you up and help you lose weight.

1. Warm Tuna Salad (23 grams of protein)

Credit: savoryspin.com

Canned tuna is so convenient and so good for you. It’s not only packed with protein but brain-boosting omega-3s as well. So gobble up that tuna.

But cold tuna salad can get kind of boring. So, to change things up a bit, try this tuna salad.

It’s super flavorful. The sauteed celery and red cabbage add a nice crunch, as well as color.

While the fresh lemon juice adds tang and freshness. And the ginger and mustard seeds add a nice heat.

Sauteeing the tuna with onions and garlic ramps up the flavor of the tuna too. The toasted sesame seeds finish the tuna salad perfectly.

You’ll be using a bunch of spices to make the salad, warm aromatic spices like turmeric and cumin.

This a quick meal you can level up with fresh herbs.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 239
• Fats: 11g
• Protein: 23g
• Carbs: 13g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 5g

Recipe

2. Lobster Cobb Salad (23g protein)

Credit: cupcakesandkalechips.com

Do you love seafood? Then you’ll love this filling salad.

Now, your typical Cobb salad contains chicken. This one contains lobster instead.

And it tastes just as good as the original. You have juicy lobster tails, creamy avocado, crispy bacon, crumbled blue cheese, hard-boiled eggs, and fresh grape tomatoes.

The homemade garlic and herb vinaigrette complement the salad beautifully. You’ll want to eat this salad again and again.

This salad does contain corn. But if you’re on a keto diet, you can just leave it out.

This will shave off 9 grams of carbs from your salad. And it will still taste amazing. A great high-protein salad recipe that’s perfect for an easy dinner.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 399
• Fats: 28g
• Protein: 23g
• Carbs: 14g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 2g

Recipe

3. Vegan Cobb Salad With Cheesy Dressing (13g protein)

Credit: thishealthykitchen.com

Are you vegan or simply trying to add more plant-based meals to your diet? This delicious salad is for you.

It’s packed with good-for-you ingredients, and it tastes good too! You get the smokiness from the smoked paprika-infused mushrooms, and sweetness from the maple syrup and red onions.

The romaine lettuce adds the perfect amount of crunch. While the avocado adds creaminess…it’s a melting pot of flavors and textures.

All topped with a tangy, creamy salad dressing. It’s a great salad to eat during summer, or frankly, any season at all.

It’s good for you too. It is not only high in protein but high in fiber and iron as well. So, it’s a salad you’ll want to eat often.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 237
• Fats: 6g
• Protein: 13g
• Carbs: 37g
• Fiber: 10g
• Sugar: 7g

Recipe

4. Caesar Salad With Roasted Shrimp (34g protein)

Credit: gritsandpinecones.com

Can’t get enough shrimp? Then, try some of this salad! One of the high-protein salad recipes that simply tastes wonderful.

You have succulent shrimp, crisp lettuce, and crunchy croutons. The homemade Caesar salad dressing is so good you may never buy store-bought salad dressing again.

The Dijon mustard adds heat to the dressing, while the lemon juice adds the perfect amount of acidity. While the Parmesan cheese adds creaminess, and the anchovy paste adds tons of flavor… Don’t skip the anchovy paste.

Besides being delicious, shrimp is good for you. It is low in calories yet is packed with protein, so it’s the perfect food if you’re on a diet.

You’ll be using a lot of lettuce to make this salad. And we all know what happens when you wash lettuce and don’t get all the water out; you get a soggy salad

So, to make sure you don’t have soggy salad, you can use a salad spinner. Here’s a really good salad spinner for cheap.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 311
• Fats: 15g
• Protein: 34g
• Carbs: 12g
• Fiber: 7g
• Sugar: 4g

Recipe

5. BBQ Chicken Salad (28g protein)

Credit: easybudgetrecipes.com

Looking for a nice twist on a chicken salad? Give this rich salad a try!

It is packed with tons of color and flavor. Just looking at it will make you feel happy.

You have a rainbow of colors. From the yellow corn to the black beans, to the red bell peppers and red onions, to the yellow from the shredded cheese, to the orange from the carrots.

Eating healthy has never tasted better. And it’s all topped with a barbecue dressing with lime for a nice tang, and fresh cilantro for added freshness.

And since it’s packed with protein, fat, and fiber, it’s very filling. So, it’s sure to keep you away from those potato chips that are calling your name.

To make chicken for this recipe, you’ll need to cook it either in a crockpot or instant pot and shred it.

This is the Instant Pot I use, and I think it works wonderfully and is one of the best investments for anyone’s home. Crockpots are half the price and can do the job too. Here is a low budget one but good quality!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 520
• Fats: 22g
• Protein: 28g
• Carbs: 53g
• Fiber: 7g
• Sugar: 20g

Recipe

6. Arugula Steak Salad With Farro (41.5g protein)

Credit: cookingchatfood.com

Do you love your steak? Make it even healthier with this arugula steak salad.

Tender, juicy steaks are plated on top of pepper arugula. Feta cheese adds some creaminess, while maple syrup adds sweetness. It’s totally Yum!

The cinnamon adds warmth, balancing out the nuttiness of the farro. Besides being tasty, farro is good for you too.

It’s packed with fiber and protein, which turbocharge your weight loss. It is also a good source of magnesium, which is good for your bones.

Now, this salad contains steak, which has a high carbon footprint. So, to reduce your carbon footprint, you may want to eat it less often.

This is a tasty weight loss salad and will taste amazing with a flavorful dressing.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 549
• Fats: 22.4g
• Protein: 41.5g
• Carbs: 48.2g
• Fiber: 9.4g
• Sugar: 4g

Recipe

7. Fresh Vegan Salad With Hummus (31g protein)

Credit: theliveinkitchen.com

I’m a big fan of meat-free salads, as I’m sure many of you are too. But, sometimes they can taste like grass.

This salad tastes amazing and it has a ton of healthy fat. The sun-dried tomatoes add a nice punch to the leafy greens.

While the crunchiness of the carrots and watermelon radish are a nice contrast to the creaminess of the hummus.

The pepitas and hemp hearts/seeds are the cherry on top of the cake… oops, salad. They add a beautiful nuttiness.

Besides being yummy, hemp hearts are good for you too. They are high in protein and one of the few complete plant-based proteins.

They may even reduce your symptoms of PMS. If you’d like to give them a try, you can get some here.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 629
• Fats: 33g
• Protein: 31g
• Carbs: 63g
• Fiber: 17g
• Sugar: 10g

Recipe

8. Kale Chicken & Apple Salad (30g protein)

Credit: irenamacri.com

Not a big fan of kale? This salad may change your mind! It’s a great recipe full of flavors!

This salad is a medley of textures and flavors. You have tender chicken for protein.

While for sweetness, you have carrots and red apples. The sweetness is balanced by the tartness of the green apples.

The creaminess of the mayonnaise and the heat from the Dijon mustard balance the salad beautifully.

And let’s not forget about the kale. Kale is an excellent source of vitamins C and K.

It also contains antioxidants.

However, kale has a reputation for being bitter. But, for this salad, you’ll be massaging your kale with lemon juice.

This removes much of the bitterness and also softens it too.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 441
• Fats: 25g
• Protein: 30.3g
• Carbs: 25.8g
• Fiber: 5.9g
• Sugar: 15.1

Recipe

9. Mayo-Free Cranberry Apple Chicken Salad (20g protein)

Credit: hauteandhealthyliving.com

Love chicken salad, but not a big fan of mayo? Then, give this salad a try!

It’s creamy and chunky and full of flavor. The apples and dried cranberries add sweetness.

While the chopped pecans add a nice crunch. And the cashew cream sauce adds creaminess. You definitely won’t miss the mayo.

To make the cashew cream sauce, you’ll need to soak your cashews in water for about 2 hours.

Then add your soaked cashews, water, garlic, and salt to a powerful blender. I like this blender here because it makes the sauce creamy, not chunky.

Serve on a bed of lettuce.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 351
• Fats: 20g
• Protein: 20g
• Carbs: 27g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 16g

Recipe

10. Easy Chicken Salad With Grapes (26g protein)

Credit: pinchandswirl.com

Here’s another chicken salad recipe. You can never get enough chicken salad, right?

This one tastes amazing. You have tender pieces of chicken mixed with crunchy toasted almonds.

The crisp celery and lettuce leaves to balance the sweet red grapes. While the apricots add a nice mix of sweet and tangy.

And you’ll just love the creamy homemade yogurt-based dressing. It is sweet and tangy too-perfect for summer.

Making this salad is super easy. All it takes is 15 minutes, and lunch is served.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 326
• Fats: 15g
• Protein: 26g
• Carbs: 25g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 19g

Recipe

11. Roasted Shrimp Pasta Salad (33g protein)

Credit: gritsandpinecones.com

Not a fan of salads that only have greens in them? You might like one of these simple salad recipes!

I love pasta salad, as I’m sure many of you do too. It makes a nice side dish for summer barbecues.

But, you don’t usually eat pasta salad as a main course. That’s because it usually doesn’t contain a lot of protein, so they’re not that filling.

This shrimp pasta salad is packed with protein so that you can eat it on its own.

The shrimp are succulent and lightly seasoned with pepper and salt. And the orzo is tossed in a delicious lemon vinaigrette that complements the shrimp perfectly.

All topped with feta cheese, dill, and fresh Italian parsley for a nice Italian touch. Buon Appetito!

Per Serving:

• Calories: 429
• Fats: 20g
• Protein: 33g
• Carbs: 36g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 2g

Recipe

12. Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad (31g protein)

Credit: flavourandsavour.com

Looking for a chicken salad that doesn’t have a creamy dressing? Give this a try – a great source of protein and a delicious lunch.

This chicken salad is not only tasty but has tons of veggies. So, it’s packed with fiber.

One serving provides a whopping 52% of your daily fiber needs. So, it’s great for your digestion, and pretty filling too.

You have tender, nicely grilled chicken breasts, and 3 different veggies: leafy green, broccoli, and cauliflower.

The creamy avocado is a nice contrast to the crunchy pecans. And the blackberries add sweetness and tartness.

The salad dressing is a winner. It’s a nice blend of sweet and tangy, with umami and a bit of heat.

Don’t have a grill? Not a problem.

Just sear your chicken in a skillet. Then, place it in the oven to finish cooking.

If you can, use an iron skillet. Iron skillets add a nice sear to the chicken, and they are oven safe too. You can find one here.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 530
• Fats: 36g
• Protein: 31g
• Carbs: 25g
• Fiber: 13g
• Sugar: 7g

Recipe

13. Tuna & Sweet Potato Salad (30g protein)

Credit: irenamacri.com

Love tuna salad? I bet you’ve never had one like this before!

Instead of adding pasta to the tuna salad, you’re adding sweet potatoes. And it works.

The sweet potatoes add a nice sweetness and balance the creaminess of the mayo.

The celery and red pepper add crunch. While the dill pickles add saltiness…it’s a party in your mouth.

Besides being tasty, this tuna salad is good for you too. It contains tons of brain-boosting B vitamins, as well as vitamins A and C, which are good for your immune system.

So, this salad may just become your next best friend… ahem, meal.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 427
• Fats: 24.5g
• Protein: 30.6g
• Carbs: 19.2g
• Fiber: 3.8g
• Sugar: 6g

Recipe

14. Steak Salad With Blue Cheese, Butternut Squash, & Cranberries (31g protein)

Credit: snackinginsneakers.com

Craving steak and potatoes? Have this steak salad instead.

It has melt-in-your-mouth steak, nicely roasted Butternut squash, and honey-sweetened cranberries.

The blue cheese adds tons of flavor, while the spinach adds freshness. This is a great way to eat steak.

And instead of feeling stuffed after eating it, you’ll have tons of energy. Ready to take on the day.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 527
• Fats: 30.5g
• Protein: 31g
• Carbs: 34.5g
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 18.5g

Recipe

15. Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Lentils & Grapes (9g protein)

Credit: veggieinspired.com

Looking for a salad for Meatless Monday? This is a great option.

Savory lentils are mixed with sweet juicy grapes. And the cauliflower is roasted in a mixture of olive oil, turmeric, and curry powder until caramelized.

The salad dressing is the stuff of dreams. It’s creamy, sweet, earthy, and golden. You’ll want to make extra.

And since it is low in calories, you can go for seconds and not feel guilty. Now, that’s my kind of salad.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 217
• Fats: 1g
• Protein: 9g
• Carbs: 34g
• Fiber: 9g
• Sugar: 17g

Recipe

16. Curry Chicken Salad (39g protein)

Credit: pinchandswirl.com

Craving the tastes of India? This salad is sure to satisfy your cravings.

It has the flavors of chicken curry-in salad form. So, it’s not only tasty but good for you too.

The tender chicken complements the crisp celery. While the sweet grapes go wonderfully with the roasted cashews.

And the dressing is heavenly. The yogurt adds creaminess, and the apricot preserves add a nice blend of sweetness and tartness.

While the curry powder adds Indian flavor.

Serve on a bed of lettuce leaves.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 491
• Fats: 24g
• Protein: 39g
• Carbs: 32g
• Fiber: 3g
• Sugar: 18g

Recipe

17. Beef & Mint Salad (35g protein)

Credit: atastefortravel.ca

Love your beef, but want to get in some veggies too? Then, make this beef and mint salad.

This salad is packed with tons of tender, shredded beef. The crunchiness of the radishes melds beautifully with the softness of the tomatoes.

While the jalapenos add heat that the mint helps cool down.

For the salad dressing, you’ll be mixing fresh lime juice, orange juice and salt, and pepper. So, you get a nice tang that balances the heaviness of the steak.

Top with avocado slices.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 341
• Fats: 17g
• Protein: 35g
• Carbs: 12g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 5g

Recipe

18. Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese, Spinach & Thyme (20g protein)

Credit: simplybeyondherbs.com

Not a big fan of meat? Then you’ll love this vegetarian salad.

It is packed with tender roasted beets, fresh baby spinach, and juicy oranges. All topped with creamy goat cheese and crunchy sunflower seeds.

Besides being tasty, beets are good for you too. Beets contain nitrates, which help lower your blood pressure.

Nitrates also improve your athletic performance. So, you may want to eat this salad before sporting events to give you an extra boost.

Not a fan of goat cheese? You can use feta or blue cheese instead.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 350
• Fats: 23g
• Protein: 20g
• Carbs: 19g
• Fiber: 6g
• Sugar: 11g

Recipe

19. Thai Chicken Salad (11g protein)

Credit: foodmeanderings.com

Burgers and hot dogs are great for barbecues. But sometimes, you want something a bit lighter.

Here’s where this Thai Chicken Salad fits in. It’s made with chicken breasts, straight off the grill… and who doesn’t love freshly grilled chicken breasts?

And these chicken breasts are spicy. That’s because you use Cajun seasoning to season them.

Then you toss them with crispy lettuce, crunchy yellow/red bell peppers, grape tomatoes, and carrots. All topped with a sweet and tangy Thai-inspired peanut sauce.

With a salad like this, who needs burgers and hot dogs?

Per Serving:

• Calories: 202
• Fats: 7g
• Protein: 11g
• Carbs: 24g
• Fiber: 1g
• Sugar: 9g

Recipe

20. Easy Greek Salad With Rotisserie Chicken (23g protein)

Credit: livelovetexas.com

Too tired to cook? This salad is for you.

It is packed with Greek flavor. You have creamy feta cheese, salty kalamata olives, juicy tomatoes, sweet red onions, crisp lettuce, and juicy tomatoes.

All topped with tender shredded chicken and balsamic vinaigrette.

To keep it cook-free, you’ll need to pick up some rotisserie chicken. Not only is Rotisserie chicken convenient, but it’s also packed with protein too.

Don’t forget to pick up some balsamic vinaigrette too.

Per Serving:

• Calories: 310
• Fats: 18g
• Protein: 23g
• Carbs: 15g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 8g

Recipe