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.
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.
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.
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 239
- Fats: 11g
- Protein: 23g
- Carbs: 13g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 5g
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 399
- Fats: 28g
- Protein: 23g
- Carbs: 14g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
3. Vegan Cobb Salad With Cheesy Dressing (13g protein)
Credit: thishealthykitchen.com
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 237
- Fats: 6g
- Protein: 13g
- Carbs: 37g
- Fiber: 10g
- Sugar: 7g
4. Caesar Salad With Roasted Shrimp (34g protein)
Credit: gritsandpinecones.com
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.
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
5. BBQ Chicken Salad (28g protein)
Credit: easybudgetrecipes.com
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.
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 520
- Fats: 22g
- Protein: 28g
- Carbs: 53g
- Fiber: 7g
- Sugar: 20g
6. Arugula Steak Salad With Farro (41.5g protein)
Credit: cookingchatfood.com
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 549
- Fats: 22.4g
- Protein: 41.5g
- Carbs: 48.2g
- Fiber: 9.4g
- Sugar: 4g
7. Fresh Vegan Salad With Hummus (31g protein)
Credit: theliveinkitchen.com
This salad tastes amazing and it has a ton of healthy fat. The sun-dried tomatoes add a nice punch to the leafy greens.
Besides being yummy, hemp hearts are good for you too. 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
8. Kale Chicken & Apple Salad (30g protein)
Credit: irenamacri.com
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 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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 441
- Fats: 25g
- Protein: 30.3g
- Carbs: 25.8g
- Fiber: 5.9g
- Sugar: 15.1
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! 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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 351
- Fats: 20g
- Protein: 20g
- Carbs: 27g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 16g
10. Easy Chicken Salad With Grapes (26g protein)
Credit: pinchandswirl.com
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 326
- Fats: 15g
- Protein: 26g
- Carbs: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 19g
11. Roasted Shrimp Pasta Salad (33g protein)
Credit: gritsandpinecones.com
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 429
- Fats: 20g
- Protein: 33g
- Carbs: 36g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 2g
12. Blackberry Balsamic Grilled Chicken Salad (31g protein)
Credit: flavourandsavour.com
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.
Don’t have a grill? Not a problem. 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
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 427
- Fats: 24.5g
- Protein: 30.6g
- Carbs: 19.2g
- Fiber: 3.8g
- Sugar: 6g
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
15. Roasted Cauliflower Salad With Lentils & Grapes (9g protein)
Credit: veggieinspired.com
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 217
- Fats: 1g
- Protein: 9g
- Carbs: 34g
- Fiber: 9g
- Sugar: 17g
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 491
- Fats: 24g
- Protein: 39g
- Carbs: 32g
- Fiber: 3g
- Sugar: 18g
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 341
- Fats: 17g
- Protein: 35g
- Carbs: 12g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 5g
18. Roasted Beet Salad With Goat Cheese, Spinach & Thyme (20g protein)
Credit: simplybeyondherbs.com
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 350
- Fats: 23g
- Protein: 20g
- Carbs: 19g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 11g
19. Thai Chicken Salad (11g protein)
Credit: foodmeanderings.com
This Thai Chicken Salad is made with chicken breasts, straight off the grill… and who doesn’t love freshly grilled chicken breasts? And these chicken breasts are spicy.
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 202
- Fats: 7g
- Protein: 11g
- Carbs: 24g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 9g
20. Easy Greek Salad With Rotisserie Chicken (23g protein)
Credit: livelovetexas.com
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.
Per Serving:
- Calories: 310
- Fats: 18g
- Protein: 23g
- Carbs: 15g
- Fiber: 4g
- Sugar: 8g