12 Protein-Packed Salads That Actually Feel Like a Meal

While I love a good salad, there’s nothing worse than feeling like you ate a whole meal only to be hungry again an hour later. Spring break is around the corner and while I’m doing my best to eat healthy, I’m also working out and craving some hearty foods. High-protein salad recipes to the rescue! I’ve been on the hunt for delicious salads that draw on both plant-based and animal protein to keep me satisfied until dinner, or that even work as dinner themselves. Luckily, the internet is full of salad recipes that utilize white beans, lentils, turkey, chicken, and avocado to give my body the protein push that it needs. Keep reading for the best high-protein salad recipes to get you through the day. 

Feature image by Suruchi Avasthi.

Scroll through for the 12 best high-protein salad recipes the internet has to offer!

Shredded Kale & Cranberry Salad With Crispy Tofu

Why we love it: I never liked tofu until I tried it in this salad. Camille shares her technique to turn this plant-based protein into the crispy star of this recipe. The key lies in pressing the tofu to get all of the water out, so the flavor can get in. The shredded kale, cranberries, and peanuts transform this salad into crave-worthy vegetarian dinner.

Hero ingredient: Don’t knock the tofu ‘til you try it.

Get the recipe for Shredded Kale & Cranberry Salad with Crispy Tofu. 

Lentil, Kale and White Bean Salad from Bev Cooks

Why we love it: This vegetarian salad is the protein-packed lunch or side salad you’ve been dreaming about. It’s full of French green lentils, white beans, honey roasted pecans, and seasoned with plenty of lemon and parsley. After cooking the lentils, you just toss the rest together and enjoy. 

Hero ingredient: The lentils are equally protein-packed as they are full of flavor.

Get the recipe for Lentil, Kale and White Bean Salad.

Chickpea, Corn, and Avocado Salad With Roasted Poblano Vinaigrette

Why we love it: Vegan, gluten-free, and full of plant-based protein, this Mexican chopped salad will have a permanent rotation in your meal plan. It’s smoky, sweet, and bursting with healthy seasonal flavors and veggies. This salad keeps great in the fridge and holds up during travel, making it ideal for potlucks and picnics. 

Hero ingredient: More chickpeas, please. 

Get the recipe for Chickpea, Corn, and Avocado Salad With Roasted Poblano Vinaigrette.

Persian Walnut Salad from Feasting at Home

Why we love it: Can we talk about how gorgeous this salad is? The cucumbers, radishes, and feta (optional if you’re vegan) give this dish beautiful texture and color, not to mention flavor. However, it’s the toasted walnuts that make this salad so nutrient-dense. Walnuts are not only a great source of protein, fiber, and plant-based fats, but they also add the perfect crunch to every bite. It’s also great topped with grilled chicken for added protein. 

Hero ingredient: The nutrients in walnuts are nuts!

Get the recipe for Persian Walnut Salad.

Black Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables & Goat Cheese

Why we love it: This salad embodies the phrase “eat the rainbow.” It uses sweet, roasted carrots, and crispy, semi-spicy brussels sprouts to make it a hearty meal that will satisfy you until dinner. The lentils do double-time as little bursts of flavor and a big source of protein. You can marinate your lentils as part of your weekly meal prep to make this salad even easier to assemble. 

Hero ingredient: Any veggie prepped this way is a hero in my book.

Get the recipe for Black Lentil Salad with Roasted Vegetables & Goat Cheese.

Arugula Salad With Pesto Shrimp, Parmesan and White Beans from Foodie Crush

Why we love it: This salad is the ultimate meal prep, weekday lunch recipe. But warning: you’ll want to eat it for dinner, too. You can start with frozen or fresh shrimp and once it’s cooked in all the delicious garlic, red pepper flakes, and pesto, you just toss the rest together and eat. Both the shrimp and the white beans add plenty of protein to this salad and make it hearty enough to be the main course. 

Hero ingredient: The shrimp is high protein and low fat… AKA my kind of hero. 

Get the recipe for Arugula Salad with Pesto Shrimp, Parmesan and White Beans.

Spicy Turkey Taco Salad With Baja Dressing from Half Baked Harvest

Why we love it: I’m a sucker for a taco salad, but this one is on another level. The Baja Dressing is made with Greek yogurt, jalepeños, honey, cilantro, and chives and is like a better version of spicy ranch. Plus, it’s made with lean, high-protein turkey and black beans for an extra protein boost. I would eat high-protein salad recipes for every meal if they all tasted this good. (Disclaimer: The recipes in this roundup totally do.)

Hero ingredient: Petition for every taco salad to be made with ground turkey.

Get the recipe for Spicy Turkey Taco Salad with Baja Dressing.

Lemony White Bean Salad With Prosciutto from Inspired Taste

Why we love it: Ultra-fresh and light, this arugula salad is lemony, peppery, and easy. You can also make this salad ahead of time by following the recipe’s tip to toss the beans, parmesan, and parsley with the dressing, and store in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Just take them out 30 minutes in advance and toss with the greens and the prosciutto. 

Hero ingredient: Beans, beans, the magical fruit…

Get the recipe for Lemony White Bean Salad with Prosciutto.

Grilled Cajun Chicken Salad With Creamy Cajun Dressing from Cafe Delites

Why we love it: This Cajun salad is creamy, spicy, easy, and tasty. It uses a homemade Cajun spice mix so you can easily control the spice according to your heat-tolerance. The magic comes from saving a teaspoon of the chicken seasoning for the dressing, bringing this salad’s components all together in the most delicious way. The chicken itself makes it one of my favorite high-protein salad recipes.

Hero ingredient: Cajun-seasoned chicken might be my new favorite source of protein. 

Get the recipe for Grilled Cajun Chicken Salad with Creamy Cajun Dressing.

Feta Salad With White Beans and Lemon

Why we love it: Who doesn’t love feta cheese? Any salad with feta in the ingredient list, let alone title, immediately catches my attention. Its flavor blends perfectly with this recipe’s lemon relish to create one of the most unique salads I’ve ever tasted. Both the feta and white beans make this salad protein-packed and filling. Plus, it’s a no-recipe recipe that originated from a pantry dive, so chances are, you have all the ingredients on hand. 

Hero ingredient: Can’t get betta than feta. 

Get the recipe for Feta Salad With White Beans and Lemon.

BLT Salad With Applegate Bacon and Creamy Chive Horseradish Dressing from No Crumbs Left

Why we love it: BLT lovers, rejoice. This salad is a Whole30, gluten-free version of your favorite sandwich. While you get some protein from the bacon, the eggs and avocado add an extra boost. Trust me: You’ll want to save this oven-baked bacon method for future brunches. 

Hero ingredient: Who knew bacon could be so easy?

Get the recipe for BLT Salad with Applegate Bacon and Creamy Chive Horseradish Dressing.

Do you have a go-to filling salad recipe? Share your faves below!