Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Stephanie McKercher, RDN · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

I love a good salad, especially during the spring and summer months, but there's nothing worse than a meal that leaves you feeling unsatisfied. That's why I pulled together my favorite filling vegan salads with real staying power.

Each of these salads is an entree all on it's own -you'retaste budsand belly will both be happy campers after one of these. The key is to create an entree salad with balance. Along with plenty of non-starchy vegetables, these salads contain foods rich in fiber andplant-based protein. for satisfaction.

Some of my favorite hearty salad additions include beans and legumes, avocado, quinoa, sweet potato, and tofu/tempeh. You'll find plenty of inspiration for usingeach of themhere. Be prepared to fall in love with salads again!

Chickpea Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (1)

Lunchbox Chickpea Salad by Dixya at Food, Pleasure & Health

Quick + Easy Chickpea Saladby Taylor at Whole Green Wellness

Basil Balsamic Chickpea and Kale Saladby Alexis at Hummusapien

Curried Chickpea and Avocado Salad with Pomegranateby Sandra at Sandra Vungi Vegan

BBQ Chickpea Saladby Sam at It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

BBQ Chickpea Chopped Salad with Avocado Ranchby Kaitlin at The Garden Grazer

Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Saladby Amy at Fragrant Vanilla

Asian-Inspired Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (2)

Spicy Cucumber Salad with Pan-Fried Tofuby Gin at Eat Healthy Eat Happy

Peanut Thai Salad with Grilled Tofuby Sam at It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

Mediterranean-Inspired Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (3)

Lentil Fattoush Saladby Kristie at The Mostly Vegan

Deconstructed Falafel Saladby Sarah at Fried Dandelions

Greek Power Saladby Kristie at The Mostly Vegan

Italian Orzo Saladby Sophia at Veggies Don't Bite

Deconstructed Hummus Saladby Sue at The View From Great Island

Springtime Polenta Panzanellaby Dillon at Oh, Holy Basil

Southwest-Inspired Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (4)

Southwestern Bacon Avocado Saladby Angel at Cheftographer

Sweet Corn, Jalapeño and Black Beans Saladby Denisa at Blueberry &Basil

Spicy Black Bean Taco Saladsby Cadry at Cadry's Kitchen

Avocado, Black Bean & Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressingby Melissaat Vegan Huggs

Quinoa Black Bean Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressingby Gin at Eat Healthy Eat Happy

Grain-Based Salads

Wheat Berry Salad with Butternut Squash & Warm Cider Vinaigretteby Caroline Kaufman, MS RDN

Three Bean Quinoa Saladby Serena at Domesticate Me

Quinoa Black Bean Saladby Lucie at Win Win Food

Lentil Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (5)

Lentil Salad with Spinach and Pomegranateby Sina at Vegan Heaven

Red Lentil Confetti Saladby Letty at Letty's Kitchen

Mushroom, Lemon and Lentil Saladby Jennifer at Delicious Everyday

Green Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (6)

Tempeh Green Goddess Salad with Avocado Mint Dressingby Haley at Brewing Happiness

Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Dressingby The Grateful Grazer

Super Duper Raw Power Saladby E.A. at Spicy RD Nutrition

Vegan Comfort Food Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (7)

Dueling Avocado + Sweet Potato Kale Saladby Kathy at Happy, Healthy Life

Seitan Steak Saladby Sarah at Fried Dandelions

Health-ified Mushroom Po Boy Saladby Haley at Brewing Happiness

Modern Macaroni Saladby Rebecca at Strength and Sunshine

Potato Cauliflower Chickpea Salad with Vegan Sour Cream & Onion Dressingby Richa at Vegan Richa

[Tweet "Fill up + stay satisfied with these 41 filling vegan salads!"]

Try These Recipes Next:

  • Hot Honey Mustard Vinaigrette Dressing with Apple Cider Vinegar
  • Creamy Vegan Mushroom Gravy with Rosemary and Thyme
  • 30-Minute Easy White Beans and Greens
  • Easy Vegetarian Vegetable Pot Pie with Chickpeas

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  1. Mary says

    This is fantastic! I have been looking for something like this for so long. One of these beauties will be on the menu, with leftovers for work tomorrow, if there is anything left. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      Thanks so much Mary! I'm so glad you found this roundup helpful!! Let me know what you try! ????

      Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      haha the struggle is real! Thank you, Sophia! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Letty / Letty's Kitchen says

    What a fabulous collection of recipes! Plenty of inspiration here. And Thank You for including my confetti lentil salad!

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thank you, Letty! Your lentil salad looks delicious, thanks for sharing it! 🙂

      Reply

  3. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says

    Thanks so much for including me!! Great collection!

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thanks for sharing your yummy salad recipe, Sophia! It looks amazing.

      Reply

  4. Melissa says

    Such a delicious roundup of salads! I have so many I want to make! Thank you for including my recipe. 🙂

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thanks, Melissa! I know what you mean, these are definitely all on my "to make" list. Thanks for sharing your delicious salad! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Angel says

    What a fantastic collection of yummy, filling salads! Thanks for including my Southwestern Bacon Avocado Salad! 🙂

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thank you, Angel! Your Southwestern "Bacon" Salad looks scrumptious - can't wait to try! 🙂

      Reply

  6. Linda @ Veganosity says

    Fantastic roundup! Thanks so much for including our salad. Sharing everywhere. 🙂

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Love your salad recipe, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂

      Reply

  7. Dianne says

    Thank you so much for including my recipe!

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thanks for sharing - the stir fry salad looks amazing! 🙂

      Reply

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (2024)

FAQs

What can I put in my salad to fill it up? ›

Something sweet, such as apples, pears, grapes, pomegranate seeds, oranges, bananas, unsweetened dried cranberries, fresh berries, pineapple or mango.

How do you bulk up a vegetarian salad? ›

Bulk it up: Make your salad go further with grains like quinoa, rice, cous-cous or pasta. Grains are naturally high in fibre, so they'll help you to feel full and satisfied, and maintain a healthy digestive system.

How can I make my salad more nutritious? ›

Add one or more of these protein-rich foods to your salad:
  1. lean meat: chicken or turkey breast, lean steak.
  2. lower-fat cheese: light cheddar, Swiss, mozzarella, feta, goat cheese.
  3. legumes: kidney beans, lentils, chickpeas, white or black beans.
  4. eggs: hard boiled.
  5. soy products: cubed tofu, edamame.

How do you bulk up a salad for dinner? ›

  1. add fried halloumi (and sweet chilli sauce or another spicy dressing goes great with it)
  2. Add a side of focaccia or other nice white bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip.
  3. Add roasted chickpeas for extra crunch and protein (they're also very filling)
  4. Add cooked protein such as shredded chicken.
Jun 14, 2019

What is the best salad to eat for weight loss? ›

10 Salad Recipes for Losing Weight (High in Protein)
  • Ranch Kale Salad with BBQ Tofu. ...
  • Salmon Quinoa Salad. ...
  • The Ultimate Chopped Mediterranean Salad. ...
  • Broccoli Edamame Protein Salad. ...
  • Berry Chicken Salad with Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette. ...
  • Vegetarian Chopped Salad with Boiled Eggs. ...
  • Rainbow Quinoa Salad Jars.
Jun 10, 2023

Why don't salads fill me up? ›

Salads are naturally low in calories or kilojoules. This is because salads mostly contain vegetables, which have a high water content. This may mean you don't feel very satisfied after eating your salad – making it hard to stay full until your next meal.

How to make vegetarian meals more filling? ›

To feel more full while following a vegetarian diet, try incorporating more fiber and whole grains into your meals. Incorporating nuts, seeds, and beans into your diet can help you to feel more satisfied.

What can I put in my salad instead of meat? ›

Here are some ideas:
  • Legumes: Add beans like chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, or lentils to your salad. ...
  • Nuts and seeds: Sprinkle some nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds on your salad. ...
  • Tofu: Grilled or pan-fried tofu can be a great addition to any salad.
Apr 25, 2023

How can a skinny guy bulk up fast vegetarian? ›

11 High-Calorie Vegan Foods for Healthy Weight Gain
  1. Nuts and Nut Butters. Nuts are a great source of protein, healthy fats and calories, making them an excellent choice if you're looking to gain weight. ...
  2. Avocado. ...
  3. Quinoa. ...
  4. Tahini. ...
  5. Olive Oil. ...
  6. Dried Fruit. ...
  7. Legumes. ...
  8. Sweet Potatoes.
Jun 14, 2023

What is the healthiest salad of all time? ›

10 Nutrient-Dense Salad Recipes
  • Low-Carb Asian Chopped Salad.
  • Spicy Shrimp, Avocado, and Arugula Salad.
  • Tofu and Kale Salad.
  • Pear, Grape, and Feta Salad.
  • Mediterranean Chicken Salad.
  • Blood Orange and Quinoa Kale Salad.
  • Golden Beet and Pomegranate Salad.
  • Roasted Chickpea and Kale Salad.
Jul 20, 2021

What are the healthiest vegetables to put in a salad? ›

Some of the most nutritious greens include spinach, kale, romaine, watercress, and arugula (see "Salad greens by the numbers").

What is the healthiest salad dressing? ›

8 Simple and Healthy Salad Dressings
  1. Sesame ginger. This simple salad dressing doubles as an easy marinade for meat, poultry, or roasted veggies. ...
  2. Balsamic vinaigrette. ...
  3. Avocado lime. ...
  4. Lemon vinaigrette. ...
  5. Honey mustard. ...
  6. Greek yogurt ranch. ...
  7. Apple cider vinaigrette. ...
  8. Ginger turmeric.
Jul 27, 2023

What greens are most filling salads? ›

Use hefty greens as your base. Iceberg lettuce is still a vegetable, but darker greens like arugula, spinach, and kale contain far more antioxidants, fiber, and minerals like iron. They're also going to fill you up a lot more because they have a heartier texture.

What can I add to salad for bulk? ›

Beans, pulses and grains add substance to a salad and really fill you up. They are also great at absorbing the flavours of the dressing. Try chickpeas, beans, cooked and cooled lentils, brown rice, quinoa, and couscous.

How do you make a salad not to be boring? ›

  1. Tip #1: don't be afraid to mix textures, temperatures, vegetables and fruits! When it comes to salads, mixing is key. ...
  2. Tip #2: the final garnish is the difference between a good and a great salad! Examples? ...
  3. Tip 3: seasoning, seasoning, seasoning! Use anything your heart desires. ...
  4. Tip 4: make your salads unique!

Is salad filling enough? ›

If you're worried that salads are boring, DeLaurentis says that doesn't have to be the case: "A common misconception is that salads contain vegetables and nothing else, and eating them will leave you feeling unsatisfied and hungry." She recommends adding a protein, like cheese, tofu, beans, chicken or a boiled egg, to ...

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