15+ Cheap Salad Recipes

This list of 15+ cheap salad recipes has all sorts of salad recipes. From green salads to high protein salads and even some pasta salads, you will find delicious salads on this list.

Alright, who here doesn’t love a big bowl of salad, raise your hand!

No one?

Good!

You are in the right place because I am about to show you all the salad recipes that I eat frequently.

I love them ALL!

Tips for making salads

• Always try to get organic ingredients where you can. Salads are famously sprayed with pesticides and that defeats the purpose of eating a salad. I know they are expensive, but, they pay off in the long run.
• Keep your greens in the crisper section of your fridge. Preferably, wrap them in a paper towel where possible and then put them into a zip-lock bag. They will last much longer.
• When using legumes like lentils and dry beans in your salads, I strongly recommend soaking them overnight. Many legumes have lectins in them that are bad for your guts. Soaking and then pressure cooking them will make them more gut-friendly. Source: Blue Zone, Healthline, and my own personal conversations with health professionals.
• If you are using canned beans, make sure you wash them thoroughly so that you can get rid of most of the preservatives in them.
• For make-ahead salads, see if you can wait until the last second before adding the dressing. This will prevent them from getting soggy. I always put my dressing in a small container next to the salad container. This way, it’s easy to get to when needed.

Traditional green salads are always in demand at my house. We consume a ton of salads, so, I am always experimenting with different ingredients.

Here are some of my examples of green salads. Which one is your favorite?

15+ Cheap salad recipes

Easy Cucumber Salad

Cucumber salad with a twist! Here, I marinated feta cheese and olives in harissa sauce. Then, I added a cucumber, radish, onion and dill. This salad is best served cold and immediately after making it.

It’s a keto, vegetarian, and whole foods-friendly recipe. To make it vegan, marinate firm tofu instead of feta.

Arugula salad recipe

There is nothing like a simple arugula salad recipe made with simple ingredients. There are good fats in it and it has a delicious proteins too.

The salad is easy to make and it’s ready in just 20 minutes. Also, there is an exotic spice that makes the tofu taste AMAZING. Head over to the post and make this easy arugula salad.

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Panzanella Salad

What to do with old sourdough bread. Before you throw it away, look at this salad recipe! It’s an easy tomato bread salad where the old sourdough really shines.

This panzanella salad recipe takes just 20 minutes to make. Easy and delicious brunch recipe.

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Warm kale salad with pomegranate

This is a new addition to my salad list. I have always massaged my kale, but this time I decided to warm it up.

For me, purple kale is always the best because it brings so much color to any plate. You can always sub it with curly kale, if you can’t find purple kale.

Incidentally, you can also put purple kale in soup and it’s magnificent!

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Spinach salad with bagel chips

This spinach salad has become our go-to salad. Whenever we are short on time, I just whip up this salad in a jiffy and we are ready to devour it.

Go for baby spinach when making this recipe because it is very easy to work with. You can even try adding baby kale.

I think the bagel chips are the best part of this salad, but if you are on keto sub it with my beet chips or radish chips. Or, make your own croutons and add them to the salad. This will be the easiest of the cheap salad recipes because you probably have most of the ingredients in your pantry right now.

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Vegan Caesar salad

I have always been told that for those who have gone vegan after being meat eaters or vegetarians, one of the things they miss most is eggs.

Eggs are a huge no-no on a vegan diet which means omelets, quiche, egg muffins, poached eggs and many more are out of bounds.

Sucks, right?

Well, Caesar salad shouldn’t be one of the recipes you can’t enjoy on a vegan diet. I have the very best vegan Caesar salad that I have been told tastes just like the real deal.

So, enjoy this majestic salad without the guilts!

Didn’t know that you can’t eat eggs on a vegan diet? Consult my handy guide to get the list of all things vegan.

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Farro salad with baby kale

Baby kale is always present in our home. They are easy to digest and eat, plus they don’t have the uber strong flavors of “adult” kale.

In this salad, baby kale is really the star of the recipe even though it’s called farro salad. The baby kale adds flavor, nutrition, and color to the salad.

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Potato salad

Here is yet another example of a salad where the green outshines the named ingredient. I feel like the greens are huge attention-getters and for good reasons.

The greens in this salad are baby arugula and baby spinach. Add your favorite baby greens to this salad and you won’t be disappointed.

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Copycat Whole Food’s sweet kale salad

I used to be a frequent visitor to Whole Foods. This day, because of the atmosphere, I try not to go outside too much.

One of my favorite things to eat at Whole Foods was their sweet kale salad. This salad is normally in the hot foods section. It was simply scrumptious and I can never get enough of it.

So, instead of missing out on it, I am glad I had the foresight to make this recipe in 2016. I have been making it at home for the last 2 years and it’s hit all the right spots.

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Tabouli salad

This is not your Grandmother’s tabouli salad (assuming your grandma made it using bulgur wheat). I went a different route with this Mediterranean salad.

Instead of bulgur, I used Amaranth grain. But, the star is the copious amounts of parsley which is the true star of the salad.

The best part is that this is one of the most versatile cheap salad recipes. You can use quinoa, bulger wheat, farro, or orzo pasta in place of amaranth.

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High protein salads

Legumes are a vegan’s best protein friend. When cooked correctly, they can provide much-needed nourishment for the body.

Here are some of my favorite legume salads. The best part is that I have made them super easy to make.

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Mediterranean lentil salad

I made this salad in the Instant Pot and that’s all everyone likes to hear. Making it in the instant pot makes this recipe super easy to make.

It also has plenty of protein and other nutrients that vegans are always looking for. You can substitute the feta cheese with vegan feta cheese.

This salad is my favorite on this list of cheap salad recipes. That’s because I can make it in minutes using just my Instant Pot. I never have an excuse to not eat right!

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Thai edamame salad

Edamame is considered to be one of the sources of complete proteins for vegans. They are easy to cook with and they can be flavored a hundred ways from Sunday. This edamame salad is made with Thai flavors and has good fats too.

Navy bean salad

Ever since we made this recipe back in 2016, it has become a staple on our Thanksgiving menu each year. We feel that the Thanksgiving table is empty if the salad is not present.

Once again, parsley is taking center stage when it comes to taste. Parsley flavors the legumes in this salad like no other herb can.

This navy bean salad is also the most colorful of all the cheap salad recipes on this list. It’s like eating the rainbow!

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Pressure cooker couscous salad

I have been called “crazy” for cooking my couscous in the pressure cooker. Until you try making this unique salad in your Instant Pot, you will not understand why it’s much easier.

This salad is made with all Mediterranean ingredients, with tarragon being the king. The strong flavors make this a very unique salad to make any weeknight.

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Fruit salads

If you grew up in Indian (like me), your fruit salads always included some kind of dairy like condensed milk, custard or even evaporated milk.

Seeing fruit salads without dairy in it was shocking, but I quickly adopted. Now, I make fruit salads all the time and they have no condensed milk it! Wild, I know!!

Check out some of my favorite fruit salads

Watermelon salad with arugula

Watermelon is not just good to make lassi. It also makes for a good salad.

I have loved how it’s natural sweetness works with the strong flavors of arugula. They make a good team.

What brings everything together is the amazing pear dressing. I like taking it to picnics.

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Summer fruit salad

I gathered some of my favorite fruits, added quinoa to them, and then turned it into a salad.

Sounds easy, right?

It is very easy and it can be made with simple ingredients.

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Kachumber salad

Kachumber is a salad I grew up eating. It was always served as a side dish to every meal.

Now, I took the traditional kachumber and turned it up a notch! This one has fruits like mangoes and tomatoes. I also upped the spice levels in this salad.

You can eat it by itself or use it as a topping for your sandwiches.

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Greek olive salad recipe

I know you are not surprised to see olive salad under the fruit salad section because you are well aware that it’s a fruit!

Olives are, in my opinion, the most healthy food on the planet. They are packed with natural and good fats. Plus, they have plenty of fiber and no carbs.

So, eat this olive salad all day long and have no guilt.

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Vegetable salads

I find that mixing all kinds of veggies in a salad makes them that much more interesting. I know I could never say no to a broccoli salad or a cucumber salad.

Here are some of my favorite vegetable salads that can be made in no time at all.

Roasted cauliflower salad

Roast cauliflower and then add orzo pasta. Bring all the ingredients together with a simple herby tahini sauce!

Finished!

You have the perfect vegetable salad or pasta salad on your hands. This salad can be served as a side dish or a main course meal.

I have even more fun and exciting cauliflower recipes that will make you love this cruciferous vegetable!

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Mediterranean Brussels sprouts salad

Have you tried grilling sprouts on top using a stove-top grill?

This method ensures that I can have grilled sprouts all year round! My favorite way is to make a Mediterranean flavors sprouts recipe which does include olives.

Don’t know how to choose sprouts when buying them? Consult my handy dandy Brussels sprouts guide

And, if you get your hands on sprout tops, I show you the best way to cook them.

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