Fresh doesn't have to mean boring, and around here, salads are never an afterthought.
This collection brings together bold Southwestern flavors, peak-season produce, hearty main-dish bowls, and the homemade dressings that tie it all together. You'll find meal-worthy favorites like Skirt Steak Salad and smoky seafood options like Blackened Shrimp Salad, alongside cookout classics such as Classic Macaroni Salad and bright summer standouts like Grilled Peach Salad. And because a great salad deserves a great finish, don't miss flavor builders like Sweet Red Wine Vinaigrette and Pico de Gallo.
Whether you're planning a backyard cookout, a simple weeknight dinner, or a seasonal spread built around Colorado produce, this is where crisp textures, vibrant color, and confident flavor meet.
Main Dish Salads, (Protein Forward and Meal Worthy
- Grilled Chicken Wilted Spinach Salad
- Honey Glazed Skirt Steak Salad: Recipe and Tips
- Warm Butter Bean Salad with Bacon and Maple Syrup Vinaigrette
- Roasted Shrimp White Bean Salad
- Blackened Shrimp Salad with Champagne Vinaigrette
- Grilled Shrimp Salad with Citrus Mint Dressing, Avocado and Orange
- Grilled Lamb Salad with Arugula and Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette
- Creamy Southwest Spicy Chicken Salad
- Blue Cheese Wedge Salad With Saison Ranch Dressing
Southwestern and Mexican Inspired Salads
Summer and Picnic Salads
Cook-out, Pot-luck and Back-Yard Picnic Salads
- Old Fashioned Pea Salad With Eggs
- Lancaster County Amish Macaroni Salad
- Creamy Tangy Chicken Macaroni Salad Recipe
- Southwest Rotini Pasta Salad With Black Beans
- Whole Foods Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad with Creamy Parmesan Sauce
- Ultimate Blue Cheese Potato Salad With Bacon
- Avocado Potato Salad with Tangy Avocado Dressing
- Old Fashioned Classic Macaroni Salad, Perfectly Sweet, Creamy and Tangy
- Old Fashioned Potato Salad With Olives
- Pioneer Woman’s Macaroni Salad
- Loaded Baked Potato Potato Salad
- Broccoli Cheese Tortellini Pasta Salad
- Sweet Corn Succotash with Edamame
Side Salads That Complete The Plate
Nothing but the greens please …. and some dressing or vinaigrette.
Seasonal Produce Spotlight Salads
Add a crunch of sweet with salads with a bit of fruit involved.
- Baby Kale Salad with Honey Cider Vinaigrette
- Arugula Goat Cheese Salad with Grilled Peaches
- Winter Fresh Citrus Salad
- Avocado Mango Salad with Blue Cheese
- Fennel Orange and Olive Salad, Side Dish for Paella
- Easy Balsamic Cranberry Vinaigrette
- Yellow Watermelon Summer Salad
- The Only Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe You’ll Ever Need
- Burrata Peach Salad With Shallot White Wine Vinaigrette
- Butter Lettuce Salad With Peaches and Pistachio Vinaigrette
viral recipe!
Chunky Blue Cheese Dressing
A perfect balance between creamy and chunky makes this the best blue cheese dressing recipe, and better than anything you can buy at the store.
Homemade Salad Dressings
Why Trust My Recipes? I am a Culinary School Graduate and a lifelong student of home cooking. I hope to inspire you try to cook as often as you can. I’ve been cooking for 50 years, and my recipes are tried and true tested and tested and then tested again before published. To read more take a look at my About Page.