Salads and Dressings

Here I share a variety of healthy and delicious salads and homemade dressings that combine a variety a flavors and textures and are filling-enough to be enjoyed as a meal.

One of my favorites is this southwest salad with homemade chipotle yogurt dressing. It’s healthy, has a little kick, and can be meal-prepped in mason jars.

This copycat Portillo’s chopped salad makes a big bowl of the best salad perfect for parties or family dinner.

Large serving bowl of Mexican street corn pasta salad garnished with chili powder and surrounded by fresh cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños, cotija cheese, and a bowl of chili powder.

Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad

This Mexican street corn pasta salad is the ultimate summer side dish. Made with charred fresh corn, small pasta, and a creamy lime dressing, it’s bright, fresh, and the kind of recipe you’ll keep going back to.
Large serving bowl of Mexican street corn pasta salad garnished with chili powder and surrounded by fresh cilantro, lime wedges, jalapeños, cotija cheese, and a bowl of chili powder.
Overhead view of caprese pasta salad with cavatappi pasta, juicy grape tomatoes, pearl mozzarella, and fresh basil tossed in a light vinaigrette.

Caprese Pasta Salad with Fresh Mozzarella and Basil

This caprese pasta salad combines juicy tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and basil with a light garlic parmesan vinaigrette for a fresh, summer side dish. It’s simple to make and perfect for picnics, BBQs, and warm-weather dinners.
Overhead view of caprese pasta salad with cavatappi pasta, juicy grape tomatoes, pearl mozzarella, and fresh basil tossed in a light vinaigrette.
Large bowl of Greek pasta salad with feta, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell pepper tossed in vinaigrette with wooden serving spoons.

Easy Greek Pasta Salad with Feta

This easy Greek pasta salad combines bow tie pasta, crisp vegetables, olives, and feta, all coated in a bright homemade Greek vinaigrette. It’s simple to make and makes a big bowl that’s the perfect summer side dish for sharing at cookouts and picnics, or enjoying as a light meal.
Large bowl of Greek pasta salad with feta, olives, cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell pepper tossed in vinaigrette with wooden serving spoons.
A har of homemade italian vinaigrette dressing next to a salad and fork.

Homemade Italian Vinaigrette Dressing – Ready in 3 Minutes

This homemade Italian vinaigrette is made from scratch with olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and classic Italian herbs like oregano, basil and rosemary. It’s flavorful, quick, and ready in just 3 minutes—perfect for salads or as a light marinade.
A har of homemade italian vinaigrette dressing next to a salad and fork.
A big bowl of Italian pasta salad with rotini noodles, salami, pepperoni, tomatoes, olive, provolone cheese and more.

Zesty Italian Pasta Salad (No Mayo Recipe)

This Easy Italian Pasta Salad is loaded with spicy, savory cured meats, creamy provolone cheese, and crisp veggies, all tossed in a zesty Italian dressing. It’s like your favorite Italian sub in pasta salad form—perfect for potlucks, summer barbecues, and meal prep.
A big bowl of Italian pasta salad with rotini noodles, salami, pepperoni, tomatoes, olive, provolone cheese and more.
A small mason jar filled with homemade Greek salad dressing. The jar of dressing is on a wooden board. In the background is a bulb of garlic, Greek salad, small bowl of Kalamata olives and some oregano.

Homemade Greek Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

This simple homemade Greek vinaigrette is a flavorful, go-to dressing that comes together in minutes and tastes so much better than store-bought. Made with olive oil and red wine vinegar, it's perfect for Greek salads, orzo salads, grilled veggies, or even as a marinade.
A small mason jar filled with homemade Greek salad dressing. The jar of dressing is on a wooden board. In the background is a bulb of garlic, Greek salad, small bowl of Kalamata olives and some oregano.
Greek orzo salad on a salad plate. You can see the pasta salad loaded with halved grape tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta and onion.

Flavorful Greek Orzo Salad

Greek Orzo Salad combines orzo pasta, fresh vegetables, olives, and feta, all tossed in a simple homemade Greek vinaigrette. This pasta salad is easy to make and a great side dish for summer picnics, potlucks or everyday meals.
Greek orzo salad on a salad plate. You can see the pasta salad loaded with halved grape tomatoes, cucumber, olives, feta and onion.
A jar of homemade strawberry vinaigrette surrounded by a few cut strawberries. In the background there's a bowl of strawberries and a strawberry spinach salad.

Homemade Strawberry Vinaigrette

This easy homemade strawberry vinaigrette comes together in just a minute with fresh strawberries, balsamic vinegar, and olive oil. It's delicious on summer salads, fruit salad and my favorite, strawberry spinach salad.
A jar of homemade strawberry vinaigrette surrounded by a few cut strawberries. In the background there's a bowl of strawberries and a strawberry spinach salad.
A spinach salad with strawberries and strawberry vinaigrette on a salad plate, which is next to a large bowl full of the strawberry spinach salad.

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Strawberry Balsamic Vinaigrette

This strawberry spinach salad features sweet strawberries, creamy feta cheese and crunchy pine nuts, on a bed of crisp baby spinach, tossed with homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette. This nutritious salad, bursting with flavors and textures, is easy to make, and the perfect side for a light meal, or spring and summer entertaining.
A spinach salad with strawberries and strawberry vinaigrette on a salad plate, which is next to a large bowl full of the strawberry spinach salad.
Homemade lemon salad dressing in a small glass jar, next to half a lemon, a bulb of garlic, and a bowl of salad greens.

Homemade Lemon Vinaigrette Salad Dressing

This 5-ingredient homemade lemon vinaigrette recipe only takes a few minutes to make, and adds a light, refreshing flavor to salads. The dressing features freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil and garlic for a super tasty, guilt-free dressing.
Homemade lemon salad dressing in a small glass jar, next to half a lemon, a bulb of garlic, and a bowl of salad greens.
A Mediterranean salad packed in a mason jar with layers of lemon dressing, onion, tomatoes, cucumber, olives. feta cheese, quinoa and salad greens.

Mediterranean Salad in a Jar

This Mediterranean Salad is full of chickpeas, olives, cucumber, feta, quinoa and more, tossed in a lemony olive oil dressing for a meal that has all your favorite Mediterranean flavors in every bite. This salad is perfect for serving family style in a big bowl or meal-prepping into mason jars to enjoy throughout the week.
A Mediterranean salad packed in a mason jar with layers of lemon dressing, onion, tomatoes, cucumber, olives. feta cheese, quinoa and salad greens.
A fall salad loaded with apples, pecans, cranberries and blue cheese, next to a granny smith apple and a honeycrisp apple.

Apple Pecan Fall Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

This Apple Pecan Salad with a tangy Apple Cider Vinaigrette is the perfect fall salad featuring a cornucopia of flavors. Fresh apples, candied pecans, dried cranberries and creamy bleu cheese turn an ordinary green salad into one perfect for autumn dining, Thanksgiving feasts and Christmas dinner.
A fall salad loaded with apples, pecans, cranberries and blue cheese, next to a granny smith apple and a honeycrisp apple.