17 Healthy Lunch Salads You Can Make in 10 Minutes

a photo of the Spicy White Bean & Spinach Salad
Photo:

Jen Causey

These veggie-packed meals are ready in just 10 minutes or less. Vegetables like arugula, spinach and Brussels sprouts become the base for these fresh salads, topped with delicious proteins like beans, chicken, tuna and eggs. Plus, fruit, nuts, whole grains and seeds give these quick salad dishes a nice texture and some added nutrients. Recipes like our Mason Jar Power Salad with Chickpeas & Tuna and Fiber-Packed Spicy White Bean & Spinach Salad are sure to become a go-to choice in your lunch rotation.

01 of 17

Mason Jar Power Salad with Chickpeas & Tuna

5238637.jpg

This power salad will keep you fueled for hours, thanks to 26 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. Tossing the dressing and kale, and then letting it stand in the jar, softens it enough so you don't need to massage or cook it to make it tender.

02 of 17

Fiber-Packed Spicy White Bean & Spinach Salad

white bean salad with spinach, carrots, almonds in a serving bowl
Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Melissa Gray, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

In this light and refreshing salad, we season white beans with ras el hanout, a Moroccan spice blend which features cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, cardamom and ground black and red pepper. If you prefer a creamier texture, gently mash some of the beans as you stir everything together. The bean salad is served on a bed of lightly dressed spinach that pairs well with the beans, but also grilled chicken or steak kebabs on another night.

03 of 17

Vegetarian Niçoise Salad

Vegetarian Niçoise Salad

This vegetarian take on a traditional Niçoise salad omits the fish and piles on plenty of vegetables.

04 of 17

Chopped Chicken & Sweet Potato Salad

chopped chicken and sweet potato salad

This easy salad recipe allows for a wonderful use of leftover cooked chicken. Look for escarole in the produce section near the leafy greens; if you can't find it, you can use romaine instead.

05 of 17

Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing

4550449.jpg

This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.

06 of 17

Chopped Cobb Salad

Chopped Cobb Salad

This single-serving recipe for Cobb salad swaps chicken in for bacon, which makes it a great source of protein for lunch. If you prefer another salad dressing, feel free to use that instead of our honey-mustard vinaigrette.

07 of 17

Tuna & Olive Spinach Salad

Mediterranean Tuna-Spinach Salad

This tuna salad recipe gets an upgrade with olives, feta and a tahini dressing. Served over baby spinach, this is the perfect easy and light lunch or dinner salad.

08 of 17

Kale Salad with Quinoa & Chicken

Greek Kale Salad with Quinoa & Chicken

Toss the cooked chicken into this healthy salad recipe while it's still warm to lightly wilt the kale, making it softer and easier to eat. Using store-bought salad dressing saves time, but you could also make your own tangy vinaigrette.

09 of 17

Tex-Mex Salad

tex-mex salad

Get all the protein -- 17 grams -- you need without the fat and cholesterol. Loaded with fiber-filled beans, sweet corn, crunchy sweet pepper, smooth avocado, and spicy pico de gallo, this bold salad will satisfy your taste buds and appetite.

10 of 17

Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken

Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad with Chicken

In this healthy copycat of a takeout salad favorite we combine precooked (or leftover) chicken and poppy seed dressing with fresh greens, strawberries and goat cheese for an easy throw-together meal that's ready in 10 minutes.

11 of 17

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas

Brussels Sprouts Salad with Crunchy Chickpeas

This healthy high-fiber salad comes together in just 10 minutes. Serve it right away or pack it in individual servings for four super-satisfying high-fiber lunches for the week ahead. To cut down on prep time, we're using preshredded Brussels sprouts from the produce department and store-bought roasted chickpeas. Look for roasted chickpea snacks with the healthy snacks or nuts at your grocery store.

12 of 17

Cucumber, Tomato & Arugula Salad with Hummus

Hummus & Greek Salad

Tomatoes, cucumber, red onion and feta top arugula in this quick Greek-inspired salad. Served with whole-wheat pita and prepared hummus, it makes a filling, yet healthy lunch.

13 of 17

Roasted Veggie & Quinoa Salad

Roasted-Veggie-and-Quinoa-Salad

Quick, simple and packed with satisfying protein and fiber, this salad makes a perfect lunch or easy one-dish dinner.

14 of 17

Green Salad with Pita Bread & Hummus

4548033.jpg

Elevate hummus and pita by piling your plate high with cucumbers, carrots and mixed greens! Just a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and extra-virgin olive oil is all it takes to dress it up.

15 of 17

Chicken, Brussels Sprouts & Mushroom Salad

6181389.jpg

Shaving the vegetables for this easy salad recipe makes them deliciously tender-crisp without having to cook anything and helps them stand up to the bright homemade vinaigrette and salty Parmesan cheese.

16 of 17

Spinach Salad with Quinoa, Chicken & Fresh Berries

https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/8061003/spinach-salad-with-quinoa-chicken-fresh-berries/

If you're packing this grain bowl for work, combine the dressing ingredients in a small container. When you're ready to eat, shake the dressing well, add it to the salad and toss. If you don't have time to make a homemade dressing, use 3 tablespoons of store-bought olive oil vinaigrette. Keep prep time short by using rotisserie chicken (or leftover chicken) and a pouch of microwavable quinoa.

17 of 17

Chile-Spiced Chickpea Salad

a recipe photo of the Chile-Spiced Chickpea Salad served in a bowl
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Lauren McAnelly

This flavorful chickpea salad gets heat from sambal oelek, a ground chile paste. Carrots provide crunchy texture to contrast the chickpeas in this easy no-cook recipe.

Was this page helpful?

Related Articles