Breakfast Salad

This easy-to-make Breakfast Salad is loaded with flavor thanks to the Everything Bagel Dressing. It’s a great way to start the day filled with protein, nutrients, and a couple of servings of veggies. It’s naturally gluten-free and dairy-free, and you’ll find my tips below for how to meal prep some of this recipe for easier mornings.

Savory breakfasts didn’t come naturally to me, much less eating a full-blown salad first thing in the morning. I grew up like most people I know eating muffins, pancakes, waffles, and the like for breakfast, and always craving sweets.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Greens – I like to use pre-washed mixed greens for the ultimate convenience. But you can use chopped and washed lettuce, arugula, spinach, or any combo you’d like. The mixed greens I get here locally have nasturtium flowers added in and they add a nice pop of color.
• Sausage – any kind of breakfast sausage in links or in bulk works perfectly in this recipe. You can also use bacon, either cooked in the oven or diced up and cooked into crunchy bacon bits. Use can also use my Turkey Breakfast Sausage recipe here.
• Eggs – can be cooked any way you’d like in this recipe. We prefer over easy eggs with a runny yolk to add to the dressing in this salad, but diced-up hardboiled eggs work great too.
• Tomatoes – are perfect paired with the basil for a summer combo. But in the winter months try roasted cubed butternut squash or my Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
• Green onion & basil – green onion adds a nice savory flavor, but chives are great as well when you have them around. Basil is a favorite in our house, especially with the tomatoes. But I omit it in the winter months and just use the green onion.
• Avocado – ripe sliced avocado adds creaminess and a healthy fat. But you can omit it if you don’t have it on hand.
• Everything Bagel Dressing – a classic vinaigrette with everything bagel seasoning added makes a really tasty dressing that is tasty with these breakfast flavors. You’ll find more dressing options below in the tips.

Step 1: Start by whisking together the everything bagel dressing. Then set it aside to let the flavors develop while you make the recipe.

Step 2: Next prep the veggies and herbs by cutting and chopping everything into bite-sized pieces.

Step 3: Add the greens, green onions, basil, and cherry tomatoes to a plate.

You can also add everything to a bowl to toss together. But if you’re making 2 servings, it’s easier to just plate the salad.

Step 4: Cook the sausage(s) and place them on top of a bed of greens.

I like to use my Air Fryer Sausage Links recipe because it’s the easiest mess-free way to cook sausages.

Step 5: When you have everything else prepped, cook the eggs according to your liking and add them to the salad.

I like to have everything prepped so I can concentrate fully on the eggs to make sure I don’t overcook the yolk.

Step 6: Finally add the sliced avocado and drizzle with the Everything Bagel Dressing, or serve the dressing on the side.

Ways to serve this

• This breakfast salad makes a nice filling breakfast on its own. But if you want to pull out all the stops, try adding my Almond Flour Blueberry Muffins or Almond Flour Peach Muffins.
• Or add a side of my Instant Pot Crispy Potatoes, Best Crispy Rosemary Potatoes, or Roasted Sweet Potatoes.
• If you make the winter version with squash or sweet potatoes, try baking up my Almond Flour Pumpkin Muffins or Almond Flour Banana Muffins.
• Pair this together with your favorite fruit salad, or if you make the winter variation, try it with my Winter Fruit Salad.
• Add a fruit smoothie on the side: my Strawberry Banana Smoothie, Mango Smoothie, Pineapple Orange Banana Smoothie, or Orange Creamsicle Smoothie would all work here.

Storing leftovers

• To store – store each part of this salad separately in sealed containers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Make ahead – the everything bagel dressing keeps well refrigerated for 1 week. Also, pre-washed mixed greens keep well for up to 1 week. I also like to pre-cook the sausage links and then slice them thinly to briefly reheat them in a skillet before cooking the eggs fresh. This works even better if you use bulk ground sausage or bacon.

Dietary Options & Substitutions

• The over-easy eggs are really nice in this salad, but they can still be omitted if you can’t have eggs.
• Be sure to look over the labels for any sausage or bacon you choose to make sure they fit your dietary needs. Sausage can sometimes have dairy added.
• For Whole30 make sure any sausage or bacon you choose is compliant and with no added sugar.
• I like to use Simply Organic for all my spices but especially blends like everything bagel because they have just spices and nothing else added. Be sure to check the labels of whatever you choose to make sure it works with any dietary needs.

More Savory Breakfast Recipe Inspiration

• Sweet Potato Avocado Toast
• Vegetarian Breakfast Casserole
• Sausage Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole
• Sweet Potato Sausage Apple Hash
• Mexican Sweet Potato Breakfast Bowls