Easy Green Salad

The classic side salad, this simple to customize Easy Green Salad can be paired with so many meals perfect for family dinner. Try serving each ingredient separately for the best kid friendly version, so each person can customize their own salad. It can be paired with everything from ranch dressing to the simple lemon dressing included in the recipe. Enjoy this salad alongside my Homemade Spaghetti Sauce tossed with pasta, or with my Garlic Butter Chicken Thighs sheet pan dinner.

Everyone needs a good basic green salad recipe, and this one has been a classic in our house for as long as I can remember. Both Tyler and I grew up with some variation of this salad on the table regularly. And it’s one of those recipes you never tire of because it’s easy to adapt.

For instance in the winter months, try diced red bell pepper in place of the cherry tomatoes. Or mix up the greens by using the crunchier romaine, or slightly spicy arugula. From there you can continue the variations by changing up the kind of dressing you use as well.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Lettuce – I love using green leaf or red leaf lettuce in this salad for the perfect combination of soft and crunchy. Romaine also works well for more crunch, and butter lettuce for a softer texture. You can also use baby spinach, spring mix, or arugula and watercress for extra flavor as well.
• Green onions – add a lot of savory flavor without being overwhelming like raw onion. If you love a punch, try finely diced red onion.
• Cherry tomatoes – halved, quartered, or diced tomatoes all work here. You can omit them during the colder month, or add some diced red bell pepper instead.
• Cucumber – adds lots of juicy crunch, but you can also use sliced radishes or thinly sliced celery for crunch instead.
• Carrots – are readily available year round and add natural sweetness to your salad. I like to grate mine for a better texture combination with the lettuce.

Step 1: Start by chopping the lettuce into bite sized pieces. Then use a salad spinner to wash and spin dry the greens.

Shortcut tip #1: Use a pre-washed mix like spring mix, baby spinach, or arugula.

Step 2: Next halve the cherry tomatoes, thinly slice the green onion, grate the carrots, and quarter and thinly slice the cucumber.

Step 3: Pile the lettuce into a large serving bowl and top with the rest of the prepped veggies. Serve with your choice of dressing.

Shortcut tip #2: Use your favorite bottled dressing, or choose from my Lemon Vinaigrette or 2 Ingredient Balsamic Vinaigrette for the easiest homemade options.

Ways to serve this

• As a side dish to my Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce tossed together with pasta.
• With may Simple Veggie Pasta Bake as an extra veggie.
• Alongside my Pizza Stuffed Chicken with my Creamy Mashed Cauliflower.

Storing leftovers

• To store – these salad ingredients will keep up to 4 days if they’re stored separately. Also be sure to keep the dressing separate, or your leftovers will be very soggy.

Tips & Tricks

• Add crumbled feta cheese, parmesan cheese, or goat cheese, grated cheddar, or any cheese you’d like for a fun variation.
• Mix 2 different kinds of greens, try green leaf lettuce with arugula, or romaine with some baby spinach.
• Add something crunchy like toasted sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, slivered/sliced almond etc..
• Add some protein like leftover roasted salmon or chicken.

Easy homemade salad dressing recipes to go with this Easy Green Salad

1. Blender Ranch Dressing (dairy free)
2. 2 Ingredient Balsamic Dressing
3. Sunshine Lemon Turmeric Dressing
4. Ginger Miso Dressing
5. Basil Vinaigrette

Seasonal salad recipe inspiration

• Winter Salad (with apples and dried cranberries)
• Roasted Pear Spinach Salad with Hazelnuts
• Paleo Buffalo Crispy Chicken Salad
• Tropical Spinach Salad with Coconut Lime Dressing
• Grilled Romaine Strawberry Salad with Fennel Dressing