Get green inspiration from these tasty vegan salad recipes that are easy to makehealthy, and satiating for hours.

These 25 best vegan salad recipes give you a healthy dose of plant-based protein, fats, and complex carbohydrates. From pasta salads and raw salads to grain bowls with legumes and pulses.

Vegan salads, recipes and ideas for salad as a meal

Browse through this list, and take your pick: protein-rich tofu salad and colorful salads with healthy grains.

Hopefully, you’ll get as excited about (non-boring) vegan salads as we are!

1. Vegetable couscous salad

Couscous with vegetables is a delicious and colorful way of serving couscous.

This is an easy Mediterraneaninspired recipe that you can make in less than 30 minutes with seasonal veggies and herbs.

couscous with vegetables

2. Red cabbage slaw

Like a regular slaw, this red cabbage slaw is easy, crunchy, and comforting.

This wholesome version has apples, walnuts, and a creamy mustard vinaigrette – a wonderfully sweet and acidic combination.

serve the cabbage slaw on a platter

3. Zucchini salad

This raw zucchini salad is a refreshing, bright green summer salad.

We marinate zucchini and add cherry tomatoes and roasted pine nuts; it’s great for bringing to potlucks and summer barbecues.

zucchini salad on a serving platter

4. Fattoush salad

This green and crispy fattoush salad has plenty of fresh tomato and cucumber and is topped with delicious fried pieces of pita.

You can add extra healthy fats with tahini sauce, a quick dressing that takes just 5 minutes to prepare!

Fattoush with fried pita

5. Green bean salad

This tender green bean salad with a creamy mustard dressing is the easiest and tastiest.

Add fresh tomatoes, red onions, and shaved almonds for a colorful and crispy topping.

vegan green bean salad with nuts

6. Vegan egg salad

This tofu egg salad is a scrumptious sandwichperfect salad idea.

Firm tofu and extra firm tofu actually mimic boiled eggs incredibly well. You just need to cut it into small pieces and mix it with vegan mayonnaise and fresh herbs.

vegan egg salad

7. Tahini salad

Easy, quick to make, and a perfect pairing with most main dishes.

This tahini salad has the perfect balance of crispy greens and a creamy dressing, and it’s excellent as a base salad for lunch and dinner with an addition of protein.

Tahini salad with lemon and tomatoes

8. Vegan pasta salad

crunchy, fresh, light salad is perfect for a vegan lunch or light summer dinner. This vegan pasta salad is ideal as a makeahead lunch and dinner – for work or at home.

It is incredibly nutritious, full of healthy vitamins, and will please kids and adults alike.

Italian pasta salad with Italian dressing

9. Tofu salad

This tofu salad recipe is a crunchy, healthy bowl of fresh greens and fried jerky-like tofu – perfect for lunch or dinner.

Low in calories, high in flavor, and very filling. Drizzle with a creamy tahini sauce and sprinkle with sesame seeds for added healthy fats.

tofu salad with creamy dressing

10. Vegan potato salad

Summerfriendly, creamy and fresh, this vegan potato salad with homemade mayonnaise is great for potlucks, barbecues, and picnics.

For a complete meal, serve it next to falafel, vegan steak, or tofu meatballs.

Vegan potato salad with pickled cucumber

11. Chickpea salad

This chickpea salad recipe with tomatoes and arugula is a simple and fulfilling dish, perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, as a starter, or as a side dish.

We like to serve this with our focaccia, but it’s also great with a thick slice of bread.

chickpea salad in a bowl

12. Rice salad

This easy rice salad is adapted from Italian rice salad traditions, and it’s the perfect summer dish, easy to prepare in advance and bring to picnics.

It’s a naturally vegan salad recipe with plenty of healthy fiber and vitamins.

Rice salad with cherry tomatoes and fresh herbs

13. Chickpea Pasta salad

Plant-based protein in a wholesome way with chickpeas, fresh greens, and pasta.

This chickpea pasta salad is a quick and healthy recipe made with fresh and nutritious ingredients in less than 20 minutes.

chickpea pasta salad with avocado

14. Shaved Brussels sprout salad

This shaved Brussels sprout salad is perfect for the holidays or as a side for a delicious everyday dinner.

It’s ready in 15 minutes without cooking; marinate the sprouts with a creamy mustard dressing for a glassy and delightful finish.

shaved brussels sprouts salad

16. Chickpea Quinoa Salad

This chickpea quinoa salad offers a nutritious, naturally vegan, gluten-free meal to please the pickiest eaters.

Super easy to make and ready in just 25 mins.

Quinoa chickpea salad with fork

16. Lentil carrot salad

Lentil carrot salad is an aromatic recipe with tender boiled carrots, lentils, fragrant ground cumin, and fresh herbs.

It’s a great lunch idea and meal-prep-friendly as it keeps well in the fridge for several days.

Lentil carrot salad with shaved almonds

17. Couscous salad

This couscous salad is easy, fresh, crispy, and super nutritious.

Toss it with a simple homemade lemon vinaigrette and fresh herbs to make this easy, delicious, and healthy meal.

Couscous salad on stuffed eggplant

18. Farro salad

This farro salad is a crunchy, refreshing dish you can enjoy as a healthy dinner.

Pick your favorite veggies, cook them on a pan, and drizzle with a creamy cumin dressing for a Mediterranean taste infusion.

mediterranean farro salad

19. Eggplant salad

A delightful warm eggplant salad that can be eaten with or without pasta. Perfect for summer cookouts, school, office lunches, and potlucks.

roasted eggplant pasta salad

20. Cauliflower salad

Our creamy vegan cauliflower salad has no bacon, mayonnaise, or dairy. We roast the cauliflower florets with olive oil and toss them in a velvety smooth tahini dressing.

Serve as a wholesome lunch or a colorful dinner; it’s a Mediterranean-inspired dish your family will love.

cauliflower salad with tahini and tomatoes

21. Mashed chickpea salad

Mashed chickpeas combined with vegan mayonnaise make a perfect sandwich filling and potato topping.

This mashed chickpea salad is creamy, tangy, and tastes a little bit like tuna! It’s a quick vegan salad ready in 10 minutes, and no cooking is required.

baked sweet potatoes stuffed with chickpea tuna

22. Sweet potato lentil salad

Lentils and roasted sweet potatoes, married by a Mediterranean-tasting cumin and paprika dressing, are a match made in heaven!

A wholesome and flavorpacked meal, this recipe has claimed one of the highest spots on our top 10 favorite salads list.

lentils and sweet potato salad

23. Black bean salad

This black bean salad with tender roasted sweet potatoes is a fiber-rich vegan salad idea.

Inspired by Mexican flavors, this recipe is perfect for making ahead and eating for a quick and nutritious lunch, as a healthy dinner, or bringing potlucks and picnics.

black bean salad with quinoa and sweet potatoes

24. Rainbow kale salad

Add color and flavor to your table with this vibrant and vitamin-packed kale salad. Honestly, it’s one of our favorite winter salads ever.

It’s excellent as a starter or side dish for a memorable holiday meal during the winter holidays, and it’s perfect as an easy lunch or dinner.

Kale salad with pomegranate seeds

25. Carrot salad

This colorful and raw carrot salad is a great appetizer, side dish, or lunch idea; add chickpeas and slivered almonds for extra fats and protein.

What makes this vegan salad special is the creamy and slightly sweet mustard dressing – a must-try salad!

carrot salad with pineapple

How to make vegan salad fulfilling

Protein-rich toppings:

  • Easy roasted chickpeas: light and crispy and a great addition of fiber and protein to your salads.
  • Fried tofu (tofu, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, olive oil, etc.)
  • Falafel with chickpea flour, coriander, parsley, cumin, and garlic.
  • Vegan pesto: a 5-min recipe and a great way to add healthy fats to your greens.

Healthy-fat toppings and dressings

Serve your vegan salad with bread

These bowls and salads can be used for vegan lunches and easy dinners, especially when paired with ancient grains and bread:

Pita bread with dukkah and vegetables

How to store vegan salads

Store the vegan salads in a bowl covered with a lid or in an airtight container, in the fridge, for up to 3 days.

To maximize its flavor, take it from the fridge 30 minutes before serving it. We do not recommend freezing the salads.

Couscous salad with tahini dressing

For many more 30-minute meal ideas, check out our 30-minute meal category page.

Vegan salads ideas with pasta, grain and raw ideas

25 Vegan Salad Recipes

Author: Nico Pallotta
Over 25 best and tasty vegan salads that are easy to make, healthy, vegetarian and vegan too. Browse through, and pick your favorite salad, dressing and toppings.
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine American Italian
Servings 4 people
Calories 300 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • Pick your favorite salad recipe
  • Read the recipe for ingredients required
  • Make the recipe by following the instructions

Instructions
 

  • Make ahead: you can make these salads ahead of time. For best results, we recommend making it 24 hours before serving it.
    However, if you plan to add avocado, vegan cheese, and fresh fruit, do so right before serving the salad because they might change color after a few hours (for instance, avocados and apples will look less fresh after a couple of hours).
  • How to store: Most of these salads keep for 1 day in the refrigerator, best if stored in an airtight container.
  • To maximize its flavor, take it from the fridge 30 minutes before serving it. We do not recommend freezing the salads.

Video Recipe

Colorful and Wholesome Kale Salad

Notes

STORAGE
Refrigerator: store salad leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge. The salad will improve in taste and texture up to 24 hours after making it. Then it’ll slightly degrade, but most of them will still be excellent for up to 3 days.
Toss again: toss the salad in some freshly made dressing before serving it, as it might dry out sitting in the fridge.

Nutritional Values

Nutrition Facts
25 Vegan Salad Recipes
Serving Size
 
200 g
Amount per Serving
Calories
300
% Daily Value*
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you like this recipe?Leave us a comment below or find us on Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, TikTok, and Facebook.

If you liked these vegan salad recipes, you might also enjoy:

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Nico and Louise in the kitchen

Hi! We are Nico & Louise

Welcome to The Plant-Based School, a food blog with easy, tasty, and wholesome recipes.

Our aim is to help you and your family eat more veggies through delicious recipes with simple ingredients.

Easy right?

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2 Comments

  1. My vegan son has returned home, he is quite underweight – and doesn’t cook much for himself unfortunately.
    I have been making a lot of gorgeous vegan meals for him, including my own vegan butter, vegan ricotta, vegan dips etc etc. im getting tired of cooking so much for him now though and want him to be inspired by all my ideas and effort.
    My daughter said tonight – mum he is not going to get inspired if you keep cooking all these amazing meals for him. I immediately emailed him all your online recipes. Thankyou so much for your wonderful plant based school Nico and Louise, best regards to you.
    Love from a tired mum

    1. Hi Simone,

      Thank you for your kind message. What a wonderful support you are offering your family with your home-cooked meals.

      I am sure that you have inspired your son and daughter to cook on their own as well. We are honoured if we can help a little bit on that journey.

      Wishing you all the very best, and thank you so much for being here ❤️

      Kindest,

      Nico & Louise