Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Stephanie McKercher, RDN · This post may contain affiliate links · 16 Comments

I love a good salad, especially during the spring and summer months, but there's nothing worse than a meal that leaves you feeling unsatisfied. That's why I pulled together my favorite filling vegan salads with real staying power.

Each of these salads is an entree all on it's own -you'retaste budsand belly will both be happy campers after one of these. The key is to create an entree salad with balance. Along with plenty of non-starchy vegetables, these salads contain foods rich in fiber andplant-based protein. for satisfaction.

Some of my favorite hearty salad additions include beans and legumes, avocado, quinoa, sweet potato, and tofu/tempeh. You'll find plenty of inspiration for usingeach of themhere. Be prepared to fall in love with salads again!

Chickpea Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (1)

Lunchbox Chickpea Salad by Dixya at Food, Pleasure & Health

Quick + Easy Chickpea Saladby Taylor at Whole Green Wellness

Basil Balsamic Chickpea and Kale Saladby Alexis at Hummusapien

Curried Chickpea and Avocado Salad with Pomegranateby Sandra at Sandra Vungi Vegan

BBQ Chickpea Saladby Sam at It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

BBQ Chickpea Chopped Salad with Avocado Ranchby Kaitlin at The Garden Grazer

Roasted Sweet Potato and Chickpea Saladby Amy at Fragrant Vanilla

Asian-Inspired Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (2)

Spicy Cucumber Salad with Pan-Fried Tofuby Gin at Eat Healthy Eat Happy

Peanut Thai Salad with Grilled Tofuby Sam at It Doesn't Taste Like Chicken

Mediterranean-Inspired Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (3)

Lentil Fattoush Saladby Kristie at The Mostly Vegan

Deconstructed Falafel Saladby Sarah at Fried Dandelions

Greek Power Saladby Kristie at The Mostly Vegan

Italian Orzo Saladby Sophia at Veggies Don't Bite

Deconstructed Hummus Saladby Sue at The View From Great Island

Springtime Polenta Panzanellaby Dillon at Oh, Holy Basil

Southwest-Inspired Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (4)

Southwestern Bacon Avocado Saladby Angel at Cheftographer

Sweet Corn, Jalapeño and Black Beans Saladby Denisa at Blueberry &Basil

Spicy Black Bean Taco Saladsby Cadry at Cadry's Kitchen

Avocado, Black Bean & Corn Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressingby Melissaat Vegan Huggs

Quinoa Black Bean Salad with Lime Cilantro Dressingby Gin at Eat Healthy Eat Happy

Grain-Based Salads

Wheat Berry Salad with Butternut Squash & Warm Cider Vinaigretteby Caroline Kaufman, MS RDN

Three Bean Quinoa Saladby Serena at Domesticate Me

Quinoa Black Bean Saladby Lucie at Win Win Food

Lentil Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (5)

Lentil Salad with Spinach and Pomegranateby Sina at Vegan Heaven

Red Lentil Confetti Saladby Letty at Letty's Kitchen

Mushroom, Lemon and Lentil Saladby Jennifer at Delicious Everyday

Green Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (6)

Tempeh Green Goddess Salad with Avocado Mint Dressingby Haley at Brewing Happiness

Springtime Asparagus Salad with Lemon Hemp Dressingby The Grateful Grazer

Super Duper Raw Power Saladby E.A. at Spicy RD Nutrition

Vegan Comfort Food Salads

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (7)

Dueling Avocado + Sweet Potato Kale Saladby Kathy at Happy, Healthy Life

Seitan Steak Saladby Sarah at Fried Dandelions

Health-ified Mushroom Po Boy Saladby Haley at Brewing Happiness

Modern Macaroni Saladby Rebecca at Strength and Sunshine

Potato Cauliflower Chickpea Salad with Vegan Sour Cream & Onion Dressingby Richa at Vegan Richa

[Tweet "Fill up + stay satisfied with these 41 filling vegan salads!"]

Try These Recipes Next:

  • Creamy Vegan Mushroom Gravy with Rosemary and Thyme
  • 30-Minute Easy White Beans and Greens
  • Easy Vegetarian Vegetable Pot Pie with Chickpeas
  • Easy Oven Roasted Pumpkin with Tahini Sauce

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  1. Mary says

    This is fantastic! I have been looking for something like this for so long. One of these beauties will be on the menu, with leftovers for work tomorrow, if there is anything left. Thanks so much for sharing.

    Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      Thanks so much Mary! I'm so glad you found this roundup helpful!! Let me know what you try! ????

      Reply

    • Stephanie McKercher, RDN says

      haha the struggle is real! Thank you, Sophia! 🙂

      Reply

  2. Letty / Letty's Kitchen says

    What a fabulous collection of recipes! Plenty of inspiration here. And Thank You for including my confetti lentil salad!

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thank you, Letty! Your lentil salad looks delicious, thanks for sharing it! 🙂

      Reply

  3. Sophia | Veggies Don't Bite says

    Thanks so much for including me!! Great collection!

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thanks for sharing your yummy salad recipe, Sophia! It looks amazing.

      Reply

  4. Melissa says

    Such a delicious roundup of salads! I have so many I want to make! Thank you for including my recipe. 🙂

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thanks, Melissa! I know what you mean, these are definitely all on my "to make" list. Thanks for sharing your delicious salad! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Angel says

    What a fantastic collection of yummy, filling salads! Thanks for including my Southwestern Bacon Avocado Salad! 🙂

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thank you, Angel! Your Southwestern "Bacon" Salad looks scrumptious - can't wait to try! 🙂

      Reply

  6. Linda @ Veganosity says

    Fantastic roundup! Thanks so much for including our salad. Sharing everywhere. 🙂

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Love your salad recipe, thanks so much for sharing! 🙂

      Reply

  7. Dianne says

    Thank you so much for including my recipe!

    Reply

    • Steph | The Grateful Grazer says

      Thanks for sharing - the stir fry salad looks amazing! 🙂

      Reply

Filling vegan salads that will actually fill you up. Healthy recipes! (2024)

FAQs

How do I make my salad more filling? ›

Add heart-healthy fats such as sliced avocado, nuts, seeds, or olive oil to your salad to make it more filling. The body needs fats for various functions, so we shouldn't fear them. Fats provide energy, support cell growth, and protect organs.

What can I put in salad instead of meat? ›

Here are some ideas:
  1. Legumes: Add beans like chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans, or lentils to your salad. ...
  2. Nuts and seeds: Sprinkle some nuts and seeds like almonds, walnuts, pecans, pumpkin seeds, or sunflower seeds on your salad. ...
  3. Tofu: Grilled or pan-fried tofu can be a great addition to any salad.
Apr 25, 2023

How do you bulk up a vegetarian salad? ›

Bulk it up: Make your salad go further with grains like quinoa, rice, cous-cous or pasta. Grains are naturally high in fibre, so they'll help you to feel full and satisfied, and maintain a healthy digestive system.

What can I put in a salad to make it more interesting? ›

Add spices and flavours such as paprika, chilli flakes, curry powder, harissa or parmesan. Add acidity or sourness with vinegar, lemon juice or pomegranate molasses to transform your salad.

What to eat with salad to get full? ›

Add a Lean Protein

Protein is the most filling macronutrient because it reduces hunger hormones and boosts hormones that make you feel full. While there are different ways to get protein, like peanut butter and beans, chicken is one of the best options.

Why doesn't salad fill me up? ›

This is because salads mostly contain vegetables, which have a high water content. This may mean you don't feel very satisfied after eating your salad – making it hard to stay full until your next meal.

How do you get protein in salads without meat? ›

5 Ways to Add Vegetarian Protein to Lunch Salads
  1. Lentils and beansLegumes are the classic choice here. ...
  2. Tofu and Tempeh. ...
  3. Feta (or Other Crumbly) CheeseFeta adds tang, creaminess, and contrast to crunchy vegetables or chewy grains. ...
  4. Nuts and SeedsDon't overlook the little guys.
May 6, 2014

How do you bulk out salads? ›

Gains with grains

You can also use these whole grains for your salad to help you stay fuller for longer. Quinoa, couscous, bulgur wheat, brown rice, farro, and barley are some other grains which are readily available, while being easy to prepare.

How can a vegan bulk up? ›

Filling up on high protein vegan foods, such as seitan, tofu, legumes, and quinoa, can help you meet your protein needs to maximize muscle gain. Vegan protein powders can also help you meet your protein needs by providing concentrated sources of protein surrounding workouts and throughout the day.

How to make vegetarian meals more filling? ›

To feel more full while following a vegetarian diet, try incorporating more fiber and whole grains into your meals. Incorporating nuts, seeds, and beans into your diet can help you to feel more satisfied.

How can a vegetarian bulk up fast? ›

Ideally, you should be eating between 300 and 600 calories of a carbrich meal at least two hours before hitting the gym — sweet potatoes, yam, oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice are ideal. Packing in a similar meal after the workout will also help build mass quickly — tired muscles are quick to absorb sugars.

What are 5 components of a satisfying salad? ›

There are five elements to a perfect salad: greens, sweetness, creaminess, crunchiness, and dressing.

What salad must be substantial and satisfying? ›

3. Main Dish - Must be substantial and satisfying. Make it with meat, fish, eggs, poultry, vegetables, fruit or a combination of fruit and cheese.

Do salads fill you up faster? ›

A typical light salad (a teaspoon or two of olive oil, a bit of vinegar, and just vegetables and maybe some chicken breast) shouldn't make you feel full or stuffed as long as you don't eat a huge volume; at that point, it will just be the volume of food that fills you up and not the various combined macros or “Calories ...

How do you bulk up a salad for dinner? ›

  1. add fried halloumi (and sweet chilli sauce or another spicy dressing goes great with it)
  2. Add a side of focaccia or other nice white bread with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dip.
  3. Add roasted chickpeas for extra crunch and protein (they're also very filling)
  4. Add cooked protein such as shredded chicken.
Jun 14, 2019

What are the three keys to a quality salad? ›

The three keys to ensuring a quality salad are:
  • The freshness of ingredients.
  • Having all the ingredients blend together in harmony.
  • Making sure the salad is appealing to the eye.

How do you thicken salad? ›

One of the easiest ways to thicken homemade salad dressing is by adding a thickener such as cornstarch, arrowroot, or tapioca. Using cornstarch as a thickener involves making a slurry of 2 tablespoons of cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of cool water, mixing it well, and adding it to the other salad dressing ingredients.

References

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