39 Low-Calorie Salads You’ll Make Over and Over

Low-calorie salads don't have to be boring! Amp up your salad game with these healthy recipes that feature all of your favorite fresh ingredients.

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DIY Salad in a Jar

364 calories per serving

Our farm-fresh, low-calorie salad is layered with gorgeous garden veggies. And we built in a homemade dressing flavored with fresh herbs. Just shake it up to eat the rainbow. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Also, check out these best low-calorie recipes of 2023.

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Balsamic Green Bean Salad

77 calories per serving

Serve up those green beans in a whole new way–with a green bean salad recipe! The tangy flavors and crunch of these balsamic green beans complement any special meal or holiday potluck. —Megan Spencer, Farmington Hills, Michigan

By the way, these are the best and worst salad dressings for your health.

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Zesty Steak Salad

218 calories per serving

Stir-fried steak and veggies give this hearty salad a cozy kick. Add any of your favorite salad ingredients like shredded cheese, croutons, mushrooms or cucumber. —Leah Carrell, Quitman, Texas

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Balsamic-Salmon Spinach Salad

265 calories per serving

This low-calorie salad is really healthy and super fast. It’s an absolute cinch to make after a long workday. —Karen Schlyter, Calgary, Alberta

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Almond Strawberry Salad

77 calories per serving

It’s easy to love this pretty salad topped with strawberries and sliced almonds. With just a few ingredients, it’s loaded with flavor. —Renae Rossow, Union, Kentucky

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Twisted Eggs Benedict Salad

199 calories per serving

Salad for breakfast? Absolutely. You can prep everything except the dressing and chill it overnight. In the morning, dress the salad and poach the eggs. —Noelle Myers, Grand Forks, North Dakota

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Cauliflower Potato Salad

61 calories per serving

Cauliflower in potato salad? You bet, along with carrots, olives and other yummy surprises. —Mike Schulz, Tawas City, Michigan

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Taco Salad

143 calories per serving

We use this super duper chicken across several meals, including it in tacos, sandwiches, omelets and enchiladas. My little guys love helping measure seasonings for this low-calorie salad. —Karie Houghton, Lynnwood, Washington

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Shrimp & Nectarine Salad

252 calories per serving

For a cool salad on a hot summer day, I combine shrimp, corn, tomatoes and nectarines with a drizzle of tarragon dressing. We love it chilled, but it’s delectable served right away, too. —Mary Ann Lee, Clifton Park, New York

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Watermelon and Spinach Salad

84 calories per serving

Summer’s the perfect time to toss up this watermelon salad. You’d never expect it, but spinach is awesome here. Eat it and feel cool on even the hottest days. —Marjorie Au, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Shrimp Scampi Spinach Salad

201 calories per serving

My husband and I really enjoy both shrimp scampi and fresh spinach salad, so I put the two together. My oldest son loves it, too, and he’s only 3! —Jamie Porter, Garnett, Kansas

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Balsamic Cucumber Salad

90 calories per serving

Cucumber salad recipes are my absolute favorite! This fast, fresh salad is a winner at every get together. It’s an easygoing, healthy side dish for kabobs, chicken or anything hot off the grill. —Blair Lonergan, Rochelle, Virginia

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Berry Chicken Salad

268 calories per serving

Bright berries and creamy goat cheese make this one a winner! —Wendy Ball, Battle Creek, Michigan

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Tasty Marinated Tomatoes

91 calories per serving

My niece introduced me to this colorful low-calorie salad some time ago. I make it when I have buffets or large gatherings because it can be prepared hours ahead. This is a wonderful way to use a bumper crop of tomatoes. —Myrtle Matthews, Marietta, Georgia

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Turkey and Pasta Ranch Salad

256 calories per serving

This easy pasta salad is loaded with fresh veggies, and the classic ranch dressing makes it appealing to kids. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

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Green Salad with Shrimp and Wine Vinaigrette

277 calories per serving

I came up with this tasty green salad with shrimp. It’s light, and you can use whatever vegetables you have on hand. —Cecilia Flowers, Nashville, North Carolina

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Sesame Beef & Asparagus Salad

160 calories per serving

Cooking is one of my favorite hobbies—especially when it comes to experimenting with fresh ingredients like these. This meaty salad is wonderful at the start of asparagus season. —Tamara Steeb, Issaquah, Washington

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Classic Cobb Salad

260 calories per serving

Making this salad is a lot like putting in a garden. I “plant” everything in nice, neat sections, just as I do with seedlings. —Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania

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Heirloom Tomato Salad

75 calories per serving

This is a simple yet elegant dish that always pleases my guests. Not only is it tasty, but it is healthy, too. The more varied the colors of the tomatoes you choose, the prettier the salad will be. —Jess Apfe, Berkeley, California

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Hearty Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

97 calories per serving

This warm, hearty spinach and bacon salad offers comfort at any meal. The glossy dressing features a hint of celery seed for a special touch. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Dill Garden Salad

75 calories per serving

I love to cut up whatever fresh vegetables I have on hand and toss them with this delicious dressing and fresh dill. This salad shows up on our table regularly during the summer. —Bethany Martin, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

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Three-Pepper Coleslaw

36 calories per serving

There are never any leftovers when I make this dish for a picnic, barbecue or any social gathering. —Priscilla Gilbert, Indian Harbour Beach, Florida

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Watermelon Tomato Salad

33 calories per serving

Watermelon and tomatoes may seem an unlikely pair, but they team up to make a winning combination in this eye-catching salad. —Matthew Denton, Seattle, Washington

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Sicilian Potato Salad

96 calories per serving

Fresh basil is the star of this mayo-free, Italian-inspired take on potato salad. —Sue Falk, Warren, Michigan

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Radish Asparagus Salad

73 calories per serving

Lemon zest and mustard in the dressing add the perfect punch to crisp asparagus and crunchy radishes in this fresh spring salad. My family loves it! —Nancy Latulippe, Simcoe, Ontario

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Feta Garbanzo Bean Salad

268 calories per serving

This super quick garbanzo bean salad is a hit with my crowd. If there are any leftovers, which rarely happens, I pile them into pitas for lunches the next day! You can also add grilled chicken or steak to turn it into a hearty main-dish salad.—Judy Doepel, Ballston Lake, New York

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Garden Tomato Salad

92 calories per serving

For as long as I can remember, Mom made a salad of tomatoes and cucumbers. Now I make it whenever beautiful tomatoes are in reach. —Shannon Arthur, Upper Arlington, Ohio

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Tarragon Asparagus Salad

77 calories per serving

I love asparagus, and I love it even more when drizzled with my light, lemony vinaigrette dressing with a touch of tarragon. It’s perfect as a side for fresh spring meals. —Linda Lace, Winter Park, Florida

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Cucumber and Red Onion Salad

31 calories per serving

This cucumber and onion salad is one of the first recipes I came up with myself. It’s a great salad for picnics or potlucks. I always come home with an empty bowl! —Brynn Steckman, Westerville, Ohio

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Strawberry-Blue Cheese Steak Salad

289 calories per serving

At lunch one day, a friend told me about a steak salad she’d had at a party. It sounded so fantastic I had to try it for myself. My family would eat it nonstop if we could. Can’t seem to get enough of that tangy dressing! —Alma Winberry, Great Falls, Montana

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Savory Pork Salad

229 calories per serving

Make an easy-going meal in a bowl by tossing together healthful veggies, pork tenderloin, fresh herbs and spices with a warm soy dressing. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Spring Pea & Radish Salad

50 calories per serving

Winters can be very long here in New Hampshire. I always look forward to the first veggies of spring and making some lighter dishes like this fresh salad. —Jolene Martinelli, Derry, New Hampshire

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Asparagus Spinach Salad with Chicken

267 calories per serving

We love all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are available in the summer. This salad is one of our favorite because it packs in so much great produce, plus it’s quick and easy on a warm summer day. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

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Pork and Balsamic Strawberry Salad

291 calories per serving

Serving this entree salad gives me hope that warmer days aren’t too far off. If strawberries aren’t in season yet, use thawed frozen in place of fresh. —Laurie Lufkin, Essex, Massachusetts

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Nectarine and Beet Salad

84 calories per serving

Beets and nectarines sprinkled with feta cheese make a scrumptious blend for a colorful mixed green salad. The combination of ingredients may seem unlikely, but I think it will become a favorite. —Nicole Werner, Ann Arbor, Michigan

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Asparagus Nicoise Salad

233 calories per serving

I’ve used this Nicoise as an appetizer or a main-dish salad, and it’s a winner every time I put it on the table. Here’s to a colorful, do-ahead sure thing. —Jan Meyer, St. Paul, Minnesota

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Orange Chicken Spinach Salad

270 calories per serving

For a salad with refreshing color and crunch, we toss chicken and spinach with mandarin oranges and red onion, then splash everything with a tangy vinaigrette. —Jean Murawski, Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan

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Strawberry-Turkey Spinach Salad

260 calories per serving

This light, refreshing salad is a true showstopper, visually and nutritionally, with fresh strawberries and yellow pepper strips tossed with fresh baby spinach. Serve with warm whole wheat rolls or flax or bran muffins. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Refreshing Shrimp Salad

239 calories per serving

Avocado, strawberries and shrimp are wonderful together in this filling yet light salad. Balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette dressings go well with the salad, as do Asian inspired dressings. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Katie Bandurski
As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments. When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.