4 Salad Ideas to Serve Up for Supper

Sometimes it’s too hot to cook. Even after school starts, blazing heat and hectic schedules can drain you by the end of the day. If you’ve ever opted for serving hot dogs and potato chips, peanut butter sandwiches or even cold cereal for supper, you can relate.

There are tastier options out there, and you and your family deserve to eat well. Why not try serving up some of these trendy, fast, and fun salad ideas instead?

Three-Ingredient Wonder Meals

One of the best things about this meal idea is that you can get everything you need for a variety of dinners with one trip to the grocery store. It’s budget-friendly, too, because you only have to focus on getting a few types of ingredients.

The first thing you’ll need is pre-packaged vegetable salads. Any kind will do, as long as it’s something your family will enjoy trying. You could go for broccoli slaw, coleslaw, green salads or spring salad mixes, or just buy a bag of baby spinach.

You’ll also need a good dressing that your family likes. For variety, get a few different types. Russian, sweet onion, classic ranch, poppyseed, and raspberry vinaigrette add hassle-free flavor.

Next, you’ll need to grab a protein. Meats such as pre-cooked cubed chicken, bacon bits, or diced ham are great options. You could also try tofu or nuts and seeds, including items like slivered almonds, cashew pieces, pecan topping crumbles, or sunflower seeds.

When you’re ready to prepare dinner, mix a bag of veggies and a protein source with one of the salad dressings. These simple salads take less than five minutes to prepare, and when you serve them in a nice dish like the Georg Jensen Alfredo Salad Bowl, they look as elegant as they taste.

Tip: for an interesting new flavor, switch out the bagged veggies for chopped apples or sliced cucumbers.

Trendy Take-out Options

Check the local deli or the deli section of your favorite grocery store for pre-made salads, including pasta salads, potato salads, chicken salads, and veggie salads. You can have an impromptu family salad part for dinner by bringing home two or three containers of new salads to try. Serve them blue-plate style in something like these Midori Way organic bamboo salad bowls, and make it special by adding a side of bakery breadsticks or rolls.

If you’d prefer drive-through or pick-up food, consider restaurant chains like Café Rio or Zupas. Café Rio has a variety of different southwestern-flavored salads. Zupas carries a nice mix of gourmet salads that you can soup-up with soup—or grilled sandwiches on the side. Check your local listings for more salad-friendly takeout spots.

Make My Salad a Sandwich

Do you prefer something you can take the park with your kiddos or eat while you’re walking your dog?

You can buy pre-made tuna salad, egg salad, or chicken salad in a variety of flavors at your local deli, or make some ahead on a Saturday afternoon. When you’re ready, clip your dog on a sturdy leash like this Simba leash and collar set, scoop your favorite salad on a split croissant, and head out the door for some light evening fun.