17 Satisfying No-Lettuce Salads You Can Make in 15 Minutes

From chicken salad to cucumber salad, these quick recipes skip the greens and don't skimp on flavor.

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
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Published January 12, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
Chili crisp chicken salad in a bowl

Simply Recipes / Sheela Prakash

If you’re looking for something light and satisfying, set your sights on this collection of salads that go beyond simple greens. We’re talking creamy tuna salads, hearty chicken salads, and bright veggie salads that are easy to prepare, packed with flavor, and ready in a snap. Whether you’re looking for a snack or delicious main, these salads will deliver.

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  • Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

    Everything Bagel Cucumber Salad

    Simply Recipes / Sara Tane

    “I’d recommend using Persian cucumbers for this salad because they’re more flavorful, less watery, and have thinner, smoother skin in comparison to English cucumbers. You can opt to use one large cucumber or several smaller ones.” —Sara Tane, Recipe Developer

  • Cucumber Salad with Mint and Feta

    Elise Bauer

    “I especially love the thin-skinned varieties of cucumbers—Persian, Armenian, English. Their peels are thin and delicate, not bitter like regular cucumbers, so they don't require peeling. They're also not usually as seedy as their thick-skinned cousins.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Kachumber Salad (Indian Cucumber and Tomato Salad)

    kachumber salad in a blue bowl

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “Kachumber salad is a budget-friendly weekday recipe that requires minimal effort but is a gift that keeps on giving. Having this salad sitting in my fridge gives me comfort knowing I can pair it with any meal.” —Annika Panikker, Recipe Developer

  • Panzanella Bread Salad

    Panzanella Bread Salad in a glass serving bowl
    Elise Bauer

    “Panzanella is best when it has been allowed to sit for a while (at least 30 minutes) before serving. This gives the bread plenty of time to soak up the juices from the tomatoes and for the flavors in the salad to meld.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

    Continue to 5 of 17 below

  • Smoked Almond Summer Squash Salad

    A prepared summer squash salad garnished with herbs and nuts

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Margaret Dickey / Prop Styling by Julia Bayless

    “If you’ve never tried raw summer squash or zucchini, you’re in for a treat. It retains a slightly crisp texture (as opposed to going very soft when cooked) and a light, vegetal, slightly sweet flavor. Slicing it very thinly keeps it velvety-smooth and easy to bite into, and the porous texture of the squash soaks up flavorful dressings with ease.” —Melissa Gray, Recipe Developer

  • A Great Carrot Salad

    A bowl of carrot salad on a coffee table, alongside hummus with cucumbers and pita and a glass of wine

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Andrew Bui / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    “Serve this salad with any number of things—a bowl of hummus, a pot of rice, and a pile of greens for a delicious vegan meal, or alongside grilled sausages and mashed potatoes for something a bit heartier. Really it’s like a great pair of jeans that can go with anything (this is all the fashion advice I can offer).” —Julia Turshen, Cookbook Author

  • Moroccan Grated Carrot and Beet Salad

    A bowl of grated carrot and beet salad garnished with a sprig of mint served in a blue dish on a wooden surface
    Elise Bauer

    “WOW. How something so delicious and refreshing could be so healthy for you. I had “old” red and orange beets sitting in my fridge and it tasted just fine with the fresh carrots. Thank you for sharing such a wonderful recipe. Recipes like this would make me eat more veggies!” —Minda C, Reader

  • White Bean and Tuna Salad

    Bowl of White Bean Tuna Salad

    Simply Recipe / Elise Bauer

    “A little Tabasco or chile pepper will give the salad a bit of zing. Try substituting the white beans with garbanzo beans. (Make homemade beans on the stovetop or in a pressure cooker if you have time!) This salad is designed for improvisation.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

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  • Best Tuna Salad

    Classic Tuna Salad Sandwich on a Plate with a Side Salad

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    “I prefer using water-packed tuna in tuna salad because I’m already adding mayonnaise to the recipe. I save oil-packed tuna for dishes where the oil matters a bit more, such as in a Salad Nicoise, because oil-packed tuna is richer than water-packed tuna.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

  • Avocado Tuna Salad

    Tuna Avocado Sandwich
    Elise Bauer

    “Delicious! Loved this recipe and how simple it was! I ate my salad with some avocado slices on sourdough bread. I added a tiny squeeze of light mayo to the salad as well, and it was perfect. Will definitely be in my lunch rotation!” —Taylor, Reader

  • Chickpea Salad Sandwich

    Sally Vargas | Art Banner Credit: Elena Resko

    “This is such a delicious new combination of flavors and textures! Love the addition of capers! On day two I added two cups of chopped mixed greens and the other 1/2 of the avocado to what was left of the chickpea spread and had a perfectly scrumptious salad. Will be making it again!” —Sandy S, Reader

  • Marry Me Chicken Salad

    A bowl of chicken salad garnished with basil leaves, served with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen

    “Since there’s no cooking happening here, it’s totally okay to use pregrated cheese from the grocery store. (If you cook with pre-grated, it often won’t melt well due to the anti-caking agents that are usually added to the tub.)” —Marianne Williams, Recipe Developer

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  • 4-Ingredient Curry Chicken Salad

    Five minute curry chicken salad on a bed of lettuce

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    “Often, you’ll see curry chicken salad with additional bells and whistles—I’m talking diced celery and red onion, golden raisins, halved grapes, chopped nuts, and fresh herbs. Any one of those add-ons would be welcome at my chicken salad picnic, so feel free to use what you have on hand to make this recipe your own.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Chili Crisp Chicken Salad

    Chili crisp chicken salad in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Sheela Prakash

    “If you’d rather skip the mayo, Greek yogurt is a great alternative. Or you can leave it out altogether and add a little olive oil and lime juice to loosen the dressing enough to coat the chicken salad.”—Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Pickle Chicken Salad

    A chicken salad sandwich cut in half displayed on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    “This recipe for pickle chicken salad is perfectly salty and briny with a hint of crunch from the pickles and a little bit of spice, too (if you so choose). I’ve eaten it a ton of different ways—I’ve filled romaine lettuce leaves with it, I’ve scooped it up with cucumber slices and carrot sticks, I’ve enjoyed it with crackers, and have tucked it inside toasted white bread, too. It’s delicious in every single way!” —Checka Ciammaichelli, Recipe Developer

  • 4-Ingredient Gochujang Chicken Salad

    Overhead shot of a plate with gochujang chicken salad topped with chopped scallion

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    “The salad itself is saucy enough that you don’t need any extra condiments, but a little kimchi would be good in there, too. For another simple option, add a scoop or two of chicken salad to a bowl of steamed rice with a few slices of cucumber on the side.” —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

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  • California Chicken Salad

    california chicken salad sandwich on a plate

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas 

    “I don’t have all day to make a salad, so I’ve done a few things to simplify while still recreating the recipe I loved so much. First, I buy a rotisserie chicken and remove the meat for chopping. I also buy prepared Vidalia onion dressing instead of making my own. There are plenty of delicious brands, but Virginia Brand Vidalia Onion Vinaigrette is my favorite.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

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