A simple Green Salad recipe is something everyone needs. It's the perfect side for any main course, is a must for weekly meal prep, and is the base to many of my favorite lunch salad concoctions. This multipurpose, ever-so-delicious bowl of goodness pairs perfectly with my apple cider vinaigrette. Make this recipe once and you'll include in your weekly to do list asap!
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A green salad. Seems so simple, right? And, it is! This one is particularly delicious, though. A combination of crunchy and leafy greens, a variety of beautiful veggies along with pistachios, bacon, and avocado, this salad is my weekly go-to. I love it and I make it all the time!
Serve this as a simple side salad for your next family dinner, bring it to your next get-together with friends, or add your favorite protein to turn this into a full meal. My husband and I love this for our meal prepped lunches and my kids even love it. If a kid is requesting a salad you know it must be good!
green salad ingredients
- Romaine Lettuce - I must have crunch in my salads. Romaine provides that for this recipe.
- Mixed Greens - Throw these in for the beautiful color and for the added nutrition.
- Red Onion - Love adding a few thin slices for the savory flavor.
- Cucumber - I prefer using Persian or snacking cucumbers because the skin is very tender.
- Bacon - Need I go into this? We add bacon because it is delicious. End of story.
- Pistachios - The crunch and lovely sweetness these beauties give is perfect.
- Cherry Tomatoes - I can eat these by the handful. They're tasty and full of vitamins and minerals.
- Avocado - The creaminess of avocado, paired with the crunch of the veggies, and the tangy dressing is heaven. I cannot tell you how much I adore this salad and avocado takes it from great to amazing!
dressing
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Whole Grain Mustard
- Hot Honey (or regular)
- Garlic
- Fresh Ground Pepper
- Kosher Salt
recipe tools
- Chef's Knife
- Cutting Board
- Salad Spinner
- Salad Bowl
- Salad Servers
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Mixing Bowl
how to make the best green salad
I start all of my green salads by prepping the base. In this case, it's the lettuces. Chop the romaine, rinse, and dry it as much as possible with the salad spinner. Add the cleaned romaine and the leafy greens to a large salad bowl.
Next, slice the cucumbers and red onion. Add them along with the whole cherry tomatoes to the bowl with the beautiful green lettuces.
I sprinkle with pistachios and crumbled bacon. There are technical measurements in the recipe below, but we all know that you measure bacon with your heart. It's a thing.
To top off this wonderful bowl of goodness, I add chunks of creamy avocado. I love it in my salads, my kids adore it, and it's such a delicious, healthy fat.
To make the vinaigrette, I simply add the extra-virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, mustard, hot honey, garlic, and salt and pepper to a jar with a lid. Shake, shake, shake, and she's done!
To serve, toss all of the salad ingredients together in a large salad bowl, drizzle with the vinaigrette, and enjoy!
recipe tips and tricks
- Moisture is the enemy of leafy greens. After thoroughly washing the greens, dry them as well as possible to prevent them from going bad.
- Top with avocado only just before serving to prevent any unnecessary browning.
- Add the cherry tomatoes whole to prevent too much excess moisture from getting on the salad leaves. If halving the tomatoes, add them just before serving.
- I store the leafy greens in a large zip top bag or salad bowl with lid and a paper towel in the bottom to absorb any excess moisture. Again, it's all about the moisture prevention game.
green salad variations
- Add rotisserie chicken, grilled steak, or cooked shrimp for a delicious protein bump and turn this green salad into a full meal. Hard boiled eggs are also a family favorite at my house to give this wonderful salad some staying power!
- Nuts - I add whatever nut or seed situation I have on hand. It varies from walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, and even candied pecans. I absolutely love the crunch they add to this salad, so I always add some variety. And, they're really good for you!
- Veggies - Add whatever veggies you like to this green salad. This is my very basic, everyday salad so I keep it pretty simple with our usual suspects. However, this list of what you could incorporate is endless. Other options could include:
- Olives
- Pickles
- Pickled Beets
- Green Onions
- Sliced Fresh Mushrooms
- Carrots
- Celery
- Radishes
- Sprouts or Microgreens
- Baby Pickled Corn
- Sweet Peppers
- Fruit - Apples, Berries, etc.
- Fresh Broccoli or Cauliflower
- Cheeses - Add your favorite cheeses. If I decide to add cheese, shaved parmesan is my first pick. It's so good here. However you could add any that you love. Anything from blue cheese crumbles to shredded pepper jack would be fantastic!
recipe frequently asked questions
Is this recipe gluten and/or dairy-free?
Both! This green salad is both gluten and dairy-free. Everyone can enjoy this green salad recipe without any worry!
How long will this salad stay fresh?
It depends. If you store the salad properly and remove as much moisture from the lettuce leaves, it will last up to 5 days. If you see lettuce leaves that are becoming dark and slimy or notice an off smell, it's time to toss it.
How do I store this salad?
I store my green salads in a large zip top bag or salad bowl with a lid and a paper towel in the bottom to help absorb any excess moisture.
For the avocado, I only cut and serve these just before serving to prevent them from browning. I do not store them cut with the other parts of this salad.
shop the recipe essentials here
If you guys make this Green Salad, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! I absolutely love to hear from you all and always do my best to respond to each and every one of your comments!
Recipe
Simple Green Salad Recipe
Equipment
- salad bowl
- salad servers
Ingredients
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- ¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil
- ¼ cup apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoon whole grain mustard
- 1-2 teaspoon hot honey regular honey or maple would work, too!
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- flaky sea salt, for topping
Green Salad
- 4-5 cups mixed greens
- 2 cups romaine, chopped
- 1 cup cucumber, sliced
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup pistachios
- 1 avocado, cut into bite-sized pieces
Instructions
Apple Cider Vinaigrette
- Add all of the vinaigrette ingredients to a jar with a lid, secure lid tightly, and shake, shake, shake to combine. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
Green Salad
- Toss all of the salad ingredients (except the avocado) together in a large salad bowl.
- Halve and remove seed from the avocado. Scoop out the flesh, cut into bite-sized pieces, and add to the top of the salad.
- Top with a little extra fresh ground pepper and flaky sea salt. Drizzle with the vinaigrette and enjoy!
Nutrition
Thank you!
I am so incredibly happy that you are here! I hope you try my Green Salad recipe and fall in love with it. If you make this recipe, please share and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok! And, please leave a comment or star rating below. I absolutely love seeing each and every one of your kitchen masterpieces. It makes my heart so happy! And, as always, if you ever have any questions about any of my recipes, please don't hesitate to contact me!
Happy Cooking!
-Rufus
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Rufus for Real is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.
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Barry Sykes says
This is such a good, easy salad. We started making it for our weekly meal prep. Always add a protein. Usually chicken. Love, love the vinaigrette!
Rufus says
I love this so much! Thank you for letting me know!