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10 Salad Recipes With No Lettuce In Sight!

Who says a salad needs lettuce? Dive into these 10 recipes that bring you a refreshing twist on traditional salads. From the beautiful layers of a Tortellini Salad to the familiar flavors of Southern Tuna Salad to the unique Southern Tomato Cracker Salad, each offers flavor and texture that may change the way you think about salads. Packed with ingredients that go far beyond leafy greens, these recipes have the potential to spice up mealtime!

Layered Tortellini Salad

Layered tortellini salad presented in a glass bowl.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 30 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Frozen tortellini, black olives, grape tomatoes, artichoke hearts, cucumbers, Greek dressing, red peppers

Finished macaroni salad in a white serving bowl.

Learn more and get the recipe: Layered Tortellini Salad

This beautiful Layered Tortellini Salad is perfect for long summer days when it’s just too hot to cook! With its colorful layers of delicious Greek ingredients, it’s as pretty as it is delicious.

Southern Tuna Salad

A tuna salad sandwich on a white plate.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 5 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Canned tuna, apple, celery, sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise

Learn more and get the recipe: Southern Tuna Salad Recipe

Are you looking for a new twist on tuna salad? My Southern Tuna Salad Recipe is packed with flavors like sweet pickle relish, apples, and mayo. It’s a unique blend of sweet and savory flavors!

Cranberry Waldorf Salad

Cranberry Waldorf Salad in a white serving bowl.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 15 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Apples, celery, raisins, mayonnaise, pecans, dried cranberries

Learn more and get the recipe: Cranberry Waldorf Salad

Enjoy a fresh twist on a classic with this Cranberry Waldorf Salad recipe, blending tart cranberries with apples and pecans for a flavorful side.

Southern Chicken Salad with Pecans

A mound of chicken salad on a lettuce lined plate.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 1 hour
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Chicken breasts, pecans, celery, mayonnaise

Learn more and get the recipe: Southern Chicken Salad with Pecans

My classic Southern Chicken Salad with Pecans recipe is a traditional combination of flavors and textures. It’s easy to make and sure to be a crowd-pleaser!

Vintage Broccoli Salad

Finished broccoli salad in a white serving bowl.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 22 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Broccoli, sugar, vinegar, onion, dried cranberries (or raisins), bacon, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds

Learn more and get the recipe: Vintage Broccoli Salad

This vintage Broccoli Salad recipe is total comfort food and the perfect side dish for any summer party. You’ll combine fresh, lightly blanched broccoli with crispy bacon, roasted sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries in a tangy mayo dressing for an easy recipe that your family and friends will ask for again and again.

Fire and Ice Tomatoes

Finished fire and ice tomatoes in a glass serving bowl.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 15 minutes (plus several hours chill time)
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, vinegar, sugar

Learn more and get the recipe: Fire and Ice Tomatoes

You’re going to really enjoy this vintage Southern recipe for Fire and Ice Tomatoes. It’s a light, refreshing side dish or salad composed of sweet Vidalia onions, ripe tomatoes, and bell peppers marinated in a sweet-tart vinegar solution. It’s a great choice for all your summer meals.

Bowtie Pasta Salad

A serving of Bowtie Pasta Salad with Grapes in a bowl.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 20 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Bowtie pasta, cherry tomatoes, green grapes, capers, shallot, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, feta cheese

Learn more and get the recipe: Bowtie Pasta Salad with Grapes

Discover a tasty twist on pasta salad with this Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Grapes recipe. Bursting with the bright flavors of grape tomatoes, green grapes, and tangy dressing, it’s a refreshing dish that’s perfect for a summer cookout or picnic!

Southern Potato Salad

Finished potato salad in a white serving bowl.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 30 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Red skinned potatoes, celery, onion, sweet pickle relish, mayonnaise, mustard, pimiento, paprika

Learn more and get the recipe: Southern Potato Salad

What’s the perfect dish to bring to any potluck? Why, this Classic Southern Potato Salad Recipe, of course! With its steamed, tender potatoes, celery, pickle relish, and a dressing made from mayonnaise and yellow mustard, this recipe goes with nearly anything and is great year round.

Classic Macaroni Salad

Macaroni salad in a white bowl.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 35 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Elbow macaroni, celery, bell pepper, onion, boiled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, vinegar

Learn more and get the recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad

This Classic Macaroni Salad recipe is a fast and easy family favorite. Its tart flavors and creamy, crunchy texture make it the perfect side dish for brightening up almost any menu!

Southern Tomato Cracker Salad

A serving of tomato cracker salad on a white plate.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

Total time: 15 minutes
Level: Beginner
Main ingredients: Saltine crackers, tomatoes, mayonnaise, shallot, chives

Learn more and get the recipe: Southern Tomato Cracker Salad

If you enjoy the flavors of the classic southern tomato sandwich, then you’ll fall head over heels for this Southern Tomato Cracker Salad recipe! It takes 15 minutes from start to finish and there’s no cooking at all. Perfect for hot summer days when you don’t want to heat up the kitchen.

My Southern Table Cookbook

Mockup of My Southern Table cookbook.
Image Credit: Lana’s Cooking.

If you like these recipes, you’ll love my new cookbook! It’s 348 pages filled with 246 recipes, each with a full-color photo. Visit my blog at Lana’s Cooking for more information.

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