26 Hearty Plant-Based Salads

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There are so many different ways to make a great salad, but our favorites are the ones packed with deliciousness that leave you feeling full.

Shake up your salad game with these 26 hearty plant-based salad recipes! Let us know which ones hit the spot in the comments below! 

Using wooden tongs to pick up a serving of Vegan Caesar Salad topped with Sweet Potato Croutons
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Vegan Caesar Salad with BBQ Sweet Potato Croutons
A quick and easy green salad with shredded carrots, roasted BBQ sweet potato croutons, fresh parsley, and a zingy 5-minute Caesar dressing. Just 30 minutes required!
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Plate of Chopped Kale Salad with chickpeas and Adobo Dressing
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Chickpea Chopped Kale Salad with Adobo Dressing
A showstopping kale salad with tandoori masala-roasted chickpeas, massaged kale, candied pecans, and a 5-minute smoky adobo dressing. Just 8 ingredients and 30 minutes required for this plant-based, gluten-free main or side.
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Curried Quinoa Salad garnished with lemon slices and fresh herbs on wooden serving platter with wooden serving spoons
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Curried Quinoa Salad
A savory quinoa and vegetable salad with green curry tahini dressing! Just 10 ingredients, fresh, nourishing, and SO satisfying!
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Bowls of Broccoli Pesto Pasta Salad made with gluten-free pasta
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Roasted Broccoli Pasta Salad with Hemp Pesto (V/GF)
A simple, flavorful, plant-based salad with roasted broccoli, gluten-free pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, and vegan pesto! 10 ingredients, 30 minutes, BIG flavor!
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Tray of our Sweet and Spicy Roasted Squash Salad topped with Cinnamon Sugar Pecans
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Sweet & Spicy Roasted Squash & Pecan Salad
A sweet and savory squash + sweet potato salad with coconut sugar pecans and pomegranate molasses dressing! A simple but impressive 9-ingredient side dish that’s perfect for the holiday season.
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Platter of Grilled Romaine Salad topped with Lemon Herbed Beans and a drizzle of vegan Caesar Dressing
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Grilled Romaine Caesar Salad with Herbed White Beans
Grilled romaine salad with a smoky, charred flavor, topped with lemon-herb white beans and a quick Caesar dressing! Ready in 30 minutes and BIG flavor!
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Vegan Chipotle Ranch Dressing drizzled over our fresh Grilled Corn Salad recipe
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Grilled Corn Salad with Vegan Chipotle Ranch Dressing (30 Minutes!)
Easy, 30-minute grilled corn salad perfect for summer gatherings. Pair with just about any main and top with our Easy Vegan Chipotle Ranch Dressing!
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Using wooden salad spoons to grab a serving of our colorful Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing
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Vibrant Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing
A quick and easy Thai-inspired salad with fresh vegetables and mango! Drizzle on a simple peanut dressing for a delicious side, or add a protein of choice to make it an entrée.
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Platter filled with our healthy Loaded Kale Salad recipe
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Loaded Kale Salad
Healthy and delicious loaded kale salad with quinoa, roasted and fresh vegetables, avocado, and a creamy tahini dressing! Just 10 ingredients required.
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Using wooden salad spoons to pick up a serving of Lentil Grape Cauliflower Salad
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Curried Cauliflower, Grape & Lentil Salad
Super delicious kale salad topped with red grapes, lentils, and curry roasted cauliflower. Served with a tahini-green curry paste dressing! Just 30 minutes required for this flavorful side or entrée.
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Wooden salad bowl filled with our Sweet Potato and Avocado Salad drizzled with tahini dressing
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Sweet Potato & Avocado Green Salad
A simple yet flavorful and satisfying salad with organic greens, roasted sweet potato, creamy avocado, and a lemon-maple tahini dressing. 30 minutes, naturally sweetened, so delicious!
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Big plate filled with our Roasted Broccoli Sweet Potato Chickpea Salad
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Roasted Broccoli Sweet Potato Chickpea Salad
A satisfying, plant-rich entrée or side with roasted broccoli, sweet potato, and chickpeas. Topped with a creamy 4-ingredient garlic dill sauce.
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Tahini sauce next to a large bowl of Rosemary Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella
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Rosemary Roasted Root Vegetable Panzanella
An autumnal panzanella featuring rosemary roasted root vegetables, garlicky chickpeas, and jumbo croutons. Topped with a mustard tahini dressing for the ultimate plant-based meal or side.
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Bowl of hearty kale salad with chipotle pecan pesto
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Hearty Kale Salad with Chipotle Pecan Pesto
An incredibly satisfying and nourishing kale salad BURSTING with smoky and savory goodness. Just 10 ingredients required for this comforting and flavorful plant-based dish!
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Plate of Cheesy Roasted Broccoli Salad with chickpeas and kale
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Cheesy Roasted Broccoli & Chickpea Kale Salad
A hearty kale salad topped with crispy roasted broccoli tossed in cheesy nutritional yeast, smoky baked chickpeas, and SMOKY 5-minute chipotle dressing. Just 30 minutes required!
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Plate of our delicious Roasted Fennel Salad with edges of the salad platter and bowl of dressing in the corners
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Curry Roasted Fennel Salad with Rosemary Tahini Dressing
Insanely delicious 30-minute salad with crispy, tender curry-roasted fennel. Topped with red bell pepper and a creamy tahini rosemary dressing. Add crispy chickpeas for an optional boost of protein, fiber, and crunch!
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Wooden salad bowl loaded with Abundance Kale Salad
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Abundance Kale Salad with Savory Tahini Dressing
An abundant kale salad with roasted sweet potato, zucchini, avocado, sprouts, crispy chickpeas, and kimchi! Topped with a savory tahini dressing, this salad makes the perfect 30-minute meal or side.
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Using salad tongs to grab a scoop of Roasted Squash Salad with Nut Cheese and Balsamic Reduction
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Roasted Squash Arugula Salad with Crispy Shallot and Balsamic Reduction
An incredibly flavorful fall roasted squash salad with macadamia nut cheese, crispy shallot, and balsamic reduction! A hearty side or main. Just 30 minutes and 10 ingredients required!
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Wood platter filled with Roasted Vegetable Salad drizzled with chimichurri
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Roasted Vegetable Salad with Magic Green Sauce
30-minute, colorful roasted vegetable salad over greens with macadamia nut cheese and chimichurri-inspired dressing! A satisfying plant-based meal or side!
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Big bowl of our Blissed Out Thai Salad with tofu
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Blissed-Out Thai Salad with Peanut Tempeh
30-minute Thai- and Indonesian-inspired salad with rainbow veggies, noodles, and marinated peanut tempeh! Dress with peanut sauce for a flavorful, nourishing, plant-based meal!
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Big plate of Vegan Nicoise Salad with a measuring cup of dressing on the side
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Vegan Nicoise Salad (30 minutes!)
A plant-based version of classic Nicoise Salad with smashed chickpea salad in place of tuna. Fresh, satisfying, and ready in 30 minutes.
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Big plate of Creamy Kale Salad made with Chickpeas & Shallots
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Creamy Kale Salad with Chickpeas, Beets & Dukkah
Insanely delicious kale salad with crispy chickpeas, pan-fried shallot, and a creamy tahini dressing. Just 30 minutes required for this vegan, gluten-free meal!
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Big plate of our Kale, Lentil, & Roasted Beet Salad made with pecans and apple
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Kale, Lentil & Roasted Beet Salad
A simple kale salad with lentils, roasted leeks and beets, and toasted pecans in a tahini-lemon dressing! Seriously satisfying and so healthy.
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Platter of our Pesto Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Almond Ricotta
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Pesto & Sun-Dried Tomato Green Salad
Quick and easy salad with mixed greens, almond ricotta, sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts, chickpeas, and pesto dressing! A 30-minute plant-based meal!
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Pouring Creamy Orange Chili Dressing onto a bowl of Vegan Mexican Quinoa Salad
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Black Bean Quinoa Salad with Orange Lime Dressing
An easy, 30-minute Mexican-inspired salad with quinoa, corn, black beans, avocado, and a creamy orange, lime, and chili dressing! Healthy, delicious, and so satisfying.
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Large platter filled with our quinoa, kale, and roasted vegetable winter salad
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Crispy Quinoa & Roasted Vegetable Kale Salad
A comforting winter salad with balsamic and tahini-massaged kale, crispy quinoa, Italian-spiced roasted veggies, and toasted almonds for crunch. Bursting with flavor, just 30 minutes required.
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If you give any of these hearty salad recipes a try, let us know! Leave a comment, or take a picture and tag it @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!

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  1. Lex says

    I have grown into so many allergies I almost can’t even cook anything for myself. My only next option is the Lion Diet. There’s only a handful of things I can have, and I just have to mix and match them for different tastes. It can be miserable. Thank you so much for the creative pairings and list of options. Figuring out what ingredients to put together is where I get stuck. With your recipes I like that I have room to experiment. I read one comment that said they bought your book – I might get one too!

  2. Sara says

    Hi I have purchased your book and look forward to receiving your recipes.
    I have tried quite a few of your meals and desserts etc. I am very impressed as I am trying to turn the family around into enjoying vegan and vegetarian meals a bit more. It is slowly working and they are also enjoying most of it. I am looking forward to trying some of the salads as we grow alot of veg and fruit in the garden. I was always a bit scared of what to do with some of the foods etc, but you have really shown me how to use some of our favourites and new products. A huge thankyou for everything Ive learnt.

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Aw, we’re so glad our recipes have been helpful for you and your family, Sara! Thank you for your kind words! xoxo

  3. Nancy says

    This is exactly the list I needed! I need hearty foods to help me stay grounded and summer/salad season has always been a struggle. Thank you!!