13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (2024)

Add these satisfying salads to your lunch rotation. They’re packed with 15 grams of protein per serving from vegetarian foods like egg, tofu, legumes and cheese. Plus, the protein in these dishes can help you stay full for longer, support healthy digestion and promote bone health to keep you feeling your best. Recipes like our Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios and Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas are not only nutritious, but also delicious enough to become your new favorite midday meals.

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Farro Salad with Arugula, Artichokes & Pistachios

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (1)

Precooked farro makes this dish come together in no time. And you can make it in the same bowl you serve it in, minimizing cleanup!

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Green Goddess Salad with Chickpeas

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (2)

In this cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe, a healthy green goddess dressing is made from avocado, buttermilk and herbs. The extra dressing is delicious served with grilled vegetables.

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Easy Vegetarian Taco Salad

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (3)

Taco salad doesn't always have to contain beef—this 15-minute version uses tofu or black bean crumbles, which taste delicious and offer up a healthy dose of protein. This vegetarian meal is so tasty that even meat-only eaters won't miss the beef.

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Cabbage, Tofu & Edamame Salad

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (4)

Craving crunch? Bite into this salad loaded with crisp red cabbage, edamame, bamboo shoots, and chow mein noodles. This salad is slightly sweetened with baked tofu, mandarin oranges and sesame vinaigrette.

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Tex-Mex Salad

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (5)

Get all the protein -- 17 grams -- you need without the fat and cholesterol. Loaded with fiber-filled beans, sweet corn, crunchy sweet pepper, smooth avocado, and spicy pico de gallo, this bold salad will satisfy your taste buds and appetite.

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Quinoa Chickpea Salad with Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Dressing

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This hearty vegan salad is loaded with plant-based power ingredients: chickpeas, quinoa and hummus. We love the crunch of the sunflower seeds and the unexpected flavor of roasted peppers.

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Southwest Chopped Salad with Tomatillo Dressing

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (7)

Jicama is the crunchy, sweet tuberous root of a legume native to Central America. If you love it in this salad, try including sticks of it with your next crudités spread.

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Roasted Tofu & Peanut Noodle Salad

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (8)

Top this vegetarian noodle salad recipe, which is tossed with loads of veggies and ample peanut sauce, with chopped roasted peanuts for added crunch and protein.

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Tomato & Onion Salad with Crispy Tofu

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (9)

Tofu definitely benefits from a marinade, in this case lemon juice, olive oil and fresh herbs. In this vegetarian salad recipe, the tofu is pressed first, which concentrates its subtle soy flavor and improves the texture by removing some of the water. But what really makes this recipe special is the Parmesan cheese crust that transforms the tofu into a soft, cheesy crouton.

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Tempeh "Chicken" Salad

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (10)

Eating probiotics--live bacteria in raw fermented food, such as tempeh and miso--can rev up the good bacteria in your body, which may help you with weight loss. Look for tempeh near the tofu in the produce section. Try vegan mayo for a completely plant-based lunch.

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Spinach & Artichoke Salad with Parmesan Vinaigrette

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Inspired by the classic warm party dip, this simple salad can be served up right away or divided into small lidded containers for a week of delicious lunches. To keep the hard-boiled eggs tasting fresh, we suggest adding them to your salad just before serving or in the morning before packing your lunch to go.

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Hoisin-Sesame Salad with Baked Tofu

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (12)

This Asian-inspired salad is made satisfying with savory baked tofu; carrots and snap peas add crunch. Try this salad for a take-along lunch. To keep the salad greens from getting soggy, pack the greens, salad toppings and dressing in separate containers and toss them together just before eating.

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Loaded Spinach Salad

13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (13)

Like many spinach salads, this one features lots of chopped-up hard-boiled egg. But since most of the calories in an egg are in the yolk, this recipe uses just two whole eggs, plus the whites from six additional eggs, for a satisfying spinach salad that keeps the calories in check.

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13 High-Protein Vegetarian Salads for Lunch (2024)

FAQs

What vegetarian protein can you add to salads? ›

If you prefer vegan options, go beyond beans or tofu and try tempeh or seitan. If you love legumes like chickpeas in your salad, you may also love lentils, nuts, seeds or whole grains like farro or quinoa as additions.

What can I put in my salad for protein? ›

Here are some ways to add protein to a salad:
  1. Chicken – chicken breasts or thighs. ...
  2. Beef – steak or ground beef.
  3. Seafood and fish – salmon, tuna, shrimp, white fish, sardines…
  4. Eggs (breakfast salad!)
  5. Deli meat – turkey, roast beef, or ham.
  6. Tofu.
  7. Tempeh.
  8. Lentils.
May 13, 2022

What can I put in my salad instead of meat? ›

Instead, choose a high-quality, tasty protein like marinated tofu, black beans or lentils, crisped chickpeas (just quickly panfry them in a bit of oil and seasonings), chicken, or steak.

Can you eat salad on a high protein diet? ›

Grilled Chicken Salad Is a Healthy, High-Protein Summer Dinner. This grilled chicken salad is perfect for summer entertaining. You can make the dressing, marinate the chicken, pickle the onions and slice your vegetables a few hours ahead of time, then just grill and assemble the salad after the guests arrive.

What are 5 protein rich foods vegetarian? ›

Although all fruits and vegetables contain protein, some contain more than others. Vegetables with the most protein include broccoli, spinach, asparagus, artichokes , potatoes, sweet potatoes , and Brussels sprouts, which typically contain 4–5 g of protein per cooked cup.

How do vegetarians add protein to salad? ›

1. Beans and legumes: Add cooked chickpeas, black beans, lentils, or edamame to your salad for a protein boost. 2. Nuts and seeds: Sprinkle on some almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, or pumpkin seeds for a crunchy and protein-rich addition.

Is eating a salad for lunch everyday healthy? ›

There is concern that the body does not easily absorb raw fruits and vegetables. Generally speaking, this has proved false. People who eat salad regularly are much more likely to fulfill their recommended intake of nutrients. Eating a salad every day is healthy because you get vital nutrients, fiber, and good fats.

How to add extra protein to salad? ›

  1. Sliced Turkey. Deli meat often gets a bad rap, however, it is a delicious and convenient way to quickly add protein to a salad. ...
  2. Crab Meat. Crab is a good source of lean protein that delivers all of the nutritional benefits of seafood without the fishy aftertaste. ...
  3. Salmon. ...
  4. Tofu. ...
  5. Beans. ...
  6. Chickpeas.
Aug 31, 2021

What vegetables is high in protein? ›

And what are the best sources for protein?
  • Green peas. Green peas are at the top of the list of the most protein-filled vegetables. ...
  • Spinach. A big crisp spinach salad is certainly refreshing, especially on a hot day in the South. ...
  • Collard greens. ...
  • Sweet corn. ...
  • Mustard greens. ...
  • Lima beans. ...
  • Asparagus. ...
  • Broccoli.

What is the healthiest thing to put in a salad? ›

Nuts and seeds — such as pistachios, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, almonds, peanuts and chia seeds — are highly nutritious salad toppings.

What are 10 things to put in a salad? ›

Salad Topping Ideas
  • Vegetables. Asparagus, Beets, Artichoke hearts, Cucumbers, Peppers, Carrots, Broccoli, ...
  • Eggs. Hard-boiled, Poached, Soft-boiled.
  • Whole Grains. Couscous, Farro, Quinoa, Barley, Rice.
  • Seeds. Pepitas, Sunflower Seeds, Sesame Seeds.
  • Dried Fruit. ...
  • Vegetarian Protein. ...
  • Seafood. ...
  • Meat.
Feb 4, 2020

What is considered a protein salad? ›

There are many different types of protein that you can add to your salad, including grilled chicken, tofu, beans, nuts, and seeds. Grilled chicken is a popular choice because it is low in fat and high in protein, while tofu is a great option for vegetarians and vegans.

Which fruit has the most protein? ›

High-protein fruits
  • Guava. 4g protein per cup. Guava is number one on our list of high protein fruit. ...
  • Avocado. 4g protein per cup. ...
  • Apricots (dried) 2g protein per cup. ...
  • Kiwifruit. 2g protein per cup. ...
  • Grapefruit. 2g protein per cup. ...
  • Blackberries. 2g protein per cup. ...
  • Melon. 1.5g protein per cup. ...
  • Peach. 1g protein per cup.

Will I lose weight if I eat a salad with a protein? ›

Protein tends to alter hunger hormones

A higher protein intake tends to increase the feeling of satiety and alter the hunger hormone ghrelin so that you do not overeat. This leads to a major reduction in hunger and is one of the main reasons protein helps you lose weight.

What are 3 vegetarian protein options? ›

The following healthful, plant-based foods have a high-protein content per serving:
  • Tofu, tempeh, and edamame. Share on Pinterest Soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and edamame are among the richest sources of protein in a vegan diet. ...
  • Lentils. ...
  • Chickpeas. ...
  • Peanuts. ...
  • Almonds. ...
  • Spirulina. ...
  • Quinoa. ...
  • Mycoprotein.
Apr 12, 2018

What are some complete protein combinations for a vegetarian? ›

Combinations include:
  • Nuts or seeds with whole grains (peanut butter on whole wheat toast)
  • Whole grains with beans (beans and rice; hummus and pita bread; bean-based chili and crackers; refried beans and tortillas)
  • Beans with nuts or seeds (salad with chickpeas and sunflower seeds)

What are two protein options you can choose as a vegetarian? ›

Beans and legumes are two of the best sources of protein for vegetarians because you can use them in place of almost any meat in curries, salads, soups, tacos, and similar dishes. They come in many varieties, including: Lentils.

What vegetarian combinations make a complete protein? ›

Vegetarian-Friendly Complete Protein Food Combinations
  • Quinoa (+ lentils) While quinoa's reputation as a good source of protein is well deserved, it's technically not complete (contrary to popular belief). ...
  • Buckwheat (+ edamame) Both Shapiro and Dr. ...
  • Eggs. ...
  • Hemp seeds (+ chia + oats + milk) ...
  • Greek yogurt. ...
  • Soy. ...
  • Peas (+ rice)

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