Delicious examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes: 3 easy examples you’ll actually want to eat

Let’s start with real food you can actually make on a Tuesday night. These three core salads are the best examples of simple, paleo-friendly meals that don’t taste like diet food. Each one follows the same basic pattern: protein + crunchy vegetables + healthy fat + fresh herbs + a clean dressing.

Example of a hearty paleo salad: Lemon-Garlic Chicken Power Bowl

This is the kind of salad that feels like a full meal, not a side dish.

Base and veggies
Toss together chopped romaine, baby spinach, and shredded red cabbage for color and crunch. Add sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and thinly sliced red onion. If you want more texture, throw in some shredded carrots or sliced radishes.

Protein
Use grilled or roasted chicken thighs (more flavorful than breasts). Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, then roast at 400°F until cooked through. Slice or shred and pile on top of the greens.

Healthy fats
Add a generous handful of avocado slices and a sprinkle of toasted almonds or walnuts. Nuts are a classic example of paleo-friendly salad add-ins that make the bowl more filling.

Dressing
Whisk together extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, Dijon mustard (check the label for sugar), salt, and pepper. This is a great example of a paleo-friendly salad dressing you can reuse all week.

Why it works
This is one of the best examples of a paleo-friendly salad recipe if you’re new to the lifestyle. It’s high in protein, rich in healthy fats, and loaded with fiber from vegetables. The combo helps keep you full and can support blood sugar control, which aligns with what organizations like the CDC highlight about balanced meals and blood sugar.

Example of a steak-based paleo salad: Chimichurri Steak & Avocado Bowl

If you miss “real” food on paleo, this one will change your mind.

Base and veggies
Start with a mix of arugula and romaine for a peppery, crunchy foundation. Add grilled bell peppers, red onion, and halved cherry tomatoes. You can also toss in some sliced cucumber for extra freshness.

Protein
Use grilled flank steak or skirt steak. Season simply with salt, pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Grill or pan-sear to your preferred doneness, let it rest, then slice thinly against the grain.

Healthy fats
Add half an avocado per serving, plus a sprinkle of pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds for crunch.

Chimichurri dressing
Blend or finely chop fresh parsley, cilantro (optional), garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. This doubles as both a sauce for the steak and a dressing for the salad.

Why it works
This is a good example of a paleo-friendly salad recipe for dinner because it feels indulgent. The steak and avocado bring satisfying fat and protein, while the herbs and vinegar keep it bright. It’s also a nice way to follow the general pattern of a “healthy plate” with plenty of vegetables, which lines up with guidance from sources like Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate.

Example of a seafood paleo salad: Citrus Shrimp & Mango Salad

If you like lighter, fresher flavors, this one is your friend.

Base and veggies
Use a mix of butter lettuce and baby spinach. Add thinly sliced red cabbage, cucumber, and jicama or celery for crunch.

Protein
Sauté shrimp in olive oil with garlic, salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lime. Cook just until pink and opaque.

Fruit and fats
Add diced mango or orange segments (keep portions moderate if you’re watching carbs), plus avocado slices. Sprinkle with chopped macadamia nuts or cashews (dry-roasted, no added sugar or oils that aren’t paleo-friendly).

Citrus-lime dressing
Shake together olive oil, lime juice, a bit of orange juice, salt, pepper, and chopped cilantro. Taste and adjust the acid and salt until it pops.

Why it works
This salad is one of the best examples of a paleo-friendly salad recipe for warmer weather. It’s bright, hydrating, and still filling thanks to the shrimp, avocado, and nuts. Shrimp and other seafood are highlighted by organizations like the NIH as lean protein sources that can support a heart-healthy pattern when prepared without heavy breading or sugary sauces.

More examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes you can rotate all week

Once you’ve tried those 3 easy examples, it’s simple to riff on the formula. Here are more real-world examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes you can plug into your routine without getting bored.

Mediterranean-style paleo salad (no cheese, still delicious)

Think Greek salad vibes, minus the feta and pita.

Toss chopped romaine, cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and Kalamata olives. Add grilled chicken or canned wild tuna (packed in water or olive oil). For healthy fat, use extra-virgin olive oil and maybe a few almonds or walnuts.

Dress with olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried oregano, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Even without cheese, the olives and herbs make this a satisfying example of a paleo-friendly salad recipe with Mediterranean flavor.

Taco-inspired paleo salad bowl

Skip the tortilla, keep the fun.

Use a base of shredded romaine and cabbage. Add seasoned ground beef or ground turkey cooked with chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic, onion powder, and salt (no taco seasoning packets with added sugar or starch). Top with diced tomatoes, onion, cilantro, avocado, and sliced jalapeño.

For dressing, mix salsa with lime juice and a drizzle of olive oil. This is a practical example of turning a non-paleo favorite (tacos) into one of your weekly examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes.

Simple canned salmon & avocado salad

Perfect for a 10-minute lunch.

Flake canned wild salmon (check that it’s just salmon, water, and salt) over mixed greens, cucumber, and shredded carrot. Add avocado and a handful of sliced almonds.

Dress with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and a spoonful of chopped dill or parsley. This is a great example of a paleo-friendly salad recipe for days when you don’t want to cook but still want something that feels put-together.

Warm roasted veggie & chicken salad

For cold-weather days when raw salad sounds depressing.

Roast a tray of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and red onion with olive oil, salt, and pepper at 400°F until browned and tender. Serve over a bed of baby spinach so the warm veggies gently wilt the leaves.

Add shredded rotisserie chicken (check ingredients for sugar or non-paleo additives) or leftover roasted chicken. Drizzle with a simple balsamic and olive oil dressing (use real balsamic vinegar, no added sugar). This warm bowl is one of the best examples of a paleo-friendly salad recipe for fall and winter.

Egg, bacon & avocado breakfast salad

Yes, salad for breakfast can actually be good.

Layer baby spinach, arugula, and sliced cherry tomatoes. Add crispy bacon pieces (sugar-free, no weird additives if you can find it) and soft- or hard-boiled eggs. Top with avocado and chives.

Dress with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. This is a fun example of a paleo-friendly salad recipe that fits into a brunch spread or a high-protein breakfast.

How to build your own examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes (without a strict recipe)

Once you understand the pattern, you don’t really need recipes. You just mix and match.

Think of each salad as having five building blocks:

• A big pile of non-starchy vegetables (greens, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, tomatoes)
• A solid protein (chicken, steak, shrimp, salmon, eggs, turkey, pork)
• A source of healthy fat (avocado, olive oil, nuts, seeds)
• Fresh flavor boosters (herbs, citrus, garlic, scallions, radishes)
• A simple, paleo-friendly dressing (oil + acid + salt + maybe herbs or mustard)

If you pick one thing from each category, you can come up with endless examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes. That’s why the three easy examples above are more like templates than strict rules.

For 2024–2025, you’ll also see a few trends in paleo-style salads:

• More people using air fryers to cook proteins and veggies quickly for salads.
• Swapping croutons for roasted chickpeas is popular, but chickpeas aren’t paleo, so try toasted nuts or roasted cauliflower bites instead.
• Using fermented add-ins like sauerkraut or kimchi (check for sugar) for gut-friendly crunch.

If you keep those trends in mind, you can create modern, on-trend examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes that still fit your goals.

Common paleo salad mistakes (and how to fix them)

Even the best examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes can go sideways if you’re not paying attention. A few things to watch:

Hidden sugars in dressings
Bottled dressings often contain sugar, honey, or corn syrup. Check labels carefully, or make your own with olive oil, vinegar or citrus, and herbs. Mayo-based dressings can be fine if you use a paleo-friendly mayo made with avocado or olive oil.

Not enough protein
A handful of chicken strips on a mountain of lettuce won’t keep you full for long. Aim for a real serving of protein (often around the size of your palm, though individual needs vary). The chicken, steak, and shrimp salads above are good examples of getting this right.

Too much fruit, not enough veggies
Fruit is fine on paleo, but if your “salad” is mostly mango, dried cranberries, and apples with a few leaves of lettuce, your blood sugar may not love you. Use fruit as an accent, not the base.

Missing fat
Fat isn’t the enemy here; it’s what makes your salad satisfying. Avocado, nuts, seeds, and olive oil-based dressings are classic examples of paleo-friendly salad ingredients that help you stay full and absorb fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K). Mayo Clinic and similar sources often point out that healthy fats, in reasonable amounts, can support heart health when used instead of trans fats or highly processed oils (Mayo Clinic).

FAQ: examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes and common questions

What are some quick examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes I can meal prep?
Great meal-prep friendly examples include the Lemon-Garlic Chicken Power Bowl, the Taco-Inspired Salad Bowl (meat and chopped veggies keep well), and the Mediterranean-style chicken salad. Store dressing separately and add avocado fresh so it doesn’t brown.

Can you give an example of a paleo-friendly salad dressing that goes with everything?
Yes. Mix 3 parts extra-virgin olive oil with 1 part lemon juice or apple cider vinegar, plus salt, pepper, and a small spoonful of Dijon mustard (no sugar). This is a simple example of a paleo-friendly dressing that works on almost any salad in this article.

Are all “healthy” salads good examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes?
Not necessarily. Many restaurant salads include cheese, croutons, beans, grains, or sugary dressings. To keep things paleo, focus on salads where the main ingredients are vegetables, animal protein, healthy fats, and a clean dressing. Skip cheese, croutons, corn, beans, and sweet dressings.

What are examples of protein I can add to a paleo salad besides chicken?
Some of the best examples include steak, shrimp, salmon, canned tuna, boiled eggs, pulled pork, and ground turkey. All of these can be cooked in batches and rotated through your salads during the week.

Is fruit in salad still paleo? Any example of a good combo?
Yes, fruit is allowed on paleo, as long as you’re not turning the salad into a dessert. A good example: mixed greens with grilled chicken, sliced strawberries, avocado, and walnuts with a lemon-olive oil dressing. Keep the fruit to a modest portion and balance it with protein and fat.

Where can I learn more about building balanced paleo-style meals?
While paleo itself isn’t an official government program, you can still borrow ideas from general healthy eating guidance, like the CDC’s tips on balanced meals and blood sugar, Harvard’s Healthy Eating Plate, or NIH and Mayo Clinic resources on healthy fats and protein. These won’t be “paleo manuals,” but they offer helpful context on nutrients and portions.

If you walk away with nothing else, remember this: the best examples of paleo-friendly salad recipes—3 easy examples or thirty—always come back to the same pattern. Lots of vegetables, a serious serving of protein, a good dose of healthy fat, and a dressing you actually enjoy. Once you nail that, you can spin out endless variations without ever feeling like you’re stuck with a sad, flavorless bowl of greens.