The Salads You Should Actually Make in January
Bold salads that keep you full, energized, and excited to eat.
The beginning of the year can feel exciting and fun, but it can also feel overwhelming and like too much pressure is being placed on yourself to start things off the right way.
Suddenly, everyone is starting over, resetting, detoxing, and declaring they’re cutting out half the foods they actually enjoy. And while I totally get the desire to feel better after the holidays, I’ve learned the all-or-nothing approach never works for me. It usually just leaves me hungry, cranky, and thinking about food way more than I want to.
What does work for me in January is focusing on meals that feel fresh and nourishing, but still satisfying. I gravitate towards food that gives my body what it needs without making me feel like I’m being punished for enjoying December.
And that’s where salads come in, but never the sad kind. Nope, no sad salads here. I focus on big, hearty, flavor-packed salads with plenty of protein, tons of texture, and dressings you’ll want to drink. You can use these for meal prepping and eat them all week (and actually want to!). You can use them for lunch or dinner. You can use them for just yourself or your whole family. They’re basically perfect for whatever occasion or need you have!
These are the salads I genuinely make all the time and are on repeat in my own kitchen.
Also, here’s a quick note about salads before we dive in: If salads ever feel boring, unsatisfying, or like a “diet food” to you, I want you to forget all of that for a second. A good salad is really just a well-balanced bowl.
A good one is going to have something crunchy, something creamy, something savory, and a solid protein. When you build them that way, they stop feeling like an obligation and start feeling like something you look forward to.
If bold, fresh salads with real texture are your thing, this Copycat Dishoom Chili Broccoli Salad deserves a spot in your rotation. Inspired by Dishoom’s iconic version, it’s built around crisp chopped broccoli tossed with herbs, nuts, seeds, and sweet dates, then coated in a bright ginger-lime dressing with just enough heat. Every bite hits a little differently. It’s crunchy, fresh, lightly sweet, and gently spicy, meaning you’re actually going to be excited to sit down and eat this salad.
If you love a salad that is packed with flavor, texture, and all of the fixings, then you’re going to fall in-love with my Crispy Rice Salmon Cucumber Salad with Creamy Asian Dressing. This twist on the viral cucumber salad pairs the crunch cucumbers with tender, flaky salmon, avocado, edamame, and perfectly crispy rice that is absolutely crave-worthy. Top it off with the easy creamy Asian dressing, and you’ve got a perfect crunchy salad that’s perfect for meal prep!
If a warm and cozy salad is calling your name, then look no further than my Sheet Pan Warm Kale Salad. This vibrant salad is packed full of tender toasted veggies, mild Italian sausage, tangy feta cheese, and crunchy pistachios, all topped off with a creamy maple dijon dressing for the perfect salad in every bite. The sheet pan makes it quick and easy to assemble, plus, it makes it easy for serving a crowd. Whether you make this for your next gathering or for a simple family dinner, you can’t go wrong with this salad!
If a crisp and refreshing bowl is calling your name, then you will love my Copycat Sweetgreen Elote Bowl. Inspired by Sweetgreen’s classic recipe that is filled with tender cooked bell peppers and corn, crispy tortilla chips, fluffy quinoa, and a creamy cilantro lime dressing, this bowl is here to prove that vegetarian-friendly meals are anything but boring.
Have you met my Crispy Rice Salmon Crunch Salad yet? It’s a crispy, crunchy, protein-packed salad that’s topped with a creamy Lemon-Cumin Dressing that is so good, you could practically drink it. This salad is perfect for meal-prep and will change the way that you look at salads forever.
There’s nothing wrong with salads. They simply need a little intention. If you’re staring at a fridge or pantry with random ingredients and want to give building an exciting salad a go, here are my general rules of thumb:
Always add a protein. This is the biggest difference between a salad that keeps you full and one that has you wanting to eat everything in the pantry an hour later. Protein is what turns a salad into a real meal. And when I say protein, I don’t mean it has to be meat. You can keep this completely vegetarian (or vegan) and still get protein. Whether it’s grilled chicken, salmon, eggs, tofu, chickpeas, or whatever you have on hand, adding protein makes salads more satisfying and stabilizes your energy. I don’t approach salads as “light” food — I approach them as balanced meals.
Use bold dressings. A good dressing can completely change how a salad tastes and how excited you are to eat it. I’m not saying you need to drown your salad in dressing. But what you use is very important. It needs real flavor — tangy, creamy, savory, or slightly sweet. If your salad feels boring, it’s usually not because of the veggies — it’s because the dressing is bland.
Mix textures. Texture is everything. A salad that’s all soft or all crunchy gets boring fast. I always like to think in terms of contrast: something crisp (lettuce, cucumbers, broccoli), something creamy (avocado, cheese, a creamy dressing), and something chewy or hearty (grains, protein, roasted veggies). When you build in different textures, every bite feels interesting, and you’re much more likely to actually enjoy eating it instead of forcing your way through it.
Don’t be afraid of warm elements. This one is huge, especially in January. Adding something warm — like crispy rice, roasted vegetables, grilled meat, or even a warm protein straight from the pan — makes a salad feel comforting instead of cold and punishing. Warm elements soften raw greens slightly and enhance flavors. If salads have ever felt unappealing to you in the winter, warmth is usually the missing piece.
Having the right basics on hand makes salads easier and more fun to make.
A sharp chef’s knife
Airtight containers so leftovers stay crisp
If January has you craving food that feels lighter and satisfying, I hope this list gives you some inspiration. These are the kind of meals that help me reset without feeling restricted which is really my main goal.
If you’re looking for more salad inspiration, I have tons more on the website here.
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