A simple way to stay healthy and save time during your busy week? Meal prepping healthy, delicious salads. By making salads ahead, it’s a bit easier to avoid less nutritious options and stay on track with your goals. Plus, salads are versatile, tasty, and packed with nutrients. It’s a win-win!

This guide will help you become a salad meal prep pro. We’ll show you how to pick the best ingredients, store your salads to keep them fresh, and the best recipes for ultimate taste and convenience. With our tips, you'll be able to create delicious salads for any meal. Whether you want to lose weight, boost your health, or just make mealtime easier, meal-prepping salads is the way to go, even on your busiest days.

Meal Prep Salad Essentials

The first important step to successful salad meal prepping is making sure you’re stocked up on essential tools and ingredients. Here’s what we suggest having on hand:

• Containers: Choosing the right containers is key to making sure your salads stay crisp and fresh throughout the week. Consider investing in meal prep containers like mason jars, glass containers, or BPA-free, airtight containers for convenient storage.  
• Dressing: Dressing, some say, is one of the most important parts of making a delicious salad! We have plenty of delicious dressings on our virtual shelves, from classics like Ranch to zesty options like Lemon Dill.
• Fresh veggies and fruits: Make sure to stock up on fresh leafy greens like iceberg lettuce, spinach, cabbage, and kale to provide a strong salad base. Consider adding hearty veggies like sweet potato, brussels sprouts, and butternut squash. To add zest and crispness, add in grape tomatoes, bell peppers, or red onion. 
• Healthy fats: Make sure to grab some wholesome staples like avocado, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.
• Dairy: Don’t forget to add cheddar, goat cheese, or blue cheese crumbles for a bit of extra flavor and texture.
• High-quality meats: Elevate your salad with tasty proteins like ground beef, turkey, chicken breast, and chicken thighs for a delicious protein fix. Hard-boiled eggs also make for a great high-protein addition to your salads, and can be crumbled on top for extra texture.
• Grains: Grains can add fiber and make for great salad filler. Consider incorporating whole grains like brown rice and farro to create satisfying salads and rice bowls.

Avoiding Soggy Salads

No one wants to end up with a soggy salad by the time you're ready to eat. To avoid a less-than-stellar salad experience, check out these simple tips:

• First, make sure you're properly washing and drying your greens. Excess moisture can lead to sogginess, so use a salad spinner or pat your greens dry with a clean paper towel.
• When storing your salad, keep your salad dressing separate from your salad greens until you're ready to eat. Adding dressing too early can lead to wilting and soggy greens. 
• Consider packing your salad ingredients like cheese or wet veggies like beets separately in your container and mixing them together just before you eat. This allows you to keep your greens fresh and crispy, while still having all the components of your salad ready to go.

16 Easy Salad Meal Prep Recipes

• Salt + Pepper Chicken Kale Salad
• Spicy Fajita Chicken Chopped Salad
• Crazy Quick Shrimp Kale Salad
• Chickpea Avocado Sriracha Chopped Salad
• Gingery Salmon Poke Greens
• Fajita Chicken Corn Salad
• Sweet Kale Salad with BBQ Paneer
• Harvest Kale Farro Salad
• Salt + Pepper Chicken Caesar Salad
• Artichoke Umami Roasted Beet Salad
• Lemongrass Tofu Salad w/ Lime Dressing
• Tangy Tofu Rainbow Veggie Salad
• Beyond Taco Salad w/ Creamy Lime Dressing
• Black Bean Avo Salad w/ Lime Dressing
• Balsamic Beet Crunch Salad
• Hearty Chicken Roast Veggie Kale Salad