9 Whole30 Salad Recipes (2024)

I’m not a fan of boring salads, so here are my top 9 Whole30 salad recipes that not only taste delicious, they’re simple to make too!

I think we can all admit that our vegetable intake probably hasn’t been optimal recently, so let’s toss some salads!

If you’re doing a January Whole30 this month, you’re probably thinking that you need to eat a bunch of salads. While this can be true, not all of your salads need to be simple and boring bowls of baby spinach or lettuce.

In this roundup, I’ve included colorful salads to accompany your main dishes, plus hearty protein-packed salads to spice up your dinner rotation in an easy and inexpensive way.

Can I use store-bought rotisserie chicken?

Normally the easiest and quickest way to add cooked protein to a salad is to shred up a rotisserie chicken—but can you use a store-bought one if you’re doing a Whole30? The short answer is maybe!

Some ready-made rotisserie chickens in the grocery store may have ingredients that aren’t Whole30-friendly, so read your labels! Whole Foods Market sells Whole30-compatible roast chickens seasoned only with salt and pepper, but as I recall, Costco’s aren’t Whole30-friendly.

How can I store salads for later?

Most salads don’t keep well when you mix in the dressing (the exception to the rule is my Kale and Persimmon Salad which tastes better the next day!). I typically recommend leaving the dressing out for whenever you’re planning to serve the salad, and top your crunchy element (like nuts) right before serving.

Here are 9 Whole30 Salad Recipes:

Whole30 Kale and Persimmon Salad

This is a great winter salad that makes use of one of my favorite fruits: fuyu persimmons! Not a fan or can’t find any? You can substitute sliced apples, pears, or a handful of pomegranate arils. In the summertime, sliced peaches and nectarines are a fantastic way to add a tart and sweet bite.

Whole30 Red Cabbage Slaw with Tangy Carrot Ginger Dressing

This colorful and tangy Whole30-friendly red cabbage slaw is a refreshing spin on a traditional cole slaw. The acidity of this vegetable side dish perfectly balances the heartiness of your favorite rib-sticking meaty entree!

Whole30 Bacon Deviled Egg Salad

Topped with bacon, this keto-friendly salad is sure to be a family-pleaser! To make iteven easier,you can hard-cook eggs in an Instant Pot!

Whole30 Smashed Cucumber and Carrot Salad

This Asian-inspired smashed cucumber and carrot salad is a refreshing recipe and pairs perfectly with roasted meats. Need ideas on what to serve it with? Make My Sister’s Phenomenal Grilled Green Chicken!

Whole30 Chicken Waldorf Salad

This Whole30-friendly Chicken Waldorf salad is an old-school dish made modern, quick, and easy!

Whole30 Madras Chicken Salad

Whipping up some chicken salad? Don’t youdare make a bland-tasting version tossed with plain old mayonnaise. Instead, punch it up with smoky, aromatic curry powder, crisp apples, fresh herbs, and toasted almonds!

Whole30 Chinese Chicken Salad

I’ve paleo-fied and made the classic Chinese chicken salad Whole30 friendly too! The combination of crisp veggies, sweet mandarin oranges, Cracklin’ Chicken, toasted almonds, and sesame seeds will more than make up for the absence of stale fried noodles!

Whole30 Endive, Radicchio, and Apple Salad

This is the perfect winter salad that makes use of produce that is in its peak season: endive, radicchio, and apples!

Whole30 Asian Steak Salad

The easiest Whole30 meal contains a bunch of vegetables, animal protein, and healthy fat—so a salad topped with meat totally fits the template perfectly. Enter my simple, flavor-packed, and Whole30-friendly Asian Steak Salad!

Other Whole30 Tips

Completing a Whole30 doesn’t have to be hard. That’s why I’ll be posting Whole30-friendly recipes to my Facebook page all month long to keep you inspired! I’ll also be popping in frequently to my personal Nomster’s Facebook group to answer any questions. Don’t forget about my cookbooks that have paleo and Whole30-friendly meals as well as my iOS app!

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013), Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017), and Nom Nom Paleo: Let’s Go! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2021).