A garden salad is a salad with greens (iceberg lettuce, butter lettuce, and other blends of greens) and lots of other fresh veggies in it - it’s healthy, nutritious, great for weight loss, and a tossed garden salad is the perfect side or appetizer to start a healthy meal!

Or, it can be a full meal on its own. Eating big salads is a great way to add more greens to your diet, more fiber, and consume more vitamins and minerals that help your body and health in general.

Garden salads are packed with color, flavor, and nutrients, and they only require a few key ingredients, but adding different toppings can make them more interesting and appealing.

That’s why in this post, I’m sharing a roundup of topping ideas that you can add to your garden salads!

33 Garden Salad Toppings Ideas

As a base, you can use any leafy greens you like or a mix of them. The most common base is iceberg lettuce or butter lettuce. You can also add in other leafy greens you like - baby spinach, arugula, etc.

You can simply wash the base and tear it up a bit, or you can cut it into small bite-sized pieces.

Now, the fun part - the toppings! You can really add anything you like here, but the most common toppings are other fresh veggies, cheese, nuts & seeds, fruit, dressing ingredients, and sometimes even protein (it’s not normally found in garden salads, but it’s a common add-on).

Here are some garden salad toppings to try out!

Bell peppers
Cherry tomatoes
Tomatoes
Red onion
Green onion
Radishes
Carrots
Cucumbers
Sharp cheddar
Feta cheese
Blue cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Black olives
Green olives
Croutons
Chia seeds
Pumpkin seeds
Pistachios
Walnuts
Pecans
Fresh herbs
Chicken
Tuna
Tofu
Chickpeas
Beans
Lentils
Strawberries
Peaches
Apples
Olive oil
Lemon juice
Dijon mustard (for the dressing)

My Favorite Garden Salad Recipe

There are so many versions of garden salads, but this one is my favorite!

Garden Salad Ingredients

Iceberg lettuce
Arugula
Cherry tomatoes
Red onion
Black olives
Feta cheese
Croutons
Lemon juice
Salt & pepper
Olive oil
Dried basil

How To Make A Garden Salad

Step 1: Wash your produce (iceberg lettuce, arugula, cherry tomatoes) and cut up onions and cherry tomatoes.

Step 2: Add all of it to a large bowl.

Step 3: Add olive oil, salt & pepper, and dried basil, and mix it all up.

Step 4: Top with crumbled feta cheese, sliced black olives, and croutons.

Optionally: You can also add protein if you like: grilled chicken, tofu, tuna, etc.

Note: I didn’t add exact measures, as this is something you can fully customize to your liking!

Here are a few other garden salad recipes you can try out! Some of these are a bit more complex and have some more ingredients just so you can see how you can spice up your garden salads, but feel free to tailor them to your wishes.

PS: If you want some bridal shower salads, click here!

Nectarine Caprese Salad

Ingredients

4 cups iceberg lettuce - 20 calories
¾ Cucumber, medium - 31.5 calories
½ cup Tomatoes, grape - 16 calories
1 Nectarine, medium - 63 calories
3 oz Mozzarella balls, mini - 243 calories
½ Avocado, small - 116.5 calories
1 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) - 3 calories
1 Tbsp Balsamic glaze - 30 calories
1 Salt, dash - 0 calories

Instructions

Dice nectarine, cucumber, tomatoes, mozzarella, and avocado.
Mix all ingredients together.
No dairy? Use a substitute, nuts, or more avocado.

The Actual Jennifer Aniston Salad

This isn’t a traditional garden salad by any means, but as the base is lettuce and it has other fresh veggies, I think we can consider it a delicious variation!

Ingredients

1 Egg, large - 72 calories
6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories
½ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked - 134 calories
2 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, shredded (Tbsp) - 42 calories
4 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 20 calories
½ cup Tomatoes, grape - 16 calories
2 Uncured bacon, slice - 88 calories
4 tsp Red wine vinegar (tsp) - 4 calories
1 Salt, dash - 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash - 0 calories

Instructions

Spray a pan with an oil spray. Slice chicken into strips, and bacon into small pieces. Cook chicken and bacon for ~10 minutes on medium-low heat, until cooked through.
Hard boil egg by placing it in a small pot with water (have water level 1 inch above egg), turning the heat to medium, bringing the pot’s contents to a boil, and boiling for 9 minutes.
Drain and rinse garbanzo beans, if canned.
Slice tomatoes in half.
Mix all ingredients together. Note – using 4 tsp (not Tbsp!) red wine vinegar.
No chicken? Use more beans. No bacon? Use turkey or soy bacon, or avocado or oil. No dairy? Use a dairy-free cheese, avocado, or more bacon.

Peach Mozzarella Salad

Ingredients

4 cups Leafy greens, lettuce, raw - 20 calories
1 cup Tomatoes, grape - 32 calories
1 Peach - 59 calories
2 oz Mozzarella balls, mini - 162 calories
1 Tbsp Balsamic glaze - 30 calories
1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 119 calories
1 Basil, dash - 0 calories
1 Salt, dash - 0 calories

Instructions

Slice tomatoes, cut peach into small pieces.
Combine all ingredients.
No dairy? Use prosciutto.

Kardashian Inspired Salad

Another not traditional one, but equally delicious.

Ingredients

4 cups Leafy greens, butter lettuce, raw - 28 calories
1 oz Cheese, sliced, mozzarella, full fat/ regular - 70 calories
¼ cup Marinated Artichokes - 55 calories
1 Tbsp Tomatoes, sun-dried - 17 calories
½ cup Beans & legumes, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), cooked - 134 calories
1 Cucumber, small - 32 calories
2 Tbsp Red wine vinegar (Tbsp) - 6 calories
1 Tbsp Dijon mustard - 15 calories
1 Tbsp Cheese, Parmesan, grated (Tbsp) - 25 calories
1 Salt, dash - 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash - 0 calories

Instructions

Slice mozzarella, cucumbers, artichokes and sun dried tomatoes into small pieces.
In a large bowl, mix together all vegetables, mozzarella, and garbanzo beans.
In a small bowl make dressing with red wine vinegar, mustard, grated Parmesan, salt & pepper. Mix together with a fork or spoon.
Add dressing to salad, mix to coat.

Chicken Thigh Salad with Avocado

Ingredients

3 cups Leafy greens, butter lettuce, raw - 21 calories
½ Avocado, small - 116.5 calories
⅛ cup Pecans (cups) - 94 calories
1 Bell pepper, green - 27 calories
6 oz Chicken thigh, boneless, skinless, raw - 190 calories
1 Tbsp Olive oil (Tbsp) - 119 calories
1 Garlic salt, dash - 0 calories
1 Salt, dash - 0 calories
1 Pepper, dash - 0 calories
1 Basil, dash - 0 calories
1 Oregano, dash - 0 calories

Instructions

Dice chicken and season with garlic salt.
Spray a pan with an oil spray.
Cook chicken for ~8 minutes on medium heat, until pieces are cooked through.
Chop bell pepper & avocado.
Combine all ingredients, top with oil and seasonings.
Notes: chicken breast or thigh is fine. No chicken? Use can of tuna, tofu or other fish.