This Protein Salad has it all! A delicious combination of mixed greens, fresh vegetables, grilled chicken, hard boiled eggs, crumbled cheese, and cooked lentils… this salad packs a BIG protein punch that will keep you satisfied all day long!
Anytime someone hears about my love of salads, they automatically assume I eat like a rabbit. Which honestly couldn’t be further from the truth. Because the reality is… I like my salads loaded. Not only with fresh veggies, but with ALL the proteins!
Which is why this High Protein Salad is for me. Not only does it have all my favorite go-to veggies, but it has 4 different sources of protein. Meaning this is most definitely a salad that eats like a meal.
Between the chicken and the blue cheese and the hard boiled eggs and the lentils, this salad has everything you need to power through the day. And when you top it with a simple homemade vinaigrette? It’s both healthy AND flavorful.
Like I said… the salad that has it all!
what you’ll need for this recipe
This salad is a delicious combination of fresh vegetables and proteins with a simple homemade dressing. Feel free to switch up any of the ingredients according to your tastes!
Vegetables: mixed greens, grape tomatoes, cucumbers, yellow bell peppers, shredded carrots, purple cabbage
Protein: crumbled blue cheese, chicken breast, hard boiled egg, cooked lentils
Dressing: olive oil, white balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, dried parsley, dijon mustard, salt & pepper
how to make protein salad
Cook the lentils. Cook lentils according to package instructions. Set aside to cool.
Assemble the salad. In a large bowl, layer the mixed greens, vegetables, and proteins.
Prepare the dressing. Combine dressing ingredients and shake well. Pour over salad as desired.
my favorite chicken breast recipe
My favorite way to prepare grilled chicken for salads is with my easy Pan Fried Chicken recipe. In a nutshell, pound 2 chicken breasts out to 1 inch thickness and season with salt & pepper. Heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, add the chicken breasts, and pan fry for 5 minutes. Flip to the other side and cook for an additional 7-10 minutes, until internal temperature reads 160°. (Full recipe & instructions in link above!)
Recipe Variations
- Substitute rotisserie chicken, salmon, steak, turkey, or tuna for the grilled chicken
- Add cooked edamame, sunflower seeds, walnuts, or chickpeas for extra protein
- Substitute fresh spinach or romaine lettuce for mixed greens
- Substitute crumbled goat cheese, feta cheese or any type of cheese for the blue cheese
- Add cooked, crumbled bacon for extra flavor
- Add any of your favorite fresh herbs
- Use bottled salad dressing in place of homemade vinaigrette
- Substitute homemade balsamic vinaigrette or lemon vinaigrette
- Top with homemade croutons or air fryer wonton strips for crunch
More Protein-Packed Salad Recipes
Looking for more high-protein salad recipes? These are some more of our favorites!
Protein Salad
Ingredients
Salad
- 4 cups mixed greens
- 1/2 cup grape tomatoes halved
- 1/2 cup cucumber chopped
- 1/2 cup yellow pepper chopped
- 1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
- 1/4 cup shredded carrots
- 1/4 cup shredded purple cabbage
- 1 chicken breast cooked & chopped
- 1/2 hard boiled egg sliced
- 1/2 cup cooked green lentils
Dressing
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cook lentils according to package instructions. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare salad by layering lettuce with remaining ingredients.
- Combine dressing ingredients and shake well.
- Pour over salad as desired.
Notes
Recipe Variations
- Substitute rotisserie chicken, salmon, steak, turkey, or tuna for the grilled chicken
- Add cooked edamame, sunflower seeds, walnuts, or chickpeas for extra protein
- Substitute fresh spinach or romaine lettuce for mixed greens
- Substitute crumbled goat cheese, feta cheese or any type of cheese for the blue cheese
- Add cooked, crumbled bacon for extra flavor
- Add any of your favorite fresh herbs
- Use bottled salad dressing in place of homemade vinaigrette
- Substitute homemade balsamic vinaigrette or lemon vinaigrette
- Top with homemade croutons or air fryer wonton strips for crunch