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21 Make Ahead Salads Perfect For Meal Prep

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By: 5 Comments
Posted: 7/29/17 Updated: 8/27/20

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21 make ahead salads that are perfect for meal prep. Prepping your salads ahead of time ensures you will have a healthy, veggie-packed lunch, and will save you time!

collage image with a variety of salads and text overlay 21 make ahead salad recipes

Looking to increase your veggie intake and eat a healthier lunch?

Then meal prep is going to be your next best friend. Prepping your lunches ahead on the weekend is the BEST way to make sure you stay on track with your healthy eating goals. Not to mention you're going to reduce your morning stress (of OMG!! What am I going to pack for lunch today?!) and save you some money too (less food wastage and less money spent eating out).

Today we're talking make ahead salads, because salads are one of my favorite things to meal prep!

These make ahead salads are so versatile: they can be lunch, a main course or a side, and often these salads will taste better as they sit and marinate together in the fridge!

Now one tip on these recipes...some of the salads included contain avocado. Make sure to leave it off until just before serving, otherwise it will brown. Other than that, here are 21 make ahead salads that will be absolutely perfect to incorporate into your summer meal prep routine!

1. Roasted Sweet Potato & Wild Rice Salad from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 2. Kale Superfood Salad with Quinoa and Blueberries from Kristine's Kitchen

collage image of Roasted Sweet Potato and Wild Rice Salad on left and Kale Superfood Salad with Quinoa and Blueberries on right

3. Summer Barley Salad with Grilled Corn & Blueberries from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 4. The Ultimate Detox Salad from The Roasted Root

collage image of Summer Barley Salad with Grilled Corn and Blueberries on left and The Ultimate Detox Salad on right

5. Meal Prep Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 6. Greek Quinoa Salad from Wholefully

collage image of Sesame Chicken Pasta Salad on left and Greek Quinoa Salad on right

7. Honey Lime Chicken & Soba Noodle Salad from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 8. Mediterranean Bean Salad from The View From Great Island

Collage image of Honey Lime Chicken and Soba Noodle Salad on left and Mediterranean Bean Salad on right

9. Fennel & Pomegranate Quinoa Salad from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 10. Healthy Greek Freekah Salad from Peas & Crayons

collage image of Fennel and Pomegranate Quinoa Salad on left and Healthy Greek Freekah Salad on right

11. Herb Orzo Pasta Salad with Feta from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 12. Marinated Vegetable Salad from Iowa Girl Eats collage image of Herb Orzo Pasta Salad with Feta on left and Marinated Vegetable Salad on right

13. Meal Prep Chopped Chickpea Salad from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 14. Quinoa Mango Black Bean Salad with Smoky Pepitas and Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette from Vanilla and Bean

collage image of Chopped Chickpea Salad on left and Quinoa Mango Black Bean Salad on right

15. Kale Barley Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 16. Best Southwestern Couscous Salad from Savory Tooth

collage image of Kale Barley Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette on left and Southwestern Couscous Salad on right

17. Strawberry Caprese Quinoa Salad from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 18. Southwestern Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing from She Likes Food

collage image of Strawberry Caprese Quinoa Salad on left and Southwestern Power Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing on right

19. Charred Corn Salad with Feta, Mint & Quinoa from Sweet Peas & Saffron // 20. Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe from Stupid Easy Paleo

collage image of Charred Corn Salad with Feta, Mint and Quinoa on left and Chinese Chicken Salad on right

21. Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing from Well Plated

Broccoli Quinoa Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing in large glass bowl

Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

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