35 Luscious Arugula Salad Recipes for Quick & Easy Weeknight Meals

Laura Hauser

May 13, 2025

Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan, Lemon, & Olive Oil

Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan, Lemon, & Olive Oil

Taking center stage in Italian cuisine, this timeless classic is surprisingly easy to prepare. To create it, you’ll need just a few key ingredients: crisp arugula, shaved parmesan cheese, and a drizzle of high-quality olive oil. A squeeze of fresh lemon juice adds the perfect balance of flavors, resulting in a dish that’s both elegant and effortless. This salad is an ideal choice for beginning any meal.

Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan

Arugula Salad with Shaved Parmesan

Creating a customized arugula-parmesan dish is one of its most appealing aspects, as it allows for endless experimentation and innovation. This recipe takes the classic combination to the next level by introducing honey into the mix with the lemon and olive oil dressing, thereby adding a touch of sweetness that perfectly balances out the bold flavors of the arugula.

Furthermore, this recipe not only showcases the versatility of the ingredients but also provides inspiration for preparing other mouth-watering arugula salads, such as incorporating sun-dried tomatoes, crisp apples, and crunchy pine nuts into the mix.

Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese & Sweet Honey Balsamic Dressing

Grilled Peach Salad with Goat Cheese & Sweet Honey Balsamic Dressing

Just when you think you’ve experienced all the flavors of summer, grilling a peach can unlock a whole new level of sweetness and juiciness that will leave you wanting more. This simple yet game-changing technique adds a smoky-sweet dimension to any dish, including this delicious arugula salad, elevating it to a whole new culinary height.

Baby Arugula and Strawberry Salad with Feta

Baby Arugula and Strawberry Salad with Feta

Zest up your summer salads by incorporating strawberries as a game-changing ingredient. This sweet and tangy combination is sure to elevate any dish. The red berries add a lovely burst of sweetness that pairs perfectly with the savory flavor of feta cheese, creating a sugary, creamy addition to arugula salads that’s hard to resist.

Hearty Sweet Potato, Arugula & Wild Rice Salad with Ginger Dressing

Hearty Sweet Potato, Arugula & Wild Rice Salad with Ginger Dressing

Combining sweet potatoes with arugula creates a match made in heaven, as the peppery flavor of the arugula perfectly complements the earthy sweetness of the sweet potato, resulting in an explosion of sugary savoriness. This delectable pairing is less of a salad and more of a satisfying meal that’s sure to impress even the most discerning palate. Consider serving this dish on a balmy summer evening when the warm weather calls for something fresh and light.

Orzo Arugula Salad with Feta and Grapes

Orzo Arugula Salad with Feta and Grapes

Vibrant and flavorful, this orzo arugula salad is a symphony of textures and tastes that will leave you wanting more. The sweetness of the juicy grapes perfectly balances the smokiness of the toasted pine nuts, while the crumbled feta adds a rich and creamy element to each bite. With its tangy dressing and fresh arugula, this salad is a masterful combination of flavors and sensations.

Watermelon Salad

Watermelon Salad

Breaking the mold of traditional salads, watermelon makes an unexpected yet delightful addition to this refreshing recipe. If you’ve never tried it before, consider this your sign to give it a go! The beauty of this salad lies in its simplicity – all you need is some peppery arugula, juicy watermelon, crumbled feta cheese, a drizzle of olive oil, and a squeeze of lemon juice. When combined, these ingredients work together in harmony to create something truly special.

Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Feta and Almonds

Roasted Pumpkin Salad with Feta and Almonds

Harnessing the essence of the fall season, this roasted pumpkin salad is a symphony of flavors that will leave you wanting more. If you’re planning to host a Thanksgiving dinner and are looking for a side dish that’s both effortless to prepare and packed with autumnal charm, this recipe is an absolute must-try. It seamlessly brings together the rich, warm notes of roasted pumpkin, crisp greens, and tangy dressing, resulting in one delightful bite that embodies the spirit of the season.

Grilled Steak and Peach Salad

Grilled Steak and Peach Salad

Looking at the ingredients and flavor combinations, it’s clear that this dish is more than just a simple side or accompaniment – it’s a complete meal in itself. For those seeking a light yet satisfying dinner option perfect for the peak of summer, this recipe is an ideal choice. The char-grilled peaches provide a subtle sweetness that pairs beautifully with the robust flavor of the steak, creating a delightful balance of flavors and textures.

Ultimately, this recipe embodies the essence of summer on a plate.

Mediterranean Mason Jar Salads

Mediterranean Mason Jar Salads

Providing an effortless way to enjoy a nutritious meal on-the-go, these Mediterranean mason jar salads are not only visually appealing but also extremely practical. Packing them in your lunchbox or tote bag is a great solution for when you need to bring a healthy salad with you. This convenient and refreshing option is not only perfect for busy days, but it’s also incredibly easy to transport.

Fall Panzanella Salad

Fall Panzanella Salad

Making the most of the fall season is what this ultimate fall salad is all about. It’s a harmonious blend of flavors and textures that come together to create something truly special. To make it, you’ll need crispy French bread, roasted butternut squash, apples, and dried cranberries, which provide a sweet and savory combination.

The fresh arugula serves as the perfect base for this salad, balancing out the abundance of toppings and adding a peppery kick that complements the other ingredients beautifully.

Melon Mozzarella Prosciutto Salad

Melon Mozzarella Prosciutto Salad

You can almost taste the success of this recipe with its simple yet elegant combination of flavors. Melon wrapped in prosciutto may seem like a classic, but it’s hard to imagine where one could go wrong with such an enticing pairing. For those who, like me, have a weakness for sweet-savory flavor combinations, this recipe is sure to be a winner.

Apple Pecan Arugula Salad

Apple Pecan Arugula Salad

Everyone can enjoy a delicious and healthy salad in just 15 minutes. This mouth-watering dish perfectly blends the freshness of crunchy apples with the sweetness of dried cranberries and the nutty flavor of raw pecans, making it an unbeatable combination that’s sure to hit a home run for anyone who tries it.

Pan Roasted Potato & Arugula Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette & Crispy Prosciutto

Pan Roasted Potato & Arugula Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette & Crispy Prosciutto

Not only does this fresh, flavorful Italian potato salad please the palate, but it’s also incredibly easy to prepare. The combination of crispy potatoes atop a bed of peppery arugula, paired with an assortment of savory and sweet toppings, creates a dish that’s more meal-like than your average salad. In fact, I’d argue that this recipe is less of a side dish and more of a satisfying main course.

Arugula Salad with Berries

Arugula Salad with Berries

Just imagine taking a bite into a refreshing salad that explodes with juicy flavors, a perfect harmony between the sweetness of the fruits and the tangy zing of the balsamic vinaigrette. Each mouthful is a masterful blend of textures and tastes that will leave you craving for more.

Farro Salad with Apples and Arugula

Farro Salad with Apples and Arugula

Carefully selected ingredients like farro are a key component in elevating salads from ordinary to extraordinary. In this particular recipe, farro serves as a nutritious foundation for the sweet crunch of green apples and creamy richness of goat cheese, which effortlessly come together to create a delightful harmony of flavors and textures.

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Pistachios

Sprinkling roasted beets into a salad is one of my favorite ways to add depth and richness. The earthy sweetness they bring is a lovely contrast to the freshness of leafy greens, creating a harmonious balance of flavors that elevates any meal. This salad in particular makes for an exceptional summer-night dish, ideal for warm evenings spent entertaining friends on the deck.

BLT Panzanella

BLT Panzanella

Elevate your BLT game with this innovative twist. Ditch the traditional sandwich approach by simply chopping up the bacon, lettuce, and tomato, then adding them to a fresh salad. To take it to the next level, fry slices of bread until crispy, turning them into crunchy croutons that add texture and flavor to the dish.

Mango, Avocado, and Arugula Salad

Mango, Avocado, and Arugula Salad

Sophisticated flavor profiles are often achieved by combining unexpected ingredients, and this particular recipe is no exception. The addition of mango adds a luscious sweetness to the dish, perfectly balancing out the intense heat from the red chili peppers. This synergy of flavors creates an unresistible taste experience that will leave you craving more.

Arugula Nectarine Salad

Arugula Nectarine Salad

Sophisticated yet simple, this arugula nectarine salad is elevated by a refreshing basil dressing that makes it an ideal choice for the late summer and fall seasons. The vibrant colors and exquisite flavors work in harmony to invigorate your palate and dinner table, adding a delightful touch of freshness to your day.

Lemony White Bean Salad with Prosciutto

Lemony White Bean Salad with Prosciutto

You can easily imagine serving this Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece at your own dream summer dinner party, where warm evenings are filled with good company and exquisite flavors. The combination of creamy white beans, salty prosciutto, peppery arugula, and a zesty citrus lemon dressing creates a dish that’s truly the epitome of salad perfection.

Arugula Salmon Salad with Capers and Shaved Parmesan

Arugula Salmon Salad with Capers and Shaved Parmesan

My love for salmon dishes knows no bounds, and this recipe is a testament to that passion. Not only can you breathe new life into leftover salmon, but the addition of capers and shaved parmesan takes it to a whole new level of flavor. The combination of these ingredients creates a powerful punch on your palate, making it an ideal dish for anyone looking to elevate their culinary experience.

Pasta Salad with Red Pesto

Pasta Salad with Red Pesto

Zesty flavors and fresh ingredients come together in this healthy pasta salad, instantly transporting you to memories of warm summer days spent at the beach or outdoor gatherings with friends and family. Whether you’re packing it for a quick lunch at work or enjoying it as a post-workout snack, this recipe is sure to become a staple in your kitchen.

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