30 Vegetarian High Protein Salads (easy recipes!) (2024)

Vegetarian protein salads are a great addition to a healthy vegetarian diet. Protein is SO important, so why waste time with leafy, unsatisfying salads when you could be eating a hearty, protein packed, salad BOMB, instead!?

Vegetarian salads are a surprisingly good way to eat protein. A big bowl of beans, lentils or chickpeas, with finely sliced veggies and a delicious dressing? Yes please!!

Where’s the protein coming from?

Vegetarian high protein salad recipes can use many different sources of protein.

Legumes are a great example: they are protein packed and make a fab base for a delicious salad. This family encompasses everything from peas to beans to lentils.

Aside from protein, they have numerous other benefits. They are generally low in fat and high in fibre and studies have shown that eating plenty of legumes can help prevent heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

For a legume based salad, try our fitness bean and lentil salad!

Another way to go is the tofu or tempeh route. Both these products are made from fermented soybeans and are commonly used in asian cuisine. This article highlights the differences between them.

Both are high in protein, though tempeh is more densely packed than tofu, containing 20g protein per 100g to tofu’s 10g.

They are quite bland in flavour but can be easily dressed up with the right seasoning. Try this tangy tempeh salad for a good example!

Now let’s dive into the 30 Vegetarian High Protein Salads that will keep you fuelled all day!

Bonus: filling, flavourful

Looking for an easy tabbouleh recipe? Get a load of our lentil tabbouleh – a protein packed take on the classic dish! Healthy salad recipes don’t get much better than this.

Bonus: gluten-free, transportable

Looking for an easy gluten-free lunch you can bring to work with you? Try our vegetarian kale, feta cheese and buckwheat salad, with a delicious salad dressing.

Bonus: transportable, good for meal prep

Looking for healthy, straight forward lunch options? Try our ramen noodle salad – it’s veggie, gluten free and a good source of protein.

Bonus: high fibre, colourful

After something different for lunch? Try this avocado and citrus salad with feta – it’s sweet, sour & packs a punch! A truly refreshing salad.

Bonus: colourful, full of flavour

Smooth and hearty meets sweet and crunchy, this sweet potato and beetroot salad has got it going on! Your taste buds will thank you

Bonus: gluten-free, crunchy

Ready to blow your tastebuds away with a Vietnamese green noodle salad? Grab your noodles and tofu and chop-chop!

Bonus: creamy, herby

Looking for a salad that is filling, healthy and high in protein? Try this spring salad with lentils & veggies now!

Bonus: vegan, meal prep

Looking for a healthy vegan pasta salad that you can prep ahead for lunch? Try our Mediterranean pasta salad!

Bonus: vegan, festive

Try our quinoa & Brussel sprouts salad this festive season. Christmas’s most infamous vegetable has never tasted so good!

Bonus: high in antioxidants, simple

Looking for a tasty, healthy new way to use up some sweet potatoes? Try this Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with red pesto! A great side dish or main.

Bonus: light, fibrous

Thai Quinoa Salad – Tropical Vibes. A refreshingly light, tasty Asian super-dish with lots of protein, fiber and tropical flavour. Lemon juice, ginger and hot sauce bring the zest! Get your summer feeling here.

Bonus: high in iron, high in calcium

High Protein White Bean Salad with bell peppers that’s healthy and vegan (if this sounds perfect, you should also try these vegetarian legume recipes!). High in fiber, vitamins A, C, E, B2 and B6 as well as iron and calcium. Takes less than 10 minutes.

Bonus: creamy, quick

Pasta Salad with an unbelievable Peanut Butter Dressing. Did we mention it’s actually healthy too? Ready in 15 minutes, and packed with fiber and protein.

Bonus: vegan, high in vitamin K

Turkish Lentil Salad with bell pepper and a honey mustard dressing made with healthy olive oil (if that sounds yummy, why not give some of these low calorie salad dressings a whirl too?). Easy and quick, ready in 7 minutes. Full of fiber, protein and vitamin K.

Bonus: colourful, legume loaded

High Protein Kidney Bean Salad. It’s like throwing the Greek and American cuisine In one bowl. A refreshing and satisfying salad ready in just 7 minutes.

Bonus: aesthetic, filling

Love the idea of poke, but not a fan of fish? Our edamame bean vegetarian poke bowl is the dish for you! Try it now!

Bonus: filling, hearty

Fresh, easy and delicious vegetarian wedge salad with a flavorful dressing of creamy cashew nuts makes a perfect high protein lunch in a jar.

Bonus: healthy fats, creamy

A chickpea avocado salad!? That’s elite level health right there. From just one serving you get a great amount of protein and fiber, almost 20g of each!

Bonus: filling, warm

Ok, this is only loosely a salad…but it’s so good we couldn’t leave it out! Four easy steps to a delicious and nutritious crispy, crunchy potato lunch. Make your colleagues jealous!

Bonus: cheesy, filling

Full of protein, fiber and loads of other nutrients this halloumi salad will keep you feeling full for hours – and you’ll secretly be looking forward to more!

Bonus: workout fuel, super speedy

Fitness Lentil Bean Salad. Ridiculously high in protein post-workout salad. 45g per bowl. Ready in 7 minutes. Tasty and effective. Half the portion is still 17g protein, if the full portion is too much!

Bonus: low fat, high fibre

After a salad recipe that actually fills you up? Try our Couscous & Pear Salad! It’s high protein, high fibre & low fat! Not to mention the delicious flavors!

Bonus: hearty, full of superfoods

Looking to up your salad game? Try this healthy egg salad recipe with quinoa and beets – the perfect weight loss lunch!

Bonus: super filling, simple

This protein packed vegan lentil and potato salad is a perfect weight loss recipe. It’s a mega filling salad, which is healthy and nutritious, while still tasting amazing!

Bonus: adaptable, simple

Indulge with this smoky and savory Buddha Bowl. The combination of smoked crispy tofu, hummus, and turmeric rice makes for a perfect vegan lunch (or easy dinner!)

Bonus: gluten-free, versatile

This tangy tempeh salad is just the best – quick, tasty and packed with protein. And better yet – use whatever you have in the fridge! What a great salad!

Bonus: high fibre, super speedy

High Protein Black Bean and Corn Summer Salad. A great recipe ready in just 10 minutes, bursting with summery flavours, protein, fiber and iron.

Bonus: flavourful, colourful

Looking for new oven ideas? Try this delicious roasted fennel and carrots with chickpeas! 22g protein per serving!

Protein: 31g
Calories: 629kcal
Ready in: 10 minutes
Recipe by: TheLiveInKitchen
Bonus: aesthetically pleasing, super filling

A high protein vegan salad with hummus, pepitas, and hemp seeds. You can half the suggested portion size and still get 15g protein!

Bonus: quick to prepare, high in iron

High protein, iron and fibre in an exotic Arugula and Lentil Salad that’s healthy and vegan. Only 12 minutes to make with easy to find ingredients. A great way to eat a healthy lunch. Check it out now!

Protein salad FAQs

Why does your body needs protein?

Protein is SO IMPORTANT. We can’t stress this enough: you NEED to eat enough protein.

Your body uses protein in order to make cells, carry oxygen through your blood and make antibodies to protect you from illness.

Not getting enough protein can lead to loss of muscle and lack of energy, alongside other long term health issues.

A good reason to focus on protein is if you are trying to build muscle or lose weight. For those trying to build muscle, protein provides the literal building blocks for muscle, so eating plenty of protein to fuel your workouts should help you reach your goals.

For those looking to lose weight, protein salads for weight loss are a great option because protein has an appetite suppressing effect. When you eat protein, it suppresses production of the hunger hormone ghrelin, so you feel full.

If the meals you eat fill you up, you are less likely to snack and therefore more likely to maintain a calorie deficit. Check out our Vegetarian for Weight Loss E-book to learn more about the science behind healthy weight loss!

​​What can I put in my salad instead of meat?

It’s not that hard to find high protein salads that don’t include meat (you can even find plant-based protein salads). Black beans, white beans, chickpeas are all good protein sources, containing around 15 grams of protein per cup (cooked).

Perfect building blocks for a vegetarian high protein salad!

Can you eat salad on a protein diet?

When we talk about high-protein salad recipes, we aren’t talking about lettuce, red onion, cucumber and cherry tomatoes. You can eat salad on a protein diet, but you need to make sure you have good sources of protein in there, not just leafy greens (duh!).

The kind of salad we are talking about contains a balance of fibrous veggies and veggie protein sources, such as tofu or legumes. A salad is mostly just a cold dish, so as long as it has healthy proteins in it, you’re good to go!

How do vegetarians get enough protein?

Just like anyone else! By incorporating a great source of protein into every meal! Vegetarian protein sources include: all manner of legumes, eggs, tofu, seitan, tempeh and more!

If you aren’t used to using these ingredients and need a helping hand upping your protein intake, check out our vegetarian high protein meal plan!

We hope you enjoyed trying these vegetarian high protein salad recipes! Let us know which you preferred in the comments!