Classic salads are timeless for a reason — they’re typically quick to assemble, endlessly adaptable, and always welcome at the table alongside several types of dishes.
Below are five go-to types of salad recipes — easy enough for a Tuesday night, yet classy enough for company — all built on Taylor Farms salad blends to help save you some time and prep. Each of these salad dishes includes a bare-bones recipe formula, some creative add-in suggestions, and plenty of dishes that play nicely beside the greens. Feel free to mix, match, and riff away to your heart’s content — salad rules are more like guidelines, anyway.
Let’s break down the five basics.
1.Garden Salad
The Garden Salad has been a staple of American tables since the mid-20th century, when iceberg reigned supreme and bottled French dressing was king. It’s fresh, flexible, and fast — a perfect side or starter. Originally a way to show off seasonal vegetables, it now appears on just about every restaurant menu across the country. It’s also one of the easiest types of salads to elevate and customize with whatever you’ve got in the fridge.
Basic Garden Salad recipe: Toss together Taylor Farms Garden Salad blend (iceberg, carrots, red cabbage) with sliced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, and your favorite bottled or homemade vinaigrette.
Easy ways to a Garden Salad: Add crumbled goat cheese or feta, sliced radishes, fresh herbs, or a handful of crunchy seeds (like sunflower or pumpkin). Swap in an herby green goddess or zesty Italian dressing.
What to serve Garden Salad with: Grilled chicken, baked fish, pasta, or as a sidekick to sandwiches or pizza. But don’t feel too constrained — the humble Garden Salad is one of the most versatile around.
2.Caesar Salad
Though it sounds like a Roman relic, the Caesar salad actually hails from 1920s Tijuana, Mexico. Chef Caesar Cardini whipped it up on the fly with what he had on hand, and the result was a salad idea so good it never left the menu — and eventually made its way to pretty much everyone else’s menu boards. The combination of crisp romaine, tangy dressing, Parmesan, and croutons has been a hit for over a century, making it truly one of the great salads in history.
Basic Caesar Salad recipe: Mix Taylor Farms Classic Romaine blend (romaine, cabbage, and carrot) with Caesar dressing, shaved or shredded Parmesan, and croutons.
Easy ways to elevate a Caesar Salad: Add grilled chicken, shrimp, or hard-boiled eggs. Toss in roasted chickpeas or sub in kale for a twist. Finish with a lemon wedge and freshly ground black pepper.
What to serve Caesar Salad with: Anything you’d order at a steakhouse: grilled rib-eye, loaded baked potatoes, or a gourmet burger. Flatbreads and a hearty soup like tomato or minestrone are also great companions.
3.Greek Salad
Greek salad is traditionally made without lettuce in Greece, but the American interpretation includes leafy greens (and we love that). The stateside tribute typically brings together briny olives, creamy feta cheese, and fresh vegetables in a refreshing dish that feels both hearty and light all at once.
Basic Greek Salad recipe: Taylor Farms Hearts of Romaine, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red onion, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, Greek or lemon vinaigrette.
Easy ways to elevate Greek Salad: Add roasted red peppers (the jarred kind works perfectly), sliced pepperoncini, or grilled halloumi. Top with quinoa or chickpeas for even more staying power.
What to serve with Greek Salad: Grilled lamb, falafel, pita with hummus, or gyros. Grilled chicken and steak are also worthy co-stars if you’re not going fully Greek with your meal.
4.Cobb Salad
Legend says Bob Cobb of Hollywood’s Brown Derby cobbled together leftovers in 1937, and a salad star was born. Traditionally arranged in rows, it’s as visually appealing as it is filling — a perfect option when you want your salad to take on the starring role on your table. It’s also one of the best salad recipes for dinner if you’re looking for a one-dish solution for the evening.
Basic Cobb Salad recipe: Taylor Farms Hearts of Romaine, diced tomato, chopped hard-boiled eggs, bacon, avocado, blue cheese crumbles, red wine vinaigrette, blue cheese, or ranch dressing
Easy ways to elevate Cobb Salad: Swap in smoked turkey or leftover rotisserie chicken, use pickled onions, or top with roasted corn. Add a drizzle of balsamic glaze for a rich, sweet-savory punch.
What to serve Cobb Salad with: The mighty Cobb Salad holds up well on its own, but also pairs nicely with soup, fresh fruit, or a crusty baguette.
5.Taco Salad
Intro: Born from Tex-Mex traditions, the always-feisty taco salad brings the fiesta directly to your fork. With southwest-inspired ingredients and bold flavors, it’s easy to customize and upgrade in any number of ways, from proteins and toppings to the bowl itself.
Basic Taco Salad recipe: Taylor Farms Green & Crisp blend, taco-seasoned ground beef or black beans, corn, shredded cheese, diced tomato, tortilla strips, creamy salsa or ranch dressing
Easy ways to elevate Taco Salad: Swap in grilled chicken, add avocado or jalapeños, toss in cooked rice or quinoa, roast the corn before adding, finish with a lime wedge. For the ultimate Taco Salad experience, you can always serve it in a tortilla bowl!
What to serve Taco Salad with: Quesadillas, enchiladas, nachos — literally any of your Tex-Mex favorites.
Before You Grab the Cutting Board… A Quick DIY Dressing Cheat Sheet
Out of bottled dressing? Shake up a quick 3-2-1 formula: three parts olive oil, two parts acid (lemon juice or vinegar), one part something creamy or sweet (Dijon, yogurt, or honey). Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of dried herbs. Look at that! Instant dressing. Tweak it with whatever you have in the pantry to match the different types of salad you’re tossing up.
With these five basic salads in your back pocket, you’re always ready to turn your inventory of greens and veggies into something amazingly tasty that suits your cravings and meets the moment. So, by all means, mix, match, and upgrade your bowl of greens until they suit your style. After all, the best salad is the one that gets eaten!
Planning your next bowl? Hit up our product locator before the trip to see what Taylor Farms products your local stores have on the shelves.
