This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
My 3 Easy Reset Salads are the kind of recipes that bring balance back without feeling like punishment. These are the salads I make when I need to hit the reset button after a few too many takeout nights. They’re bright, protein-packed, high in fiber, and—most importantly—actually satisfying. These three are my go-tos: simple to prep, totally meal-preppable, and bursting with flavor.
Table of Contents
These 3 Easy Reset Salads are the trifecta of balance: high protein, high fiber, and big flavor.
Each one is built to keep you full and energized —without that “ugh, salad again?” feeling.
- Chicken Avocado Caesar – A creamy, modern spin on the classic that’ll make you forget the bottled stuff ever existed.
- Vegetarian Kale & Quinoa Salad – A crunchy, herby, plant-powered bowl with feta and almonds.
- Berry, Kale & Quinoa Salad – The perfect sweet-savory combo with chicken, berries, and pistachios.
❤️ Why You’ll Love My 3 Easy Reset Salads
My 3 Easy Reset Salads are perfect for meal prep, super customizable, and full of ingredients that help you feel balanced without feeling deprived. Plus, every time you open your fridge, you will be staring at only good options.
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- Always massage your kale. It makes it softer, sweeter, and way more enjoyable to eat.
- Cook extra quinoa—it keeps beautifully and makes weekday lunches a breeze.
- For the Avocado Caesar, add a splash more water if it’s too thick; avocados vary in texture.
- Keep toppings (like nuts and croutons) separate until you’re ready to eat to maintain crunch.
🗒 Variations
You can mix and match these salads depending on what’s in your fridge. Try swapping kale for arugula or baby spinach, quinoa for farro or bulgur, and feta for goat cheese. Add roasted sweet potatoes for a cozy twist or toss in leftover salmon for extra protein.
🗒 Substitutions
- No almonds? Use pumpkin seeds.
- No pistachio? Walnuts are a great substitute.
- No feta? Try ricotta salata or even shredded parmesan.
- Vegan? Skip the cheese, double the chickpeas, and use maple syrup instead of honey.
- No rotisserie chicken? Leftover grilled chicken or canned tuna/salmon work great.
🗒 You May Also Like
👝 How to Store Leftovers
These Reset Salads are meal prep gold. Store each salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep dressings in small jars and add just before serving. The quinoa and kale actually get better as they sit and soak up the flavors.
The Perfect Salad Meal Prep Container
I’m truly obsessed with these Salad Meal Prep mason jars. They come with a separate container for dressing and crunchy salad toppings. I also love the spill-proof lids, that make it easy for me to add the dressing and shake, plus they don’t rust! Shop them HERE.
Affiliate Disclosure
Some of the links on this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them—at no extra cost to you. I only share products I truly love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Cooking with Ereka and helping me keep the recipes coming!
🤔 Common Questions
Can I make these salads ahead of time?
Yes! They’re perfect for meal prep. Just store the dressing separately.
Do I have to use quinoa?
Nope! You can use couscous, farro, or even cauliflower rice.
Vegetarian Kale and Quinoa Salad
Equipment
- 1 blender
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients:
- ¼ cup quinoa, cooked
- 1 hard-boiled eggs, grated
- ⅓ cup chickpea or cannellini beans, strained
- 1 cup zucchini or cucumber, diced
- 2 tbsp parsley, finely chopped
- 3 tbsp feta
- 1 cup kale, finely chopped
- 2 tbsp sliced almonds, toasted
Herb Vinaigrette Ingredients:
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tbsp rice wine vinegar
- ¼ cup mint, parsley, or tarragon
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp mustard
- ½ tbsp honey
Instructions
- Add all the salad ingredients, except for the almonds, to a mason jar in the order they are listed.
- Add all the vinaigrette ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Seal the salad in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Store the dressing and the almonds separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Berries, Kale & Quinoa Salad
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- ⅓ cup rotisserie chicken
- ¼ cup quinoa, cooked
- ½ cup cucumbers, chopped
- ¼ cup strawberries, sliced
- ¼ cup blueberries
- 3 tbsp crumbled feta
- 1½ cups kale, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 tbsp pistachio, crushed
Dressing Ingredients
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- ½ tbsp balsamic vinegar
- ½ tbsp honey
- 2 strawberries
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsp orange juice
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
Instructions
- Add all the salad ingredients, except for the pistachio, to a mason jar in the order they are listed.
- Add all the vinaigrette ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Store the salad, dressing, and pistachios separately in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Chicken Avocado Caesar Salad
Ingredients
Salad Ingredients
- 3 tbsp grated Parmigiano Reggiano
- ⅓ cup chickpeas
- 1½ cup romaine
- ½ cup rotisserie chicken
- ¼ cup croutons
Dressing Ingredients
- ¼ avocado
- 1 small garlic clove smashed
- 1 teaspoon capers, drained
- ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ tablespoon lemon juice
- ½ tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp water
- 1 tbsp grated parmigiano reggiano
- Pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add all the salad ingredients to a mason jar in the order they are listed.
- Add all the vinaigrette ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Store the salad and dressing separately in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I lOVE all of the salad options and dressings. As a fellow italian i’m so tired of the “standard” red wine Vinegarette drsg so excited to try all of these options! Thank you for all of your Time, effort and patience on our behalf.🥰
I couldn’t agree more…and that standard dressing separates once you add it to the salad because it has not been immulsified.