I Didn’t Want To Meal Plan—I Wanted Peace. So I Made These 29 Salads
Meal planning felt like too much, and the mind needed rest. These 29 salads made things calm and easy again. No stress, no big steps, just simple food with fresh taste. Each bowl felt light but still full enough to keep going. Some days call for peace, and this was the right choice.

Blackened Shrimp Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing

Tired of figuring out what’s for lunch, so something quick was the answer. Tossed spicy shrimp on greens with a creamy avocado mix to pull it all together. It felt nice to have something easy that didn’t require overthinking. Blackened Shrimp Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing just made things calm and simple.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Shrimp Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
Green Salad

Needed something plain and straightforward when deciding felt like too much. Mixed up crisp greens and called it a day. It ended up being exactly the low-effort choice needed for peace of mind. Green Salad was clean and uncomplicated.
Get the Recipe: Green Salad
Dense Bean Salad

The plan was to keep it simple, so loaded beans into a bowl with a few add-ins. Not much was needed to make this hearty and no-nonsense. The flavors worked well without overplanning anything. Dense Bean Salad just made sense for those moments when decisions felt too much.
Get the Recipe: Dense Bean Salad
Grilled Paneer Salad

Skipped all the fuss and picked something easy but filling. Lightly grilled paneer and arranged it with some greens it just worked. It wasn’t about perfection, just about something that felt steady and easy. That’s how Grilled Paneer Salad came about.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Paneer Salad
Taco Salad

When planning became a chore, just decided to throw flavors together that felt familiar. A quick setup of taco ingredients turned into an easy fix. Didn’t overthink it but ended up pleased with how it all came together. So, Taco Salad became the answer that day.
Get the Recipe: Taco Salad
Mango Shrimp Salad

Days like that called for something fresh but hassle-free. Combined juicy mango pieces and shrimp without looking for perfection. It was one of those meals that just clicked because the effort stayed low. Mango Shrimp Salad hit the spot in a no-stress way.
Get the Recipe: Mango Shrimp Salad
Curried Chicken Salad

Felt like stopping the endless cycle of meal prep ideas for a minute. Pulled out some leftover chicken and gave it a mild curry twist with greens. It seemed almost effortless but felt good having something ready to eat. Curried Chicken Salad just helped keep things easy.
Get the Recipe: Curried Chicken Salad
Potato Salad

No grand expectations, just boiled up some potatoes and made it work. Mixed them up with enough to give a bit of flavor without complicating anything. Needed calm, and Potato Salad answered that without requiring much thought. It was comfort made simple.
Get the Recipe: Potato Salad
Italian Pasta with Salami

Thought of barely cooking and balancing something light and filling. Threw together pasta, slices of salami, and a few accents to get it done quickly. Didn’t overthink anything, just enjoyed not needing much effort. Italian Pasta with Salami felt right in the moment.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pasta with Salami
Green Goddess Salad

The need for something simple made the decision easy greens and a herby dressing were enough. Didn’t look for fancy combinations, just mixed ingredients that felt calming. It turned out fine without any big steps or plan. Green Goddess Salad was like a pause from complexity.
Get the Recipe: Green Goddess Salad
Kachumber

Something straightforward was needed, and chopped vegetables did the trick. Just tossed them together without expecting anything complicated or grand. Deciding felt easier with the simplicity of Kachumber making things calm. It ended up working perfectly when keeping it low-key mattered.
Get the Recipe: Kachumber
Honeycrisp Salad

When peace meant zero meal prep drama, something light came to mind. Pared it down to crisp apple slices with a quick topping, and kept it simple. It wasn’t about impressive results, just having something ready. Honeycrisp Salad made things easy when nothing else felt manageable.
Get the Recipe: Honeycrisp Salad
Kala Chana Chaat

Needed calm instead of cooking stress, so I grabbed chickpeas and a few spices for flavor. Tossed it together casually without worrying if it was perfect. Saved time and energy, which made Kala Chana Chaat an idea worth repeating. It came together without much fuss.
Get the Recipe: Kala Chana Chaat
Cucumber Tomato Salad

Decisions were tiring, so chopped cucumbers and tomatoes felt like the easiest choice. Added a quick mix to make it taste balanced but kept everything low-key. It was nice to skip heavy steps for once and just let Cucumber Tomato Salad do its job. Simplicity made that day better.
Get the Recipe: Cucumber Tomato Salad
Asian Slaw

Stripped everything down to smooth and quick by shredding some veggies. Tossed them with enough to create balance without chasing specific flavors. It was all about getting a meal ready without wasting time. Asian Slaw worked perfectly when calm was the goal.
Get the Recipe: Asian Slaw
Macaroni Salad

After feeling done with planning meals, something simple and comforting worked perfectly. Macaroni Salad offers a mix of textures that’s easy to make. It’s quick and no-frills, built for moments when all that’s needed is calm and ease. A quick bowl later, meal decisions felt simpler.
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad
Laccha Pyaz

Some days, it’s about keeping things effortless while staying flavorful. Laccha Pyaz brings crisp onion slices paired beautifully with a simple touch. It’s one of those side dishes that come together without thinking twice. Perfect when the goal is a peaceful day and easy choices.
Get the Recipe: Laccha Pyaz
Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad

Skipping the complicated meal prep made all the difference. Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad adds a simple kick that keeps things refreshing and easy. It’s quick to toss together with minimal effort involved. Just right for keeping life low-key while enjoying some flavor.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Korean Cucumber Salad
Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing

Not overthinking meals brings a certain calm to the day. Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing makes putting together food quick and stress-free. Balanced and hearty without requiring more decision-making than needed. It’s comforting when simplicity is the goal.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Creamy Dressing
Watermelon Vegan Feta Salad

Grabbing something simple to create felt like the best idea. Watermelon Vegan Feta Salad pairs sweetness with a touch of creaminess in the simplest way. No long lists or overplanning just a small moment of calm while eating. That salad made slowing down completely worthwhile.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Vegan Feta Salad
Best Taco Salad Cups Recipe (Super Easy!)

Complicated dinners weren’t happening, so options had to stay easy. Best Taco Salad Cups Recipe (Super Easy!) blended crunch with flavor, step by step. It’s the type of dish that feels like a breath of fresh air on hectic days. Sometimes the smallest bites make a big difference.
Get the Recipe: Best Taco Salad Cups Recipe (Super Easy!)
Pizza Salad

Knowing when to skip meal-planning creates peace immediately. Pizza Salad combines everything loved about pizza in an effortless, lighter option. No extra thought or stress added, and it still feels perfect. Simple eating feels better during calm-focused days.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Salad
Red Cabbage Coleslaw

Making decisions around meals wasn’t the move, so simple picks worked. Red Cabbage Coleslaw came together with bright textures and no hassle. It’s all about grabbing what’s easy to mix and enjoy without spending too much thought. Just a plate and calm vibes.
Get the Recipe: Red Cabbage Coleslaw
Quinoa Salad

After setting aside meal plans, choosing easy food felt perfect. Quinoa Salad brings a filling base paired with light additions that don’t overwhelm. Quick to make and easy to enjoy, it’s for those pause and take it easy moments. Small efforts create peaceful meals.
Get the Recipe: Quinoa Salad
Roasted Beetroot and Feta Salad

Skipping long recipes and meal ideas saved energy instantly. Roasted Beetroot and Feta Salad worked with its bold and fresh combination that felt effortless. It’s the type of dish built for calm and decision-free eating. Lighter meals sometimes make the day better.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beetroot and Feta Salad
Seven Layer Salad

Moving past overthinking meal options was a relief. Seven Layer Salad came through with layers that are simple, crisp, and quick to put together. Stacking flavors kept things hassle-free and delicious when the goal was staying peaceful. One less decision to worry about.
Get the Recipe: Seven Layer Salad
Waldorf Salad

Keeping meal planning out of the picture led to easy choices. Waldorf Salad balances sweetness with crunch and minimal preparation. It’s a classic that’s comforting without being over the top. Perfect for the times when less effort is exactly what’s needed.
Get the Recipe: Waldorf Salad
Taco Pasta Salad

Turning a busy day into a relaxed one became the goal. Taco Pasta Salad helped with its simple layers combining filling and easy flavors. A quick option like this made skipping meal planning totally worth it. Eating peacefully was all that mattered here.
Get the Recipe: Taco Pasta Salad
Hot Honey Chicken Salad

Choosing easy dishes quickly brought a sense of calm. Hot Honey Chicken Salad blended light bites of chicken with a sweet heat, all done simply. It’s no-fuss cooking that’s about putting good food together without extra work. Life stayed peaceful and decisions felt easier.
Get the Recipe: Hot Honey Chicken Salad
About the Author

Hey there! I’m Mandy
Mandy Applegate is a home cook, food blogger, and writer who believes the best meals are the ones shared with the people you love.
She’s all about easy recipes that taste amazing, the kind that make ordinary days feel a little more special and remind you why cooking at home matters.
She has been published on NBC, the Daily News, the Boston Herald, and the Chicago Sun-Times, amongst many others.
