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My air fryer salad recipe is a fun, satisfying way to eat more vegetables. Simply air fry your veggies until tender crisp, then toss them with feta, lentils, walnuts, and your favorite dressing. The result is a warm, flavorful salad that works beautifully as a side or a main dish. It is quick to make and easy to customize for vegetarian, vegan, or other diets.
🥗 Air Fryer Salad Ingredients
This air fryer salad ticks all the boxes by including protein, veggies, dressing, and crunchy walnuts for topping. Here’s what you need to make it:
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- ½ red onion, chopped
- ½ head broccoli, chopped (remove the thick stem)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1½ ounces arugula, chopped (40g)
- ¼ cup lentils (from a can)
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup Italian salad dressing (balsamic vinaigrette is great here too)
- 3½ ounces feta cheese, crumbled (100g)
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Feel free to customize this recipe to suit your taste preferences. You can swap the lentils for cooked shredded chicken, use shredded Brussels sprouts or chopped cauliflower instead of broccoli, or choose baby spinach if arugula is not your favorite.
I would love to hear about your favorite salad combinations, so feel free to drop me a comment!
One more thing to keep in mind is that all air fryers cook a little differently. When trying a new air fryer recipe, check your food early and often so you can adjust the cooking time or temperature if needed.
Can you put lettuce in an air fryer?
You can air fry romaine lettuce leaves for about 4 minutes at 400F (200C). Though I love the thought of making a charred romaine Caesar salad, I wasn’t overly impressed with the results. IMVHO, romaine turns out better on a stovetop grill.
🥬 How to Make Air Fryer Salads
Chop the carrots, red onion, broccoli, and arugula. Refer to the photos for the approximate size of the vegetables, since cutting them much larger or smaller can impact the cooking time.
Toss the carrots, onion, and broccoli with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 375F (190C) for 10 to 12 minutes, until tender crisp. Add extra time if needed based on the size of your vegetables and your specific air fryer.
Transfer the cooked vegetables to a large bowl. Stir in the arugula, lentils, walnuts, and dressing until well combined.
Top with crumbled feta cheese and serve.
How to Store Salads
For storage, air fry the vegetables ahead of time and refrigerate them. Reheat the vegetables and assemble the salad just before serving. The cooked vegetables will keep in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
Salad Meal Prep Tips
• Wait to add dressing until right before serving to keep the salad fresh.
• Keep dry ingredients like nuts and seeds separate until you are ready to eat.
• If storing the salad, avoid placing wet ingredients directly on the lettuce to prevent sogginess. (Mason jar salads are usually constructed with the lettuce on top to keep it dry.)
Look for salad containers with compartments and a separate lidded dressing cup to keep wet and dry ingredients apart. Here is a (partial) glass salad container set if you’re trying to use less plastic.
Watch How to Make It!
Air Fryer Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 medium carrots, chopped
- ½ red onion, chopped
- ½ head broccoli, chopped (remove the thick stem)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1½ ounces arugula, chopped (40g)
- ¼ cup lentils (from a can)
- 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
- ¼ cup Italian salad dressing (balsamic vinaigrette is great here too)
- 3½ ounces feta cheese, crumbled (100g)
Instructions
- Chop the carrots, red onion, broccoli, and arugula. Refer to the photos for the approximate size of the vegetables, since cutting them much larger or smaller can affect the cooking time.
- Toss the carrots, onion, and broccoli with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook at 375°F (190°C) for 10-12 minutes, until tender crisp. Add extra time if needed based on the size of your vegetables and your specific air fryer.
- Transfer the cooked vegetables to a large bowl. Stir in the arugula, lentils, walnuts, and dressing until well combined.
- Top with crumbled feta cheese and serve.
Notes
💭 Expert Tips from Dietitian Summer Yule
This is a level 1 recipe (may help support fat loss). Air fryer salads are a simple way to create low-calorie, high-volume meals that can support a variety of nutrition goals. This salad comes in under 500 calories per serving, includes some protein, and is packed with plenty of non-starchy vegetables, making it a satisfying option. If you have higher energy needs, you can easily pair it with whole grain bread or crackers. You can also increase the energy density by adding ingredients like nuts, seeds, olives, or avocado. This nutrient dense salad works well year-round, and using the air fryer keeps the kitchen cool. Nutrition information is for one serving of the recipe and will vary depending on the dressing you use.
nutrition info disclaimer
All recipes on this website may or may not be appropriate for you, depending on your medical needs and personal preferences. Consult with a registered dietitian or your physician if you need help determining the dietary pattern that may be best for you.
The nutrition information is an estimate provided as a courtesy. It will differ depending on the specific brands and ingredients that you use. Calorie information on food labels may be inaccurate, so please don’t sweat the numbers too much.
“To taste” means to your preferences, which may have to be visual to follow food safety rules. Please don’t eat undercooked food x
Nutrition
😋 Ideas for Air Fryer Salad Recipes
Here are some additional proteins you could add to your salad:
- Roasted Chickpeas
- Air Fryer Marinated Chicken Breasts
- Air Fryer Tofu
- Turkey Bacon in the Air Fryer Oven
- Air Fryer Taco Meat
- Ground Chicken in the Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Flank Steak
You can also swap in different vegetables. These Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables or the Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Zig Zags are both delicious choices for an air fried vegetable salad.
👩🍳 More Salad Recipes
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Hello! I’m Summer, a registered dietitian and home chef who loves to cook, eat, and create recipes for you! Every recipe on this site has been tested by me to help ensure your success in the kitchen. All eaters are welcome here 🙂
Have you ever made a warm salad? What did you add to it?