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–+ servings
A large platter of colorful chopped salad with rows of ingredients: cucumbers, peppers, cheese, eggs, nuts, chickpeas, meats, radishes, tomatoes, seeds, and greens. Wooden serving utensils and a green cloth are beside the platter.

Salad Bar Salad For Entertaining

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A Salad Bar Salad is the ultimate make-ahead meal, perfect for easy and stress-free entertaining. By prepping everything in advance, you can focus on enjoying time with your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
Course Appetizer, Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean
Keyword customizable, healthy, make ahead, party food
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 436
Author Gina Dickson

Ingredients

Base

  • 4 cups spring mix lettuce chopped
  • 4 cups romaine lettuce chopped
  • 2 cups mixed baby greens chopped

Vegetables

  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes red and yellow, halved
  • 1 cup broccoli florets, small pieces
  • 1 cup cauliflower florets, small pieces
  • 1/2 cup cucumbers mini cucumbers, sliced or diced
  • 1/4 cup radishes thinly sliced
  • ½ cup celery chopped
  • 1 cup bell peppers assorted, sliced or diced
  • ½ cup carrots shredded
  • ¼ cup green onions diced

Proteins

  • 1 cup chickpeas drained and rinsed
  • ½ cup bacon crumbled
  • ½ cup pepperoni slices
  • ½ cup salami slices
  • 3 eggs hard-boiled, sliced or chopped

Nuts & Seeds

  • ¼ cup almonds sliced
  • ¼ cup sunflower seeds
  • ¼ cup pumpkin seeds

Cheeses

  • ½ cup feta cheese crumbled
  • ½ cup blue cheese crumbled
  • ½ cup cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

Prepare the Base

  • Spread the spring mix, romaine, and baby greens evenly across a large serving platter.
    4 cups spring mix lettuce, 4 cups romaine lettuce, 2 cups mixed baby greens
    A rectangular white plate filled with a variety of fresh, colorful mixed salad greens. The greens rest on a green checked napkin on a light surface.

Arrange Vegetables

  • Place each vegetable in its own section across the top of the greens, creating neat, colorful rows.
    1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 cup broccoli , 1 cup cauliflower , 1/2 cup cucumbers, 1/4 cup radishes, ½ cup celery, 1 cup bell peppers, ½ cup carrots, ¼ cup green onions

Add Proteins

  • Layer the chickpeas, bacon, pepperoni, salami, eggs, and deli meats in separate sections for variety.
    1 cup chickpeas, ½ cup bacon, ½ cup pepperoni , ½ cup salami , 3 eggs
    A colorful salad on a rectangular white plate with mixed greens, sliced salami, cherry tomatoes, chopped eggs, broccoli, bell peppers, pepperoni, and green onions. A green checkered cloth is partially visible underneath the plate.

Sprinkle with Nuts & Seeds

  • Scatter sliced almonds, sunflower seeds, and pumpkin seeds over the salad for crunch.
    ¼ cup almonds, ¼ cup sunflower seeds, ¼ cup pumpkin seeds

Top with Cheese

  • Evenly distribute feta, blue cheese, and shredded cheddar across different areas of the salad.
    ½ cup feta cheese, ½ cup blue cheese, ½ cup cheddar cheese

Serve with Dressings

  • Offer a variety of dressings on the side so guests can customize their salads.

Notes

Tips and Variations

Make it Kid-Friendly: Include familiar toppings like shredded cheese, diced ham, and sliced cucumbers to encourage little ones to eat their veggies.
Add More Protein: Offer grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for additional variety.
Dairy-Free Option: Skip the cheese or offer dairy-free alternatives.
Change It Up:  Feel free to change up the veggies, proteins, and toppings. This is a great customizable salad presentation. The focus is that you can do this before dinner time.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 148mg | Sodium: 926mg | Potassium: 825mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 8850IU | Vitamin C: 68mg | Calcium: 284mg | Iron: 4mg
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