Salad For A Crowd - A Southern Soul

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Whether you’re hosting a party, potluck, or family gathering this delicious, colorful Salad For A Crowd is loaded with flavor and texture and has something for everyone. It comes together in just 15 minutes and makes the best fresh, healthy side dish!

Make my Fruit Salad for A Crowd or Spaghetti Salad next time you are entertaining! They’re the #1 requested salad recipes from my family and friends.

Salad For A Crowd is loaded with flavor and texture and has something for everyone. It comes together in just 15 minutes and makes the best fresh, healthy side dish!

Have you ever found yourself in the whirlwind of hosting a big get-together and wondering what on earth to make that’s both easy and healthy? I have more times than I can count. So, years ago, I came up with a solution: a fantastic “Salad For A Crowd.”

I’ve served this green salad recipe with one of my homemade salad dressings at family holiday parties, school potlucks, and neighborhood cookouts. Sometimes, people make this salad their main dish and some as a side dish. Either way, this big-batch salad is beautiful, simple to make, and always a crowd-pleaser!

The Best Big-Batch Salad for Any Occasion

Easy to prepare: Just grab a large bowl or tray and add all the fresh ingredients.
Versatile: You can mix and match different vegetables, fruits, nuts, and dressings to create a salad that’s unique to your taste.
Crowd-pleaser: You can customize the ingredients to cater to different dietary needs or preferences, such as vegan or gluten-free.
Budget-friendly: Salads are a great low-cost way to feed a crowd.

Lettuce, tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, cucumbers, cheese, and bell peppers in containers on a wooden counter.

Ingredients For Salad That Feeds A Crowd

Greens – I use a combination of romaine lettuce and spring mix.
Grape Tomatoes – No prep needed since you can toss the entire container of cherry tomatoes into the salad.
Cucumber – Refreshing and crunchy.
Button Mushrooms – For texture, along with an earthy flavor.
Yellow Pepper – Sweetness and crunch.
Red Onion – Adds a fresh bite and a wonderful color to the salad.
Cheese—I like to use a combination of freshly grated cheddar and mozzarella. Goat cheese or parmesan cheese are also delicious options.
Mix-ins: If you have other veggies or fresh herbs, add them to this salad. It’s also delicious with a little crunch, like slivered almonds, sunflower seeds, or homemade croutons. Dried fruit, like dried cranberries, can add sweetness.

How To Make The Best Big Batch Salad For A Crowd

Mix the lettuce and spring mix together in a large bowl, serving try, or metal buffet container.
In rows, layer on the tomatoes, cucumber, mushrooms, peppers, onions, and cheese.
Gently lay a damp paper towel over the salad, then cover it with plastic wrap. Place in fridge until ready to serve.
When you’re ready to serve, remove the wrapping, and add your favorite dressing on the side for guests to use as much as they like.

Creamy Vinaigrette is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and is a dressing that is over the top delicious on salads, grilled chicken or fish.

Salad Dressing Ideas

I am all about turning a simple salad into something special with a restaurant-quality homemade dressing. They are better than anything you can find in a store, and it is easy to make with simple, flavorful pantry ingredients.

Creamy Vinaigrette Dressing
Greek Dressing
Blueberry Vinaigrette
Easy Blue Cheese Dressing
Classic Thousand Island Dressing

Donya’s Success Tips

Choose fresh and ripe ingredients: A great salad relies on the quality of its vegetables, so make sure to choose the freshest ingredients to make the best-tossed salad.
Cut the vegetables evenly: Cut everything into even-sized pieces for a more attractive presentation.
Chill the salad: For the best taste and texture, refrigerate the salad for at least an hour before serving.

Lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms and onion tossed with a wooden spoon.

Commonly Asked Questions

What other vegetables are good for this salad?

Just about anything! Cucumbers, onions, celery, peppers, mushrooms, and tomatoes are all basics for a great salad. Add olives and feta for a Mediterranean-style salad, or sweet potatoes and Vidalia onion for a Southern twist.

Can I make the salad ahead of time and refrigerate it?

Yes, you can make this salad ahead of time and refrigerate it in an airtight container or tightly wrapped plastic wrap until you’re ready to serve it.

How much salad should I make for a crowd?

Aim for about 1 cup of salad per person. However, depending on how many people you feed, you may need to adjust the quantities of ingredients.

What kind of dressing is best with this salad?

Creamy vinaigrette is my favorite and it’s super easy to make. But you can also let everyone add a splash of olive oil, red wine vinegar or lemon juice, salt and black pepper.

Large white salad bowl with wooden serving tools and a small plate with green salad with tomatoes and cheese.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve this big salad bowl recipe with Grilled Pork Tenderloin, or Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs. It’s terrific on a buffet with Brown Sugar Mustard Baked Ham and Scalloped Potatoes at the holidays.

More Salad Recipes You’ll Love

Best Tuna Salad Recipe
Fruit Salad for A Crowd
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Southern Potato Salad

If you tried this Best Salad For A Crowd Recipe or any other recipe, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. Thanks!

Best Salad For A Crowd

4.88 from 8 reviews Author: Donya Mullins Prep Time: 15 minutes Servings: 14 Calories: 122kcal Print Pin Rate SaveSaved! When it comes to feeding a crowd, salad is an excellent choice for its versatility and ease of preparation. Whether you're hosting a party, potluck, or gathering, serving up a delicious salad has something for everyone.

Ingredients

▢ 3 heads of romaine lettuce – washed and chopped
▢ 1 large bag of spring mix salad
▢ 1 container grape tomatoes – washed
▢ 1 large cucumber – washed and sliced
▢ 1 small container button mushroom – cleaned and sliced
▢ 1 yellow pepper – seeded and cut into strips
▢ ½ red onion – cut into strips
▢ 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
▢ 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions

▢ In a large pan, place lettuces and mix together.
▢ Layer in rows the tomatoes, cucumber, mushrooms, peppers, onions and cheeses.
▢ Gently lay a damp paper towel over salad then over with plastic wrap. Place in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Video

Notes

Additional toppings –

sliced boiled eggs, bacon, grilled chicken, blue cheese, banana peppers, feta cheese, carrots, celery. Theme salads – Greek, Cobb, Mexican or your own special combination of ingredients.

Homemade Salad Dressings –

Creamy Vinaigrette Dressing
Greek Dressing
Blueberry Vinaigrette
Easy Blue Cheese Dressing
Classic Thousand Island Dressing

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving · Calories: 122kcal · Carbohydrates: 2g · Protein: 8g · Fat: 9g · Saturated Fat: 5g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g · Monounsaturated Fat: 2g · Cholesterol: 29mg · Sodium: 207mg · Potassium: 100mg · Fiber: 0.4g · Sugar: 1g · Vitamin A: 836IU · Vitamin C: 17mg · Calcium: 202mg · Iron: 0.3mg

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11 Comments

Bright and colorful, my guest we’re impressed! Thank you!
Reply
Hello, With the salad for a crowd, do you toss it when ready to serve?
Reply
1. You can toss or let people make their own salad. ~Donya
  Reply
Hello, do you serve this salad as shown or toss it before serving?
Reply
1. After.
  Reply
Hi! This recipe is really going to help me this weekend. Thank you! My question is — how much of your homemade salad dressing should I make for this salad/size group (18-20)?
Reply
1. Hey Stacey. I would double the recipe. Let me know how everything turns out! ~Donya
  Reply
Simple & Delicious
Reply
Hi! Thanks for sharing 🙂 How many does this recipe feed?
Reply
1. Hey Priscila. Thanks for stopping by. This recipe serves about 18 – 20. As the post shows, I had the drum line over so I needed lots of fruit. I do fill in with grapes and other fruit that is on sale. Hope this helps. XO, ~Donya
  Reply
Thank you for joining Delicious Dishes Recipe Party this week. Hope to see you again!
Reply

Author Donya Mullins

Hey, there! I’m Donya and welcome to A Southern Soul. I love to cook and entertain with easy to make recipes and simple ideas that make people feel special. Read More