12 Best Restaurant Salads for Protein
Best Restaurant Salads for Protein shows how to keep the supporting part of the meal useful.
The Rankings
Chicken Breast
At 284 calories and 53.4g protein, Chicken Breast gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad
At 1310 calories and 41g protein, Applebee's Oriental Chicken Salad gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (whole)
At 550 calories and 35g protein, Panera Bread Fuji Apple Chicken Salad (whole) gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Turkey Breast
At 135 calories and 30g protein, Turkey Breast gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Protein Shake
At 170 calories and 30g protein, Protein Shake gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich
At 390 calories and 29g protein, Chick-fil-A Grilled Chicken Sandwich gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Tuna
At 132 calories and 28g protein, Tuna gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Cottage Cheese
At 206 calories and 25g protein, Cottage Cheese gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Sub Sandwich
At 456 calories and 24g protein, Sub Sandwich gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Shrimp
At 84 calories and 20g protein, Shrimp gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Edamame
At 188 calories and 18g protein, Edamame gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
Greek Yogurt
At 100 calories and 17g protein, Greek Yogurt gives the salad real staying power instead of leaving you hungry again soon after. That is the difference between a side salad and a meal salad.
How to use this list
Best Restaurant Salads for Protein is the proof that a salad only helps if it actually has staying power.
A salad should give you protein, texture, and enough substance to feel like lunch. Otherwise it is just a bowl of lettuce with extra optimism.
- Protein is the difference between a salad and a bowl of leaves.
- Dressings are easy to overspend on, keep them measured.
- If the salad feels tiny, it probably needs more protein or fiber.
- A good salad should finish the meal, not send you hunting for snacks.
FAQ
What makes best restaurant salads for protein actually filling?
Protein. Without it, a salad can look healthy and still leave you hungry almost immediately.
Do dressings matter a lot?
They matter a lot. Dressing is often the easiest part of the bowl to overdo.
Should I avoid salads with cheese or toppings?
Not automatically. The question is whether the salad still feels balanced after those extras.
What is the best salad default?
Protein first, dressing measured, and enough texture that it feels like lunch.
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