Hey y’all! It’s Austin again from Beyond The Bayou Blog. This green goddess salad is one of my new favorites. It’s fresh, flavorful and so darn good for you. Do you know how much I love making healthy dishes that are actually craveable? Well, this one totally fits the bill.

The inspiration struck me last weekend when I was having friends over for a backyard cookout. I wanted to bring something vibrant and light to balance out all the hearty grub. My buddy Trent’s wife always makes this creamy green goddess dressing that’s out of this world. So I decided to turn it into an entire salad packed with all kinds of crisp, nutritious veggies.

Let me tell you, it was an absolute hit! Everyone was going back for seconds and thirds. Even the kids were gobbling it up. It’s one of those crowd-pleasing sides that you’ll want to have in your back pocket all summer long. Do you love such greeny salads? Try my Cobb Salad and Pear Salad With Pomegranate Seeds.

Here Are the Tips that Are Sure to Help!

Prepare Ingredients in Advance: Prep the ingredients ahead of time! If you have the dressing, pickled onions, cooked chicken, and crispy bacon in your fridge, assembling this salad takes just minutes!
Dress Just Before Serving: Donâ€™t add the salad dressing until you are ready to eat! No one likes a soggy salad, so dress the salad right when you serve it!
Make Dressing Ahead: Make the Dressing in Advance: Creating your salad dressing hours or a day beforehand lets the flavors blend for a tastier result. Store it in an airtight container in the fridge until use.
Use a Large Bowl: Use a Large Mixing Bowl: Ensure everything is evenly coated in dressing for maximum flavor. Choose the largest mixing bowl to avoid spillage.
Finely Chop Ingredients: Chop everything finely. The salad’s appeal lies in its finely chopped texture, perfect for dipping with tortilla chips.
Utilize a Food Processor: Use a food processor for chopping. Although it might release extra moisture, it’s a good method for finely chopping ingredients and making the dressing.
Include Olive Oil: Donâ€™t skip the olive oil in the dressing. It helps emulsify the dressing for a thick, creamy consistency.
Control Dressing Amount: Donâ€™t add too much dressing. You can adjust to your preference, whether you want a fully dressed salad or just a hint of dressing for texture.

Variations that You Must Try Once!

Vegan Option: Make it vegan. Swap parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast in the Green Goddess salad dressing.
Nut Substitutions: Switch out the nuts. While cashews add nutty flavor and texture, walnuts, almonds, or pecans work just as well.
Protein Additions: Add crispy bacon for protein and crunch. Alternatively, include diced chicken breast or crumbled firm tofu for lean protein.
Finishing Touches: Top it off with toasted sesame seeds for a nutty finish.
Spicy Variation: Spice it up with a Spicy green goddess salad by adding 2-3 diced jalapeÃ±os and 1 diced green pepper.
Guacamole Twist: Create a Guacamole green goddess salad by Mixing 3 diced avocados and the juice of one lime.
Super Green Option: Go for a Super Green goddess salad by replacing cabbage with 1 pound shredded Brussels sprouts, add 1 pound chopped spinach, and 1 head shredded kale.
Taco Inspired: Try a Taco Goddess salad and Substitute cabbage with lettuce, and add 1 cup crumbled cojita cheese and 1/2 diced small onion.