If you’re looking for a low calorie meal or side dish to enjoy, a salad might likely come to mind.
However, with countless types of salad ingredients, toppings, and dressings available, the calorie contents of salads can vary significantly.
This article takes an in-depth look at how many calories you’ll find in many popular salads, toppings, and dressings, so you can pick which one best suits your health goals.
Caesar salad typically contains romaine lettuce and croutons.
It also features Caesar salad dressing, which is made with anchovy paste, egg yolks, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, and Parmesan cheese.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, most of the calories in Caesar salad come from this dressing and the croutons. Some varieties of the dish also contain chicken, which adds protein to the dish.
One cup (100 grams) of Caesar salad without chicken contains (1):
Pasta salad is a common side dish comprising pasta, mozzarella cheese, and fresh vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives, which are all tossed in a rich, tangy Italian dressing.
Given that it’s grain-based, it contains more calories and carbs than many other types of green salad.
One cup (204 grams) of pasta salad with Italian dressing contains (2):
Although the exact ingredients in a chef salad vary, most versions contain lettuce, cucumbers, cheese, tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs.
A chef salad also typically includes a type of cold meat, such as ham, turkey, chicken, or tuna, which boosts its protein content.
The type of dressing used also varies. Popular options include ranch, Thousand Island, and blue cheese dressings.
One serving (249 grams) of chef salad with turkey, ham, and ranch dressing contains (3):
A traditional Greek salad consists of cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, bell peppers, red onions, and feta cheese.
It’s usually topped with a simple vinaigrette dressing that’s made from ingredients like olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice.
Compared with other salads, Greek salad is relatively low in calories and carbs. It also contains a moderate amount of heart-healthy fats from ingredients like olives, feta cheese, and olive oil (4).
One serving (319 grams) of Greek salad contains (5):
Cobb salad is a common salad featuring ingredients like mixed greens, bacon, hard-boiled eggs, chicken, turkey, tomatoes, and avocados.
It’s often paired with a red wine vinaigrette, though it can also be enjoyed with other types of dressing.
Cobb salad contains more protein than many other salads thanks to its protein-rich ingredients like eggs, chicken, or turkey.
Yet, keep in mind that it includes several high calorie ingredients like bacon and avocados.
One serving (206 grams) of Cobb salad contains (6):
Tuna salad is a cold salad centered around mayonnaise and tuna.
It may also contain ingredients like celery, onions, relish, or pickles, and it’s often enjoyed as is or in green salads, sandwiches, pita bread, or wraps.
The tuna makes it high in protein, while the mayonnaise increases its calorie and fat contents.
One cup (238 grams) of tuna salad contains (7):
Egg salad is typically made with hard-boiled or scrambled eggs, mayonnaise, mustard, green onions, dill, and celery.
Similarly to other mayo-based salads, each serving contains a relatively high amount of fat and calories. Still, because it’s made with eggs, it provides a good amount of protein.
One cup (222 grams) of egg salad contains (8):
Chicken salad is made with chicken breast, mayonnaise, and Dijon mustard. It may also contain ingredients like red grapes, celery, green onions, peppers, or pickles.
This option is high in calories, fat, and protein. It’s also relatively low in carbs, depending on the specific ingredients used.
One cup (226 grams) of chicken salad contains (9):
In addition to elbow macaroni, this salad typically includes mayonnaise, onions, celery, peppers, and pickles.
Because macaroni pasta is the main ingredient, it’s generally lower in protein and higher in carbs than other mayo-based salads.
Adding hard-boiled eggs or chicken breast is a great way to boost the amount of protein in each serving to help round out your meal.
One cup (204 grams) of macaroni salad contains (10):
Most recipes for potato salad include boiled potatoes mixed with mayonnaise, mustard, onions, and celery, along with a variety of herbs and seasonings.
Since it’s low in protein but high in carbs, calories, and fat, it should only be enjoyed in moderation or served as a side dish and paired with other nutrient-dense foods.
One cup (275 grams) of potato salad contains (11):
If you’re looking for some veggies on the go, know that Wendy’s offers a variety of salads on their menu.
However, keep in mind that Wendy’s options are typically high in calories from ingredients like cheese, avocados, and tortilla chips. Thus, you should enjoy them in moderation as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet.
Below are the calorie counts of Wendy’s salads (12):
You may already be familiar with Olive Garden’s Famous House Salad, which is made with chopped lettuce, tomatoes, olives, croutons, red onions, and pepperoncini peppers.
Although it’s usually served with the restaurant’s signature Italian dressing, you can opt for low fat Italian or oil and vinegar dressing instead.
Here’s the calorie and fat content of Olive Garden’s Famous House salad (13):
Subway may be renowned for their sandwiches, but they’ve recently introduced salads, too.
Like other items on their menu, you can easily customize your meal by adding or removing vegetables, proteins, and dressings. Naturally, this will affect the nutritional value.
Here’s the number of calories for each salad on their menu if ordered as is (14):
Panera Bread specializes in providing fresh, delicious, and seasonal salads.
If you’ve ordered from Panera before, you may know that it offers both whole and half portions. Plus, you can customize the ingredients or add extra toppings for an additional fee.
Here is the number of calories in a full-sized portion of each option on their menu, ordered as is (15):
The nutritional value of your salad can vary significantly based on which dressings and toppings you add.
Unfortunately, because many dressings and toppings are loaded with calories, going overboard can quickly turn a healthy salad into a high calorie meal. Thus, if you’re aiming to lose weight, consider moderating your portion sizes and selecting low calorie dressings and toppings.
Here’s how many calories you’ll find in a 2-tablespoon (30-gram) serving of common salad dressings (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22):
Here’s the number of calories in popular toppings (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30):
Keep in mind, though, that despite having a high calorie content, whole-food toppings like avocados, nuts, and seeds are nutrient-dense and contribute health-promoting fats, fiber, and more (24, 25, 26).
While salads are typically considered to be healthy, weight-loss-friendly options, their nutritional values and calorie contents vary significantly depending on the ingredients used.
To maximize the nutritional value of your meal, opt for green salads with plenty of vegetables and a good source of protein.
If you’re aiming to lose weight, choosing low calorie toppings and dressings and moderating your portion sizes may also be beneficial.
Last medically reviewed on June 3, 2021
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How Many Calories Are in Salad? Different Types and Toppings – Healthline
