13 Arugula Salad Recipes That’ll Win Mealtime Every Time

When you need a change of “greenery,” pull up this Cooking Chew list of 13 Arugula Salad Recipes for some mealtime inspiration!

Arugula is a wonderfully unique leafy green that offers a bold, peppery flavor that stands out from other salad greens. 

Arugula salad recipes are perfect for turning to when you’re getting bored with spinach or don’t feel like romaine. 

A rather delicate leaf, arugula is bold in flavor but holds up best under light dressings and vinaigrettes.

Whether you’re looking for arugula salad recipes with fruit or a quick and easy arugula salad recipe, our list has a lot to offer lovers of this delicate green.

The strong taste of pepper in fresh arugula makes it a versatile green that works in savory salads with arugula and sweet, fruity salads. 

If you’d like to learn more about this peppery and delicate leafy green, we wrote up an FAQ just for you.

Check out our collection of the 13 best arugula salad recipes to brighten up your dining table. 

Like the light and lively Strawberry & Feta Arugula Salad or the hearty flavors of the Mediterranean with the below Pesto Shrimp & Arugula Salad or go for the Asian flair in Mango Udon Noodle Salad With Arugula! 

You can’t beat ‘em!

13 of the Best Arugula Salad Recipes

Here are thirteen of the best Arugula salad recipes to try. 

1. Caprese (Mozzarella & Tomato) Arugula Salad

Caprese is a classic Italian dish consisting of fresh basil leaves, raw tomatoes, and mozzarella cheese. 

While these three ingredients are iconic on their own, add the zesty taste of arugula along with a drizzle of balsamic and olive oil to kick it up a notch.

Caprese is an easy arugula salad recipe with a surprising amount of flavor.

The creamy, salty balls of mozzarella perfectly pair with the sweet but acidic tomatoes, and it all comes together with the balance of refreshing basil and bitter arugula.

2. Apple Pecan Arugula Salad

Arugula salad recipes with fruit are a great way to brighten up your dinner table and add a hint of sweetness to your dish. 

This apple pecan arugula salad is a delicious side salad for a hearty meal or the perfect base for sauteed shrimp or grilled steak. 

The pecans and apples add a crunch as well as comforting fall flavors that are perfect on a crisp autumn day.

3. Caesar Arugula Salad

Caesar is such a classic dish and works with almost any leafy green.

Using arugula as the base for a Caesar salad adds bitterness, making the dish bolder and more flavorful.

Don’t make another meal with boring old iceberg or romaine when you can spice up this traditional salad with some peppery, fresh arugula.

4. Strawberry Feta Arugula Salad

If you want something on the sweeter side, this arugula salad recipe with fruit will satisfy your craving while delivering an outstanding combination of flavors.

A well-kept secret in the culinary world is that strawberries pair perfectly with freshly cracked pepper.

It may sound weird, but it’s true!

So strawberries and peppery arugula are a match made in heaven for those that love a little color in their salad. 

The addition of feta cheese brings a subtle salty creaminess that beautifully rounds out the texture and taste of the salad.

5. Watermelon Arugula Salad

This recipe is an easy arugula salad recipe and uses minimal ingredients.

If you want something quick, this salad comes together in a snap and delivers a moist and flavorful dish bursting with the color of watermelon.

A squeeze of lemon juice, oil, spices, and a chunk of parmesan combine with the watermelon and arugula for a well-balanced dish that isn’t overly sweet. 

6. Roasted Pumpkin Arugula Salad

The roasted pumpkin arugula salad is an autumn masterpiece that you’ll want to add to your repertoire of fall recipes.

Pumpkin is sweet and ideal for this recipe, but it can be substituted for acorn or butternut squash if needed.

The arugula salad recipe features hazelnut for a nutty crunch and a maple vinaigrette that ties all the ingredients together in a sweet and hearty autumn dish.

7. Pesto Shrimp And Arugula Salad

Salads with arugula can usually stand on their own, but you don’t want to miss out on this arugula salad idea that makes the pesto shrimp the main attraction.

The arugula salad idea is inspired by Mediterranean flavors, with plump grape tomatoes, parmesan cheese, and soft white beans to add texture.

If you want to step up your arugula game, you can make an arugula pesto from scratch for the shrimp to increase the bold peppery flavo

8. Melon And Prosciutto Salad

This sweet and straightforward arugula salad idea checks off all the flavors you want in a salad.

The dry and salty prosciutto uplifts the sweet, juicy melon that lays on a bed of peppery arugula and creamy mozzarella balls.

The author of this recipe describes it as a cross between prosciutto-wrapped melons and a Caprese salad, making it one of the most unique and surprising arugula salad recipes on our list.

9. Mango Udon Noodle Salad With Coconut Milk Dressing

A brilliant mix of ingredients results in this innovative salad that combines cold udon noodles with fresh mango and arugula. 

If you want a salad that steps out of the box, this is an excellent arugula salad idea to try out.

The recipe features edamame, cashews, pineapple, and more for a burst of Asian flavors.

The real star of this dish is the cilantro coconut milk dressing that bathes all of the ingredients in a creamy, light dressing that perfectly highlights all the underlying flavors.

10. Lemon Arugula Potato Salad

Let’s step away from the greenery for a moment and look at another kind of salad: potato.

Using Yukon potatoes and a few handfuls of fresh arugula, you can create this creamy, lemony potato salad that will be a hit at any summer barbecue or weekend party. 

The fresh, acidic flavor of lemons combines with the peppery arugula for a savory yet refreshing taste that makes the potatoes and shallots taste lighter.

11. Blue Cheese And Blueberry Salad

If you’re having a fancy dinner party and want to impress your guests with every dish on the table, go for this stunning blue salad that has an innovative flavor combination.

If blueberries and blue cheese together never occurred to you, we’re here to open your eyes to this incredible flavor pairing.

The juicy pop of fresh blueberry in your mouth balances with the sharp, distinct flavor of blue cheese. 

Along with the arugula, the salad consists of fresh parsley, basil, tarragon, and chives covered in a tasty raspberry vinaigrette.

12. Roasted Beet, Walnut, Arugula Salad

This colorful, earthy salad has roasted beets that bring a grounded, subtle flavor to the dish that elevates the bitterness of the arugula leaves. 

Arugula recipes with fruit are wonderful because they offer something more substantial to bite into than just leaves, but beets are the perfect substitute if you want to stick to vegetables. 

The walnuts bring a satisfying crunch to the dish that leaves you wanting for nothing else. 

13. Grilled Steak And Peach Salad

For an arugula salad idea with a powerful punch of flavor and protein, try out this salad with a juicy grilled flank steak balanced by sweet and colorful peaches. 

This recipe is perfect if you’re trying to convince someone in your family that salads don’t have to be boring and unsatisfying.

The dijon-balsamic dressing in this recipe drenches the steak and arugula in a sweet yet salty flavor that compliments the other ingredients without overpowering them.

If you want to serve this vibrant dish as a side meal, you can skip the steak, and you’ll still have a salad packed with flavor and color.

🥗 Bonus: Our very own Easy Arugula Salad recipe here at just 6 ingredients—including dressing with a pop of lemon and honey for a light and lovely side to quiche or fish! 🥗

The bottom line

Having the same lettuce in every salad gets very monotonous after a while, so changing up your leafy green can make a huge difference in your meals.

Arugula is the perfect leafy green to try out with your favorite salad recipes because it brings a new and distinct flavor to any dish. 

And if you are already a fan of arugula, try this wide variety of arugula recipes here. 

Suppose you have just discovered the fantastic flavor of arugula and want to use it more. 

This list exemplifies the versatility of arugula salad recipes and all the possible flavor combinations for you, so get out there and try something new!