As I am sure most other people have heard, our nation, and the world as we know it, is about 6 months into a pandemic. Crazy to think, huh? And if you are anything like me, you’ve been doing a great deal of at-home cooking. But that is not what this post is about. This post is about my desire to eat something that doesn’t come from my own kitchen and also my desire to not add any more unwanted fluff to my midsection. This is my list for amazing salad choices when you need to grab take-out.
Best Overall Salad Stop
Without question McAlister’s Deli gets my vote for the best place to stop when you are wanting a salad. They have 6 salads that stay on their menu with seasonal options being added throughout the year.
Their menu staples are Savannah Chopped Salad, Southwest Chicken & Avocado Salad, Harvest Chicken Salad, Caesar Salad, Grilled Chicken Salad, and Chef Salad. I can’t help but grab a Chef’s salad every time I stop in, but I have managed to try the other options and can say they are all top-notch as well. Some of the out of this world seasonal favorites that people flock to McAlister’s for are the Pecanberry Salad and the Black Cherry Spinach Salad.
Cobb Salad
The Cobb Salad has to be one of my top “go to” choices when I go for a lighter option. But the important question I have to answer is, who has the best one that I have tried? Zaxby’s Cobb Zalad hands down is the winner. With a wealth of lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumbers, this salad is then topped with grilled or fried chicken, bacon, cheese, french fried onions, and a hardboiled egg. And if that isn’t enough, it also comes with a slice of Texas Toast.
Taco/Southwest Salad
The next salad that I suggest you sink your teeth into is the Southwest Chile Lime Ranch Salad with chicken from Panera Bread. This option has more zest and crunch to it than any other southwest salad I’ve found. Each bite will hit you in the mouth and leave you asking for more.
And as far as a traditional “taco salad” goes, Taco John’s has a taco salad that will help you to feed your taco craving while still keeping it on the lighter side of things.
Fruit Infused Salad
Chick-fil-A is known for its scrumptious chicken sandwiches and mouth-watering chicken nuggets. But something that a true fan will also say that they do a spectacular job with is their salads. And none compare to their Market Salad. The salad starts with mixed greens, then it is topped with a plethora of ingredients that you might find at your local fruit stand. With the tang of the apples, to the sweetness of the berries (strawberries and blueberries), and to the crunch of the roasted almonds and granola, this salad refuses to take a back seat to the chain’s other offerings.
My honorable mention for this category would be Panera’s Strawberry Poppyseed Salad. With a variety of fruit topping the bed of romaine lettuce, it can only get better when you add the chain’s perfect poppyseed dressing.
Want to Skip the Drive-Thru?
So you are wanting a salad, but want to skip that drive-thru line that currently has 10+ cars in it. I can’t say as I blame you one bit. Or maybe you are wanting a salad that offers a little more in regards to depth of flavor and variety. For those instances, I like hitting up some of my favorite restaurants that are thankfully offering curbside takeout.
My husband’s vote for best take out salad has to be Outback’s Blue Cheese Wedge Salad. While it only has a handful of ingredients in the salad, it packs a bolder flavor (Bleu Cheese and Balsamic Vinaigrette I’m looking at you) than you will find in most salads. This premium side salad option is enough to fill you up on its own.
Another great pick is the Frisco Salad at Rafferty’s. Artichoke hearts, potato sticks and an amazing tarragon dressing make this salad a must try.
I will be the first to admit that this is just a small portion of the incredible salads that you can find when getting take out. Is there a salad that you absolutely love that I left off the list? Is there a fast food chain in your area of the country where you can find the best salads ever tasted? Please feel free to leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments down below. I am always looking to expand my horizons when vacationing to new areas.
