Disclaimer: salads aren’t my principal focus at Dealer Joe’s. I’m often after contemporary flowers, budget-friendly bananas, and seasonal treats. Nevertheless, if I’m in a pinch for lunch and am on the lookout for one thing 1) veggie-packed 2) satisfying and three) even higher than the basic combo of elements, solely one of the best Dealer Joe’s salad will do.
I’m a creature of behavior with my meals. Whereas I get pleasure from meals developments and inventive recipes, my weekday routine stays constant: a smoothie for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and a seasonal bowl for dinner. (Although not too long ago, I switched issues up with Camille’s beautiful roast rooster—extremely advocate!). For that reason, I made a decision to place these 9 salads to the take a look at to see simply what Dealer Joe’s salad takes the cake.
Featured picture by Michelle Nash.
Our Favourite Dealer Joe’s Salads, Ranked
Clearly, my routines might use some shaking up, and what higher time than whereas touring? As a self-proclaimed (however reluctant-to-admit) digital nomad, I took a latest two-week journey to D.C. as the right excuse to place Dealer Joe’s salads to the take a look at and see in the event that they reside as much as the millennial hype.
To remain constant and absolutely embrace the contemporary greens, I grabbed a special salad for lunch virtually day by day over the 2 weeks. I anticipated boredom and sugar cravings, however spoiler: I bought hooked. Whereas I received’t be a pre-made salad devotee without end, these picks have impressed me to recreate my favorites at residence. Now, let’s dive into the rankings—beginning with my least favourite and ending with the one which utterly modified my view on consuming vegan (for the higher!). And if there’s a retailer or product you’d like us to overview subsequent, tell us within the feedback!
#8: Caesar Salad
Caesar salads are all the time hit and miss. I’ve but to search out one which toes the road between stellar and unhappy desk lunch-worthy. Sadly, Dealer Joe’s providing fell into the latter class. Nevertheless it’s doable that I had some preconceptions as a result of I didn’t go into this one with excessive hopes. Whereas many packaged salads can shock me with their surprising goodness, Caesar salad isn’t one.
I want a freshly made, heavy-on-the-anchovies dressing that completely coats the crunchy bits of romaine. The croutons have to offer an audible crunch, and if there isn’t a heavy-handed serving of shaved parmesan, then I’m fast to ditch it. Whereas all of the elements had been there, this was extra of a good-in-theory possibility. You will have my permission to skip.
#7: Mexicali Salad
After I learn by way of this salad’s elements, my eyes had been alight with pleasure. There was clearly a wide range of texture and taste at play, with crunchy cabbage, nutty pumpkin seeds, and the viral summer season favourite—corn!—contrasting the creamy, jalapeño-spiked dressing. However whereas the hype was there, this one sadly fell flat on the supply.
The rooster merely tasted like rooster, and I couldn’t detect any of the promised spicy, chili chew. And whereas the elements’ various colours supplied a visible delight, I can’t say that the flavour matched it. In the event you seasoned your individual protein and used the caesar dressing as inspiration on your personal creation, the opposite elements might need been good blended in. However then once more, if you happen to went that route, this wouldn’t really matter as a pre-made salad, wouldn’t it?
#6: Basic Greek Salad
With a powerful Greek contingent in my household supplying a lot of our reunions with unbelievable, salty, and contemporary dishes, it’s shortly develop into considered one of my favourite cuisines. And certain, I do know that not all Greek salads are made alike, nevertheless it’s the composition of the salad that has my coronary heart. This Dealer Joe’s take was so shut to doing it completely. I cherished the olives’ briny chew (kalamatas are a should), the cucumbers had been snappy and crisp, and the crimson onion introduced simply the correct amount of warmth.
So what might I probably should complain about? You may write me off for being too specific, however in terms of Greek salads, I favor my feta in massive blocks versus crumbled. After they tackle the latter type, they’re extra evenly distributed all through the salad. However there’s nothing like diving right into a forkful of feta set in opposition to a juicy tomato. Cubes of feta make it a extra important a part of the salad, and if you happen to’re a fan like me, you recognize that’s essential.
#5: Chopped Salad With Grilled White Hen
Israeli couscous is fingers down, considered one of my favourite grains. Don’t get it blended up with rice! Israeli couscous isn’t truly couscous (complicated I do know). It’s truly toasted pasta in tiny balls. The flavour is nutty and the feel is barely chewy. It’s the right hearty mix-in for any veggie-forward dish. And on this salad, it shines. Oftentimes, it’s used as an afterthought, solely meant to bulk up no matter it’s added to. However I felt that this salad was based mostly round its comfortable, scrumptious chew.
The one downside of this salad was the candy basil dressing. I hoped for one thing just a little extra basil-forward, with a peppery, anise-like taste coming by way of. Whereas I didn’t get that, this salad was nonetheless a strong lunch decide, and I bought on with my afternoon duties feeling happy.
#4: Broccoli Slaw & Kale Salad With White Hen Meat
This was by far the heartiest, most satisfying Dealer Joe’s salad of the bunch. And whereas that truth didn’t win it the primary spot, it went a great distance in getting it into the highest three. And with the feel trifecta of kale, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries, I used to be simply bought.
Sadly, the rooster saved this salad from successful finest total. Maybe it is a irritating consistency, however the truth that the rooster was unseasoned (and, admittedly, just a little dry), set this salad again. Even the candy and spicy dressing, which, regardless of the title, I didn’t anticipate to be so (fortunately) packed full of warmth, couldn’t give the rooster what it wanted. Alas, I’ll be taking this combo into my future cooking forays and including strips of my very own roasted rooster.
#3: Avocado Ranch Salad
Filled with numerous cabbages, inexperienced onion, and carrots, the combination gives a satisfying crunch with a bag that’s twice the scale of the remainder of the salads that made the lower. The actual spotlight, nevertheless, is the creamy avocado ranch dressing, which delivers a wealthy, tangy taste that may’t be crushed. The package additionally consists of crunchy corn chips for an added texture enhance, making every chew a scrumptious mixture of crispiness and creaminess.
Past its nice style, this salad package is a perfect possibility for these in search of a fast, nutritious meal or a straightforward facet dish whereas conserving issues meat-free. The mixture of contemporary greens and protein-packed cheese makes it each filling and flavorful with out being overly heavy. It’s additionally extremely versatile and might be tossed with grilled rooster, crispy chickpeas, or used as a slaw for tacos or burrito bowls.
#2: Southwest Salad
As a principal, I’m often suspect of something sporting the label “southwest.” No shade thrown to that a part of the nation! I’m all the time in awe at its open, saturated skies and Georgia O’Keeffe’s capturing of the common-or-garden brilliance of its panorama. Nevertheless it’s typically used as an all-encompassing appellation that washes over the person flavors discovered inside. After making an attempt the to-go Southwest Salad final 12 months, I made a decision it was price giving the brand new chopped salad model a attempt. The flavour of the cojita cheese was much less masked by the daring chipotle ranch, probably because of a greater ratio of veggie-to-sauce.
I cherished the crunchy-creamy interaction of the black beans, crimson onions, and cabbage. And when it comes all the way down to it, the zesty flavors do make a wonderful match. On the finish of the day, this salad made me smile. (What number of salads are you able to say that about?) However the place I actually needed it to shine, it left me wanting extra.
#1: Vegan Tremendous Spinach Salad
And now onto what I contemplate one of the best Dealer Joe’s salad. Whereas it may not appear to be essentially the most attention-grabbing and show-stopping salad, what this decide lacks in preliminary pizzazz, it undoubtedly makes up for by the primary chew. Quinoa, carrots, cranberries, chickpeas, edamame, pumpkin seeds (and naturally, spinach) make a stunning amalgam of wholesome, however completely crave-worthy elements. I’m all the time a fan when nutrient-dense meals intersect with unimaginable flavors, and this salad did the pairing justice.
I’ll finish on this word: the dressing. Carrot brings the colour, miso brings the salty, umami depth, and ginger provides a warming hit of spice that stands behind each chew. This salad has redefined spinach for me. Don’t go it by!
This publish was final up to date on March 25, 2025 to incorporate new insights.
