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With the right cheap salad recipes, a salad can be one of the cheapest meals you make. Without them, it can be a pricey bag of greens that turns to slime before you finish it. The difference is what goes in the bowl.
These 12 budget salads lean on ingredients that are cheap and keep well, like chickpeas, beans, cabbage, broccoli, kale, pasta and eggs. Most are filling enough to be a meal and sturdy enough to pack for lunch, and every one has its cost per serving at Walmart and ALDI prices.
Produce recalls have made a lot of people nervous about salad, so we start with how to clean greens properly.
Salads Are Still on the Menu: How to Clean Your Greens
A few simple habits go a long way toward keeping your salads safe:
- Wash your hands first with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
- Toss damaged or slimy outer leaves before you start.
- Rinse loose greens under cool running water. Skip the soap, bleach, vinegar soaks and fancy produce washes; produce can absorb them, and plain running water does the job.
- Bagged greens labeled “washed” or “ready-to-eat”? They’re cleaned before packing, so food safety experts say they’re ready to use as is. We still like to give them a rinse for peace of mind. If you do too, start with a clean sink and colander (that’s where germs tend to sneak in) and dry them well.
- Dry them well in a salad spinner or with a clean towel. Dry leaves stay crisp longer and hold dressing better.
- Keep greens cold and away from raw meat, and use a separate cutting board for produce.
- Washing helps, but it can’t remove everything. If something you bought is recalled, don’t try to wash it clean. Throw it out or return it, and check FoodSafety.gov’s recalls page when you hear about one.
Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.
12 Budget Salads That Actually Fill You Up
1. Greek Chickpea Salad
No lettuce, no wilting. Chickpeas, cucumber, tomatoes, olives and feta in a lemony oregano dressing that gets better as it sits.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Canned chickpeas are one of the cheapest proteins in the store.
Time: 15 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $12.08 from Walmart, $9.69 from ALDI · Per Serving – $2.42 to $3.02
2. Black Bean and Corn Salad
Two cans and a squeeze of lime turn into a bright side, dip or taco topping. It keeps for days in the fridge.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Almost everything comes straight from the pantry.
Time: 15 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $6.21 from Walmart, $5.37 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.90 to $1.03
3. Easy Taco Salad
Taco night in a bowl: seasoned ground beef, crisp romaine, corn, cheddar and crushed chips with a salsa-ranch drizzle.
Why it’s budget-friendly: One pound of beef makes four big, filling bowls.
Time: 20 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $14.10 from Walmart, $12.95 from ALDI · Per Serving – $3.24 to $3.52
4. Italian Pasta Salad
Rotini, salami, mozzarella, tomatoes and olives in a homemade Italian dressing. The potluck favorite that’s even better the next day.
Why it’s budget-friendly: A one-pound box of pasta feeds a crowd for very little.
Time: 55 minutes (includes 30 minutes of chilling) · Serves: 8
Cost: Ingredients – $13.71 from Walmart, $11.11 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.39 to $1.71
5. Broccoli Crunch Salad
Creamy, crunchy and a little sweet, with bacon, cheddar, cranberries and sunflower seeds. Even broccoli skeptics go back for seconds.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Broccoli is a year-round produce bargain, and raw florets need no cooking.
Time: 45 minutes (includes 30 minutes of chilling) · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $7.62 from Walmart, $6.90 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.15 to $1.27
6. Crunchy Asian Cabbage Salad
Shredded cabbage and carrots in a honey sesame dressing, topped with peanuts. It stays crunchy for days after it’s dressed.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Cabbage is cheap and lasts for weeks in the fridge.
Time: 15 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $5.01 from Walmart, $4.76 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.79 to $0.83
7. Kale Crunch Salad
Massaged kale with lemon parmesan dressing, toasted breadcrumbs and sunflower seeds. Sturdy enough to make on Sunday and eat all week.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Kale holds up where lettuce gives up, so nothing goes to waste.
Time: 20 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $4.16 from Walmart, $4.85 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.04 to $1.21
8. Harvest Apple Cranberry Salad
Apples, dried cranberries, pecans and feta with a maple Dijon dressing. Fall in a bowl, and it’s ready for your Thanksgiving table.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Apples are at their cheapest and best in the fall.
Time: 20 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $8.00 from Walmart, $8.63 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.33 to $1.44
9. Winter Pomegranate Pear Salad
Pears, pomegranate seeds, feta and walnuts with honey balsamic dressing. A festive, restaurant-worthy side for the holidays.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Simple ingredients that look far more expensive than they are.
Time: 20 minutes · Serves: 6
Cost: Ingredients – $10.25 from Walmart, $7.60 from ALDI · Per Serving – $1.27 to $1.71
10. Classic Caesar Salad
Crisp romaine, crunchy croutons and a homemade Caesar dressing. The classic that goes with everything.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Homemade dressing and croutons cost less than the bottled and bagged kind.
Time: 15 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $4.10 from Walmart, $3.62 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.90 to $1.02
11. Cucumber Tomato Salad
Cucumbers, tomatoes and red onion in a tangy vinaigrette. Ten minutes and a handful of produce make any dinner more balanced.
Why it’s budget-friendly: A couple of cucumbers and tomatoes are all you need.
Time: 10 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $3.81 from Walmart, $4.89 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.95 to $1.22
12. Classic Egg Salad
Creamy, simple and just like the one you grew up with. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps and lettuce cups.
Why it’s budget-friendly: Six eggs make four hearty lunches.
Time: 22 minutes · Serves: 4
Cost: Ingredients – $1.59 from Walmart, $1.60 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.40
The Cheapest Salads on This List
Here are all 12 salads sorted by cost per serving, from the cheapest salad to the priciest.
| Salad | Serves | Walmart | ALDI | Per serving |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Egg Salad | 4 | $1.59 | $1.60 | $0.40 |
| Crunchy Asian Cabbage Salad | 6 | $5.01 | $4.76 | $0.79 to $0.83 |
| Black Bean and Corn Salad | 6 | $6.21 | $5.37 | $0.90 to $1.03 |
| Classic Caesar Salad | 4 | $4.10 | $3.62 | $0.90 to $1.02 |
| Cucumber Tomato Salad | 4 | $3.81 | $4.89 | $0.95 to $1.22 |
| Kale Crunch Salad | 4 | $4.16 | $4.85 | $1.04 to $1.21 |
| Broccoli Crunch Salad | 6 | $7.62 | $6.90 | $1.15 to $1.27 |
| Winter Pomegranate Pear Salad | 6 | $10.25 | $7.60 | $1.27 to $1.71 |
| Harvest Apple Cranberry Salad | 6 | $8.00 | $8.63 | $1.33 to $1.44 |
| Italian Pasta Salad | 8 | $13.71 | $11.11 | $1.39 to $1.71 |
| Greek Chickpea Salad | 4 | $12.08 | $9.69 | $2.42 to $3.02 |
| Easy Taco Salad | 4 | $14.10 | $12.95 | $3.24 to $3.52 |
Egg salad is the clear winner at about 40 cents a serving. The cabbage, black bean and Caesar salads all cost about $1 a serving or less and make a good side for four to six people.
The Cheapest Salad Ingredients
The cheapest salads are built on ingredients that cost little and keep for days. Stock a few of these and you can make an affordable salad any night:
- Cabbage: one head makes several salads and lasts for weeks in the fridge.
- Carrots: cheap year-round, and shredded carrots add crunch and color.
- Canned beans and chickpeas: the cheapest way to make a salad filling enough for dinner.
- Eggs: hard-boiled eggs turn greens into a meal for very little.
- Pasta and rice: a pound of pasta makes a big batch of pasta salad.
- Frozen corn and peas: thaw them right in the salad, no cooking needed.
- Onions, cucumbers and tomatoes: best value in summer, when they’re in season.
- Homemade dressing: oil, vinegar, a little mustard and salt cost less than any bottle.
Savvy Tips for Cheaper Salads
- Lean on sturdy vegetables. Cabbage, kale, broccoli and carrots last much longer than tender lettuce, so less ends up in the trash.
- Make your own dressing. Oil, vinegar or citrus, a little mustard and a pinch of salt shaken in a mason jar costs less than bottled dressing and keeps for a week.
- Add pantry protein. Canned beans, chickpeas, eggs and leftover chicken turn a side salad into a meal.
- Store greens with a paper towel in the container or bag to soak up moisture and help them last longer.
- Shop the season. Apples and pears in the fall, cabbage and citrus in winter, and tomatoes and cucumbers in summer are usually the best value.
Cheap Salad Recipes: Your Questions
How do I keep a packed salad from getting soggy?
Pack the dressing in a small separate container and add it right before eating. Put wet ingredients like tomatoes at the bottom and greens on top, or choose a sturdy salad like the chickpea, cabbage or kale salads, which hold up after they’re dressed.
Which of these salads are filling enough for a meal?
The Greek chickpea salad, taco salad, Italian pasta salad and egg salad all have enough protein to stand on their own. Add a can of beans or a hard-boiled egg to any of the others.
Is bagged salad worth the money?
Usually not. A head of romaine or cabbage costs less per serving and lasts longer. Bagged greens make sense when you’ll use the whole bag within a day or two.
How long do these salads keep in the fridge?
Bean, chickpea, cabbage, kale and pasta salads keep for 3 to 4 days. Leafy salads are best dressed and eaten the same day.
What is the cheapest salad to make?
Of these 12, classic egg salad costs the least at about 40 cents a serving. Crunchy Asian cabbage salad is the cheapest leafy-style salad at about 80 cents a serving, and it keeps for days.
What are the cheapest salad ingredients?
Cabbage, carrots, canned beans, chickpeas, eggs, pasta and frozen corn. They cost little and last much longer than bagged lettuce, so less of your money ends up in the trash.
