Disclaimer: salads aren’t my most important focus at Dealer Joe’s. I’m often after recent flowers, budget-friendly bananas, and seasonal treats. Nonetheless, if I’m in a pinch for lunch and am in search of one thing 1) veggie-packed 2) satisfying and three) even higher than the traditional combo of substances, solely the very best Dealer Joe’s salad will do.
I’m a creature of behavior with my meals. Whereas I take pleasure in meals tendencies and artistic recipes, my weekday routine stays constant: a smoothie for breakfast, a salad for lunch, and a seasonal bowl for dinner. (Although lately, I switched issues up with Camille’s gorgeous roast rooster—extremely advocate!). For that reason, I made a decision to place these 9 salads to the check 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 current two-week journey to D.C. as the proper excuse to place Dealer Joe’s salads to the check and see in the event that they reside as much as the millennial hype.
To remain constant and totally embrace the recent greens, I grabbed a distinct salad for lunch virtually daily over the 2 weeks. I anticipated boredom and sugar cravings, however spoiler: I acquired hooked. Whereas I gained’t be a pre-made salad devotee eternally, these picks have impressed me to recreate my favorites at dwelling. Now, let’s dive into the rankings—beginning with my least favourite and ending with the one which fully modified my view on consuming vegan (for the higher!). And if there’s a retailer or product you’d like us to evaluation subsequent, tell us within the feedback!
#8: Caesar Salad
Caesar salads are all the time hit and miss. I’ve but to seek out one which toes the road between stellar and unhappy desk lunch-worthy. Sadly, Dealer Joe’s providing fell into the latter class. But it surely’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 sudden goodness, Caesar salad is never one.
I would like a freshly made, heavy-on-the-anchovies dressing that completely coats the crunchy bits of romaine. The croutons have to provide 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 have been there, this was extra of a good-in-theory choice. You will have my permission to skip.
#7: Mexicali Salad
Once I learn via this salad’s substances, my eyes have been alight with pleasure. There was clearly quite a lot 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 substances’ different 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 may 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, would it not?
#6: Basic Greek Salad
With a robust Greek contingent in my household supplying a lot of our reunions with unbelievable, salty, and recent dishes, it’s rapidly grow to be considered one of my favourite cuisines. And positive, 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 near doing it completely. I cherished the olives’ briny chew (kalamatas are a should), the cucumbers have been snappy and crisp, and the crimson onion introduced simply the correct amount of warmth.
So what might I presumably should complain about? You may write me off for being too specific, however with regards to Greek salads, I want my feta in large blocks versus crumbled. Once 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 really couscous (complicated I do know). It’s really toasted pasta in tiny balls. The flavour is nutty and the feel is barely chewy. It’s the proper 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 primarily based round its mushy, scrumptious chew.
The one disadvantage of this salad was the candy basil dressing. I hoped for one thing a little bit extra basil-forward, with a peppery, anise-like taste coming via. Whereas I didn’t get that, this salad was nonetheless a strong lunch decide, and I acquired on with my afternoon duties feeling glad.
#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 reality didn’t win it the primary spot, it went a good 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 stored this salad from profitable greatest total. Maybe this can be a irritating consistency, however the truth that the rooster was unseasoned (and, admittedly, a little bit dry), set this salad again. Even the candy and spicy dressing, which, regardless of the identify, I didn’t count on 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
Full of numerous cabbages, inexperienced onion, and carrots, the combo offers a satisfying crunch with a bag that’s twice the dimensions of the remainder of the salads that made the minimize. The true spotlight, nonetheless, is the creamy avocado ranch dressing, which delivers a wealthy, tangy taste that may’t be overwhelmed. The package additionally consists of crunchy corn chips for an added texture increase, making every chew a scrumptious mixture of crispiness and creaminess.
Past its nice style, this salad package is a perfect choice for these in search of a fast, nutritious meal or a straightforward facet dish whereas protecting issues meat-free. The mix of recent greens and protein-packed cheese makes it each filling and flavorful with out being overly heavy. It’s additionally extremely versatile and may 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 carrying 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. But it surely’s typically used as an all-encompassing appellation that washes over the person flavors discovered inside. After attempting the to-go Southwest Salad final yr, I made a decision it was value giving the brand new chopped salad model a strive. The flavour of the cojita cheese was much less masked by the daring chipotle ranch, doubtless attributable to 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 right down to it, the zesty flavors do make a superb 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 the very best Dealer Joe’s salad. Whereas it won’t appear to be probably the most attention-grabbing and show-stopping salad, what this decide lacks in preliminary pizzazz, it positively makes up for by the primary chew. Quinoa, carrots, cranberries, chickpeas, edamame, pumpkin seeds (and naturally, spinach) make a shocking amalgam of wholesome, however completely crave-worthy substances. I’m all the time a fan when nutrient-dense meals intersect with unbelievable 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 cross it by!
This put up was final up to date on March 25, 2025 to incorporate new insights.
