• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Her Wholesome Kitchen
  • All Recipes
  • Salads
  • eBooks
  • About
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • All Recipes
  • Salads
  • eBooks
  • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • All Recipes
    • Salads
    • eBooks
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Salad

    Steak Salad

    Updated: May 10, 2024 » This post may contain affiliate links » By: Megan » Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe

    This satisfying steak salad is made with a mix of crunchy toppings, fresh vegetables, and tender steak drizzled in a creamy balsamic vinaigrette. It's simple and delicious — even salad skeptics will ask for seconds of this hearty, steak-loaded recipe!

    Steak salad with balsamic dressing.

    About This Recipe

    Steak salad is easy enough to make on a busy weeknight and impressive enough to make for a party! It's full of bold flavors and colors.

    This recipe comes together in about 20 minutes and makes 4 - 6 servings as a main course. It's satisfying enough to serve as a main course but can also be served as a side dish.

    To save time, this recipe has directions for how to cook the steak on your stovetop; but if you prefer, you could also cook it on your grill.

    This steak salad is also very versatile... You can change up the lettuce, the type of steak, and the dressing (keep reading for tips on all this)!

    Steak salad ingredients.

    Ingredients

    Here's what you'll need to make this recipe:

    For the salad:

    • Steak
    • Olive oil 
    • Romaine lettuce 
    • Avocado, diced 
    • Grape tomatoes, halved
    • Cucumber
    • Feta 
    • Pepitas (pumpkin seeds), or pine nuts, walnuts
    • Red onion

    For the balsamic dressing:

    • Olive oil
    • Balsamic vinegar
    • Honey
    • Dijon

    See full recipe at the bottom of the page for quantities.

    Instructions

    Step 1: Pat both sides of the steak dry with paper towels and then sprinkle them with salt and pepper.

    Step 2: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. Once hot, add the steak. 

    TIP: if you have one, use a cast iron skillet to cook the steak.

    Step 3: Cook the steak without moving it for 3 - 5 minutes, flip it and cook for 3 - 5 minutes more. The steak should have an internal temperature of 135°F for medium rare and 145°F for medium doneness.

    For more information on different levels of doneness in steak, here's a helpful article with tips and temperatures from rare to well done: Steak Temperature Chart.

    Step 4: Remove the steak from the pan and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Cut the steak into thin slices against the grain.

    If you aren't sure how to cut across the grain, here's a quick video showing how to do it: Cutting Across the Grain.

    Step 5: In a small bowl, stir or whisk together the dressing ingredients until they are emulsified (fully mixed and thickened). 

    Step 6: Assemble the salad and place the steak on top. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to mix. Enjoy!

    Steak salad ready to eat.

    Ingredient Notes

    Steak: the most popular cuts of steak for this recipe are flank, flat iron, or NY strip. Feel free to use your favorite cut of steak, just keep in mind that you'll want to adjust your cooking time depending on how thick your steak is.

    Lettuce: this recipe calls for romaine lettuce, but you can swap this out for your favorite alternative like spring greens, arugula, etc.

    Pepitas: these are also called pumpkin seeds and can often be found next to the nuts in the grocery store. Pine nuts or walnuts can be substituted if you prefer.

    Feta: swap this out for your favorite cheese (almost any cheese will work in this recipe). Some examples are parmesan, goats cheese, or queso fresco.

    Dressing: this recipe is tasty with a variety of dressings! It includes a simple homemade balsamic vinaigrette but you could use ranch, cilantro lime, creamy avocado, or any of your favorite dressings.

    Steak salad with dressing.

    About The Dressing

    This recipe includes a simple, creamy, classic homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It's thick, flavorful, and pairs perfectly with the flavor of the steak.

    This recipe is very versatile when it comes to the dressing — it would pair well with any dressing!

    I've chosen to make this salad with a balsamic vinaigrette because it complements the flavor of the steak well; but you could easily swap this for your favorite alternative.

    Equipment

    A cast iron skillet is nice to have for this recipe (for cooking the steak); but not necessary. This is my favorite brand and favorite size: Cast Iron Skillet.

    If you don't have a cast iron skillet, you can use any large skillet or toss your steak on the grill to cook it.

    How to Store Leftovers

    Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container. This recipe will stay good for 1 - 2 days as the avocados tend to brown quickly. For best results, store the dressing in a separate container and toss just before serving.

    Steak in steak salad.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What cut of steak is best for steak salad?

    Thinner cuts of steak like flank or flat iron steak work great for this recipe because they cut into thin slices that are easy to mix with the salad.

    But feel free to use your favorite cut of steak! This recipe is tasty with any cut of steak. What's most important is that it's cooked properly and then sliced thinly for the salad.

    How long should I cook the steak on the stovetop?

    For a steak that's about an inch in thickness, cook it for 3 - 5 minutes on each side, depending on how well done you want your steak. The steak should have an internal temperature of 135°F for medium rare and 145°F for medium.

    Also, be sure to heat up your pan and olive oil before adding your steak so that it sears nicely.

    What should I serve with steak salad?

    This salad can be a main course that serves 4 - 6 people depending on portion size. It can also be a side salad for about 6 - 8 people and would pair well with any main dish, especially lighter ones because it's a hearty salad.

    Steak salad in serving bowl.

    Similar Recipes

    For more salad dinner ideas, check out these popular favorites:

    • Southwest Chicken Salad
    • Honey Mustard Chicken Salad
    • Italian Chopped Salad

    If you try this recipe, I would love to hear your thoughts! Please leave a comment at the bottom of this page. And if you share a photo on social media, I'd love to see it! You can tag me on: Instagram, Facebook, or TikTok.

    Print
    clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
    Steak salad with balsamic dressing.

    Steak Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette


    • Author: Megan
    • Total Time: 20 minutes
    • Yield: 4 - 6 servings 1x
    • Diet: Gluten Free
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This hearty steak salad is made with a mix of crunchy toppings, fresh vegetables, and tender steak drizzled in a creamy, simple balsamic vinaigrette. This salad is the perfect mix of light, seasonal flavors and hearty, satisfying ingredients.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1 pound steak (flank, flat iron, or NY strip)
    • Salt & pepper
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
    • 1 avocado, diced
    • 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
    • 1 cup diced English cucumber
    • ⅓ cup crumbled feta
    • ⅓ cup pepitas (or pumpkin seeds)
    • ⅓ cup sliced red onion

    Balsamic Vinaigrette:

    • ½ cup olive oil
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoons honey
    • 2 teaspoons dijon mustard
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ⅛ teaspoon black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Pat both sides of the steak dry with paper towels and then sprinkle with salt and pepper.
    2. Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. Once hot, add the steak.
    3. Cook the steak without moving it for 3 - 5 minutes, flip and then cook for 3 - 5 minutes more. The steak should have an internal temperature of 135°F for medium rare and 145°F for medium.
    4. Remove the steak from the pan and let it rest for at least 5 minutes. Cut the steak into thin slices against the grain.
    5. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the dressing ingredients until emulsified (fully mixed & thickened).
    6. Assemble the salad and place the steak on top. Drizzle as much of the dressing as preferred over the salad and toss to mix.

    Notes

    *You can substitute pine nuts or walnuts if you can't find pepitas/pumpkin seeds

    **Quick video showing how to cut against the grain: https://youtu.be/x1B0_XIq1LY?t=18 

    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Cook Time: 10 minutes
    • Category: Salad
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: American

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ⅙th of recipe
    • Calories: 454
    • Sugar: 3.3g
    • Sodium: 391mg
    • Fat: 32.7g
    • Saturated Fat: 7g
    • Carbohydrates: 9.9g
    • Fiber: 3.9g
    • Protein: 32g
    • Cholesterol: 75mg

    Keywords: salad, steak, dinner, lunch, meal prep, peptias, tomatoes, cucumbers, healthy, meal, balsamic, romaine, green, feta, avocado

    Did you make this recipe?

    Share a photo and tag us @her.wholesome.kitchen — we can't wait to see what you've made!

    More All Salads

    • Santa fe salad with chicken and dressing.
      Santa Fe Salad with Chicken
    • Spring roll salad with peanut sauce.
      Spring Roll Salad
    • Chef Salad
      Top Spring Salads
    • Dill Pickle Pasta salad.
      Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆
    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Megan! I love to share easy salad recipes that taste amazing!

    Browse all recipes here →

    Footer

    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
    • Story Explorer
    Disclaimer: Her Wholesome Kitchen is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

    Copyright © 2025 HER WHOLESOME KITCHEN LLC