The best steak salad recipes transform seemingly disparate elements—crisp greens, brawny beef—into cohesive, craveable dishes. They run the gamut from casual weeknight cookout fare to elegant dinners you’ll want to whip up for your most discerning guests. And let’s not underestimate the potential of leftover steak; you can rework it into an easy, hearty meal in 15 minutes or less.
There are so many ways to steak salad your way to happiness. You could top romaine lettuce with balsamic vinaigrette and special-occasion-worthy rib eye to celebrate a promotion, an anniversary, or a sale at the butcher. Or maybe it’s a run-of-the-mill Wednesday, and you’ve decided to take the bull by the horns by tossing a vibrant tangle of chewy rice noodles with chile-garlic-marinated skirt steak, crunchy cabbage, and salty roasted peanuts.
Whatever mood you’re in or company you keep, there’s a steak salad for you. Here are just a few of our favorites.