If you grew up in the era of "three square meals," there was probably a big family-style bowl of dressed green salad in the middle of the table at every dinner. Or if you were lucky, you scored an individual bowl with customizable toppings and a few condiment bottles ready for a choose-your-own-dressing adventure.

Whether you came from these bygone times or the salad days were over in your youth, let's face it—a side salad makes a meal feel complete. Plus, serving a side salad makes every meal feel like you're at a cozy family restaurant where crisp greens are complimentary with your entree.     

This easy garden salad lays the foundation for a classic side dish tailored to your tastes. Made with crisp lettuce (we love butter lettuce or green leaf), ripe tomatoes, red onions, and our dreamy no-dairy Ranch Dressing made without cane sugar or corn syrup, it's meant to be customized: add sliced hardboiled eggs and bacon crumbles for a mini-Cobb, top with chickpeas for a vegan treat, or serve underneath salmon portions or chicken breast for a complete meal.     

You might also like these other easy salad recipes:

• Cobb Salad
• Chicken Cobb Salad with Buffalo Ranch
• Vegan Rainbow Salad
• Antipasto Salad with Tuscano Salami
• Grilled Caesar Salad