18 Salads To Serve With Fish

By Felice Kaufman · Updated: Sep 9, 2026

Looking for the best salads to serve with fish? A fresh salad is one of the easiest ways to round out a fish dinner without making the meal feel too heavy. Whether you're serving baked, grilled, pan-seared, blackened, or fried fish, there's a salad here to match. Choose from crisp green salads, colorful bean salads, creamy classics, and tropical slaws that pair beautifully with everything from mild snapper to salmon and swordfish.

seared swordfish over mixed green salad topped with chimichurri sauce.

Quick Look: Best Salads to Serve with Fish

Taste: Fresh, colorful, and full of crisp, bright flavors that complement fish without overpowering it.
Best for: Baked, grilled, pan-seared, blackened, or fried fish.
Salad options: Green salads, creamy classics, bean salads, potato salads, and tropical slaws.
Gluten-free options: Most of these salads are naturally gluten-free or can easily be adapted.
Why you'll love it: With 18 easy choices, you can find the perfect salad for any fish dinner from a light garden salad to creamy coleslaw for a fish fry.

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Mixed Garden Salad

Crisp greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion make this an easy salad for almost any fish dinner. Serve it with Crispy Grilled Asparagus and Blackened Mahi Mahi.

1

Mixed garden salad with cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and red onion as lemon Dijon dressing is poured over fresh greens

Learn how to make a mixed garden salad with fresh greens, tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion tossed in a light lemon Dijon dressing. It's ready in minutes and works as a side or a light meal.

Chickpea Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad

Chickpeas, crisp vegetables, and salty feta make this salad fresh yet filling. It's especially good with baked snapper, mahi mahi, or grouper.

2

Cold chickpea cucumber feta salad in a bowl with red gingham napkin.

This Mediterranean chickpea salad is made with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, red onion, feta, and herbs, then tossed with a simple lemon vinaigrette made with olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, garlic, and Italian seasoning.

Caesar Salad

This low-carb Caesar salad has crisp romaine, creamy dressing, and Parmesan cheese. Instead of traditional bread croutons, customize it with Old Bay Shrimp, Sautéed Bay Scallops, or crispy Mahi Mahi Bites.

3

caesar salad with roasted broccoli and chicken croutons

Enjoy a keto Caesar salad with just 2 net carbs. A creamy homemade dressing is tossed with crisp romaine lettuce and finished with high-protein toppings. It turns a classic salad into a filling, low-carb meal.

Mango Coleslaw

This colorful slaw is crisp, sweet, and bright with tropical flavor. Serve it with blackened fish, fried fish, or fish tacos. Try this slaw with Fish Tacos or Key West Shrimp Tacos.

4

Fresh mango coleslaw with cabbage, mango, cilantro, and lime served in a white bowl.

Fresh mango coleslaw made with crisp cabbage, lime juice, and cilantro. This no-mayo slaw is sweet, tangy, and perfect for tacos, grilled chicken, or salmon bowls. Easy to make and great for tacos, burritos, steak, and chicken dinners.

Sweet Coleslaw

Cool, creamy coleslaw is a classic side for hot, crispy fish. Its sweetness and crunch are perfect with Pan Fried Mahi Mahi or Roasted Swordfish.

5

sweet creamy coleslaw with cabbage, carrots, peppers, and creamy dressing

This sweet coleslaw recipe is super easy and delicious. It combines crunchy cabbage, a little carrot, and coleslaw dressing. Perfect for burgers, BBQ ribs, sliders, chicken, or a summer barbecue, it's a side dish everyone will love!

Black Bean Salad with Key Lime Vinaigrette

Black beans and fresh vegetables are tossed with a bright Key lime vinaigrette. This colorful salad pairs well with Blackened Snapper Tacos.

6

Mexican bean salad with chili key lime vinaigrette in glass bowl with tongs.

Mexican Black Bean Salad With Chili Key Lime Vinaigrette is a refreshing summer salad. Serve it as a side dish or bean dip with tortilla chips.

Three Bean Salad

This tangy, make-ahead bean salad is light and goes perfectly with Pan Seared White Fish with Lemon Butter Sauce.

7

3 bean salad with chickpeas, kidney beans, white beans, celery, red onion, and herbs in a vinaigrette

Three bean salad with a tangy vinaigrette, fresh vegetables, and simple pantry ingredients. This is an easy side dish for cookouts, meal prep, and everyday meals.

White Bean Tomato Cucumber Salad

White cannellini beans, crisp cucumbers, tomatoes, feta, and fresh herbs are tossed in a lemon vinaigrette. This Mediterranean-inspired salad pairs especially well with pan-seared mahi mahi, snapper, or salmon.

8

white bean cucumber dill salad with vinaigrette and a lemon wedge

White Bean Salad is a fresh Mediterranean dish made with cannellini beans, tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion tossed in a lemon herb vinaigrette.

Easy Slaw for Fish Tacos

Fresh cabbage and a tangy dressing add plenty of crunch without overpowering the fish. Use it with blackened fish or these Seared Tuna Tacos with Mango Salsa.

9

slaw with cabbage and carrots

This easy slaw for fish tacos is made with crisp cabbage, carrots, lime, and cilantro. Tangy and fresh, the perfect topping for all your tacos and burritos.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Sweet corn and a creamy, zesty dressing make this a flavorful side for fish. It's especially delicious with Blackened Grouper.

10

Mexican street corn salad with grilled corn, creamy dressing, cotija cheese, and fresh cilantro served in a black bowl with a serving spoon.

Mexican street corn salad is a creamy corn side dish made with grilled corn, cotija cheese, lime juice, and spices. This easy elote-style salad is perfect for tacos, grilled meats, cookouts, and summer dinners.

Sour Cream Dill Potato Salad

Fresh dill and a creamy sour cream dressing make this potato salad a natural partner for seafood. Try it with Pan-Seared Coho Salmon with Garlic Butter.

11

Creamy red potato salad with celery, red onion, fresh dill, and black pepper in a white serving bowl.

This sour cream dill potato salad is made with red potatoes, celery, red onion, fresh dill, parsley, and chives in a creamy mayo and sour cream dressing. It is an easy make-ahead side dish for fish tacos, fried chicken, burgers, and summer cookouts.

Potato Salad with Pickles and Eggs

This deli-style potato salad is creamy, tangy, and satisfying. It's an excellent choice for Pan-Fried Red Snapper or a Fish Omelette.

12

Dill pickle potato salad with eggs and fresh dill served with oven fried chicken.

Southern-style potato salad with pickles and eggs made with boiled potatoes and a creamy dressing. A classic, make-ahead side dish for cookouts and family meals.

Roasted Sweet Potato Arugula Salad

Sweet roasted potatoes balance the peppery bite of fresh arugula. Pair this hearty salad with Salmon With Coconut Aminos for a great meal.

13

Close-up of salad with sweet potatoes, arugula, feta, almonds, and a light lemon vinaigrette.

Red onion, feta cheese, and sliced almonds add flavor and crunch to this roasted sweet potato arugula salad. A light honey-garlic vinaigrette adds a fresh finish.

Beet and Pear Salad with Figs and Feta

Sweet beets, juicy pears, figs, and salty feta create a beautiful balance of flavors. This salad is especially good with rich fish such as Honey Butter Glazed Salmon.

14

Roasted beet and pear salad with figs, feta, almonds, red onion, and mixed greens.

This beet and pear salad combines roasted beets, fresh pears, figs, feta, almonds, and red onion with a homemade Dijon vinaigrette dressing.

Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta

Juicy watermelon, peppery arugula, and salty feta make a light, refreshing summer salad. Serve it with grilled snapper, Oven Roasted Mahi Mahi, or Crispy Porgies.

15

Fresh watermelon arugula salad with feta and red onion on a serving platter, topped with lime vinaigrette.

Watermelon Arugula Salad with Feta is a fresh and easy summer side dish or appetizer. Made with juicy watermelon, peppery arugula, cubed salty feta cheese, sliced onions, and a lime vinaigrette. Light, sweet, and salty. Ready in 10 minutes!

Spinach Salad with Strawberries and Feta

Fresh strawberries and feta add sweet and savory flavor to tender spinach. This colorful salad complements mild baked or Grilled Red Snapper.

16

romaine and spinach strawberry salad with feta and almonds

Strawberry Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese is a light and fresh mix of romaine, baby spinach, sweet strawberries, crumbled feta, and toasted almonds. Tossed with a homemade pink vinaigrette, it's perfect for warm days or when you're craving a big sweet and crunchy salad.

Macaroni Salad

Creamy macaroni salad is a comforting choice for a traditional fish dinner. Serve it chilled with Pan-Fried Halibut for a classic combination of crispy fish and cool, creamy pasta.

17

Bowl of deli-style macaroni salad with mayonnaise.

New York Deli Macaroni Salad is a sweet pasta salad made with elbow macaroni, mayonnaise, vinegar, sugar, and a few finely chopped vegetables.

Pasta Salad with Mozzarella and Tomatoes

Gluten-free pasta, mozzarella pearls, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, artichokes, and basil are tossed in a light Italian vinaigrette. This cool, make-ahead salad pairs especially well with Crispy Red Snapper or Pan-Fried Mahi Mahi.

18

Pasta salad with mozzarella and tomatoes.

This gluten-free pasta salad is made with tomatoes, basil, mozzarella pearls, cucumbers, olives, and artichokes in a light Italian vinaigrette. It is a fresh vegetarian side dish for picnics, cookouts, potlucks, and easy summer dinners.

More Fish Recipes

Choosing the Best Salad for Fish

For a light meal, choose a garden, chickpea, or fruit salad. With fried fish, try coleslaw, potato salad, or macaroni salad. However you cook your fish, a fresh salad adds color, texture, and flavor while keeping dinner simple.

More Salad Recipes

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