27 Recipes For The Ones Who Know Arugula Is Superior
While hearty veggies and greens like potatoes, beets, and kale reign supreme in winter, come spring, it’s all about more delicate options like spinach, asparagus, and one of our faves, arugula. Though it's more delicate, that isn’t to say it’s mild—it’s peppery and a touch spicy, making it a great ingredient to use when you want to add some intrigue to your meals. Check out our 27 arugula recipes for inspiration, then buy a big bag—you’re going to want to add it to everything.
It’s true, arugula is known as a great salad base, but it can also be so much more. It’s superb on sandwiches, like our ultimate veggie sandwich, our lamb burger, or our steak sandwich; on flatbread, like our pizza Niçoise or our caramelized onion, garlic, & blue cheese flatbread; or mixed with rice or farro in a grain bowl, like our anything goes salad or our steak grain bowl. It also shines as a truly enjoyable, edible garnish (the type that looks and tastes nice on your plate, sorry parsley), like in our roasted beet pesto or our orzo pasta. Try adding it to your favorite recipes to jazz them up—you won’t be disappointed.
That said, we wouldn’t want to forget about how delightful an arugula salad can be, so we’ve included a number of our favorites here. Try our sheet-pan panzanella, our balsamic grilled steak salad with peaches, our anything goes grain salad, or our seared ahi tuna & arugula pear salad to see how versatile it can be.
Want even more spring produce ideas? Check out our favorite rhubarb recipes, our top radish recipes, and our best mushroom recipes too.
(ANDREW BUI)
There's something so special and refreshing about a sandwich that's absolutely packed to the gills with veggies. Folks, THIS is the ultimate veggie sandwich. Between two slices of bread, you will find nine different fruits and vegetables packed together in harmony—try it, and you might start ditching the lunch meat for good!
Get the Ultimate Veggie Sandwich recipe.
(ANDREW BUI)
Rather than toast the bread cubes on their own for this summery salad, you'll roast them alongside tomatoes, onion, and garlic. The tomatoes burst as they roast, mixing their juices with the bread and fresh arugula. The combination of roasted tomatoes, toasted bread coated with Parmesan, fragrant garlic, and mozzarella ends up tasting like pizza. Yum!
Get the Sheet-Pan Panzanella recipe.
(ANDREW BUI)
A double-purpose chimichurri acts as a marinade for the steak and a finishing sauce for these grain bowls; the not-too-spicy jalapeño sauce provides a tangy, creamy counterpoint—plus, its versatility means it can go on anything and everything (read: make extra, and put it on everything).
Get the Steak Grain Bowl recipe.
(PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE)
Served as a side or all on its own on a bed of arugula, this creamy orzo pasta is a more herbalicious version of cacio e pepe. The best part of this recipe: It all takes place in just one pot, which means more flavor and fewer dishes to wash.
Get the Orzo Pasta recipe.
(PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE)
It’s time to bring the brunch vibes to dinnertime with everything bagel seasoning-crusted salmon and a refreshing salad that’s reminiscent of a bagel & lox. If you’ve never turned cream cheese into a salad dressing, you're in for a treat.
Get the Everything Bagel Crusted Salmon recipe.
(PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: SPENCER RICHARDS)
Think a BLT sandwich is the best thing to do with ripe summer tomatoes? The classic trio—bacon, eggs, and tomato—gets even better when cooked in the style of eggs Benedict.
Get the BLT Eggs Benedict recipe.
(PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE)
If there's one steak sandwich recipe to commit to memory, this is it. Our recipe is toasty, juicy, and smothered in melty Provolone and a homemade garlic aioli. It's also the best way to give leftover steak new life.
Get the Steak Sandwich recipe.
We love using a slightly spicy green to counter the fatty tuna here, like arugula! It has a deliciously peppery flavor that pairs well with the quality sushi-grade ahi tuna and sweet pears in this salad.
Get the Seared Ahi Tuna & Arugula Pear Salad recipe.
(PARKER FEIERBACH)
In French, steak frites translates to steak and fries, simple as that. A common dish at bistros in France, Belgium, and beyond, we took the concept and combined it with American steakhouse vibes for this all-in-one steak frites salad.
Get the Steak Frites Salad recipe.
(PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE)
This farro, white bean, and arugula salad has roasted veggies, like springy carrots and leeks, along with crunchy veggies like bell peppers and radicchio, all tied together with a simple honey-lemon dressing. Feel free to switch in and out your fave ingredients too.
Get the Anything Goes Grain Salad recipe.
(JOEL GOLDBERG)
These Greek(-ish) burgers are one of our favorite lamb recipes ever. We're particularly fond of the of the feta-yogurt sauce and how it pairs with the meat, red onion, and arugula (or spinach), so we slather it on both sides of the bun. If you end up with anything left over, it's a perfect dip for raw veggies or pita chips too!
Get the Best-Ever Lamb Burger recipe.
(PARKER FEIERBACH)
A quick pan-fry makes creamy goat cheese a fun, super-crunchy salad topper. It’s a creative take on croutons and can make any summer salad that much more exciting.
Get the Fried Goat Cheese Salad recipe.
(RACHEL VANNI)
We think it's due time that halloumi, the brined Cypriot cheese, got its time in the spotlight. Besides the delightfully squeaky texture (where the cheese curd lovers at?), and the tangy, salty flavor, the high melting point is really what makes this cheese stand out—when heat is applied, it develops a delicious golden crust that is so delightful in this arugula salad.
Get the Halloumi Salad recipe.
(ANDREW BUI)
Arugula is a great addition to lots of dishes, from steak sandwiches to farro salads, but here we’re honoring it by featuring it all by itself in a super simple salad.
Get the Perfect Arugula Salad recipe.
(PARKER FEIERBACH)
You're probably thinking, I don't need a ham sandwich recipe, but trust us, this sandwich is worth following one. Making your own herb mayo—by mixing in a few fresh herbs and some olive oil—makes this sandwich stand above the rest.
Get the Ham Sandwich recipe.
(PARKER FEIERBACH)
Beet lovers, rejoice! This is the ideal fall salad: creamy goat cheese (sub feta if you prefer it), roasted beets, avocado, and arugula. The secret is that instead of buying precooked beets, you simply wrap them in foil and bake them like a baked potato. It takes about an hour, but the resulting beets will be tender, earthy, and slightly sweet in a way that no store-bought beet can.
Get the Roasted Beet Goat Cheese Salad recipe.
(PARKER FEIERBACH)
Peppery arugula is the perfect vessel for this savory-sweet combo, and you just can't beat ripe, juicy peaches come summertime. We love this with funky blue cheese crumbles, but you can use feta too if you prefer.
Get the Balsamic Grilled Steak Salad With Peaches recipe.
(ETHAN CALABRESE)
With pecans, Parmesan, apple, and leafy arugula, this salad really feels like a full meal—AKA a make-ahead dream. It's got all the elements you need: sweet, salty, soft, crunchy, fatty, fresh, but free to make it your own with your preferred mix-ins.
Get the Farro Salad recipe.
(PARKER FEIERBACH)
We drew inspiration from some of our favorite garlicky foods (garlic bread and bruschetta, most notably) to make a burger loaded to the brim with flavor. Make it for the garlic lover in your life, they won't be disappointed!
Get the Garlic Lover's Burger recipe.
(CHARLIE GILLETTE)
Chicken & mushroom soup-lovers, listen up: This dish has everything you love about your fave, plus hearty pasta and peppery arugula!
Get the Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta recipe.
(JUDY KIM)
When it comes to dinner-worthy salads, this one takes the cake. The Mandarin oranges give it a burst of freshness while the Parmesan gives it a bite of sharpness and nuttiness. Its homemade poppy seed vinaigrette (super-simple!) is unbelievably delicious—you'll want to put it on everything.
Get the Mandarin Orange Salad recipe.
(PARKER FEIERBACH)
We love a mash-up, and this one that combines a Niçoise salad with pizza is one of our faves. Start with a store-bought or homemade pizza dough, then layer on thinly sliced potatoes before baking. Once it’s golden and cooled slightly, go to town with all the fixings: peppery arugula, bright green beans, sweet tomatoes, salty olives, crisp red onions, and rich, savory chunks of canned tuna. Yum!
Get the Pizza Niçoise recipe.
(Hearst Owned)
Combine walnuts with freshly roasted beets, vinegar, garlic, and a few tablespoons of oil in a food processor to make the most gorgeous-looking pesto we’ve ever seen. Warning: You’ll want to put it on everything from pizza to toast to pasta!
Get the Roasted Beet Pesto recipe.
(Delish)
We bet you're familiar with the delightful combo of cantaloupe and prosciutto (if not, get ready—it's delicious), and this sandwich turns it into a full meal. Can't find cantaloupe jam? Whole slices will work too!
Get the Prosciutto-Melon Panini recipe from Good Housekeeping.
(MIKE GARTEN)
Swap out rice for quinoa in this protein-packed riff on risotto. If you've only experienced pesto made with basil, you're in for a treat—mint + arugula make a wonderfully, springy pair.
Get the Quinoa Risotto With Arugula-Mint Pesto recipe from Good Housekeeping.
(MIKE GARTEN)
With the help of pre-made pizza dough, this flavorful flatbread comes together in less than an hour. Piled with sweet caramelized onions, a generous sprinkling of blue cheese, and a bit of peppery arugula for freshness, it’s a colorful and satisfying dinner easy enough for weeknights and impressive enough to serve at a weekend dinner party.
Get the Caramelized Onion, Garlic & Blue Cheese Flatbread recipe.
(Hearst Owned)
This sweet and savory toast tastes like luxury on a plate. Creamy goat cheese combined with a puffy milk bread and juicy strawberries make this gourmet open-faced sandwich one to remember.
Get the Strawberry Goat Cheese Toast recipe.
(Hearst Owned)Check out our 27 arugula recipes for inspiration, then buy a big bag—you’re going to want to add it to everything.