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30 Arugula Recipes You'll Love

30 Arugula Recipes You'll Love

Updated May 14, 2008

Credit: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Make the most out of spring with our best arugula recipes of all time. Use this leafy green like a flavorful herb in salads (we're partial to this Fruit and Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette and this Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Arugula Salad), on pizzas (you'll love this delicious Bacon, Tomato, and Arugula Pizza), or on sandwiches (this Spicy Chicken and Arugula Sandwich is easier than it looks). No matter what you're looking for, you're sure to find a new favorite in our collection of arugula recipes.

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Fruit and Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Fruit and Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette Recipe

There’s only one thing better than the juicy watermelon and peaches in this salad—the outstanding fig vinaigrette. Jammy and sweet with a subtle savory essence, fig preserves provide a flavor foil for tart vinegar and act as an excellent thickener for this dressing, which helps it cling to all the ingredients in this salad. Peppery arugula adds the perfect spicy bite that stands up to the sweet summer fruit. Make a double batch of the vinaigrette and use it to marinate chicken or brush over salmon before grilling.

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Orange, Arugula, and Kalamata Olive Salad

Credit: Photography: Randy Mayor; Styling: Jan Gautro

Orange, Arugula, and Kalamata Olive Salad Recipe

The peppery bite of arugula is rounded out by complimentary sweet and salty flavors of fennel, oranges, and olives in this colorful dinner salad. Use it as a side dish or add grilled chicken or steak to make it a main course.

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Warm Sausage and Potato Salad with Arugula

Credit: James Carrier

Warm Sausage and Potato Salad with Arugula Recipe

This is Mediterranean peasant style food at its finest. Warm just-cooked potatoes are tossed with Italian sausage, mustard vinaigrette, and crisp arugula leaves for a fragrant, satisfying meal. Short on time most weeknights? The potatoes and sausage can easily be cooked in advance.

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Bacon, Arugula, and Egg Wraps

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Bacon, Arugula, and Egg Wraps Recipe

Precooked potatoes make these wraps quick and easy to whip up; eggs and whole-wheat tortillas deliver protein and fiber to keep you full all morning.

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Spicy Chicken and Arugula Sandwich

Credit: Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke

Spicy Chicken and Arugula Sandwich Recipe

It may look upscale, but this is one simple sandwich to assemble. Splurge on a good quality bread like foccacia. Sprinkle chicken with a fajita spice rub and cook in the skillet. Slice a few tomatoes. And for the condiment: store-bought mayo is flavored with cilantro and lime.

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Caramelized Onion Pizza with Gorgonzola and Arugula

Credit: Randy Mayor

Caramelized Onion Pizza with Gorgonzola and Arugula Recipe

In less time than it takes to have pizza delivered, you can dish up a gourmet pie made with sweet, tender onions, peppery arugula, and creamy gorgonzola. For a shortcut, substitute a store-bought pizza crust for the homemade one.

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Grilled Steak on Arugula

Credit: James Carrier

Grilled Steak on Arugula Recipe

Balsamic vinegar and olive oil are the perfect dressing for an arugula salad, but to make the meal more substantial top it with grilled steak or chicken. Grated fresh Parmesan makes the meal look fancier but omit it and the fresh cooked artichokes if you're short on ingredients and time.

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Roasted Fig and Arugula Salad

Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Roasted Fig and Arugula Salad Recipe

Sweet fresh figs and peppery arugula is one of those special combinations that, once you try, is hard to forget. In this easy salad, the figs are quickly roasted to bring out even more of their sweetness and then topped with goat cheese and molasses vinaigrette.

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Bacon, Arugula, and Egg Wraps

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Bacon, Arugula, and Egg Wraps Recipe

Precooked potatoes make these wraps quick and easy to whip up; eggs and whole-wheat tortillas deliver protein and fiber to keep you full all morning.

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Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Arugula Salad

Credit: Oxmoor House

Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Arugula Salad Recipe

This colorful salad is packed with garden-fresh zucchini and tomatoes. Grill the bread slices along with the tomatoes so everything is ready at the same time.

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Arugula Salad with Lemon and Pine Nuts

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Arugula Salad with Lemon and Pine Nuts Recipe

Peppery arugula combines with tangy lemon, salty cheese, and sweet toasted pine nuts for a perfectly balanced side salad. Slowly drizzling the olive oil into the lemon juice mixture helps emulsify the dressing. If you add the oil all at once, it’s harder to combine it with the acid, and it ends up looking like the dressing is separated. Serve this salad with grilled chicken or seared steak or top with lemony tuna salad.

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Tuna, Arugula, and Egg Salad with Pita Chips

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Lindsey Ellis Beatty

Tuna, Arugula, and Egg Salad with Pita Chips Recipe

If your budget allows, try a premium jarred tuna, like Ortiz, which is rich, firm, and meaty. And purchase precooked, peeled eggs from your supermarket.

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Bacon and Egg Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions and Arugula

Credit: John Kernick; Styling: Paige Hicks

Bacon and Egg Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions and Arugula Recipe

This upscale twist on the traditional breakfast sandwich features sweet, tender caramelized onion and peppery arugula. A fresh fruit salad would be a good accompaniment.

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Roasted Squash and Arugula Pesto Toasts

Credit: David Fenton

Roasted Squash and Arugula Pesto Toasts Recipe

Forget avocado toast--these Roasted Squash and Arugula Pesto Toasts are about to take your brunch game up a few notches. A sprinkle of shaved Parmesan at the end finishes them off with a cheesy touch.

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Arugula-Mint Pesto

Credit: Greg DuPree

Arugula-Mint Pesto Recipe

We like the flavor of toasted, skin-on, whole almonds, but any almonds will taste great–just be sure to toast them first for the extra depth of flavor. Serve this sauce over grilled flank steak or lamb chops, or toss with tuna, white beans, and cherry tomatoes.

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Lemony White Bean-and-Arugula Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine

Lemony White Bean-and-Arugula Salad Recipe

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Cod with Shiitake-Bacon Crust and Arugula Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Cod with Shiitake-Bacon Crust and Arugula Salad Recipe

This is triple-whammy umami--shiitakes, bacon, and cod all deliver complex tastes. You can also use haddock, flounder, or tilapia. Shiitake mushrooms have a bolder flavor than most mushrooms, with an almost smoky quality that amplifies the flavor of the bacon. The key is to keep it simple to let these powerhouse ingredients shine.

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Arugula Salad with Dates and Bacon

Credit: Christopher Baker

Arugula Salad with Dates and Bacon Recipe

If savory and sweet is your favorite flavor combination, then this salad topped with dates and bits of bacon will be your ultimate salad combo. Use sliced apples to provide even more texture and fresh arugula to offset the sweetness.

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Grapefruit, Endive, and Arugula Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Grapefruit, Endive, and Arugula Salad Recipe

Tossing the endive leaves in the vinaigrette first softens their bitter edge. You could also sub thinly sliced fennel or chopped Romaine hearts.

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Chorizo and Kale-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Zucchini-Arugula Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Lindsey Lower

Chorizo and Kale-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Zucchini-Arugula Salad Recipe

A combo of superlean ground turkey and rich ground pork gives you the ideal mix of flavor and texture while staying nice and light.

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Strawberry-and-Arugula Salad with Crispy Prosciutto

Credit: Quentin Bacon

Strawberry-and-Arugula Salad with Crispy Prosciutto Recipe

Nothing says "spring" quite like this Strawberry-and-Arugula Salad with Crispy Prosciutto. Though it tastes like a labor of love, the whole thing comes together in under 20 minutes.

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Fruit and Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Fruit and Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette Recipe

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Bacon, Tomato, and Arugula Pizza

Credit: John Autry and Randy Mayor; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

Bacon, Tomato, and Arugula Pizza Recipe

Instead of having an arugula salad on the side, put it on top of your pizza for fresh flavor that pairs perfectly with the tomato and applewood-smoked bacon pizza toppings.

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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Arugula, Burrata, and Eggplant Croutons

Credit: Thomas J. Story

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Arugula, Burrata, and Eggplant Croutons Recipe

For this salad, chef Alex Seidel of Denver restaurants Fruition and Mercantile Dining & Provision uses a mix of tomato varieties--whichever are ripest at the moment in his greenhouse. The eggplant "croutons" are small cubes, breaded in seasoned panko and briskly fried. His Fruition Farms Dairy & Creamery also produces the burrata cheese, which is fresh mozzarella filled with ricotta and cream.

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Flank Steak with Arugula and Herbed Tomato Salad

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Alma Melendez

Flank Steak with Arugula and Herbed Tomato Salad Recipe

Looking for an easy-but-fancy dinner to impress guests? Serve this flank steak with an arugula salad topped with Marinated Tomatoes for a simple and classy main dish.

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Naan Pizzas with Broccoli Pesto and Arugula Salad

Credit: Jeffery Cross; Styling: Randy Mon

Naan Pizzas with Broccoli Pesto and Arugula Salad Recipe

This tasty twist on a classic pizza is perfect for summer. Naan bread is a quick, easy, and cheap way to elevate the family-favorite.

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Arugula Salad with Shaved Artichokes

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Arugula Salad with Shaved Artichokes Recipe

While it may seem simple, there's nothing ordinary about this arugula and artichoke toss. This recipe easily doubles for a crowd. Place greens in a large bowl, add dressing, and mushrooms, and toss to coat. Top with parmesan cheese, if desired.

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Open-Faced Sandwiches with Ricotta, Arugula, and Fried Egg

Credit: John Autry; Styling: Mindi Shapiro

Open-Faced Sandwiches with Ricotta, Arugula, and Fried Egg Recipe

You'll need a knife and fork to dig in to these filling sandwiches that give a unique take on breakfast for dinner.

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Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Chicken and Arugula Pasta Salad Recipe

Just a bit of a rich and pungent cheese can go quite a long way. Tossing hot pasta with a few ounces of creamy Brie makes for a light, luscious, and flavorful sauce to coat this abundant bowl of chicken, fresh veggies, and whole-grain noodles.

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Watermelon and Arugula Chicken Salad

Credit: Erin Kunkel Styling: Chelsea Zimmer

Watermelon and Arugula Chicken Salad Recipe

If watermelon wedges are a mainstay at your summer cookouts, try dicing for this instant, gorgeous salad.

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30 Arugula Recipes You'll Love

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Fruit and Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette

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Orange, Arugula, and Kalamata Olive Salad

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Warm Sausage and Potato Salad with Arugula

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Bacon, Arugula, and Egg Wraps

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Spicy Chicken and Arugula Sandwich

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Caramelized Onion Pizza with Gorgonzola and Arugula

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Grilled Steak on Arugula

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Roasted Fig and Arugula Salad

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Bacon, Arugula, and Egg Wraps

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Grilled Chicken and Vegetable Arugula Salad

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Arugula Salad with Lemon and Pine Nuts

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Tuna, Arugula, and Egg Salad with Pita Chips

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Bacon and Egg Sandwiches with Caramelized Onions and Arugula

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Roasted Squash and Arugula Pesto Toasts

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Arugula-Mint Pesto

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Lemony White Bean-and-Arugula Salad

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Cod with Shiitake-Bacon Crust and Arugula Salad

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Arugula Salad with Dates and Bacon

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Grapefruit, Endive, and Arugula Salad

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Chorizo and Kale-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Zucchini-Arugula Salad

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Strawberry-and-Arugula Salad with Crispy Prosciutto

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Fruit and Arugula Salad with Fig Vinaigrette

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Bacon, Tomato, and Arugula Pizza

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Heirloom Tomato Salad with Arugula, Burrata, and Eggplant Croutons

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Flank Steak with Arugula and Herbed Tomato Salad

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Naan Pizzas with Broccoli Pesto and Arugula Salad

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