If you are on the hunt for the best summer salad recipes you’ve found yourself in the right place. There are so many healthy, delicious summer salads that you can make and enjoy this year.
Some of these delectable salad recipes are more traditional, some include protein like chicken to create a full meal, and others are very unique and blend exciting flavors and ingredients.
I’m one of those people who can go to a BBQ and eat nothing but the salad side dishes and feel like I got a full meal in. LOL.
These 40 summer salad recipes all use fresh ingredients and taste amazing, and you won’t need to cook anything else all summer if you don’t want to!
Why Salads Are Perfect for Summer
On hot summer days, two foods stand out… fresh salads, and BBQ dishes. When the days are really hot you might not feel like eating a heavy meal and a salad can be perfect.
Or perhaps you’ve been indulging in a lot of drinks today or maybe exercising in the heat or any number of things that could have very much dehydrated you. Fresh fruits and vegetables have a very high water content so not only will these salads fill you up without being too heavy, but they will hydrate you as well. This is why refreshing salads are perfect to enjoy in summer.
Some people don’t like salad too much because they think a classic salad is bland. Let me assure you, these summer salad recipes are anything but boring. Imagine a blend of some exciting and flavorful ingredients aside from just leafy greens. You can use fresh ingredients rich in flavor like briny olives, tangy feta cheese, creamy avocado, seasoned ground beef, roasted chicken, and even fresh herbs to create unique flavorful creations that are anything but boring.
Tips for Making Great Summer Salad Recipes
If you have to use some canned goods in your recipes just based on the ease it provides, the price that it is, or what’s available at your store then that is totally ok. But if you can use in-season produce and fresh ingredients your salad is going to taste so much better! Fresh produce is the best way to make even simple recipes pop. The crunchy veggies and fresh fruits will turn out the best salad recipes.
You can eat fresh crunchy salads as your main course this summer or pair them with some perfect side dishes or BBQ meats. So let’s get into some of my favorite summer salads as well as a whole bunch of new zesty recipes I can’t wait to try this summer with you.
Quick and Easy Salad Recipes
Raw Veggie Chopped Salad
This Raw Veggie Chopped Salad is perfect for summer parties, potlucks, and BBQs. It’s full of flavor and as A version of broccoli salad no lettuce is needed! You can easily double the recipe to feed a huge crowd. It’s vegan, gluten free, nut free, soy free, and oil free!
Tomato Cucumber Corn Salad
Tomato Cucumber Corn Salad is a celebration of summer produce. It’s easy to make this vegan Mediterranean-inspired recipe in under 30 minutes. Prepared with either grilled fresh or defrosted frozen corn, sweet onions, aromatic basil, and a splash of balsamic. This simple salad is one of the most perfect summer recipes.
German Potato Salad
This authentic German Potato Salad Recipe is a hot potato salad made with tender cooked potatoes, crispy bacon, and sautéed onions in a delicious tangy mustard vinaigrette. The ultimate warm and hearty side dish, perfect for any occasion like summer picnics or a pool party.
Olivier Salad (Russian Potato Salad)
Olivier Salad, or Russian Salad, is a traditional Russian potato salad made with diced boiled potatoes, eggs, ham, and vegetables mixed in a creamy mayo dressing. Super easy to make, it is a popular holiday side dish and a perfectly wonderful treat, especially during Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Red Skin Potato Salad
Who doesn’t love a good o’l red skin potato salad? This hearty, summertime red skin potato salad side is a crowd-pleaser at cookouts, potlucks, and family dinners. The fresh dill brings the perfect flavor pop to this easy side salad.
Broccoli Crunch Salad
Broccoli Crunch Salad is packed with vibrant colors and refreshing flavors, this summer broccoli crunch salad is a crowd-pleaser and the perfect addition to any meal. The combination of crispy broccoli, crunchy pepitas, and a chipotle mayo dressing is super satisfying and will make eating your greens so easy!
Herbed White Bean Picnic Salad
Perfect for picnics, cookouts, office parties, and potlucks, this herbed white bean picnic salad with lemon dill miso dressing is a full-flavored dish for everyone — omnivores, pescatarians, vegetarians, and vegans, plus it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free!
Cucumber Onion Salad
Cucumber Onion Salad is a simple and delicious side dish to add to any dinner. It’s flavorful and delicious with a sweet and tangy dressing and fresh dill. Perfect for summer cookouts, potlucks, and family dinners.
Rainbow Salad Bowl with Maple Dijon Dressing
This Rainbow Salad Bowl with Maple Dijon Dressing makes a colorful and light main course salad. And, even more important for those busy weeknights, composing this rainbow salad can be as quick and simple or as involved as you want.
Grilled Corn Salad
Fun, bright, and vibrant, this easy-to-make grilled corn salad is a perfect quick and easy side to make this summer!
Dinner Summer Salad Recipes
Grilled Balsamic Steak Salad
This Grilled Balsamic Steak Salad is a main course salad featuring marinated steak kabobs that are grilled to perfection, served over baby arugula with heirloom tomatoes and burrata cheese all topped with a drizzle of sweet balsamic glaze. It’s a perfect summertime meal!
Harissa Honey Chicken Cava Bowl
Enjoy a homemade Cava bowl in the comfort of your kitchen and for a fraction of the price with our recipe for harissa honey chicken cava bowl topped with hot harissa vinaigrette. This spicy chicken bowl with rice and greens is bursting with freshness and bold flavor.
Rainbow Salad Recipe
This rainbow salad combines fresh veggies, beans, and seeds with a nutritional yeast dressing. Rainbow salad is about a few things, but fundamentally it’s about the grated beets and carrots! This is a show-stopping salad bursting with a variety of nutrients.
Black Eyed Pea Salad
Make this plant-based Black Eyed Pea Salad in just 15 minutes without any cooking. It’s filled with crisp veggies and tossed with a tangy cider dressing.
Mint Summer Salad
This quick salad with mint is delightful, filling, and packed with flavor. The combination of plant-based protein, veggies, fresh mint leaves, and the lovely tangy dressing is perfect for summer!
Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad
Impress your guests with a delicious, fun, and unique salad recipe at your next dinner party! Simple salads have never been tastier than this cilantro lime shrimp green salad that will wake your taste buds like none other!
Green Goddess Pasta Salad
This green goddess pasta salad is a unique twist on pasta salad. The texture of couscous gives this dish a fun sensation and is a really healthy option bursting with summer goodness.
Arugula and Prosciutto Salad
This delicious prosciutto salad is a quick and easy, recipe and makes a great main-course salad! This salad features arugula, cherry tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, toasted pine nuts, and crispy sourdough croutons.
Italian Pasta Salad
How to make the best pasta salad with Italian meats, cheese, pasta, and vegetables, all tossed with a homemade creamy red wine vinaigrette. This is such an easy and popular pasta salad recipe.
Best Ever Bang Bang Shrimp Salad
Bang Bang Shrimp Salad with avocado, pickled red onion, and cucumber is topped with crispy, creamy, sweet and spicy bang bang shrimp. It’s a healthy salad that is packed with flavor from the thai chili sauce and sriracha. You’ll love this fresh salad with a sweet and spicy punch.
Summer Salmon Salad with Grilled Peaches
If you’ve never tried grilled peaches before, buckle up! Your taste buds are in for a treat with this Summer Salmon Salad with Grilled Peaches and Chimichurri.
Greek Grilled Chicken Salad
Combining juicy marinated grilled chicken, loads of fresh vegetables, and bright Mediterranean flavors this Grilled Chicken Souvlaki Salad makes a delicious, healthy, and complete dinner.
Mexican Cobb Salad
Mexican Cobb Salad is a fresh and healthy Mexican recipe! Great as a meal prep lunch or dinner. Add chicken, shrimp, or steak if desired. Topped with cilantro, tomato, egg, avocado, beans, onion, and more with a vinaigrette dressing.
Arugula Caesar Salad
This arugula Caesar salad is a delicious and healthy lunch or dinner. Made with a bed of spicy baby arugula, creamy Caesar dressing, and crispy chickpeas, this classic arugula salad is perfect as a main course or a simple side dish and is one of the tastiest healthy summer salads.
Orzo Pesto Salad
This easy and delicious orzo pesto salad is perfect for your next summer BBQ. With just a handful of simple ingredients, this easy side dish is full of flavor. This nutritious recipe combines lots of juicy cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, and fresh basil.
Fruit Forward Summer Salad Recipes
Strawberry Watermelon Salad
Looking to make a refreshing snack to help cool down in this summer heat? This watermelon basil salad is cold and crisp, sweet and juicy, and exactly what you need on your plate this summer!
Beet Watermelon Salad
Watermelon salad is such a classic summer dish. Not much screams summer more than watermelons. They pair perfectly with beets and slivered almonds in this perfect summer side dish.
Tropical Mango Salad with Coconut
This colorful summer mango salad recipe is bursting with fresh, vibrant tropical flavors. It’s effortless to put together and the combination of sweet mangoes and toasted coconut flakes with a tangy lime dressing is utterly delicious.
Peach Panzanella Salad
Peach Panzanella is a vibrant combination of fresh Summer produce. This Tuscan bread salad features olive oil-toasted croutons that are tossed with juicy heirloom tomatoes, fresh peaches, raw sweet corn, red onion, garlic, and basil. The salad is finished with shavings of Parmesan cheese and tossed in a simple white balsamic vinaigrette.
Delicious Crunchy Apple Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette
This bright colorful apple salad with balsamic vinaigrette is what you want to have on your food spread. It’s crispy, juicy and refreshing. With the dressing that tastes a little spicy yet delicious.
Buratta Caprese Salad
Burrata Caprese! This amazing summer salad features juicy heirloom tomatoes, creamy burrata cheese. and fresh basil topped with a generous drizzle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar (or glaze) and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and coarsely ground pepper. It’s a delicious twist on a classic caprese salad that you are going to want to eat on repeat all summer long!
Watermelon and Feta Summer Salad
This watermelon feta salad is a unique take on a classic watermelon salad recipe. With tangy feta, fresh mint, and other summery flavors, you should absolutely have this salad at your next summer party.
Melon Prosciutto Salad
This tasty Melon Prosciutto Salad is a delicious, fresh salad that is perfect for summer. Sweet honeydew and cantaloupe are layered with fresh mozzarella cheese. Studded with thinly sliced prosciutto and fresh basil leaves, this refreshing salad is dressed with a lemon vinaigrette.
Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad
Looking for a not-so-ordinary salad recipe for your next dinner party? Well, this easy strawberry goat cheese salad will be sure to impress your guests. The secret? It’s easier than it looks and tastes just as delicious as it looks.
More Summer Salad Recipes
Mediterranean Orzo Salad
This tasty Mediterranean Orzo Salad is filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and bell peppers all tossed with a zesty vinaigrette dressing. Perfect served as a side dish or topped with a grilled chicken breast as a main dish.
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Poppyseed Dressing
In this spinach summer salad fresh spinach, sliced strawberries, feta cheese, crispy bacon, walnuts, and red onion come together in a perfect medley covered in a sweet homemade poppyseed dressing.
Zesty Italian Pasta Salad
This zesty Italian pasta salad will be the tastiest side dish to anything you’re whipping up on the grill this summer. Inspired by the flavors of Italy, this Italian pasta salad will come together in 20 minutes in 2 simple steps and can also be made the day before.
Summer Herb Vinaigrette and Zucchini Salad
This is a delicious zesty herb vinaigrette recipe as well as a recipe for a tasty spiralized zucchini salad. Use the vinaigrette over summer salads, plopped onto steamed or baked potatoes, or dress up some grilled salmon, chicken breasts, or steak. Serve it with spiralized zucchini salad and you’ll have a feast for your eyes and your tongue.
Gluten-Free Greek Pasta Salad
This easy Gluten-Free Greek Pasta Salad is vegan, dairy-free, allergy-free, loaded with fresh crunchy veggies, & a homemade Greek vinaigrette! A healthy Mediterranean cold side dish recipe that takes the ingredients of a classic Greek salad, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, kalamata olives, red onion, and green pepper, & adds pasta!