Warm weather is finally here, which means it’s time to set your table with these delicious summer salad recipes! Whether you’re in need of a quick potluck side dish that will have everyone asking for the recipe, or just need ideas for using up your garden tomatoes and summer squash, these salads will have everyone excited about eating their veggies.
Tomato Salad with Guajillo Chile Dressing
Ready to celebrate garden-fresh tomatoes? Especially if you grow your own or pick up a few at the farmers market, this easy summer salad recipe is one the best, simplest ways to dress them up for dinner. The dressing uses dried guajillo chiles, which will add a mild heat–great for pairing with juicy tomatoes, tangy green onions, and creamy queso fresco.
Greek-Inspired Quinoa Salad with Lemon-Feta Dressing
Horiatiki is a famous Grecian chopped salad, and it’s brimming with fresh seasonal ingredients. This summer quinoa salad recipe packs in all kinds of color and flavor with baby spinach, tri-color mini bell peppers, red onion, and chopped cucumber. Use your fork or scoop it up with pita chips–either way, be sure to snap a pic before everyone dives in!
Fresh Corn Salad with Stone Fruit and Herbs
If summer means stone fruit and sweet corn to you, don’t miss adding this salad to your cookout menu. A take on fattoush (a Lebanese salad that combines veggies with toasted flatbread), this summer corn salad also features your favorite juicy stone fruit, whether it’s nectarines, peaches, or plums. Keep with tradition and serve with fresh herbs like parsley and mint and sliced pita.
Cherry Caprese Salad
You’re probably already familiar with caprese salad–after all, the combo of fresh tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and balsamic vinaigrette is practically a requirement during summer. But this version takes advantage of another seasonal ingredient: fresh cherries. Toss dark sweet cherries right in with traditional caprese ingredients, and you won’t be able to get enough of this ultra-yummy summer salad recipe.
Strawberry Salad with Feta, Arugula, and Pickled Red Onions
Here’s a way to help use up all those fresh strawberries from the farmers market (besides strawberry shortcake, of course): turn them into a salad! This summer strawberry salad balances the sweetness of the berries with tangy pickled onions, peppery arugula, and creamy feta. Once everything is tossed together, the result is a stunning salad great for a picnic or barbecue.
Zucchini, Summer Squash, and Chicken Salad
This colorful dish makes a delicious light dinner or a hearty lunch on a hot day. Cousa squash is similar to zucchini, but it’s rounder and has a slightly sweeter flavor that pairs well with corn in this summer chicken salad recipe. For a stunning presentation, be sure to slice the zucchini and summer squash into ribbons.
Triple-Melon Salad
Watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew–add as much or as little of each as you want, but be sure to include at least a little fresh summer watermelon. Served with arugula, feta cheese, and red onions, their strong flavors are the best complement for subtle, juicy melons. Finish this summer fruit salad off with a homemade garlic-citrus vinaigrette.
Fresh Corn Salad
No matter where you live in the United States (but especially if you call the Midwest home), everyone knows summer is sweet corn season. Since it takes center stage in this summer corn salad, this recipe gets even better toward the end of the season when corn is ripe. Pair it with other veggies like cucumber, sweet peppers, cherry tomatoes, and basil, and let the produce shine by topping with a simple vinaigrette.
Bacon-Corn-Tomato Salad
Craving a BLT? This easy summer salad recipe has all of the flavor of the classic sandwich, plus a few extra seasonal favorites. Mix crispy bacon and juicy cherry tomatoes with freshly grilled sweet corn, then the only topping you need is a little salt and pepper and a drizzle of cider vinegar.
Kale Falafel Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts
Vegetarians, this summer kale salad recipe is for you! Prepared falafel and hummus help make this veggie-filled dish hearty enough for a meal. Spread the hummus over your plate or the serving platter, then build the salad on top so every bite is creamy and delicious.
Chicken and Strawberry Panzanella
Want a summer strawberry salad you can serve for dinner? Look no further than this super easy panzanella; this take on the classic Tuscan bread salad uses kale, homemade croutons, fresh strawberries, and rotisserie chicken for easy protein. The summer kale salad only takes 25 minutes, so you can toss it together in no time!
Summer Tomato Salad
Just one look at this easy summer salad recipe will instantly draw everyone in. The key is to use as many different colors of ripe tomatoes as you can find, like red, yellow, green, and orange. Their brightness combined with microgreens and red onion makes a real feast for the eyes (and for your stomach!).
Summer Spaghetti Salad
Tear strands of string cheese and combine with spaghetti and zucchini noodles to make the base of this tasty summer salad. As you twirl your fork, you’ll get a little bit of each in every bite. Top with fresh herbs and cherry tomatoes, and serve with your favorite grilled protein.
Basil Quinoa Salad
The best easy summer salad for anyone with an herb garden, this tasty recipe combines a full cup of fresh basil with spinach or arugula (your choice). In addition to veggies like sweet peppers and tomatoes, this dish also has red kidney beans to give it some protein. Try serving it as a fresh side with steak from the grill, or have it for lunch by making the quinoa mix ahead and adding the greens just before digging in.
Cucumber-Tomato Salad
Need a refreshing side dish? Toss cucumbers with cherry, grape, and pear tomatoes, plus a tangy sherry vinegar and fresh ginger dressing. This easy summer salad recipe makes 10 servings (and it’s easy to double if you need even more), so it’s a great healthy dish to bring to a picnic or potluck with friends.
Classic Broccoli Salad
This salad has appeared on potluck tables for decades. It's a sweet and savory mix of fresh broccoli, crispy bacon, sunflower seeds, and raisins. A creamy dressing pulls the whole thing together.
Grilled Avocado and Pineapple Salad
For the ultimate summer salad, grill your fruit and vegetables first. Here, grilled pineapple and avocado add subtle smokiness to a salad made with lettuce, blackberries, and herbs.
Grilled Watermelon Salad
Just four minutes on the grill imparts watermelon slices with a hint of smokiness. Serve the slices over a romaine salad that's flavored with pickled radishes and a honey dressing.
Corn and Blueberry Salad
Showcase the season's best in this easy summer salad. As one reviewer raves, "A great salad. I’ve made this many times and it’s always a hit. I love being able to use seasonal produce to create a side dish with unexpected combinations!"
Creamy BLT Pasta Salad
For many of us, a BLT sandwich is the ultimate summer dinner. Here, we've reimagined those flavors into a creamy pasta salad. Before serving, top the dish with crispy bacon and chopped chives.
French Chopped Salad
Inspired by a classic niçoise salad, this summer side is filled with potatoes, green beans, hard-boiled eggs, and olives. If you're bringing this dish to a summer party, add the dressing just before serving.
Bean, Corn, and Tomato Salad
The freshness of summer veggies shines in this easy salad recipe. But our favorite part is the combination of fresh basil and mint on top.
Mediterranean Salad on Mini Naan
We like to pile this bean salad onto flatbread and eat it like a sandwich. The combination of olives, mozzarella, chickpeas, and arugula is the perfect balance of flavors and textures.
