40 Easy Summer Salads That Pack in the Best Seasonal Flavors
These filling recipes taste so very farmers' market to table.
When the weather heats up and your motivation to be anywhere near the kitchen goes down, these refreshing and easy summer salad recipes will help you get a healthy dinner or side dish on the table, no sweat. Our easy picks make the most of summer produce— from sweet tomatoes to succulent corn and juicy peaches — so that you can celebrate the bountiful season in the best (and most delicious!) way possible. Bonus: these fresh ideas with few ingredients will leave you with extra time for fun backyard games with your favorite people.
Whatever your salad craving, we’re here to help! If you need hearty ideas for dinner, we rounded up plenty of protein-packed summer salad recipes with chicken, shrimp, steak, pork or countless colorful vegetarian options. Bright and crunchy salads make the best BBQ side dishes to complement smoky grilled mains, while summer salads with fruit offer a sweet-savory contrast you’ll be thinking about ‘til fall.
These easy and satisfying recipes are packed with full of summer flavors that you can make in a cinch to spend more time enjoying those beautiful sunny days! Make-ahead pasta salads (yep, we're counting them as salad) make summer family cookouts so much easier, while mason jar salads are a cinch to bring to a picnic. And don't forget to make the most of the season with these summer dinner recipes as well! Summertime livin’ should be as easy as these summer salad recipes.
Watermelon Salad with Feta
For a refreshing summer salad, look no further than this dynamite watermelon salad with feta and cucumbers tossed in a super simple dressing.
Get the Watermelon Salad with Feta recipe.
Herby Red Potato Salad
A perfect summer side, classic potato salad gets an herby refresh with the addition of parsley and dill in this satisfying variation.
Get the Herby Red Potato Salad recipe.
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Wedge Salad with Creamy Herb Dressing
We love a wedge salad, and especially can't get enough of this herby green dressing loaded with parsley, chives and dill. Yum!
California Roll Salad
Itching to switch up sushi night? Look no further than this California roll turned salad, complete with spicy mayo, sesame seeds and plenty of veggies.
Get the California Roll Salad recipe.
Vegan Caesar Salad
You won't even miss the meat in this caesar salad full of crispy chickpeas, crunchy croutons and grilled radishes.
Get the Vegan Caesar Salad recipe.
RELATED: 70 Vegan Recipes so Good, You'll Forget About Meat and Cheese
Bright Radish Salad
This stunning salad showcases a variety of radishes for a showstopping colorful dish.
Get the Bright Radish Salad recipe.
Cobb Salad
Get your fill of veggies and protein with our favorite Cobb salad! Full of chicken, egg, tomatoes, bacon and blue cheese, this filling meal will keep you full for hours to come.
Get the Cobb Salad recipe.
RELATED: 43 Summer Chicken Recipes to Switch It Up All Season
BLT Pasta Salad
Pasta totally counts as salad in our book, especially if it's loaded with veggies.
Get the BLT Pasta Salad recipe.
BBQ Chickpea and Grilled Nectarine Salad
Consider this our new go-to grilled vegetarian main: With smoky chickpeas, juicy nectarines, and peppery arugula, you won't miss the meat.
Get the BBQ Chickpea and Grilled Nectarine Salad recipe.
RELATED: 37 Delicious Healthy Salads That Are Fresh and Filling
Grilled Haloumi Salad
Salty, semi-soft cheese paired with lemony vegetables and fluffy cous cous will be your new summer standout recipe.
Get the Grilled Haloumi Salad recipe.
Tomato, Peach, and Basil Salad
Salty feta adds a creamy, savory twist to this 10-minute salad with juicy in-season fruit.
Get the Tomato, Peach, and Basil Salad recipe.
RELATED: 4 Types of Peaches You'll Be Eating All Summer Long
Charred Shrimp and Avocado Salad
Pineapple and avocado turn up the tropical vibes on this shrimp salad, while cucumber and watercress keep it fresh and crunchy.
Get the Charred Shrimp and Avocado Salad recipe.
RELATED: 20 Quick and Easy Grilled Shrimp Recipes to Try This Summer
Chickpea Pasta Salad in a Jar
Just flip it over, watch the dressing run down, and dig into this veggie-packed mason jar salad. Quadruple the recipe, toss it in a bowl, and it becomes dinner for the whole family.
Get the Chickpea Pasta Salad in a Jar recipe.
RELATED: 31 Best Make-Ahead Meals to Fill up Your Fridge and Freezer
Ginger Pork and Cucumber Salad
Forget the lettuce! Fresh cilantro and mint make up the bulk of this spicy salad.
Greek Salad
Briny capers give this Mediterranean dish a serious boost of flavor, while a pinch of sugar balances the tartness. Consider this our go-to Greek salad recipe.
Get the Greek Salad recipe.
Thai Steak and Pear Salad
A little sweet, a little salty, and super hearty, this 20-minute meal makes a great weeknight dinner.
Get the Thai Steak and Pear Salad recipe.
Grilled Green Beans, Fennel, and Farro
Packed with fiber-loaded farro, this flavorful side also makes a light vegetarian main.
Heirloom Tomato Salad
Behold: the ultimate summer salad.
Get the Heirloom Tomato Salad recipe.
Cheesy Tex-Mex Stuffed Chicken
What's better than salad and chicken for dinner? Salad and chicken stuffed with spicy herbed cheese.
Get the Cheesy Tex-Mex Stuffed Chicken recipe.
RELATED: 60 Easy Chicken Breast Recipes That Are Anything But Boring
Sesame Cucumber Salad
Loaded with tongue-tingling sesame, ginger, and soy sauce, this bright recipe holds a permanent spot in our healthy summer side dish rotation.
Get the Sesame Cucumber Salad recipe.
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