The best summer salad recipes to really bring the sunshine to your table
Whether you're after a salad that's a complete meal on its own, or something to serve as a side to your next BBQ or picnic, these summer salad recipes will see you through the sunny months.
This vibrant collection of summery salad recipes is your one-stop pass to all things fresh, colourful and satisfying, whether you're on the lookout for a simple side dish or something that's a complete meal on its own.
Crisp greens, juicy fruits, hearty grains, protein-rich legumes, salty cheeses and zingy dressings - there’s something here for every mood, occasion and diet, whether you fancy plant-powered bowls or something enriched with fish, meat or poultry.
Ideal for everything from impromptu picnics and barbecues to special dinners or solo lunches. Mix ‘em up as they are or add your own twist - these easy-to-build bowls and platters let seasonal flavours shine. Easy to whip up yet impressive to serve, they’re summer eating at its best: simple, flexible and endlessly delicious.
Watermelon and Smokey Chickpea Salad
This salad would also make a lovely accompaniment to a late-summer barbecue. You can add some crumbled feta for an additional salty kick, if you like.
Spicy Thai Beef Salad
Thai basil has an intensely aromatic, slight aniseed flavour that pairs well with the cooling mint and fruity mango, but you could swap it for coriander if you prefer. Toasted ground rice is a traditional choice to add crunch and flavour to fresh and punchy salads.
Recipe: Spicy Thai Beef Salad
Potato and Sweetcorn Sunshine Salad
Potato salad gets a modern makeover, with a zingy dressing and refreshing crunch of chicory for texture and flavour.
Salmon Caesar
A seafood twist on a classic. Our fail-safe Caesar dressing uses shop-bought mayonnaise for ease and speed.
Recipe: Salmon Caesar
Orzo salad
Somewhere between a rice and a pasta salad, this recipe is inspired by a Greek salad, packed with green beans, cucumber, tomatoes, olives, red onion and herbs.
Recipe: Orzo Salad
Wild rice, roasted grape and halloumi salad
Roasting the grapes brings out their sweetness, which goes perfectly with the salty halloumi to balance it out slightly in this veggie but protein-packed salad.
Vietnamese shredded chicken salad
This salad is packed with crunchy vegetables, fresh herbs, and rice noodles, all coated in a sweet n' sour Vietnamese dressing.
Green goddess salad
You’d never guess this ‘creamy’ dressing is vegan. Try experimenting with different soft herbs; tarragon and parsley would work well, too.
Recipe: Green Goddess Salad
Pulled Pork & Pineapple Slaw
Tender, sweet and sticky pork meat and a fresh and crunchy, zingy slaw are a match made in heaven.
Recipe: Pulled Pork & Pineapple Slaw
Wimbledon Salad
All the elements of a classic Pimm’s cocktail, but with a savoury twist – this salad is a surprising summery delight.
Recipe: Wimbledon Salad
Mexican Chicken Salad
Inspired by an American ‘chopped’ salad, this easy assembly job is sure to become a summer favourite
Recipe: Mexican Chicken Salad
Halloumi and Aubergine Salad
Packed full of protein and fibre to keep you feeling fuller for longer. You can cook the halloumi and veggies on a griddle pan, or if you've got the BBQ out do them on that for even more smokey flavour.
Recipe: Halloumi and Aubergine Salad
Ham Hock, Jersey Royal and Broad Bean Salad
Make the most of the Jersey Royals crop with this super seasonal Summer salad.
Shaved Fennel and Samphire Salad
Full of fresh flavours, this pretty shaved fennel and samphire salad makes the perfect side dish to a special meal.
Recipe: Shaved Fennel and Samphire Salad
Duck, Strawberry and Goat’s Cheese Salad
The sweetness of the berries cuts perfectly through the richness of the duck, making for a fantastic summer salad.
Mandarin, pomegranate and goat's cheese salad
This vibrant and tangy salad is filled with walnuts, goat's cheese and zingy mandarin and pomegranate. Plus, a zesty mustard dressing. Perfect for cutting through fatty BBQ'd meats.
Prawn and Mango Noodle Salad
You only need to boil the kettle for this refreshing Asian-style salad.
Recipe: Prawn and Mango Noodle Salad
Vegan Caesar Salad
Roasting the tofu and chickpeas with cornflour helps them to crisp up and is a healthier alternative to frying.
Recipe: Vegan Caesar Salad
Quinoa and Chimichurri Steak Salad
Toasting the quinoa first gives it a nutty taste and slight crunch in this steak salad recipe.
Chicken Naan Salad
Classic curry flavours are transformed into a flavoursome platter.
Recipe: Chicken Naan Salad
An experienced and highly skilled team of food writers, stylists and digital content producers, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Team is a close-knit squad of food obsessives. Cookery Editor Emma Franklin is our resident chilli obsessive and barbecue expert, who spends an inordinate amount of time on holidays poking round the local supermarkets seeking out new and exciting foods. Senior Cookery Writer Alice Shields is a former pastry chef and baking fanatic who loves making bread and would have peanut butter with everything if she could. Her favourite carb is pasta, and our vibrant green spaghetti is her weeknight go-to. Lover of all things savoury, Senior Cookery Writer Grace Evans can be found eating crispy corn and nocellara olives at every opportunity, and will take the cheeseboard over dessert any time (though she cannot resist a slice of tres leches cake). With a wealth of professional kitchen know-how, culinary training and years of experience between them, they are all dedicated to ensuring every Good Housekeeping recipe is the best it can be, so you can trust they’ll work (and if they don’t – we’ll have the answer for why*) every time (*90% of the time the answer is: “buy an separate oven thermometer”!).
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