When the sun is shining BRIGHT, and the days are long, who wants to spend ages in a hot kitchen?
That’s where summer salads come in – they’re a TOTAL lifesaver!
Fresh, cool, and super easy to whip up.
Plus, they add a burst of color and flavor to ANY meal.
I’ve put together a list of fantastic summer salad recipes.
You’ll find everything from super simple green salads to ones with yummy fruits or pasta.
These are PERFECT for picnics, BBQs, or just a light, healthy dinner.
Ready to find your new favorite? Let’s dive into these simple summer salads.
1. Easy Caprese Orzo Salad
Elevate your meal with this delicious Easy Caprese Orzo Salad. This delightful orzo salad brings together classic caprese flavors, making it the perfect side dish for any occasion.
2. Southwest Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado
Southwest Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocado offers a vibrant and fresh take on a classic.
Enjoy the delicious blend of smoky paprika and zesty lime, making this southwest chicken salad truly special.
3. Fritos Corn Salad
Fritos Corn Salad is the ultimate easy side dish for any gathering. This vibrant salad brings together sweet corn and a creamy taco-flavored dressing, perfectly complemented by crunchy Fritos chips. It’s a simple yet delicious way to add a crowd-pleasing touch to your meal.
4. Mexican Pasta Salad
Mexican Pasta Salad is a fantastic choice for any summer meal, packed with vibrant flavors. This delightful southwestern pasta salad features a creamy, zesty Southwestern Dressing, and you can easily make it a gluten free pasta salad. It’s sure to be a refreshing hit at your next barbecue.
5. Easy Antipasto Pasta Salad
Whip up this Easy Antipasto Pasta Salad in no time at all. This vibrant pasta salad uses simple grocery store shortcuts for an amazing dish. Your guests will be impressed by its delicious flavors and beautiful presentation.
6. Vegan Couscous Salad with Chickpeas and Charred Corn
This vibrant Vegan Couscous Salad with Chickpeas and Charred Corn is a truly easy vegan couscous recipe. Packed with fresh veggies, hearty chickpeas, and sweet charred corn, this bright vegan couscous bowl makes for a delicious and satisfying meal.
7. Pesto Pasta Salad
Pesto Pasta Salad is a vibrant and bright pasta dish, offering a perfect blend of fresh flavors. This delicious pesto pasta salad makes an excellent addition to picnics, summer parties, or a quick, satisfying lunch.
8. Greek Tuna Salad
Enjoy a delicious Greek Tuna Salad, a fresh take on the classic.
It’s bursting with Mediterranean vegetables, briny olives, and creamy feta for a vibrant, satisfying meal.
9. Mint Lentil Salad
This Mint Lentil Salad is a refreshing and filling dish, full of nourishing plant protein.
Fresh mint and creamy feta make this lentil salad deliciously satisfying.
10. Fresh Tuna Cucumber And Ricotta Cheese Salad
Discover the Fresh Tuna Cucumber And Ricotta Cheese Salad, a healthy and flavor-packed option.
This vibrant Ricotta salad features creamy ricotta infused with tuna, fresh greens, and crisp cucumbers.
It’s an easy and delicious choice for a light lunch or a refreshing summer meal.
11. Fresh Strawberry Rhubarb Salad
Fresh Strawberry Rhubarb Salad is a delightful fruit salad perfect for spring gatherings. It brings together juicy strawberries and sweet-tart fresh rhubarb, creating a wonderful mix of flavors. Tossed in a light dressing with crunchy almonds, it’s truly refreshing.
12. Grilled Vegetable Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette
Elevate your next meal with a vibrant Grilled Vegetable Salad with Lemon Basil Vinaigrette. This quick and easy grilled vegetable salad is bursting with flavor, making it the perfect low-carb side for any backyard BBQ.
13. Instant Pot Potato Salad
This Instant Pot Potato Salad is the ultimate easy side dish.
You can cook the potatoes and eggs right in the same pot, keeping your kitchen cool.
It’s the perfect way to enjoy classic potato salad with minimal effort.
14. Gluten-Free Quinoa Tabbouleh
This Gluten-Free Quinoa Tabbouleh is a refreshing twist on a classic Lebanese salad.
It features light, fluffy quinoa, fresh herbs, and a zesty lemon dressing, making it an easy and delicious side perfect for summer.
15. Corn Salad
This refreshing Corn Salad is incredibly simple to make.
It’s the perfect easy corn salad recipe for all your summer gatherings, from BBQs to picnics.
16. Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Enjoy this quick and easy Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad. It combines the classic Caesar flavors with tender chicken and satisfying pasta, making it a perfect pasta salad.
17. Dill Pickle White Bean Salad (vegan)
Dill Pickle White Bean Salad (vegan) is a fresh and easy no-lettuce option, perfect for spring and summer. This creamy salad features a dill-packed cashew dressing that tastes like pickle brine, making it great to prep ahead without getting soggy.
18. Watermelon Feta Salad
This Watermelon Feta Salad is perfectly refreshing for summer. It combines juicy watermelon, fresh blueberries, cucumber, and crumbly feta cheese for a delicious bite.
19. Vegan Chickpea Salad Recipe
This Vegan Chickpea Salad Recipe is a quick and easy way to enjoy a delightful meal.
It’s perfect for a simple chickpea salad sandwich, offering a fantastic vegan “chickpea chicken” alternative.
This versatile dish will become a fast favorite for everyone.
20. Sweet Heat Salad
This Sweet Heat Salad is a vibrant Asian-inspired main dish perfect for dinner. It beautifully combines spicy and sweet flavors, featuring crisp peppers, juicy oranges, and fresh carrots. Everything is tossed in a zesty lime chili dressing for a delightful meal.
21. Easy Thai Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
Brighten up your mealtime with these Easy Thai Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps, a delightful and fresh take on classic chicken salad. This delicious dish is perfect for a light lunch or dinner, offering a satisfying keto and low carb option. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy bold flavors without the heaviness.
22. Taco Slaw
This easy Taco Slaw is a crunchy and fresh side with a hint of spice. Use this vibrant cilantro lime slaw to elevate tacos, burgers, or any burrito bowl with delicious flavor and texture.
23. Tropical Broccoli Pineapple Salad
This Tropical Broccoli Pineapple Salad puts a bright, fresh twist on classic broccoli salad.
Enjoy the satisfying crunch with a tropical touch from juicy pineapple and macadamia nuts, all coated in a light, creamy dressing.
It’s an easy side dish perfect for spring picnics and summer barbecues.
24. Yogurt Pineapple Coleslaw Recipe
The Yogurt Pineapple Coleslaw Recipe offers a burst of sweet and spicy flavor for your next meal. This healthy coleslaw comes together in just 10 minutes, making it a perfect no mayo coleslaw choice. It’s an ideal fresh side to pair with any grilled feast.
25. KFC Copycat Coleslaw
This KFC Copycat Coleslaw delivers that famously crunchy, creamy, and sweet taste you love, right at home. It’s the perfect homemade side dish or a great addition to any potluck or barbecue spread.
26. Watermelon, feta and mint salad
This Watermelon, feta and mint salad is a refreshing mix of juicy watermelon, salty feta, and cool mint. It’s a perfect sweet and salty combination, with a hint of crunchy red onion, ideal for those hot summer days.
27. Tarragon Potato Salad
Tarragon Potato Salad is a wonderfully fresh and bright twist on a classic side.
This creamy potato salad features delightful hints of lemon and herbs in every bite.
It’s an inviting dish that’s perfect for any occasion.
28. Mexican Salad
This refreshing Mexican Salad combines vibrant greens with a medley of flavorful ingredients. It’s perfectly tossed in a zesty lime dressing, making it a wonderful side for any Mexican meal. Add grilled chicken to easily turn it into a satisfying main course.
29. Mediterranean Cold Rice Salad With Herbs And Feta
This Mediterranean Cold Rice Salad With Herbs And Feta is a light and vibrant dish.
It’s tossed with fresh herbs, zesty lemon, and salty feta.
Enjoy this Mediterranean rice recipe as a perfect light and healthy vegetarian side or main dish.
30. Keto Pasta Salad
Enjoy a delicious and light Keto Pasta Salad this summer.
This flavorful zucchini pasta salad is a perfect low carb alternative to traditional versions.
You won’t miss the pasta with this easy and healthy side dish.
31. Smoked mackerel salad
This Smoked mackerel salad is incredibly easy to make and full of flavor.
Enjoy this delicious smoked mackerel and chickpea salad for a quick and healthy meal.
32. Healthy Beet & Goat Cheese Salad
This Healthy Beet & Goat Cheese Salad is a wonderfully delicious and impressive dish. It’s a fantastic gluten-free salad that will leave you feeling light and satisfied. Enjoy a healthy, restaurant-quality meal at home.
33. Mexican Fruit Salad Recipe
This Mexican Fruit Salad Recipe is a refreshing and vibrant mix of juicy, sweet fruits. It features tropical favorites like mango and pineapple, perfectly complemented by a light honey-lime Tajin dressing. A hint of fresh mint adds the perfect finish to this delightful salad.
34. German Potato Salad
This German Potato Salad is a fantastic way to enjoy a comforting side dish.
It brings together warm baby potatoes, savory crispy bacon, and a delightfully tangy dressing.
This simple German Potato Salad recipe is truly perfect for any meal.
35. Cornbread Salad
This Southern Cornbread Salad is a true crowd-pleaser for any gathering.
It features a tasty ranch-style sour cream mayo dressing that makes this cornbread salad perfect to enjoy all year long.
36. Red Potato Salad Recipe
This creamy Red Potato Salad Recipe is a perfect addition to any potluck or BBQ. It’s simple to make, featuring red potatoes tossed in a tangy dill dressing with crunchy celery. This comforting dish can even be prepared ahead of time.
37. Mexican Fruit Salad
This Mexican Fruit Salad is wonderfully easy and refreshing.
It’s the perfect sweet treat for hot summer days, even more impressive served in a hollowed-out pineapple.
38. Thai Cucumber Salad
This Thai Cucumber Salad captures the amazing taste of your favorite restaurant dish. It’s incredibly quick to prepare, taking just minutes to make. Enjoy this delightful cucumber salad as the perfect addition to any meal.
39. Hearts of Palm Avocado Salad
This Hearts of Palm Avocado Salad is a bright and easy side dish.
It combines creamy avocado with citrusy hearts of palm for a delicious, no-lettuce salad.
Enjoy this refreshing avocado salad on its own or alongside your favorite protein.
40. Korean Bean Sprout Salad
Korean Bean Sprout Salad is a simple and flavorful side dish, perfect for any Korean meal. This light and fresh bean sprout salad recipe offers a delicious crunch with savory sesame notes. It’s an easy addition that complements many main dishes.