Celebrate summer with these vibrant, crowd-pleasing Summer Salad Recipes! Whether you’re craving a pasta salad, a crisp green salad, or a salad topped with BBQ chicken, there’s something for everyone on this list.
Summer is Salad Season 🥗
A salad is something I make for almost every summer meal. A bowl of crisp, cooling vegetables on a hot day? It’s honestly all I crave this time of year.
Father’s Day, a Fourth of July potluck, or a regular Tuesday dinner in August, you can bet that I’ll throw a salad together. I can have a lot of fun getting creative with fresh, seasonal summer produce, light and bright salad dressings, and extra add-ins, simply in the name of putting a big, bold, and beautiful salad together.
You can scroll through my favorite summer salad recipes below and check out the rest of my salad recipes while you’re here.
Types of Summer Salads
I don’t discriminate—I love all types of summer salads!
- Green salads: Leafy greens, from romaine to kale to arugula, tossed with fresh summer vegetables, fruits, and/or grilled meats and dressed usually in a zesty dressing or vinaigrette.
- Pasta salads: Pasta makes everything better, including salads. I love how you can toss cooked pasta with crunchy veggies and a creamy dressing or a vinaigrette, and it will always be the first to disappear at the backyard BBQ.
- Potato salads: AKA one of the most popular summer salads ever, period. My healthy potato salad is a little lighter than the average recipe, but just as creamy and irresistible.
- Grain salads: Adding cooked quinoa, farro, brown rice, or barley to a summer salad is one of the best ways to turn it into a centerpiece.
- Bean salads: Any salad where beans are the star. Chickpeas, cannellini beans, and black beans are a few of my favorites.
11+ Salad Recipes to Make All Summer Long
1
Lemon Orzo Salad
This Lemon Orzo Salad is made with fresh produce like tomatoes, zucchini and basil, and the lemons make it light and refreshing. It’s healthy and a perfect make-ahead lunch recipe, so what are you waiting for? Dig in!
2
Zucchini Salad
Celebrate summer with this no-cook Zucchini Salad. It’s the ultimate refreshing and colorful warm-weather side dish that tosses raw zucchini, tomatoes, red onion, pine nuts, cheese, and fresh herbs in a simple citrusy vinaigrette.
3
Pea Salad
This easy, healthy Pea Salad recipe is a tasty appetizer to bring to your next potluck or family gathering! Made with green peas, bacon, red onion, and cheddar cheese, plus a lightened up creamy dressing, it comes together in under 15 minutes!
4
Classic Panzanella Salad
This Classic Panzanella Salad is the ultimate crowd-pleasing summer salad! Toasted ciabatta, veggies, basil, and mozzarella are dressed in a tangy vinaigrette to ensure every bite is bursting with refreshing Italian flavors.
5
Italian Pasta Salad
This loaded Italian Pasta Salad has pasta, meat, veggies, and cheese in every bite! Tossed in an irresistible homemade dressing, it’s a must-make for all of your summer parties.
6
Cannellini Bean Salad
Cannellini Bean Salad is the ultimate spring and summertime recipe! It’s made with cannellini beans (aka white kidney beans), tomatoes, cucumbers, and onion, and drizzled with a simple lemon dressing. It’s light yet flavorful, plant-based and ready in just 10 minutes!
7
Zesty Quinoa Salad
This protein-packed Zesty Quinoa Salad is a party for your taste buds! It’s the best summer side dish or healthy lunch made with quinoa, veggies, nuts, avocado, feta, and herbs dressed in a sweet and savory vinaigrette.
8
BBQ Chicken Salad
This BBQ Chicken Salad tosses baked BBQ chicken thighs, black beans, corn, avocado, tomatoes, and lettuce in a zesty cilantro lime vinaigrette. Enjoy it for healthy weeknight dinners or as a Southwestern-inspired side dish!
9
Burrata Peach Salad
Need to use up ripe peaches? This 5-minutes Burrata Peach Salad is the way to go! Mixed greens topped with fresh peaches, basil, burrata, and a simple balsamic glaze create this light and fresh salad recipe.
10
Grilled Corn Kale Salad
Enjoy a healthy Corn Kale Salad on its own or as a side to any meal. Ready in under 20 minutes, it’s made with massaged kale and topped with grilled corn, squash, avocado, and an easy homemade chili-lime dressing. Plus, it’s both vegan AND gluten free!
11
Stone Fruit Panzanella Salad
This Stone Fruit Panzanella Salad recipe is made with bread, olive oil and stone fruit for a fun and summery take on a traditional panzanella salad.
12
Watermelon Basil Salad
This easy Watermelon Basil Salad tosses cubed watermelon, basil, mint, feta, and red onion in a sweet and floral champagne honey vinaigrette. It’s a refreshing side dish that’s best enjoyed under the summer sun!
Even More Salad Recipes
