25 Flavor-Packed Summer Salad Recipes You Can Whip Up in Minutes
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Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time to enjoy fresh, vibrant salads that are quick and easy to make. We’ve put together a list of our favorite flavor-packed easy summer salad recipes we return to again and again.
We find these salads are perfect for hot days when you want something light, filling, and not your usual boring everyday salad.
From classic favorites to creative new combinations, there’s something for everyone, even your kids. Whether you’re looking for a healthy lunch or dinner, a side dish for your barbecue, or a quick picnic snack, these recipes are sure to jazz up your mealtime.
Find a new favorite summer salad today!
Refresh Your Menu With Simple Summer Salad Ideas
When thinking about easy summer salad recipes for my family, I like to keep these tips in mind:
- Prep Ingredients in Advance: Chop vegetables, cook proteins, and prepare dressings ahead of time to save time when assembling your salads. We like to meal prep for the week, & put everything into these glass storage containers to make our weeknights easier.
- Keep Ingredients Separate: Store components like greens, toppings, and dressings separately to maintain their textures until you’re ready to mix them. Unless the recipe notes you should mix ahead.
- Choose Fresh, Seasonal Produce: Opt for in-season fruits and vegetables for the best flavor and nutritional value. Visiting local markets is one of my favourite summertime activities. We use these handy reusable mesh produce bags to reduce our plastic use. They’re surprisingly handy.
- Dry Greens Thoroughly: Use a salad spinner to remove excess water from greens, which helps prevent sogginess.
- Label and Date Containers: Clearly mark containers with the date of preparation to keep track of freshness.
- Use Mason Jars for Layered Salads: For grab-and-go convenience, layer salads in mason jars, starting with the dressing at the bottom and ending with the greens on top. This is my go-to for work lunches.
- Include Protein for a Complete Meal: Add proteins like grilled chicken, beans, or tofu to make your salads more filling and nutritious. Store bought rotisserie chicken is a parent’s best meal friend for quick easy summer dinners.
1. Chicken Cobb Salad
Why eat boring meals if you don’t have to.
Chicken Cobb Salad is the ultimate summer salad for dinner meal. Heap your plate with your favourite toppings over top of a bed of fresh lettuce.
Grilled chicken, bacon, cherry tomatoes, hard-boiled eggs, red onion, creamy avocado with a tangy balsalmic dressing. Yum!
Get the recipe: Chicken Cobb Salad
2. Easy Italian Summer Pasta Salad
This easy Italian pasta salad is a recipe my youngest asks for all year round. There is something satisfying about the mix of colorful rotini, fresh mozzarella balls, salami cubes & cherry tomatoes with a zesty dressing.
We’ve taken it camping, made it at our vacation rentals, packed it for picnics, had it for dinner, lunch, and even breakfast. It’s so versatile, you can easily to switch out ingredients for pickier eaters too.
Get the recipe: Easy Italian Pasta Salad
3. Strawberry Goat Cheese Arugula Salad
Strawberries scream summer, and this Arugula Goat Cheese Salad is a vibrant and refreshing dish perfect for warm weather.
Combining the peppery bite of arugula with the sweetness of fresh strawberries and the creamy tang of goat cheese, this salad is a delightful mix of flavors and textures.
Topped with roasted pecans and drizzled with a tangy balsamic dressing, it’s an easy-to-make, nutritious option that’s sure to impress your family, and friends.
Get the recipe: Strawberry Goat Cheese Arugula Salad
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4. German Potato Salad
I love a good tasty potato salad in the summer time, but I’m not a huge fan of mayonnaise. I know, shocking! Which is why this traditional German potato salad is so appealing.
Hearty potatoes are coated in a flavourful broth, vinegar and mustard dressing, and of course the bacon. Top with green onions for a pop of color.
Get the recipe: German Potato Salad
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5. Mediterranean Bean Salad
If you’re looking for a healthy side dish a filling lunch, or main-course salads, try this Mediterranean Bean Salad.
Packed with chickpeas, white beans, Mediterranean veggies and feta cheese, it’s topped with a light lemony dressing.
Get the recipe: Mediterranean Bean Salad
6. Roasted Beet and Watermelon Salad with Goat Cheese
Roasted beet and watermelon salad is the best of the season with it’s vibrant colors, interesting textures and tastes.
The creamy goat cheese works perfectly with earthy beets and peppery arugula, while juicy watermelon adds a refreshing summer touch. Top it with crunchy roasted pepitas and a homemade honey tangy vinaigrette
Whether it’s a hot summer day or any other season, you can adapt this recipe by swapping watermelon with apples in the fall, citrus in the winter, or strawberries in the spring.
Get the recipe: Roasted Watermelon & Beet Salad
7. Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad
Elevate your cucumber salad with a Taiwanese twist.
Crisp cucumbers are lightly salted, then dressed with aromatic sesame oil, chili oil, and thinly sliced raw garlic with red bell pepper. A delicious copycat recipe from the well known Din Tai Fung restaurants.
Get the recipe: Din Tai Fung Cucumber Salad
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8. Mango Strawberry Salad Over Pan Fried Tilapia
Mangos are my favorite fruit of all time. And this summer fresh mango strawberry avocado fruit salad is flavorful, bright, crisp, and sweet. An ideal topping for pan fried fish, or to eat as is.
Get the recipe: Mango Strawberry Salad
9. Curry Roasted Chickpea Salad
Keep your meatless meals interesting with this flavourful & protein packed curry roasted chickpea salad over a bed of leafy greens.
Starting with canned chickpeas makes this salad easy & accessible for a busy weeknight.
Get the recipe: Curry Roasted Chickpea Salad
10. Easy Taco Salad
Easy Taco Salad is one meal my family eats often in the summer..ok year round to be honest. It’s so easy and tasty, making it perfect for a family dinner or a meal prep lunch. Look at all those tasty toppings.
To keep my youngest interested, I’ll often just give her taco shells or wraps to put the “salad” in, as she’ll actually eat it, if it’s a taco.
If taking it for lunch, pack in a mason jar in layers.
Get the recipe: Easy Taco Salad
11. White Bean Tuna Salad
Experience the vibrant flavors of the Mediterranean with a creamy White Bean Tuna Salad. Flaky tuna, white beans and juicy vine-ripened tomatoes, are tossed in a tangy lemon vinegrette for a fresh & light summer meal.
Get the recipe: White Bean Tuna Salad
12. Pepperoni Pizza Pasta Salad
How to get kids to eat more salad – tell them it’s pepperoni pizza pasta salad! Need I say more?
We like to top it with freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Get the recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad
⭐️ More family friendly Chicken casserole recipes to make weeknight meal prep a breeze.
13. Peach Salad with Cherries and Goat Cheese
All my favourite summer things rolled into one salad; fresh summer peaches & cherries, goat cheese on a bed of tender lettuce. Drizzled in a flavorful, tangy-sweet Honey Balsamic Vinaigrette.
A signature summer salad quick enough for every day, and special enough to share at all those summertime picnics, or neighborhood cookouts.
Get the recipe: Peach Salad with Cherries & Goat Cheese
14. Summer Orzo Salad
Summer Orzo Salad is something I’ll often bring to picnics, BBQs and parties, as it’s so simple to make, but looks fancy enough for gatherings. Making it one of the best summer salads.
The added chickpeas to the cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and feta really make this a light meal on hot days too.
Get the recipe: Summer Orzo Pasta Salad
17. Grilled Watermelon Haloumi Salad Recipe
If you’re already firing up the grill, then why not try a fun grilled watermelon and haloumi salad. The mix of mint, olive oil, balsamic dressing with the sweet watermelon and salty haloumi cheese is a treat.
Get the recipe: Grilled Watermelon & Haloumi Salad
18. Pearl Barley Salad
Did anyone say they have too many zucchinis? Must be summer time.
Which means it’s the perfect time to bring out this Pearl Barley Salad recipe. A light and refreshing meal, that makes use of all those seasonal fresh ingredients, summer veggies & fresh herbs; asparagus, zucchini, juicy tomatoes and fresh rosemary
Get the recipe: Pearl Barley Salad
19. Asian Zoodle Salad
Saying the word zoodle makes me giggle every time. But don’t let the funny name fool you, this Asian Zoodle Salad is where it’s at.
If you’re looking to add more veggies into your life, these diced and spiralized vegetables combined with tangy Asian dressing make for a delicious side dish.
Get the recipe: Asian Zoodle Salad
20. Easy BLT Ranch Pasta Salad
All the BLT flavours you love with a fresh homemade ranch dressing. A cold, classic salad you can bring out for BBQs, picnics, parties or an easy weeknight meal. This would make a fun summer vacation rental dinner too!
Get the recipe: Easy BLT Ranch Pasta Salad
21. Melon Proscuitto Salad
This melon prosciutto salad recipe is a unique twist on the classic caprese salad. Replacing the tomatoes with melon gives it a sweeter taste that compliments the salty proscuitto so well.
One of the best summer salad recipes for summer BBQs, summer picnics, or just because you deserve it.
Get the recipe: Melon Proscuitto Caprese Salad
22. Sweet Broccoli Apple Pasta Salad
Sometimes it’s hard to get my kids into eating more fresh veggies, or salad for dinner. I find if I sneak the vegetables in around the pasta they are more likely to accidentally eat one by osmosis. Lol!
Broccoli Salad with apples and pasta is a healthy and creamy side dish that is filled with things most kids will eat anyway. Sweet honey crisp apple, carrots, broccoli and raisins are all mixed in with the pasta.
Get the recipe: Sweet Broccoli Apple Pasta Salad
23. Mexican Street Corn Salad (Vegan)
Fresh grilled sweet corn (elotes) is paired with a cool, creamy, and tangy gluten-free & vegan mayo, cilantro and lime sauce, with a dash of spice. A favorite summer salad recipe during corn season.
Get the recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad
24. Shrimp Pasta Salad
Looking for super easy salad recipes? Then this Shrimp Pasta with acreamy and spicy avocado dressing is the one for you. Mexican flavors combined with shrimp, in-season produce, and fresh tomatoes will have your belly smiling in no time.
Get the recipe: Shrimp Pasta Salad
25. Rainbow Salad Bowl & Maple Dijon Dressing
Eat a rainbow of crunchy veggies, incuding bell peppers, over a a bed of leafy greens tonight. All the best flavors of the season wrapped up in cool salad bursting with color and flavours.
Get the recipe: Rainbow Salad Bowl
Final Thoughts: Favorite Summer Salad Recipes To Keep You Cool & Fed
Our favorite summer salad recipes are perfect for staying cool during the hot months this year.
Not only are they easy to prepare and packed with fresh ingredients, these salads offer a variety of flavors and options to suit any taste.
Enjoy these recipes to keep your meals light, healthy, and refreshing all summer long.
More summer ideas & family friendly recipes to try:
