30 Summer Salad Recipes You Need

This strawberry salad goes with just about every summer meal! It starts with a tangy balsamic vinaigrette, then layers greens, strawberries, and thin sliced red onion. Top it off with chopped pecans and a bit of salty feta cheese. It's great with pizza, with salmon, with pasta, and anything off the grill.

It’s not summer until you’ve made corn salad! This one is all about fresh flavor: sweet bursts of corn, juicy tomatoes, and herbaceous basil pair with a tangy, light vinaigrette. If you’re like me, you won’t be able to stop eating it! Top with feta cheese crumbles if you like, or keep it as a plant based salad: it’s just as good either way. 

Growing up, at my house one salad meant summer: cucumber salad with vinegar! It’s simple and punchy, with a vinegar-based dressing that packs in tangy, sweet and salty flavor. It’s ideal for just about anytime: summer cookouts or pitch-ins, lunches, or an easy make-ahead side dish 

This classic American summer salad has been gracing tables for generations, and everyone has their own take on it. Here’s our spin on that bean salad of my youth, with a little less sugar and more freshness. But don’t worry: it’s still a salad that’s as easy as dump and stir. 

Here's my top summer salad recipe to make each season! This peach salad is a standout, pairing juicy ripe peaches with a sweet balsamic vinaigrette, punches of creamy goat cheese and nutty toasted almonds. Add pops of sweet corn and savory red onion slivers and it's a total treat!

This potato salad is truly the best potato salad I've had. It tastes like your favorite deli counter potato salad, but more vibrant and delicious. It's tangy and crunchy, filled with minced dill pickle, green onion, yellow mustard, and mayo.

Also try my French Potato Salad.

Of course, no list of summer salads is complete without a good pasta salad! This one is loaded with zingy flavor: briny olives, crunchy veggies, soft mozzarella and chewy pasta. Load it with fresh basil and there’s so much going on, you might not be able to stop eating it!

Also try my other favorite Pasta Salad Recipes, like Pesto Pasta Salad or Greek Pasta Salad.

What could be more summer than a watermelon salad? This one takes only 10 minutes to throw together and is the perfect accessory to any barbecue or cookout. It features juicy sweet watermelon and salty feta cheese, topped with a bit of chopped basil. See also Watermelon Basil Salad

If we're talking main dish salads, this grilled chicken salad recipe combines juicy chicken, crunchy vegetables and a tangy Italian vinaigrette, topped with pepperoncini and Parmesan for a zesty, satisfying meal. Substitute grilled tofu for vegetarian and vegan!

Here's a family favorite pasta salad: this Tortellini Salad! It's ultra versatile for picnics, barbecues, and an easy lunch idea: Tortellini Salad! The tang of the artichoke, chewy pillowy pasta, zippy tomatoes, and peppery basil make a delicious meld of flavors. Even better, it stores up to 4 days in the fridge, making it a perfect easy lunch.

The classic Greek salad is everything summer: it bursts with freshness, combining crisp romaine lettuce, juicy tomatoes, creamy feta cheese, crunchy Kalamata olives, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.

Here’s a fun summer salad that’s fresh, delicious and versatile: this deli-style Quinoa Salad! This recipe is delightfully refreshing, a jumble of crunchy, colorful veggies, fluffy quinoa grains, and a zingy Dijon mustard vinaigrette. 

Try this Pesto Pasta Salad recipe, which celebrates everything seasonal in summer! It features chewy bowties with pops of fresh cherry tomatoes, tangy artichokes and peppery baby arugula. Make a batch of fresh basil pesto or grab some at the store, then mix it up in to a creamy dressing to cover everything.

Here’s a fun  summer salad to infuse any meal with flavor: cauliflower salad! This one is so much fun, sort of like a mashup of Mediterranean-style flavors with a retro barbecue salad. The raw florets are covered in a tangy, creamy dressing and mixed with peppery arugula, tangy sun-dried tomatoes, and toasted pine nuts!

Another classic summer salad is the great Caprese! In Italian it's insalata caprese, which means “the salad from Capri.” It’s a simple salad of fresh tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil leaves, seasoned with salt and pepper. Like pizza margherita, each of the ingredients corresponds to the colors of the Italian flag: red, white and green.

Get ready for a tangy twist on a classic summer dish! This dill pickle pasta salad recipe combines the crunch of pickles with creamy dressing and fresh herbs for a potluck-perfect side dish. Ideal for pickle lovers!

Try this bright and beautiful Mango Salad recipe! There’s nothing like the honeyed sweetness of a juicy mango, and here’s a fresh way to accessorize it. Pair it with cool cucumber, crunchy bell pepper, and herbaceous mint and cilantro, then cover it all in a honey lime dressing

Crunchy broccoli and cauliflower are covered in a creamy zingy dressing, then paired with sundried tomatoes, toasted pine nuts and feta cheese. I recently brought this to a cookout and when someone said “Wow!” after the first bite, I knew it was a winner. 

Here’s a colorful, tasty and healthy side dish that pairs with just about any main: bell pepper salad! Sweet bell peppers need only a few ingredients to make them shine. Combine them with a tangy vinaigrette of white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and olive oil, then throw in a few handfuls of chopped herbs like parsley and chives.

Here’s a summer salad that’s fresh, tasty, and absolutely irresistible: Green Goddess Salad! It features everything green: green cabbage, cucumber, romaine and green onions, all tossed together with that famous herby Green Goddess dressing.

This easy orzo pasta salad recipe is bursting with flavor and the perfect accessory for any summer meal. It stars the tender pasta grains with crunchy veggies, salty feta cheese, fresh herbs and a zippy vinaigrette dressing. The best part? It tastes great for days!

Here’s a salad that captures the essence of summer in a bite: this homey Green Bean Salad! Imagine: tender blanched green beans covered in a zingy dressing, paired with tomatoes, baby arugula and the salty pop of feta crumbles. This one is ideal for pairing with a grilled meal, a trio of salads or dish for a summer potluck or pitch-in. 

Here’s a fresh spin on the classic broccoli slaw! This recipe you can make with store-bought broccoli slaw bags or fresh broccoli and carrots. It’s got a creamy dressing that’s equal parts savory, tangy, and a little sweet.

If there’s something I never tire of, it’s a good pasta salad. They’re fun, delicious, and give us those carefree summer vibes. This easy bow tie pasta salad has become a favorite! Pair the chewy noodles with tomatoes, fresh herbs, and feta cheese, then swirl it with a quick and easy vinaigrette dressing. 

Here’s a surprisingly delicious summer salad recipe that deserves a spot on your plate! A celery salad doesn’t have quite the ring of say, potato salad, but this unique salad is so refreshing, you’ll become a convert from the first bite. Crunchy celery pairs perfectly with sweet apple, Parmesan shavings and a tangy vinaigrette. It’s bright, it’s crunchy, and it’s hydrating.

Serve this carrot salad recipe to your friends and family, and they’ll be singing your praises! I know because after we made this at our house, it disappeared within minutes. It’s simple and refreshing, featuring strings of carrots doused in a a tangy Mediterranean-style vinaigrette.

This black bean salad is seriously tangy and delicious, and when I make it I can’t stop eating it! It’s perfectly seasoned and insanely easy to put together. This summer salad is a perfect easy potluck recipe to take to a barbecue or a cookout, and it doubles as a healthy lunch idea too. It’s totally plant based, vegan and gluten free, so it works for a variety of diets.

Here’s a summer salad recipe that’s about as delightful as they come! It’s an ideal way to use Israeli couscous, those delightfully chewy pasta spheres. Throw it together with fresh dill and mint, garlic, lemon and a pile of vegetables, then sprinkle with salty feta. Take a bite and it’s irresistibly fresh and savory.

Here’s my go-to when it comes to a summer pasta salad: this Greek Pasta Salad! This one pairs Mediterranean-style flavors with chewy bowtie pasta for a zingy, fresh combination that can’t be beat. Juicy cherry tomatoes contrast cool cucumber, salty olives, and savory feta cheese, with generous handfuls of parsley, dill, and a Greek-style vinaigrette dressing.

One last favorite summer recipe over here is Elote, aka Mexican grilled corn. The smoky sweet corn kernels slathered in an creamy sauce are the epitome of delicious to us. So here’s a fabulous way to eat the same flavors: this Elote Salad! It’s absolutely irresistible, pairing grilled corn with a tangy sauce and bursts of salty cheese.