50 Summer Salads to Make and Eat All Season Long
These refreshing summer salad ideas will keep everyone eating green!
We'll do just about anything to keep the oven off in the summer months. It's the perfect time to take advantage of fresh, seasonal produce by tossing together some big ol' summer salads! When you've got watermelons, cherries, summer squash, tomatoes, and so many other options at your fingertips, you're pretty much guaranteed to create something delicious.
If you're whipping up main-dish salads for dinner, we've got plenty of summer vegetable recipes and summer side dishes to go with them, too.
To help with your weeknight meal planning, we've rounded up our best summer salads, from big, leafy green salads to hearty pasta salads to fresh, fruity salads. They've also got their own simple and homemade dressings! Bonus points: many of these are also perfect for lunch, picnics, or leftovers.
More ways to make meals without the oven? Check out our Summer Slow Cooker Recipes for plenty of easy dinner ideas!
More Summer Deliciousness:
The Casa Wedge Salad
Mexican Cotija cheese is milder than blue, and the creamy avocado dressing just can't be beat in this Tex-Mex wedge!
Peach, Arugula, and Blue Cheese Salad
Whip up a quick vinaigrette in the bottom of a large bowl. Layer in a bed of fresh greens, and top with juicy slices of peach, slivers of spicy red onion, roasted almonds, and some creamy, pungent blue cheese.
Asparagus, Cucumber, and Herbs Panzanella
We love panzanellas. The rustic torn-and-toasted bread hits that sweet spot between unfussy and elegant, that makes it perfect as a dinner-party starter, or just a weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe for Asparagus, Cucumber, and Herbs Panzanella.
Cherry, Arugula, and Goat Cheese Salad with Toasted Seeds
This is this salad we make after a day of picking cherries. The toasted seeds are not to be missed.
Get the recipe for Cherry, Arugula, and Goat Cheese Salad with Toasted Seeds.
Creole Shrimp Caesar Salad with Cheesy Croutons
When it's hot out, this salad can be dinner all by itself.
Get the recipe for Creole Shrimp Caesar Salad with Cheesy Croutons.
Lemony Cabbage Salad
Called “Lahanosalata” in Greek, this bright-and-tangy summer salad adds a nice crunch to the menu.
BLT Potato Salad
Raise your hand if you love summer BLTs!
Okay, we can't actually see your hands, but we know you love them. We do too, which is why we made this delicious potato salad.
Snap Pea Salad with Feta, Almonds, and Prosciutto
Here's a fun and tasty way to use fresh-from-the-garden snap peas.
Get the recipe for Snap Pea Salad with Feta, Almonds, and Prosciutto.
Grain Salad with Trout, Almonds, and Herbs
Not every summer salad needs to be on a bed of greens! This hearty lunch staple is great with fresh caught lake trout — or your favorite white fish.
Get the recipe for Grain Salad with Trout, Almonds, and Herbs.
Big Green Cali Salad
A little gem lettuce and endive make a good bed for a profusion of farmers' market finds, including snap peas, radishes, and Persian cucumbers.
Simple Locally Grown Green Salad
You don't need a lot for a good summer salad, but when greens are in season, the fresher the better, so get 'em local. It's worth it.
Get lettuce mix from your farmer's market, add some cukes and tomatoes, and round it out with Feta and Castelvetrano olives. Dress it all in lemon juice and oil.
Squash Ribbon Salad with Sunflower Seeds
When it's July and we've got far too many squash on hand, we break out our peeler and start making a ton of this.
Suddenly all our squash is gone.
Get the recipe for Squash Ribbon Salad with Sunflower Seeds.
Caprese Pasta Salad
This classic combo turns into the perfect pasta salad picnic side!
Salade Niçoise
This summer staple salad was invented in the southern French city of Nice. It's perfect for picnics as the hearty ingredients pack easily and only taste better as they marinate.
Watercress and Strawberry Salad
A good salad should have a mix of both flavors and textures. Here, peppery watercress balances against sweet berries, crunchy almonds, and salty cheese, all coated in a light, summery vinaigrette.
Southwest Salad with Lime Vinaigrette and Cornbread Croutons
This bright bean-and-greens salad is a great way to use day old cornbread.
Little Gem Lettuce with Mixed Seed Sprinkle
You can make up a big batch of this seed sprinkle and keep it on hand for last-minute salads!
Get the recipe for Little Gem Lettuce with Mixed Seed Sprinkle.
Grilled Mushroom Panzanella with Tomato Vinaigrette
Assorted grilled mushrooms and bread make this salad a hearty and quick dinner when paired with a little rotisserie chicken.
All-Summer Pasta Salad
Memorize this recipe and you can just bust this side out at every picnic, barbecue, brunch, and backyard gathering all summer long.
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