Summertime produce is in full swing, and I couldn’t be happier about it! Salads are my specialty, so I’ve created a collection of my best summer salad recipes. They’re perfect for parties, barbecues and summer evenings at home. These recipes have hundreds of five-star reviews, so they’re sure to be a hit on your table.
You’ll find classic potluck salads, such as potato salad and cowboy caviar, international favorites like tabbouleh and caprese salad, along with a variety of fresh green salads, of course. These seasonal salads feature an abundance of fresh greens, tender herbs, and summer vegetables, including tomatoes, cucumbers, green beans, as well as fruits like berries, peaches, and watermelon.
These refreshing salads are perfect for the hottest summer days. Many feature raw produce and require minimal to no cooking. Whether you’ve gone overboard at the farmers’ market or have a garden surplus, you’ll find the solution here.
Bookmark this page and make the most of the season! Which salad will you make first?
Favorite Quinoa Salad
This quinoa salad recipe is the best! Everyone loves this healthy quinoa salad made with quinoa, chickpeas, red bell pepper, cucumber, parsley and lemon. It’s vegan and gluten free, too! Recipe yields 4 medium salads or 8 side salads.
Erin’s Peach & Avocado Green Salad
This summer salad recipe from The Well Plated Cookbook features ripe peaches and avocado over fresh arugula. It’s healthy and delicious! Recipe yields a very large salad (enough for 8 side salads or 3 to 4 main salads); cut the recipe in half for a smaller crowd.
Caprese Pasta Salad
This Caprese pasta salad recipe is easy, delicious and perfect for summertime! Just cook cherry tomatoes with olive oil to make the perfect pasta sauce. Recipe yields 4 modest servings.
Mediterranean Bean Salad
This Mediterranean-style bean salad recipe is delightfully crisp and satisfying. Its fresh flavors include kidney beans, chickpeas, lemon, garlic and leafy herbs. This healthy salad is vegan and gluten free, but mostly just delicious! Recipe yields about six 1-cup servings.
Watermelon Salad with Feta and Mint
This classic watermelon salad recipe features crumbled feta and fresh mint. Lightly pickled shallots and chopped pistachios make it amazing! Recipe yields 6 to 8 side salads.
Herbed Potato Salad (no mayo!)
This healthy potato salad recipe is full of fresh flavor. It’s mayo-free, easy to make, and sure to be a hit at your potluck! This salad is vegan, egg free and gluten free. Recipe yields 6 side servings.
Spinach Salad
Make this delicious spinach salad recipe to serve with your main dish! It features fresh spinach, creamy goat cheese and seasonal fruit, like raspberries or strawberries. Recipe yields 6 side salads.
Heirloom Caprese Salad
The best Caprese salad you’ll ever have! Great ingredients are the key. Use ripe summer tomatoes, burrata or mozzarella, fresh basil and olive oil. Recipe yields 4 generous or 6 smaller servings.
Cowboy Caviar
This cowboy caviar recipe (also known as Texas caviar) is made from scratch with all-natural ingredients! Serve it as a dip, salsa or salad—it’ll be a hit at your next party. Recipe yields a lot of “caviar,” about 8 cups.
Summertime Fruit Salad
This simple fruit salad recipe is fresh and healthy! It features strawberries, peaches and blueberries with a little balsamic vinegar and basil. It’s a delicious side dish or dessert (for dessert, you can serve it as is or add some whipped cream to make it more decadent). Recipe yields 6 side servings.
Best Tabbouleh
Learn how to make delicious, authentic tabbouleh at home! This tabbouleh (also spelled tabouli) is even better than your favorite Lebanese restaurant’s. It’s made with bulgur wheat, fresh parsley, mint, tomato and cucumber. Recipe yields 6 servings (a little over 1 cup each).
Favorite Chickpea Salad
This irresistible chickpea salad recipe features crisp-tender ingredients like chickpeas, red bell pepper, red onion and celery. Keep this healthy chickpea salad in the fridge—it’s the perfect side salad, snack and meal component. It’s vegan and gluten free, too! Recipe yields 4 generous side salads or 6 medium.
Simple Healthy Slaw
This healthy coleslaw recipe tastes amazing! It’s made with a simple lemon dressing and features cabbage, carrots, toasted sunflower and pumpkin seeds. It’s gluten free and vegan, which means it’s a perfect potluck dish (you might want to double the ingredients if you’re serving a crowd). Recipe yields 4 to 6 side servings.
Fattoush Salad with Mint Dressing
This classic fattoush salad recipe will become your new favorite salad! It’s a versatile salad, and the perfect way to use up those random leftover raw vegetables (the amounts given here are flexible and you can add/substitute any veggies you’d like). Recipe yields 4 large or 6 to 8 side salads.
Easy Tomato Salad
Extra tomatoes? Make this simple tomato salad recipe! It’s delicious, versatile and easy to make. This recipe features ripe tomatoes, fresh basil, soaked red onion, balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Recipe yields 4 to 6 side salads using 1 3/4 pound tomatoes; you can cut the recipe in half by using either the cherry tomatoes or the pound of regular tomatoes.
Garden-Fresh Corn Salad
This fresh corn salad recipe features raw sweet corn, fresh herbs, cucumber, radishes, jalapeño, tomato and more! It’s the perfect summertime salad. Recipe yields 4 to 6 salads.
Thai Mango Salad with Peanut Dressing
This green salad is bursting with fresh Thai flavors and bright colors. It’s great on its own, or as an accompaniment to Thai main dishes. Recipe yields 2 large salads or 4 side salads.
Fresh Black Bean Salad
This Southwestern black bean salad recipe is healthy and delicious! This fresh black bean salad is perfect for potlucks, parties and busy weeks. Recipe yields 4 large or up to 8 side servings.
Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad
Truly the best Italian chopped salad recipe, with chopped fresh greens and veggies in a simple Italian vinaigrette. This salad is vegetarian and easily vegan. Recipe yields 6 to 8 side servings or 3 to 4 meal-sized servings (a lot). If you store the salad separately from the vinaigrette, it will keep well for up to 4 days.
Layered Panzanella
This panzanella salad recipe is the best! It features loads of ripe tomatoes and fresh summertime produce, homemade croutons, and a light vinaigrette. Layering the ingredients on a large platter is key. Recipe yields 1 large salad, enough for 8 side servings.
Pesto Pasta Salad
This pesto pasta salad recipe is bursting with fresh flavor. It’s light, healthy and easy to make. Perfect for picnics and potlucks! Recipe yields 6 to 8 side servings.
Colorful Strawberry Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
This large strawberry salad is colorful and delicious! It’s made with arugula, strawberries, goat cheese, sunflower seeds and balsamic vinaigrette. Recipe yields 4 large or 8 side salads.
Lentil Salad
This classic lentil salad recipe is the perfect side dish! It’s easy to make with simple ingredients like cherry tomatoes, lemon and parsley. Recipe yields about 5 cups of salad, enough for 4 hearty portions.
Fresh Herbed Avocado Salad
This salad is for avocado lovers! Sliced avocado, tossed in a lime-honey dressing, covered in a super fresh mix of herbs, radishes and toasted pepitas. Recipe yields 4 generous or 6 smaller servings.
Cucumber Tomato Salad with Greek Dressing
This cucumber tomato salad recipe is light, refreshing and perfect for summer! It features cucumber, cherry tomatoes and optional feta tossed in Greek dressing. Recipe yields 6 side servings.
Green Bean Salad with Toasted Almonds & Feta
This green bean salad is the best! Perfectly cooked green beans are tossed in a lemony dressing with toasted almonds, feta and basil. Recipe yields 4 side servings.
Chopped Greek Salad
This Greek salad recipe is the best! It features chopped romaine lettuce and colorful garden vegetables, plus irresistible olives, feta cheese, and a simple Greek vinaigrette. Recipe yields 6 to 8 side servings or 3 to 4 meal-sized servings (that’s a lot of salad!). If you store the salad separately from the vinaigrette, it will keep well for up to 4 days.
Blistered Green Bean and Corn Quinoa Salad
This summery quinoa salad features sautéed green beans with sweet corn and cherry tomatoes in a simple lemon-basil dressing. Top with toasted sliced almonds (mandatory) and feta (optional)! Recipe yields 6 servings.
Gaby’s Cucumber Salad
Gaby’s cucumber salad recipe is the best cucumber salad I’ve ever had! It’s made with crisp cucumber and creamy avocado tossed in a simple balsamic vinegar dressing. Recipe yields 4 servings.
Mediterranean Couscous Salad with Raw Squash and Feta
This couscous salad with raw squash and bold Mediterranean flavors is a simple summer side dish. Pack up a bowlful for a weekday lunch or serve with a glass of chilled Pinot Grigio or Sauvignan Blanc for dinner. Recipe yields 6 side servings.
Berry Spinach Salad
This salad features fresh raspberries, blueberries, spinach and goat cheese. Tossed in homemade balsamic vinaigrette, it’s the perfect spring and summer side salad! Recipe yields 4 side salads, so multiply the recipe if you’re serving a crowd. The spinach wilts quickly once it comes into contact with vinaigrette, so store the two separately until you’re ready to eat.
Summertime Pasta Salad with Tomatoes, Corn and Jalapeño Pesto
This healthy pasta salad features bold summer flavors, including tomatoes, corn and black beans tossed in spicy, fresh pesto! It’s a great vegetarian side dish for potlucks and barbecues. See paragraph above for variations and substitution suggestions! Recipe yields about 8 cups salad, which is enough for 4 main or 8 side servings.
More summertime recipe roundups you might appreciate:
