15 Refreshing Summer Salads
Whether you’re looking for creamy salads, fruit salads, or simple green salads (with some serious upgrades), there’s something on this list of summer salads for everyone! Most are easy salad recipes that can be made on busy weeknights and will please even picky eaters.
Includes recipes suitable for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten free diets. Weight Watchers points also included for some recipes.
Who doesn’t love summer salads on a hot day? From cold summer salads to fruit salads and salads that are full meals, I’ve got the best of the best here for you.
You’ll love these easy salad recipes. They’re perfect for a hot summer day and a wonderful way to use summer produce and get in some leafy greens. If you need some summer meal inspiration, check out these easy Pasta Salad Recipes for easy meals. And don’t forget your Best BBQ Side Dishes.
These are the best summer salad recipes with your favorite summer flavors. With fresh ingredients, these healthy summer salad recipes are sure to be your perfect side dishes or main meals all summer long.
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Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Best Summer Salads
Click on the links in blue to be taken to the recipes.
Tomato Feta Salad With Peaches And Strawberries
Classic tomato feta salad gets a colorful and flavorful upgrade with the addition of peaches and strawberries. This gorgeous tomato and feta salad is a delicious summertime stand-alone meal and the feta cheese adds such a nice creamy tang to this salad.
Greek Potato Salad
This Greek Potato Salad is a delicious twist on the classic potato salad. Made with olive oil and lemon juice rather than mayonnaise, and a bit of red onion flavor, it’s the perfect potato salad recipe for the summer months.
Summer Fruit Salad
Looking for a taste of paradise? This summer fruit salad gives you just that, with bits of pineapple and mango drizzled in a flavorful honey and lime dressing! With all the juicy fruit, it’s one of the most refreshing salads you’ll crave all summer.
Wedge Salad
This classic wedge salad recipe is the perfect prep ahead for busy people. Featuring crunchy iceberg lettuce, cherry tomatoes, bacon, and chives, topped with classic blue cheese crumbles, this cool and refreshing salad is an ideal addition for summer grilling meals.
Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe
The whole family will love this colorful grilled chicken salad topped with juicy, moist coconut lime chicken and a tangy salad dressing. It’s full of delicious fresh veggies like juicy cherry tomatoes, it’s a classic salad with an upgrade.
Grilled Shrimp Salad
Grilled Shrimp Salad is a healthy, light meal for summertime. It is super flavorful and ready to serve in just 15 minutes!
Grilled Watermelon Salad
Sweet, colorful, and fresh Grilled Watermelon Salad with feta and blueberries is ready in under 20 minutes and makes an easy side dish or main recipe. If you haven’t tried grilled watermelon, this is your sign. It’s a little bit smoky and a bit caramelized to deliver a truly special flavor.
Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad
We have added in strawberries and avocado for a colorful and fun twist on regular pasta salads. And if you love fresh herbs, add some fresh mint to this tasty salad. It’s one to add to your summer pasta salads repertoire.
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Southern Grape Salad
This family favorite Southern Grape Salad requires only 10 minutes of prep and a few ingredients to whip up! It is creamy, crunchy and a great side dish or main dish that doubles as dessert. You’ll want a big bowl of this quick summer side every time you have a sweet tooth.
Hawaiian Pasta Salad
Hawaiian Pasta Salad really is a little one-dish wonder. You get comforting pasta and creamy dressing.
And the salty ham and sweet pineapple that contrasts nicely with the crunchy carrots and bright red bell peppers.
Chicken Fajita Salad
Homemade seasoned juicy chicken fajitas, crisp lettuce, creamy avocado, and a delicious cilantro lime salad dressing makes a great weeknight dinner that comes together in less than 20 minutes.
It’s a simple green salad with added chicken and one of the best summer salad dressings to take the flavor to the next level.
Instant Pot Potato Salad
Cooking the potatoes and eggs at the same time in the Instant Pot makes this recipe quick and easy to whip up!
Pea Salad
This Creamy Pea Salad is such a lovely summertime side dish that’s cool, refreshing yet filling and satisfying. And it comes together so quickly and easily, with absolutely no cooking required.
Cucumber Salad
We are putting good old cucumbers at the forefront of this recipe and tossing them with a few very well known and well-loved pantry staples to give one perfect centre table summer salad.
Grilled Scallop And Grilled Peach Salad
Sour but sweet balsamic grilled peaches served with juicy yet simply seasoned grilled scallops, alongside some sweet yet tart raspberries and fiery arugula. And best of all, it’s soooooooo easy to make.
Salad Tips
- Make ahead – Prep as many items ahead of time as possible. You may be able to wash, dry thoroughly and chop vegetables and salad greens and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can do the same with the salad dressing. Just make sure to store the dressing separately from the other ingredients and mix together just before serving.
- How to store – This depends on the salad, and each recipe has storage instructions. Place leftover salads in an airtight container and keep them in the refrigerator.
- Mix, match, customize – Use most of these salad recipes as a baseline. Mix and match ingredients and customize to your taste. Feel free to add in various fruits and vegetables as well as things like grilled chicken tenders, grilled shrimp and more.
- Cater for different diets – Remember to cater to different diets. If there is an ingredient you are not sure about, leave it on the side, and people can always add it in themselves.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
More Summer Salad Recipes
- Broccoli Cranberry Salad – This isn’t your average broccoli salad. It’s creamy, a little smoky and has the perfect salady crunch.
- Instant Pot Rice and Vegetables – Okay not technically a salad, but this dish is loaded with delicious vegetables and sweet corn for a veggie forward side dish everyone will love.
- Instant Pot Green Beans – This dish can be a veggie replacement to a salad. These green beans are a delicious, light vegetable side dish with a tasty garlic butter sauce and topped with sesame seeds.
- 33 Instant Pot Summer recipes
Recommended Tools
- Sharp knives can make preparing salads faster and easier.
- Get a good cutting board for chopping your veggies.
- Meal prep containers can help you prepare ahead of time and keep greens from getting soggy.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon!
These easy summer salad recipes will be your new go to recipes all summer. From summer picnics to big gatherings, you’ll definitely want to serve these fresh recipes – whether crunchy salads or salads to use up your seasonal fruit.
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Thank you for reading my summer salads recipe roundup post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Ham and Pea Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound (450g) green peas fresh or defrosted from frozen
- 1 cup (128g) cooked bacon cubes or pancetta
- ¾ cup (96g) sharp cheddar cheese grated
- 3 tablespoons red onion finely chopped
For the sour cream dressing:
- 2 tablespoons sour cream
- 1-2 tablespoons low fat mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoons cider vinegar
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Combine peas, bacon, grated cheese and red onion.
- Mix together salad dressing ingredients.
- Add as much of the dressing as you want to the salad and mix until combined.
- Serve your creamy pea salad with your favorite main dishes.
Notes
- You can easily make the dressing using all mayonnaise if you prefer.
- Adding in a tablespoon of chutney works wonders, too.
- Prefer your green pea salad to be really creamy? Add in an extra dollop of sour cream and/or mayonnaise.
- I prefer the crunch that fresh or frozen peas provide, but you can make this recipe using canned peas.
- Storage – keep in an airtight container inside the fridge for up to a week.
- There are 4 WW Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving.
