Quick and easy summer salad recipes make eating fruits and vegetables more enjoyable. These light but filling, fast, and simple summer salad recipes create perfect snacks, sides, desserts, or even a one-pot meal. Truly refreshing and satisfying!
Summer is the best season for harvesting fresh produce. It’s also the season when tropical fruits and fresh vegetables are widely available in the farmers’ market. That makes it the perfect time to take advantage of the abundance.
Even if you’re not a veggie and fruit eater, these recipes could instantly convert you. The best part is these healthy salads are super easy to make with little to no cooking involved. Are you ready? 😉
Fruit Salad Ideas
1. Pineapple Cucumber Salad
Jalapenos and pepper flakes in your salad? Absolutely! The result will surely amaze you! The spiciness adds another layer of deliciousness to this summer salad recipe. The contrasting sweet, spicy, and tang will surely make you crave more.
2. Tropical Fruit Salad
The perfect combination of tropical fruits features pineapple, mangoes, papaya, and kiwi in a simple and very refreshing tropical fruit salad. Your family will definitely enjoy this fantastic summer salad year-round. And just look how gorgeous it is!
3. Mango Avocado Shrimp Salad and Mango Dressing
The contrasting sweet and spicy from mangoes, oranges, and sriracha are a real game-changer! It boasts just the right amount of heat without overpowering the creaminess of the avocado. All the flavors are in perfect harmony. Truly refreshing and tasty!
4. Watermelon Salad
Don’t you love the bright and vibrant colors of watermelon, cucumber, red onions, mint leaves, and feta cheese? Wait until you taste this refreshing watermelon salad. Experience an explosion of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors in every bite. Oh la la la!
5. Strawberry Spinach Salad
Nothing is more indulgent than a leafy spinach salad with luscious strawberries, buttery avocado, and crunchy candied almonds. Coated generously with delicious poppy seed salad dressing, this delightful salad will undoubtedly become a new crowd favorite, perfect for a summer picnic.
Vegetable Salad Ideas
6. Cucumber Tomato Salad
A healthy, simple salad to enjoy, especially for vegans. Cucumber, tomatoes, onions, and avocado tossed in sweet, garlicky, tangy homemade dressing are incredibly refreshing and satisfying!
7. Tossed Salad
Don’t you love how many ways you can make salads with cucumber? This time, they’re tossed with grapes, lettuce, onion, carrots, radish, avocado, and bacon. And the best part? You can serve it as is or with any of your preferred dressing. Easy peasy!
8. Black-Eyed Pea Salad
This protein-packed salad is bursting with flavors from its citrusy dressing combo – lemon, orange, and lime. I also love the vibrant colors and various textures, from black-eyed peas and corn to cherry tomatoes and avocado. Inviting and appetizing, it’s perfect for picnics, potlucks, and get-togethers.
9. Greek Salad
This straightforward Mediterranean salad with tomatoes, cucumber, onions, and olives is generously coated with lemon-mint dressing. Then feta cheese complements the whole dish. Aah! All these fantastic flavors in one bowl without breaking a sweat!
10. Kale Salad
Superfood in a bowl! Lots of healthy greens tossed in a creamy homemade poppy seed dressing. You’ll easily get hooked on this kale salad. A healthy and delicious lunch or dinner ready in 20 minutes.
11. Three Bean Salad
Another protein-filled dish, this time made with garbanzos, kidney beans, cannellini beans, and green beans coated in a vibrant dressing. An ideal make-ahead if you plan on feeding a crowd—a guaranteed hit! 😉
12. Chef Salad
One of the most popular salads is always a hit! It includes fresh fruits (tomatoes are a fruit, right?), vegetables, hard-boiled eggs, ham, and cheese for a one-dish main course salad. And what could be better than that fantastic creamy honey mustard yogurt dressing with citrus fruit notes from lemon and orange?
13. Ranch Potato Salad
Another winning salad includes fork-tender potatoes loaded with bacon and cheese in a creamy ranch dressing. Creole seasoning makes it even tastier. Level up your average potato salad for any cookout star.
14. Carrot Raisin Salad
Carrots and raisins pair together for a healthy side dish that can double as a healthy dessert. Even kids love this salad ramped up with pineapple for an irresistible tropical flair.
15. Southern Potato Salad
This creamy salad delivers the perfect ratio of sweet relish, celery, Dijon mustard, mayonnaise, and Creole seasoning. It’s absolutely delicious, with the ideal balance of sweetness and tanginess. This classic Southern salad is immaculate for potlucks and family dinners.
Seafood Salad Ideas
16. Nicoise Salad
Treat yourself to this fancy French salad with tuna, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, and veggies tossed in a beautiful balsamic red wine dressing. Light and healthy but very filling and satisfying. This highly indulgent salad is super loaded with goodness!
17. Salmon Salad
Are you looking for a seafood salad idea for dinner? Then, you’re in luck! This salmon salad is a refreshing blend of lettuce, avocado, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and onions tossed with an herb-infused dressing. Top it off with beautifully seared salmon fillets to complete this fancy dish.
18. Tuna Macaroni Salad
Aah… This list of summer salad recipes wouldn’t be complete without tuna salad. The satisfying al dente macaroni with super easy canned tuna dressed in a sweet and tangy mayo-based sauce will delight your taste buds.
19. Shrimp Salad
Incredibly tasty, outrageously delicious shrimp salad doubles as a sandwich filling for baguettes or dinner rolls. Or enjoy it with lettuce wraps or tortilla chips for a stress-free lunch.
Chicken Salad Ideas
20. Creamy Chicken Pasta Salad
Oh, you have to try this fabulous summer salad recipe. So simple yet so satisfying! Loaded with flavor from a mayo-based ranch dressing, this classic pasta salad is definitely family-friendly. Serve it as a side or a complete meal.
21. Macaroni Salad
A must-have salad for any cookout, potluck, picnic, and barbecue. Super easy and versatile yet delivering fantastic flavor. Add bacon, ham, or shredded chicken to create a filling main course salad.
22. Cajun Chicken Avocado Salad
Creole seasoning is the way to go for the best-tasting Cajun chicken. Stir a teaspoon of sriracha into the low-fat ranch dressing for a kick of heat. Then throw in some avocados, onions, tomatoes, lettuce, eggs, and cheese for an excellent main course salad.
23. Chicken Citrus Avocado Salad
A citrusy chicken marinade that doubles up as a dressing is the “secret” to this recipe. You’ll fall in love with the lemon, lime, and orange blend seasoned with cumin and honey. The gorgeous flavor combination pairs well with chicken, tangerines, bell peppers, and avocados.
24. Caribbean Grilled Chicken Salad
This vibrant, colorful salad earns its place on the list of summer salad recipes. It’s equally delicious with pico de gallo, honey-lime salad dressing, lettuce, cabbage, pineapples, chicken, and plantains. The savory flavors from jerk seasoning, teriyaki sauce, and pineapple juice make this chicken salad an absolute keeper!
25. Thai Chopped Chicken Salad (Panera)
Made with guilt-free almond butter dressing and loaded with chicken, roasted veggies, and baked wonton wraps, this salad is incredibly filling and indulgent. Abundant color, texture, and fascinating flavors come from Asian flavors, honey, and sriracha.
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