Salad is the ideal summer meal. They are relatively fast and easy to put together, and you can fill them with delicious seasonal produce that won’t heat the kitchen, where there are plenty of delicious options! We’ve compiled 15 of our favorite summer salad recipes. Whether you are looking for dinner inspiration, light meal delighters or simple side salads for a full meal – we can cover you!
Why these summer salads shine:
- Child-friendly texture and flavor: A mixture of crispy, creamy, sweet and savory
- Be ready to move forward and stay calm: Most recipes can be cooled in the refrigerator before serving
- Flexible ingredients: Easy to exchange protein, cereals or dressings
- Very suitable for parties: Feeding people without heating the kitchen
Tips and alternative ideas:
- Protein swap: Add chopped chicken, canned tuna, beans or chickpeas for extra staying power
- Cheese variety: Try feta, goat cheese or dairy-free options
- Cereal flexibility: Use faro, couscous instead of quinoa or pasta
- Make it green: Add spinach, arugula, kale or romaine as the basis
- Customized by children: Have kids put extra extra stuff on the bowl, such as nuts, fruits, seeds or tortillas
Meet the main course salad
Sweet and salty peach quinoa salad
Fresh and delicious, this hearty peach quinoa salad is filled with some of the best foods! A light enough for lunch, but full of dinner.
Southwest summer salad
Need a quick, tasteless dinner full of colors and kid-approved flavors? This Southwest Summer Salad is available every time. It’s crisp, hearty, a little enthusiastic, and it’s easy to customize your ingredients at home. Plus, this is a great way to add vegetables, fiber and protein to a large bowl!
Mango Chicken Pasta Salad
This mango chicken pasta salad exudes summery flavor in every bite – grapes, juicy mangoes, crispy celery and tender chicken, all sprinkled with a creamy basil stone dressing. This is a refreshing meal perfect for potlucks, picnics or light family dinners.
Barbecue Chicken Salad
Taste the smoky and rich flavors of the BBQ chicken salad, grilled chicken, crispy lettuce, sweet corn, creamy avocado and juicy cherry tomatoes, drizzle with rich BBQ ranch seasoning.
Cobb salad with salted shallot sauce
Taste the timeless charm of Cobb salad with crispy salad vegetables, tender chicken, crispy bacon, sweet juicy cherry tomatoes, creamy avocado and rich blue cheese. Our Cobb salad recipe is topped with delicious scallion sauce, making it a true culinary masterpiece.
Avocado Pasta Salad
There is a lot of love in this bright and delicious salad. It’s easy to make, nutritious, stuffed, but not too heavy and thrown into the delicious cilantro lemon sauce. Creamy avocado combines with sweet and juicy tomatoes, chewy pasta, crispy cucumbers and salty feta. The seasoning is easy and absolutely full of flavor.
Homemade Chicken Caesar Salad
This classic chicken Caesar salad is made from crispy vegetables, shaved parmesan cheese, juicy grilled chicken and perfectly crispy homemade bread crumbs, dressed in simple and delicious creamy Caesar sauce.
tortellini pasta salad
This tortellini pasta salad is a delicious soft and cheesy tortellini pasta topped with juicy cherry tomatoes, crispy cucumbers, crispy bacon, savory chicken, savory chicken and sweet Garin oranges drizzled with a sweet and rich sauce for a light, yet delightful meal.
Super salad
Citrus avocado salad
With just a few ingredients and zero cooking, this citrus avocado salad is a vibrant, rich sweet combination that hits all the right notes. Whether you’re using it as a light lunch, a refreshing noodle for grilled fish, or a brunch entertainment venue – this dish is the sunshine in the bowl!
Favorite spinach salad
This delicious spinach salad recipe is a recipe I’ve been making for years! Crispy bacon, cream cheese and sweet and rich poppy seed seasoning make this salad a satisfying dish for almost any meal. I always make the ingredients on hand easily as well. A taste, you’ll understand why it’s our favorite!
Broccoli Salad
This healthy broccoli salad is made from salted bacon crumbs, crunchy sunflower seeds, chewy craisins, cheddar cheese and fresh crispy broccoli topped with sweet homemade dressing without mayonnaise! Fresh, crisp and delicious, it’s the perfect side dish for a pot and gets one of my favorite ways to eat broccoli.
Chopped Kale Salad
Feel free to add nuts, chicken, swap the cheese for different types of cheese or add spinach! This chopped kale salad is messed up!
Quick fresh fruit salad
Honey Lime Fruit Salad
Simple honey and lime seasonings elevate this beautiful fruit salad to something special. Perfect for brunch or special occasions, but easy to taste and you need to add it to your weekly lineup.
The best fruit salad ever
Treat your family and friends and combine fruits and grains! This delightful fruit salad recipe is the perfect side dish for your spring meals and celebrations.
Watermelon Mint Salad
Some recipes are so simple and refreshing that you want to know how to live without them – this watermelon mint salad is one of them! It’s the perfect sweet combination of hot days, backyard dinners and family picnics. It blends together in just a few minutes!
