40 Best Summer Salad Recipes for Every Occasion
Published May 23, 2025
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When summer heat kicks in, there’s nothing more satisfying than a crisp, refreshing salad. In this collection of 40 of my best summer salad recipes, you’ll find everything from fresh vegetable-forward combinations to heartier options with grains or beans that can stand in for dinner. These summer salad recipes are easy to throw together, big on flavor, and perfect for everything from weeknight meals to cookouts and potlucks!
Fruit and Vegetable Salads
If you’re like me and live for the fresh produce of summer, these fruit and vegetable salads are right up your alley. Whether pairing them with grilled mains or enjoying them on their own, these vibrant salads are sure to brighten up your summer table.
Fruit Salad with Orange Vanilla Yogurt Dressing
Fruit Salad with Orange Vanilla Yogurt Dressing with Greek yogurt, fresh orange juice, vanilla and agave is a modern spin on classic fruit salad.
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Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes
Cherry tomatoes bring bite-sized sweetness that perfectly complements the creaminess of mozzarella pearls in this Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes. Perfect as a light starter or side salad, this twist on the classic Caprese beautifully captures the essence of simple, fresh ingredients.
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Radish Salad Recipe
This bright and zesty Radish Salad with red onions, creamy feta cheese, and fragrant fresh dill is a lively addition to your table. It comes together quickly, and with a tangy lemon vinaigrette, it pairs perfectly with crab cakes!
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Roasted Pepper Salad
Bell peppers get a flavor upgrade in this easy Roasted Pepper Salad. Roasting transforms crisp bell peppers into silky and smoky, intensifying their natural sweetness. This richness pairs perfectly with fresh herbs, briny olives, a drizzle of olive oil, and a tangy vinaigrette.
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Green Bean Salad Recipe with Mustard Vinaigrette
Here’s a simple, rustic vegetable salad with French country flair that’s the perfect side dish with whatever you’re grilling this summer! Green Bean Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette and crunchy walnuts is easy to make and comes together quickly! Serve warm or room temperature.
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Greek Cucumber Salad
This crisp, vibrant, and oh-so-flavorful Greek Cucumber Salad tastes like summer but offers a burst of Mediterranean sunshine on your plate all year round. Perfect on its own for a healthful lunch or on the side with any Greek or Mediterranean-inspired main!
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Cucumber Feta Tomato Salad
Here's a great salad to make all summer long! Creamy Cucumber Feta Tomato Salad with Greek yogurt, and tangy dill is the perfect side dish for grilled meat, poultry or fish. Enjoy it on its own, or spoon it into pita bread for a great lunch!
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Creamy Cucumber Salad
Creamy Cucumber Salad with Greek yogurt is a delicious contemporary version of the sour cream-based cucumber salad of Poland and Eastern Europe. Greek yogurt makes it healthier and ranch dressing takes it to another flavor level!
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Cucumber Onion Salad
This Cucumber Onion Salad recipe is refreshing and perfect for summer! Crisp cucumbers and sliced onion are tossed in a delicious vinegar dressing for a bright and flavorful dish. Serve this salad alongside grilled chicken, fish, or meat.
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Marinated Tomatoes
Mouthwatering Marinated Tomatoes is an easy summer side dish that's perfect with anything you're serving. The harmonious blend of aromatic herbs, tangy red wine vinegar, and a touch of sweetness from brown sugar makes this recipe irresistible!
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Burrata Caprese Salad with Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
Burrata Caprese Salad is a modern variation of the timeless Caprese classic with jammy roasted cherry tomatoes, a bed of peppery arugula, and luscious burrata cheese for a creamy element. A drizzle of balsamic vinaigrette adds a delightful tangy-sweet finish to every bite.
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Stacked Tomato Salad with Black Olive Tapenade and Basil Pesto Dressing
Stacked Tomato Salad with Tapenade and Basil Pesto Dressing is a twist on classic Caprese salad. It's easy, impressive and the perfect way to showcase fresh tomatoes!
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Tomato and Onion Salad
This easy Tomato and Onion Salad is the tomato salad to make this summer and every summer. Fresh tomatoes take center stage with a supporting cast of a delicious light vinaigrette, thinly sliced red onion, capers for a salty, briny kick and lots of fresh basil!
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Mediterranean Chopped Salad with Chickpeas
Fresh summer vegetables and pantry ingredients combine for a crispy, crunchy healthy salad you'll want to put on repeat! Mediterranean Chopped Vegetable Salad with Chickpeas is satisfying on its own or try it on the side with your favorite Mediterranean-inspired recipe!
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Cauliflower Tabouli with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Cauliflower Tabouli with Lemon Tahini Dressing and Feta Cheese is a fresh, healthful spin on classic tabouli! Loads of fresh herbs, vegetables, feta cheese and a lively dressing make this a salad you'll want to make all summer long!
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Cauliflower Antipasto Salad
This Cauliflower Antipasto Salad is light, refreshing, and perfect for summertime! A medley of vibrant veggies, salami, cheese and chickpeas are tossed together in a tangy dressing for a crowd-pleasing recipe that’s deliciously reminiscent of the classic Italian appetizer platter. A great make-ahead option that tastes even better the next day!
Sicilian Cauliflower Salad
Sicilian Cauliflower Salad is super easy and made with simple pantry ingredients you may already have on hand. In true Sicilian fashion, it brings together simple ingredients in a way that's hearty yet refreshing, making it ideal for everything from a light lunch to a lively side at your next gathering. It's a light and tasty salad that keeps for days in your refrigerator!
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Cauliflower Artichoke Tabbouleh
Cauliflower Artichoke Tabbouleh is a healthier, lower carb twist on traditional tabbouleh! With lots of fresh herbs, lively lemon juice and artichokes, it’s perfect for spring!
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Middle Eastern Chopped Vegetable Salad
Middle Eastern Chopped Vegetable Salad is like summer in a bowl and the perfect salad to make now with what's in season!
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Tunisian Salad Platter
Tunisian Salad Platter (or Assiette Tunisienne) makes an impressive presentation for a buffet! Full of fresh, crunchy vegetables, olives, capers and drizzled with a simple red wine vinaigrette, this is THE salad to make all summer long!
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Greek Vegetable Salad with Marinated Feta Cheese
Greek Vegetable Salad with Marinated Feta Cheese is a fresh, crunchy twist on the classic Greek salad! This vibrant dish combines juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and sliced bell peppers, olives, and red onion, then topped with marinated feta cheese for a burst of flavor. Perfectly seasoned with a drizzle of olive oil, fresh herbs, and a sprinkle of oregano, it brings a taste of the Mediterranean to your table.
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Pasta Salads
Pasta salads are the ultimate make-ahead dish for summer—easy, versatile, and always a crowd-pleaser. From classic favorites to veggie-packed twists, these pasta salads are simple to toss together and guaranteed to disappear fast!
Southwestern Orzo Pasta Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
Southwestern Orzo Pasta Salad with Cilantro – Lime Dressing is a fun, colorful and super flavorful addition to your Southwestern or Mexican-inspired meal!
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Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
Greek Orzo Pasta Salad is full of fresh, crunchy vegetables and bright, summery flavors! It's the perfect crowd-pleasing salad to take to your summer get-together.
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Caprese Pasta Salad
This recipe for Caprese Pasta Salad is a delightful twist on the classic Caprese salad and is full of fresh, summery flavor. Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella, and sweet basil are added to tender pasta and salami before everything gets tossed in a delicious tangy Italian dressing. This pasta salad is perfect for picnics or summer get-togethers and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
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Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette
Antipasto Pasta Salad with Parmesan Herb Vinaigrette is the perfect addition to your backyard barbecue, picnic, pot luck or just an easy, delicious grab-and-go lunch! Serve alongside Grilled Marinated Skirt Steak with Peperonata and Rasberry Ricotta Cake with Almonds for an Italian-inspired feast your guests will rave about.
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Creamy Pasta Salad with Cucumber Dressing Peas and Fresh Dill
Not your average pasta salad, cool and creamy Whole-Wheat Pasta Salad with Cucumber Dressing, Peas and Fresh Dill is one of our all-time summer favorites!
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Chicken Pasta Salad with Spinach Buttermilk Dressing
Chicken Pasta Salad with Spinach Buttermilk Dressing is a cool, creamy, delicious and budget-friendly way to feed and please a crowd!
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Bean and Grain Salads
When you need something a little more filling but still fresh and healthy-ish, grain and bean salads are the way to go. These salad recipes are packed with fiber, protein, and plenty of vibrant veggies—perfect for easy lunches, light dinners, or make-ahead meal prep.
Black-Eyed Pea Salad
Spicy Black-Eyed Pea Salad is a light and fresh twist on classic Southern comfort food. Bring it to your next picnic, or serve it with anything you’re grilling this summer. The ingredients can even be prepped ahead of time, making for a healthy and convenient lunch that you can pack and take to work.
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Lentil Tabbouleh
Lentil Tabbouleh has loads of fresh herbs, crunchy vegetables and a lively lemon dressing. It's the perfect salad to make and enjoy all summer long. Best of all, it's gluten-free and packed with fiber and protein!
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Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Protein-packed Mediterranean Quinoa Salad with grilled vegetables has fresh herbs, a lively lemon and olive oil dressing and tangy feta cheese. It's perfect for entertaining or a healthful grab-and-go lunch!
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Southwestern Black Bean Salad
This Southwestern Black Bean Salad has everything you love about that region! Loaded with black beans, corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, jicama and jalapenos, this easy, vegan and versatile salad is fresh, flavorful, healthy and perfect for hot summer days!
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Tuscan Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad
Tuscan Cherry Tomato and White Bean Salad is perfect as a light lunch or on the side with almost any grilled protein for a light and healthy dinner. Best of all, it's super versatile!
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Mediterranean Barley Salad
This fresh, crunchy, healthy Mediterranean Barley Salad is the perfect salad to add to your meal prep routine! Full of crunchy vegetables like green beans and red bell pepper, it stays fresh, flavorful and is super versatile! Add protein with tuna, chicken or keep it vegetarian with chickpeas for a well-rounded grab-and-go lunch!
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Quinoa Tabbouleh with Grilled Vegetables
Quinoa Tabbouleh with Grilled Vegetables is a twist on traditional tabbouleh! Made gluten-free by using quinoa instead of bulgur, grilled zucchini, yellow squash and red bell peppers are the perfect addition!
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Mediterranean Farro Salad
Mediterranean Farro Salad with a light, lemony dressing, crunchy vegetables and feta cheese is light, refreshing and perfect year-round!
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Lemony Lentil Salad with Asparagus and Tomatoes
Try this Lemony Lentil Salad for a vibrant Greek-inspired dish! Earthy brown lentils are combined with asparagus, cherry tomatoes, and tangy feta cheese to form the base of this salad before being tossed in a fresh, lemony dressing that ties it all together. A great protein-packed lunch idea that’s perfect for a sunny day!
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POTATO SALADS
No summer spread is complete without a good potato salad! This collection brings you all the creamy, tangy, herb-loaded goodness you love, with a mix of fresh, modern twists. Whether you’re heading to a cookout or just craving a comforting side, there’s a potato salad here for you!
Potato Green Bean Salad
Potato Green Bean Salad with Olives and Feta Cheese is a lovely Greek-inspired twist on traditional potato salad. Buttery Yukon Gold potatoes, crisp-tender green beans, red onion, feta cheese and Kalamata olives with a lively vinaigrette deliver a side dish with bright, bold flavor!
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French Potato Salad
French-Style Potato Salad is sure to add a touch of elegance to your next get-together! Served warm, with lots of fresh herbs and a lively vinaigrette, it's a refreshing change from the typical potato salad! The secret to getting the flavor started is to splash the warm potatoes with chicken stock and wine!
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Creamy Potato Cucumber Salad
Creamy Potato Cucumber Salad is my mom's award-winning recipe! This delicious potato cucumber salad has all the classic ingredients like hard-cooked eggs and a creamy mayonnaise dressing, but it's kicked up with horseradish and the coolness of cucumber for an award-winning combination.
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Potato Salad with Horseradish Dressing
Potato Salad with Horseradish Dressing is a zippy twist on potato salad! Potatoes and horseradish are a match made in heaven!
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