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    10 Easy Summer Salad Recipes

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my affiliate disclosure.

    Pinterest graphic showing pictures of a burrata caprese and cucumber salad with text overlay "Summer Salad Recipes".

    Here are 10 easy and refreshing summer salad recipes that you need to try! Everything from side dish salads to serve at your next BBQ, cookout or picnic to main dish summer salads perfect for lunch or dinner on days when it’s way too hot to cook.

    Photo collage of salads with text overlay "Summer Salad Recipes You Need To Try!".

    Summer is the season of salads! I don’t know about you but I live off of different types of salads in the summer.

    Summer salads just seem to hit the spot on hot days. They are easy to make, refreshing and super delicious too. Nothing beats the taste of fresh local summer produce! Am I right?!

    Looking For Summer Salad Ideas?

    Look no further! Here are 10 of my favorite salad recipes that are perfect for summer. You’re sure to find something you’ll love!

    Maybe you’re looking for a summer salad to serve as a side dish at your next BBQ or cookout? Or perhaps it’s crazy hot out (WAY TOO HOT TO COOK!) and you want a main dish salad idea for lunch or dinner. Or maybe you’re just quickly throwing something on the grill and need an easy salad to serve alongside it?

    No worries! You’ll find something perfect for any of these occasions below!

    10 Summer Salads You’ll Love

    Make the most of summer with these 10 easy and delicious summer salad recipes. Lots of amazing options to choose from below including cucumber salads, pasta salads, veggie packed salads and lots more! The hardest part is deciding which one to try first!

    Burrata Caprese

    A plate of burrata caprese salad.

    This Burrata Caprese Salad is summer on a plate! Juicy heirloom tomatoes and creamy burrata cheese are a match made in heaven. Perfect for tomato season!

    Ways To Serve It

    • Serve it as a side dish: It pairs well with Italian dishes like pizza, risotto or your favorite pasta dish (like pasta with bolognese sauce or lasagna). Also delicious served with grilled seafood, grilled steaks or other meats.
    • Serve it as an appetizer: This beautiful salad is perfect appetizer for summer entertaining.
    • Serve it as a main: The perfect no-cook lunch or dinner on hot summer days. I like to serve it with some fresh crusty bread and a nice glass of wine or a Limoncello Spritz.
    Get The Recipe

    Creamy German Cucumber Salad (Gurkensalat)

    Closeup of Gurkensalat (German cucumber salad) in a white bowl.

    This Creamy German Cucumber Salad (aka Gurkensalat) features thinly sliced cucumbers in the most delicious sour cream dressing. I dare you not to drink the leftover sauce at the bottom of the salad bowl (or maybe it’s just my family that fights over these things!🤣).

    Ways To Serve It

    Serve it as an easy and refreshing side dish. In the summer it pairs well with:

    • Grilled meat or seafood: Grilled steaks, chicken, salmon, shrimp, kebabs, sausages, etc.
    • German foods: Schnitzel, frikadellen, bratwurst, etc.
    Get The Recipe

    Chicken Macaroni Salad

    Chicken Macaroni Salad in a white serving bowl with gold colored salad servers.

    Chicken Macaroni Salad is a delicious cross between a creamy macaroni salad and a chicken salad. It’s so good!

    Ways To Serve It

    • Serve it as a side dish: Great for summer BBQs, cookouts, picnics and potlucks.
    • Serve it as a main dish: Perfect for lunch or a quick weeknight dinner and a great way to use up leftover chicken.
    Get The Recipe

    Healthy Nourish Bowls

    Three different healthy nourish bowls on a white background.

    Learn how to build your own healthy nourish bowl. It’s a great way to highlight all that delicious fresh summer produce. The combinations are endless so you’ll never get bored!

    Ways To Serve It

    Nourish Bowls are a complete meal that are delicious served for lunch or dinner. Also fantastic for meal prep! You can either prep ahead complete bowls or my personal favorite way is to prep a variety of ingredients so that I can easily mix and match to quickly build a fresh bowl.

    Get The Recipe

    Warm Roasted Asparagus Salad With Eggs

    Two plates of roasted asparagus salad with one featuring a poached egg on top and the other a soft boiled egg cut in half.

    This Roasted Asparagus Salad is a recipe that I make on repeat during late spring/early summer when local asparagus is in season. It features delicious roasted asparagus topped with eggs (the kind with beautiful soft runny yolks), parmesan shavings and toasted pine nuts.

    Ways To Serve It

    This is a satisfying meal salad that can be served for breakfast, brunch, lunch or a light dinner.

    Get The Recipe

    Summer Chopped Veggie Salad

    White bowl of chopped salad with gold salad servers sticking out.

    This Chopped Veggie Salad is one of my favorite summer side salads! It’s loaded with fresh summer veggies and feta cheese tossed in a simple tangy vinaigrette. Super easy to make, colorful and so yummy!

    Ways To Serve It

    This is an amazing summer side salad that pairs incredibly well with grilled foods.

    Get The Recipe

    Cucumber Yogurt Salad

    Close up of cucumber salad with greek yogurt dressing.

    Raise your hand if you like tzatziki! If your hand is waving up in the air, then you are going to love this Cucumber Yogurt Salad. It features all the flavors of tzatziki in salad form.

    Ways To Serve It

    This easy and refreshing side dish salad pairs well with grilled foods, rich or spicy foods and all your Greek or Mediterranean faves.

    Get The Recipe

    Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad

    Creamy salmon and asparagus pasta salad in a white serving dish with gold salad servers tucked in.

    This Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad is tossed together in a creamy lemon dill dressing. Salmon and asparagus make a fantastic combo so why not turn it into a delicious pasta salad!

    Ways To Serve It

    • Serve it as a side dish: A fantastic side dish for summer BBQ’s, potlucks or picnics.
    • Serve it as a main dish: This salad is a complete meal that can be served on its own for a satisfying lunch or simple dinner.
    Get The Recipe

    Tuna Potato Salad

    Tuna Potato Salad with dill buttermilk dressing in a white serving bowl.

    This Tuna Potato Salad is not your average potato salad recipe. It features a combination of baby potatoes, green beans, tuna, radishes and red onion all tossed together with a delicious dill buttermilk dressing.

    Ways To Serve It

    This potato salad recipe is a complete meal that is perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

    Get The Recipe

    Roasted Pumpkin And Beetroot Salad

    Roasted pumpkin and beetroot salad on a white serving platter.

    This Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad is fantastic to make near the end of summer when an abundance of fresh squash/pumpkin and beets are available. It features roasted pumpkin/squash and beets tossed in a delicious maple vinaigrette and topped with feta, pine nuts, pepitas and arugula/rocket.

    Ways To Serve It

    It’s hearty enough to serve on its own for a delicious lunch but also makes a wonderful side dish for grilled meats (like these Grilled Steaks), seafood, and for the transition into fall and Thanksgiving.

    Get The Recipe

    FAQ: Summer Salads

    What are summer salads?

    Summer salads are the salads that we typically enjoy and make the most during the summer season. They tend to either highlight fresh summer produce or pair well with grilled foods and BBQ.

    Which of these salads can be made ahead of time?

    The best ones for meal prep are the Healthy Nourish Bowls, Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad, Chicken Macaroni Salad and Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad.

    Which summer salads make a good main dish for lunch or for dinner?

    If you are looking for a satisfying salad for lunch or dinner then check out the following in the list above: Healthy Nourish Bowls, Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad, Roasted Asparagus Salad With Eggs, Chicken Macaroni Salad, Roasted Pumpkin and Beetroot Salad and Tuna Potato Salad.

    Which ones make a great side dish for grilled foods or to serve at a BBQ/cookout?

    All of the salads listed above are amazing sides except for the Warm Roasted Asparagus Salad, Nourish Bowls and Tuna Potato Salad which are better served as mains.

    More Summer Recipe Collections

    I’ve got lots of other great recipe roundups to check out! Here are a few that are perfect for summer…

    • 10 Strawberry Recipes You Need To Try
    • 27 Easy Asparagus Recipes
    • 12 Healthy Summer Mocktails
    • Refreshing Summer Cocktails You’ll Love

    So the only question is…which one of these summer salad recipes will you make first?

    Let me know which ones are your favorite in the comments below or tag me on Instagram so that I can see your beautiful summer salads.

    ⬇ PIN it for later! ⬇

    Pinterest graphic for summer salads.
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