These refreshing summer salads are perfect for sunny days ahead! They’re easy to make with in-season produce, packed with juicy flavor, and great for a light dinner or side dish everyone will love.
Why You’ll Love These Summer Salads
Slow summer days call for one thing—easy, no-fuss meals. Because the last thing we want to do is spend long hours in the kitchen with the oven on (no extra sweating, thank you very much). So here’s my roundup of the best summer salad recipes to make all season long! Plus, they’re also personal favorites of mine for these three reasons:
- They’re fresh and healthy. Using the best seasonal ingredients, these salads are just what I’m craving for a light summer meal.
- Some are great for meal prep. Recipes like chicken salad or shrimp salad are sturdy enough to prep ahead and enjoy throughout the week.
- Perfect for entertaining. Whether it’s for an intimate dinner at home or a big cookout, everyone will love how delicious and shareable they are!
The Best Summer Salads
These are crowd-favorite salads everyone craves when the weather starts warming up. Plus, they’re ideal for summer cookouts like the 4th of July (hint, hint).
Chicken Salad: Whether it’s tucked into a sandwich or served with crackers and veggies, this cool and creamy chicken salad is a meal-prep MVP and picnic staple.
Broccoli Salad: This is always the unexpected hit of summer potlucks that steals the spotlight. It’s savory, crunchy, and tossed in a fresh mayo dressing.
Potato Salad: Creamy, tangy, and nostalgic, you can’t have a summer BBQ without this salad!
Caesar Salad: I’ve seen this Caesar salad disappear faster than the burgers at my 4th of July party. Everyone loves the roasted chickpeas and creamy Caesar dressing.
Watermelon Salad: Nothing screams summer louder than juicy watermelon, salty feta, and fresh mint. I love bringing this one out on the hottest days.
Greek Salad: A Mediterranean classic and personal favorite! Briny olives, fresh tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, and tangy Greek salad dressing make it a staple for any sunny-day spread.
Easy Summer Salads for BBQs
Need something quick and fresh to bring to a BBQ? These easy salads come together fast, use simple ingredients, and always hit the spot. They’re my go-to when I need a last-minute side that still feels summery and homemade.
Cucumber Salad: This is the salad I always throw together to pair with grilled meats. It’s cool, crisp, and deliciously tangy.
Fresh Corn Salad: Sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, and a zippy dressing—this one tastes like a sunny afternoon in every bite. Plus, it’s the perfect use for leftover grilled corn on the cob.
Caprese Salad: It’s a simple combination of sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. But when everything is in season, it tastes like magic.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad: I love this one for how hearty it is without feeling heavy. Chickpeas, veggies, and herbs are tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette for the ultimate side dish.
Chimichurri Potato Salad: This twist on a classic is bold, herby, and a little unexpected with my homemade chimichurri sauce. It’s what I bring when I want to impress and keep it simple.
High-Protein Summer Salads for Dinner
When it’s too hot to cook but I still want something satisfying, I always look to these high-protein salads. They’re light, fresh, and packed with enough protein and hearty veggies to keep you full (and cool) through dinnertime.
Cobb Salad: All the best toppings on one plate—crispy bacon, juicy chicken, creamy avocado, and more. It’s a dinner salad that doesn’t feel like a compromise.
Taco Salad: Think taco night, but lighter. Seasoned ground meat, crunchy vegetables, and all the best Mexican toppings that will give Taco Tuesday a fresh experience.
Shrimp Salad: Quick-cooked shrimp, fresh herbs, and zesty dressing make this one feel fancy, even when I throw it together on a Wednesday night. Plus, I love to enjoy this wrapped with butter lettuce!
Tuna Salad: Tuna salad is always in my fridge during summer. It’s protein-packed, endlessly versatile, and doesn’t require any cooking. For a Mediterranean spin, try this Tuscan tuna salad with white beans for added protein.
Chicken Bacon Ranch Chopped Salad: When you want something hearty and crave-worthy, this one hits the spot with grilled chicken, crispy bacon, and the best ranch dressing. You could also try this Southwest chicken salad with avocado dressing for a Tex-Mex variation!
Salmon Salad: The best way to enjoy flaky baked salmon on warmer days. I love this one with a creamy, lemony dressing and lots of dill.
Pesto Chicken Salad: Basil pesto and tender chicken are a match made in summer dinner heaven. I like serving it over greens or stuffed into lettuce wraps.
Summer Fruit Salads
Summer fruit is at its peak—ripe, juicy, and bursting with flavor. It’s the perfect time to load up at the market and toss those sweet gems into your salads. They add a fresh, naturally sweet twist that makes any plate feel a little more special and a lot more summery.
Fruit Salad: A giant fruit salad is always a summer non-negotiable. I’m using strawberries, pineapple, grapes, blueberries, kiwis, oranges, and mangoes. But feel free to use your favorite fruits.
Berry Spinach Salad: This one’s a farmers market favorite that always disappears first at brunch. It’s a simple yet delicious mix of sweet berries, baby spinach, and a fresh raspberry vinaigrette.
Mango Avocado Shrimp Salad: One of my favorite summer salads! It’s the perfect combination of shrimp, sweet mango, creamy avocado, and a bright honey lime dressing.
Stone Fruit Salad: Peaches, plums, nectarines—yes, please. Drizzle with honey and toss with arugula or basil for a salad that feels fancy but couldn’t be easier.
Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad: There’s just something so good about grilled fruit, especially grilled peaches. And when you combine them with fresh, creamy burrata and a drizzle of balsamic glaze (or this balsamic vinaigrette), boy, is it heavenly.
More Summer Recipes
- Easy Grilling Recipes for Summer
- Best Mediterranean Diet Recipes
- Best Smoothie Recipes
- Easy & Healthy Salad Recipes
If you make any of these summer salad recipes, I’d love to hear how they turned out in the comment box below! Your review will help other readers in the community. And if you’re hungry for more healthy food inspiration and exclusive content, join my free newsletter here.
Description
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 large mango, diced
- 2 avocado, diced
- 2 celery ribs, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- ¼ cup finely chopped cilantro
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
Honey Lime Dressing
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook the shrimp. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add the shrimp and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until cooked through and pink.
- Make an ice water bath. While the shrimp are cooking, prepare an ice water bath. Remove the shrimp to the ice water bath using a skimmer. Let them cool for 3 minutes, then drain them in a colander.
- Make the salad. Add the shrimp, mango, avocado, celery, bell pepper, cilantro, and red onion to a mixing bowl.
- Make the dressing. In a small bowl, stir together the olive oil, lime juice, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper.
- Toss with the dressing. Pour the dressing on top of the salad and stir to combine.
Nutrition
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Recipe roundup originally published June 2022, but updated to include new recipes and photos.
I tried the summer salad recipe and it was refreshing! Loved the combination of flavors, especially the dressing. Perfect for hot days!
Glad you enjoyed the summer salad, Rachel!
I tried the summer salad recipe, and it was refreshing and easy to make! Perfect for hot days. I’ll definitely make it again!
Glad it was a hit, Maureen!
I really enjoyed this summer salad! It was refreshing and easy to make. Perfect for hot days!
Hi Kristina – Happy to hear you enjoyed this summer salad!
The Curried Mango Chicken Salad is incredible!! The mangos at my grocery store weren’t super ripe, so I instead substituted with a ripe papaya. It was one of the best chicken salads I’ve ever had! Thanks for putting your recipes out there Lisa!
Thrilled to hear you enjoyed the mango chicken salad, Haley!
I love your salad recipes, I think they are very healthy. They are the best.
Hi Gwendolyn – Happy to hear you’re loving these salad ideas!
We love the Curried Mango Chicken Salad–and we gave it a variation recently because I had some items I needed to use. Smoked chicken breast (done by my awesome husband), peaches and a bit of red onion. So, I subbed in the peaches for the mango, the red onion for the green (note to self–a little goes a long way), and chopped pecans for the cashews. It was fantastic! Thanks for all of your great recipe videos and online recipes! It’s been such a great help to my bariatric surgery journey. Yay!
Glad that chicken salad worked out great with peaches instead!
I love this post! How wonderful to have all of these refreshing recipes for the summer at my fingertips. Thank you very much, Lisa!
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