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We all love a light meal or salad side dish for summer, so I gathered up 20 perfect summer salads to show you the versatility of the classic salad. Whether you’re looking for a full-meal salad or a simple side dish, I have you covered!
I’m a huge fan of salads in the summer. In fact, most of the summer I make a salad and then we eat it with our dinner for 3-4 days. This cuts down on cooking time at dinner and keeps dinner packed with fresh flavor.
We’ve also been incorporating more “dinner” salads into our summer menu. These types of salads are packed with flavor and the added protiens are perfectly cooked. I also threw in one vegetarian option that uses lentils. Of course, if you’re looking for even more protien you can add grilled chicken to that salad.
At the end of the roundup I included two fun “salad” recipes that are perfect for summer.
These main course summer salads are the light summer meal of your dreams! Everything from crispy chicken, to grilled steak, to vegetarian friendly lentils – these salads have them all!
4.80 from 5 votes
Crispy Chicken Cabbage Salad
This crispy chicken cabbage salad is made super easy using rotisserie chicken and crisping it up in olive oil with lemongrass, ginger, and garlic. That's combined with lots of fresh chopped cabbage, minced herbs, apples, and a light squeeze of lime.
This is the best shrimp salad, and it's made with a creamy, tangy dressing, lots of crunchy vegetables, and a sprinkling of fresh chopped herbs. You'll love this easy and delicious classic recipe!
This grilled chicken Caesar salad is a summer classic with an easy, lighter dressing. Crisp romaine, tender grilled chicken, salty parmesan, and crunchy croutons in a bright lemony caesar dressing.
This Mediterranean tuna orzo salad is a great quick and easy weeknight meal. Protein-packed tuna and orzo pasta mixed with lemon, capers, artichoke hearts, sundried tomatoes, and lots of fresh herbs.
This herbed shrimp orzo salad is packed full of lemon flavor, fresh herbs, cucumbers, red onion, salty feta, and perfectly cooked garlic shrimp. This pasta salad is super easy to make and makes a great light summer meal or flavorful side dish.
This tuna white bean salad is packed full of fresh lemon, herbs, and cannellini beans. It's great served on toasted bread or while eating straight from the bowl.
This southwest steak salad with fried plantains is PACKED with grilled steak, fried plantains, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, crunchy tortilla strips, and topped with a homemade Greek yogurt cilantro dressing.
This lentil couscous goat cheese salad is PACKED full of flavor and the perfect meatless meal, light summer lunch or delicious side dish. Green lentils mixed with Israeli couscous, goat cheese, bell peppers, green peas, sun dried tomatoes, and parsley all drizzled with a homemade lemon, basil, and honey vinaigrette.
Craving all things side dish related? Well, these salads are just what you need! Crunchy vegetables, perfectly cooked pasta, and flavor packed dressings – what’s not to love?
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The Best 5 Bean Salad
This is the BEST 5 bean salad recipe you'll ever have! It's a delicious mix of beans, onions, green pepper, celery, and herbs tossed in a tangy apple cider vinaigrette.
This easy flavor-packed tomato feta salad has sweet cherry tomatoes, feta cheese, shallots, fresh basil, lemon, olive oil, and vinegar. It is deliciously simple and great as a BBQ side dish.
This creamy coleslaw recipe is great on top of sandwiches, served next to grilled hot dogs, or eaten directly from the bowl. You'll love how easy and fast this recipe comes together!
This is the best broccoli salad you'll ever have! It's creamy, crunchy, and packed full of flavor. A delicious mixture of broccoli, bacon, red onion, mozzarella cheese, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries, and creamy homemade dressing.
This Mediterranean couscous salad is perfect for lunches or dinners, with pearl couscous, Persian cucumbers, and sweet tomatoes, all dressed in a tangy and earthy vinaigrette.
This classic pea salad has sweet peas, salty bacon, and cubed cheddar, all wrapped in a delicious mayo sour cream dressing. You’re going to love bringing this salad to your next BBQ!
Summertime is not complete without the best cucumber salad! It takes thinly sliced cucumbers and red onions mixed together with a sweet vinegar dressing. You'll love this easy and quick side dish!
These delicious dessert summer salads are the perfect sweet ending to your day. These might not be “real” salads but they sure are delectable!
5 from 1 vote
Pineapple Pretzel Salad
This pineapple pretzel salad is a great summertime addition to your dessert menu. A deliciously crunchy pretzel crust is topped with a fluffy cream cheese mixture and a crushed pineapple jello topping. This dessert is classic and delicious!
This sweet grape salad is packed full of green and red grapes and made with cream cheese and marshmallow fluff. This is super delicious and perfect for summer BBQ's.
I am a food lover and recipe developer bringing you delicious recipes that taste great and are easy to make! My food is inspired by travels around the world and my love of flavorful food. A list of things that make me happy: cats, Coke Zero, houseplants, and travel.
What a wonderful roundup for this time of year!
I could live on salads! I now have the menu for my meals for a while!!
These are on my must-make list!
Loving all of these options! They all look fantastic!
Salads are definitely my go-to meal over the summer so I can’t wait to try all of these!