When the weather heats up, I want lighter and refreshing salads that showcase fresh, vibrant, in-season produce. As a seasoned summer entertainer, I’ve curated a list of my favorite 15 summer salads to keep you cool, satisfied, and energized all summer!
When the weather gets hot, I want to eat lighter meals that fill me up. That’s why a summer salad is often my go-to for lunch – and sometimes for dinner! But if I don’t plan ahead, I often end up with the same old salad, day after day. So, it got me thinking: why don’t I have a list of salads I can reach for every week? That’s how I got the idea to make this list of 15 summer salads. These salads for summer are packed with goodness: chicken, tomatoes, strawberries, shrimp, whole grains, and a bunch of summer veggies. They’re so refreshing, using the best of summer produce!
Summer salads with fruit
Many fruits reach their peak ripeness in summer. When goodies like watermelon, berries, mangoes, and more treats hit the shelves, I get inspired to add fresh bursts of juicy fruit among my leafy greens! Summer fruits also have a high water content, making them hydrating for those warmer days. Both watermelon and cucumber are among the more hydrating fruits (yes, cucumber is botanically a fruit, even though it’s a vegetable in my brain). Enjoy them together in this watermelon cucumber salad with sweet honey, salty feta, fresh basil, and mint. I come back to this grilled peach salad every summer. The grill caramelizes the fruit’s natural sugars, making them smoky and flavorful—it’s a summertime must! Let’s talk about summer berries! This strawberry spinach salad perfectly combines sweet, juicy strawberries with crisp, earthy spinach. This summer chicken salad with raspberries tastes like a celebration of the season. And this fresh cherry salad is full of fresh and contrasting flavors and textures—which is what incredible salads are all about!
Asian inspired summer salads
Asian cuisine is so diverse but generally filled with vibrant ingredients like fresh herbs, vegetables, and fruits. Another thing I really dig about it is the incredible balance of flavors: sweet, salty, bitter, and umami flavors come together for total deliciousness! These summer salads with an Asian twist pack in veggies and balanced flavors. They’re also served chilled or at room temperature, so they’re perfect for keeping cool.
Mango is among my favorite summer treats! Toss it into this mango Thai noodle salad alongside snow peas, red pepper, and loads of fresh herbs with a sesame ginger dressing. Yeah, it’s just as incredible as it sounds! Then there is this black rice salad with mango , where sweet meets savory. Finally, this light peanut coleslaw is packed with crispy veggies and vibrant herbs and then slathered with a delicious peanut dressing made from natural peanut butter. It’s got a delicious crunch!
Grilled summer salads
Summer entertaining is all about getting your loved ones together to enjoy something full of charred BBQ flavors. While you’re sizzling away, why not throw down some extras to make a delicious summer side salads with a smoky touch?! Fresh corn in summer tastes like pure gold, right?! Throw some on the BBQ and make this grilled corn salad with BBQ sausage . It might just steal the spotlight from your main dishes! Get your intake of fresh veggies with this grilled vegetable salad . It has bell peppers, eggplants, zucchini, red onion, gorgeous tomatoes, and more goodness!
Or, go with this grilled zucchini salad for contrasting textures and colors. With chickpeas, alfalfa sprouts, cabbage, and zucchini – totally satisfying!
Other summer salads
Finally, here’s a selection of a few of my other favorite go-to summer salad ideas. These are perfect to pack up for picnics or potlucks. Tomatoes in the summer are absolute heaven – I wait for them all winter long! This cucumber tomato salad recipe isn’t just a plain salad – it’s bright, fresh, and quick to whip up, just like my Caprese salad . It’s made with just five ingredients, including delicious fresh mozzarella and olive oil. If you’re craving grains, this summer quinoa salad recipe is the way to go. It’s loaded with sweet cherries, fresh herbs, and a zesty lemony dressing – perfect for dinner on the patio. Finally, shrimp is bursting with flavor in the summer months, and this shrimp Caesar pasta salad incorporates my favorite summer protein with Caesar salad flavors. It gets tons of compliments!
