Food & Cooking Recipes Salad Recipes 25 Summer Salads Made With Fresh, Seasonal Produce Refreshing, vibrant, and crunchy, these summer salads will quickly be added into your weeknight dinner (or lunch!) rotation. By Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer Victoria Spencer is an experienced food editor, writer, and recipe developer. She manages the Martha Stewart recipe archive and is always curious about new ingredients and the best techniques. She has been working in food media for over 20 years. Editorial Guidelines and Lindsay Tigar Lindsay Tigar Lindsay is a freelance writer focusing on lifestyle, shopping, food, and more. She reports feature stories for a number of leading publications and websites, including Travel + Leisure, Vogue, USA Today, Fast Company, Reader’s Digest, and more. Editorial Guidelines Published on May 29, 2024 Close Photo: Dana Gallagher With a wide array of fruits and vegetables at their peak during the warmer months, it's easy to put together a summer salad made with fresh ingredients. Whether you pair seasonal produce with your favorite protein or serve a chopped mix of vegetables, there are so many ways to make a summertime salad that will appeal to everyone at the table. When we say salad, we don't always mean leafy greens—here, anything goes, including peak-season fruits. These bright dishes are refreshing and colorful and are made with raw ingredients or just a few judiciously chosen cooked elements. From light and tangy to protein-packed and filling, these are our favorite salad recipes for summer. 26 of Our Tastiest Homemade Salad Dressing Recipes 01 of 25 Tomato and Strawberry Salad Nico Schinco Delicious, beautiful, and simple to make, this easy summer side salad calls for ripe strawberries and tomatoes dressed with fresh basil, white balsamic vinegar, and good olive oil. View Recipe 02 of 25 Garden Salad With Herbs and Sour-Cherry Dressing Mikkel Vang Cherries are a summer staple for a reason—their sweet and tart flavor pairs with almost anything. Handfuls of fresh herbs and leafy greens plus fronds of fennel provide a depth of flavor in this summery salad. View Recipe 03 of 25 Asparagus and Walnut Salad Nico Schinco Celebrate the end of the asparagus season with this easy salad that combines the sliced raw vegetable with toasted walnuts and Pecorino Romano cheese. It's a healthy and refreshing side dish that pairs well with grilled meats or fish. View Recipe 04 of 25 Cauliflower Faux-tato Salad Linda Xiao We swapped potatoes for steamed cauliflower florets in this clever, carb-free take on everyone's favorite cookout side. Believe us when we tell you it's a dish you'll want to take to every potluck. View Recipe 05 of 25 Shrimp Cobb With Cilantro-Lime Dressing Bryan Gardner By swapping the chicken for shrimp, you'll get a lighter twist on the classic Cobb salad. Plus, the cilantro-lime dressing is zesty enough for a summery touch. View Recipe 06 of 25 Tomato-Beet Salad Ruby-red roasted beets and an array of heirloom tomatoes make a dazzling summer salad that may just steal the show away from the main course. View Recipe 07 of 25 Watermelon, Orange, and Feta Salad One of the most colorful and refreshing salads around is this easy combination of ripe watermelon, juicy orange, and tangy cheese. Simply drizzle with olive oil and garnish with fresh herbs for a dish that's right for a cookout or a dinner party. View Recipe 08 of 25 Quinoa With Caramelized Corn and Scallions Linda Xiao Fresh corn kernels are the star of this healthy and hearty side. We celebrate their sweetness and give them staying power by pairing them with quinoa and feta to make a stellar dish that's potluck-ready. View Recipe 09 of 25 Greek Salad All the familiar components—cucumbers, tomatoes, red onion, and slices of feta—make this traditional Greek salad one of the best options for a flavorful side dish or as a meal on its own. View Recipe 10 of 25 Celery-and-Cucumber Salad With Herbs Don't overlook the humble cucumber, it makes an easy refreshing summer salad. This simple, make-ahead recipe pairs kirby cukes with lots of fresh herbs; use a mix of whatever you have on hand such as parsley, mint, and chives. View Recipe 11 of 25 Green Salad With Pickled-Shallot Vinaigrette Paola + Murray This simple yet elevated summer salad comes together in only 20 minutes. It makes a delicious side, but you could also protein, such as steak or chicken, for a mouthwatering main. View Recipe 12 of 25 Shaved-Butternut-and-Carrot Salad With Dates and Sunflower Seeds Ryan Liebe For a salad that's filled with sweetness and a crisp texture, try this one—pair the carrots and the butternut squash with leafy greens, dates, sunflower seeds, and a balsamic-based vinaigrette for a dish your guests will always remember. View Recipe 13 of 25 Grapefruit, Salmon, and Avocado Salad Packed with crisp greens, juicy citrus, silky salmon, and rich avocado, this is an easy, speedy salad everyone will devour. View Recipe 14 of 25 Tomato and Avocado Salad Make an elegant and memorable salad by pairing buttery avocado with juicy multicolored tomatoes. A drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkling of salt and pepper is all the seasoning this easy salad needs. Serve with grilled chicken or steak for a delicious summer meal. View Recipe 15 of 25 Chicken Paillard With Caprese Panzanella Con Poulos You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen to make a wholesome meal like this one. The Italian salad Panzanella is a summer classic, and by adding chicken you'll get a hearty, protein-filled plate in minutes. View Recipe 16 of 25 Seven Bean Salad David E. Steele This treasure trove of a salad features a few unexpected gems. Here, seven types of beans are mixed with red onion, celery, parsley, and Parmesan for a flavorful, hearty bite. Serve it cold for a refreshing side dish. View Recipe 17 of 25 Salade Nicoise Bryan Gardner A classic for a reason. The beauty of this salad is that it doesn't matter if you have two shrimp (or tuna!) or 10, half an avocado or two. Use what you have—the more varied it is in color and texture, the more impressive it will look. View Recipe 18 of 25 Melon and Cucumber Salad GENTL & HYERS A cooling, refreshing salad that couldn't be any easier to make—simply slice, arrange, and drizzle with oil and freshly chopped mint before serving. View Recipe 19 of 25 Green Salad With Roasted Beets and Pickled Rhubarb Kate Sears Roasted beets ground this delicate summer green salad, while the pickled rhubarb adds a touch of sweetness that's both welcomed and unexpected. View Recipe 20 of 25 Grilled Chicken Cobb Salad Crumbled bacon, feta cheese, sliced tomato, and avocado make this chicken cobb salad hearty and satisfying. Use leftover grilled chicken for this salad, or pick up a rotisserie chicken on your way home for a quick dinner. View Recipe 21 of 25 Artichoke Salad With Warm Tomato Vinaigrette Gentl and Hyers Tomatoes and artichokes—both being summer's bounty—shine in this version of the classic Panzanella. Torn chicories and bacon are also added to create a memorable flavor in every bite. View Recipe 22 of 25 Frisee Salad With Lardons and Poached Eggs A main-course salad that's as beautiful as it is delicious. Easy-poached eggs are added on top for a succulent, protein-packed meal. View Recipe 23 of 25 Bloody Mary Tomato Salad Dana Gallagher Summer is the peak season for picking fresh heirloom tomatoes straight from your garden—and taking a bite. If you can hold off just long enough to get inside, consider making this Bloody Mary-inspired summer salad that features lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, and vodka for an interesting take. Ideal for brunch (of course)—serve with fresh mozzarella if you want more protein. View Recipe 24 of 25 Zucchini and Squash Salad Linda Pugliese This refreshing salad might be easy-peasy, but it’s a colorful crowd pleasure that makes everyone feel like summer has officially arrived! Rather than topping with olive oil, this recipe calls for a flavorful dressing made from lemon juice, honey, dijon mustard, honey, and olive oil. You can top it with whatever you like, but we recommend fresh basil, pine nuts, and Pecorino Romano cheese. View Recipe 25 of 25 Chicken Taco Salad Mike Krautter For a hearty summer salad that keeps you satisfied but not overly full, choose this chicken taco salad featuring chili chicken thighs. What’s fun about this recipe is you can remove or add whatever you’d like—from corn and black beans to salsa, avocado, and more Mexican-inspired ingredients. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit