Summer Salad Recipes

Dig into a crisp, cool salad for a perfect summer meal. Green, potato, bean, and broccoli salads, plus coleslaw and caprese salads. Get the recipes.

Staff Picks

Pasta Salad with Homemade Dressing

Rating: 4.65 stars
200
Pasta salad filled with veggies, cheese, and seasoning. Very tasty and versatile -- is great to make ahead.
By BONNIES

Perfect Potato Salad

Rating: 4.6 stars
36
This is my mother Pauline's recipe. It's pretty much a classic American salad but remember, if you add onions, use sweet onions and chop with a very sharp knife, allow potatoes to cool to room temp before dressing them, and always taste for salt.
By Chef John

Insalata Caprese II

Rating: 4.77 stars
246
Because this salad is so simple, fresh, top-quality tomatoes and mozzarella are important.
By Marina

Summer Corn Salad

Rating: 4.43 stars
278
This fresh and flavorful salad features buttery yellow corn tossed with chunks of tomato and onion with a fresh basil vinaigrette.
By Eileen

Greek Orzo Salad

Rating: 4.45 stars
468
A delicious, colorful salad, with artichoke hearts and feta. I receive a lot of requests for this one.
By Patrice

Mid-Summer Italian Bread Salad

Rating: 4.56 stars
158
Everything in this salad is fresh, except the bread! Prepare this salad by using a loaf of artisan bread or rosemary bread that is a touch stale. If your bread is too fresh, toast it until it is about half as dried and crunchy as a crouton.
By Tamara

Strawberry-Melon Summer Salad

Rating: 4.76 stars
18
This salad is perfect for summer BBQs. The fruit makes it tasty.
By Drizzler

Sufferin' Succotash Salad

Rating: 4.5 stars
30
Thanks to the sweet, starchy crunch of the raw corn, the combination of tastes and textures in this salad is outstanding.
By Chef John

Angie's Dad's Best Cabbage Coleslaw

Rating: 4.66 stars
416
An absolutely delicious coleslaw, more tart and tangy than the creamy kind. Can make this up to 2 weeks ahead of serving and it only gets better.
By DOTMAYTRX

Summer Pasta Salad I

Rating: 4.19 stars
21
This is a great pasta salad, light and refreshing and a great family favorite! Has Catalina and Italian dressing, veggies and vinegar that gives it that zing! This is best when prepared the day before to get the full flavor!
By TINA B

Easy Tuna Pasta Salad

Rating: 4.75 stars
3
A simple tuna pasta salad with bright flavors.
By Matthew Francis

Chicken Club Pasta Salad

Rating: 4.62 stars
239
Chicken club sandwich-style pasta! Substitute Monterey Jack cheese for the Muenster, if desired.
By Lane J
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Inspiration and Ideas

Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Zucchini

Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Zucchini
Rating: Unrated
46
"Loved it, especially with the lemon juice and zest. Classic Mediterranean ingredients and flavors, easily mixed in proportions to suit your own tastes." – naples34102
Chef John's Shrimp and Pasta Shell Salad

Chef John's Shrimp and Pasta Shell Salad
Rating: Unrated
146
"This is one of my favorite summer salads, and it's oh-so-easy." – Chef John
Thornehedge Peach Slaw

Thornehedge Peach Slaw
Rating: Unrated
13
Refreshing Watermelon Salad

Refreshing Watermelon Salad
Rating: Unrated
97
Savory Spanish Potato Salad

Savory Spanish Potato Salad
Rating: Unrated
23
12 Refreshing Thai-Inspired Summer Salads

Refreshing Thai-Inspired Salads

Greek Salad I

Rating: 4.5 stars
186

This is an incredibly good Greek salad recipe, nice and tangy and even better in the summer when you use fresh vegetables!

More Summer Salad Recipes

Classic Macaroni Salad

Rating: 4.46 stars
2054
This is a salad that everyone seems to love. I always get lots of compliments on this recipe and it is just a pleasing taste that seems to suit everyone.
By Graden

Fresh Broccoli Salad

Rating: 4.78 stars
1141
This is a yummy summer salad that uses an interesting combination of fruits, vegetables and meats. Before you decide you won't like it, try it. You'll be pleasantly surprised. You can add an extra head of broccoli, if you like.
By Nora

Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

Rating: 4.61 stars
376
The perfect fruit salad for a backyard bbq or any occasion. There are never leftovers! This is one of my favorite fruit salad recipes, as I think the sauce really makes it. This salad is tastier the longer you can let it soak in its juices. I prefer 3 to 4 hours in the refrigerator before I serve it. Enjoy.
By Nicole Graham Holley

Simple Pasta Salad

Rating: 4.64 stars
126
An easy, yet very yummy pasta salad. Almost any type of pasta may be used. Best if left to sit overnight.
By Katzen

Dad's Creamy Cucumber Salad

Rating: 4.61 stars
272
This was my Dad's recipe and one of our family's all-time summer favorites.
By MHudson

Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad

Rating: 4.78 stars
268
Whether it's sitting next to some smoky ribs or just a humble hot dog, this deli-style macaroni salad will always be a crowd favorite, as long as you pay attention to a few key details.
By Chef John

Red Skinned Potato Salad

Rating: 4.71 stars
1759
This creamy salad is made with red potatoes, which give this dish--chock full of melt-in-your-mouth bacon, bits of hard boiled egg, crunchy celery and spicy onion--a delectable, firm texture.
By Donna

10 Creamy Pasta Salads for Summer

Here are some of our most popular pasta salad recipes that have perfected the ratio of pasta, add-ins, and just the right creamy dressing to pull all the ingredients together.
By Vicky McDonald

Red Potato Salad

Rating: 4.54 stars
201
This pretty red potato salad has great flavor. Goes well with a summer barbeque, or anytime! For a tangy twist, try using plain fat-free yogurt in place of some or all of the sour cream. Garnish with additional sliced hard-boiled eggs, if desired.
By Michelle Ramey

Avocado Salad

Rating: 4.58 stars
246
Make sure to use large, ripe avocados and Walla Walla sweet, or Vidalia onions in this recipe. I think you'll like it.
By JOHNLYNN

Adrienne's Cucumber Salad

Rating: 4.54 stars
986
Cool, delicious cucumber salad. For a pretty salad, peel only half of each cucumber, leaving strips of skin on each. Don't make the vinegar solution first and then chop the cucumber because it's important that the vinegar solution be hot to ensure proper flavoring.
By JSCHMAND

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Rating: 4.75 stars
56
Mozzarella slices are served with tomatoes, fresh basil, and sprinkled with olive oil. A perfect salad alternative, especially in summer when you can get tomatoes and basil from the garden.
By JOANN HAN
Sponsored By MyPlate

California Coleslaw

Rating: 4.39 stars
185
A sweet summer slaw filled with fresh vegetables. It tastes better the second day after the vegetables have soaked in the marinade.
By ALEXPE

Rainbow Pasta Salad II

Rating: 4.48 stars
131
This is a really quick and easy pasta salad. Great for picnics and BBQ's.
By JENNIEANNE

Strawberry Avocado Salad

Rating: 4.69 stars
355
I have served this countless times and I am always asked for the recipe, I also use this dressing on many other salads. Enjoy
By ENIGMA497

Mom's Cucumbers

Rating: 4.64 stars
219
Tasty marinated cucumbers. Ideal for a fresh side salad.
By Karen

Southern Dill Potato Salad

Rating: 4.64 stars
209
My mother made this potato salad for me as a boy growing up in Spanish Fort, Alabama (on the Gulf of Mexico). I have re-created it with a slight modern tangy twist. I know you will like it! Best taste is achieved when the salad is covered and placed in refrigerator overnight.
By NE1canCook

Southern Potato Salad

Rating: 4.61 stars
502
This potato salad includes eggs, celery, and relish and should be served warm.
By S0NGLADY

Rainbow Pasta Salad I

Rating: 4.51 stars
145
A terrific Italian-flavored pasta salad with broccoli, pepperoni and cheese.
By CESTIE

15 Top-Rated Creamy Salads for Summer Picnics

By Carl Hanson

Good for You Greek Salad

Rating: 4.64 stars
427
A yummy and low-fat Greek salad recipe. You can use two green onions instead of the small red onion, if you wish.
By Candice

Tomato and Mozzarella Bites

Rating: 4.66 stars
277
A great way to serve tomato mozzarella salad. Great presentation; always a hit! You can find the bite-sized mozzarella ('Bocconcini') at most supermarkets. If they are on the larger side, cut them in half.
By MADDIECAT

Black Bean and Couscous Salad

Rating: 4.68 stars
1037
This is a great salad for a buffet, with interesting textures and southwest flavors combined in one delicious salad. Leftovers store well refrigerated for several days.
By Anonymous
Sponsored By MyPlate

Watermelon Cucumber Salad

Rating: 4.33 stars
2
All of my friends loved this tasty, refreshing watermelon salad, so I thought I would add it as my first Allrecipes recipe. It was inspired by another recipe on here, but strayed far enough from the original that I thought it deserved its own recipe. Enjoy.
By Sarah K
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