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: Unrated
201
Pasta salad filled with veggies, cheese, and seasoning. Very tasty and versatile -- is great to make ahead.
By BONNIES

Perfect Potato Salad

Rating: Unrated
38
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: Unrated
250
Because this salad is so simple, fresh, top-quality tomatoes and mozzarella are important.
By Marina

Summer Corn Salad

Rating: Unrated
280
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: Unrated
472
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: Unrated
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: Unrated
18
This salad is perfect for summer BBQs. The fruit makes it tasty.
By Drizzler

Sufferin' Succotash Salad

Rating: Unrated
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: Unrated
419
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: Unrated
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

Classic Macaroni Salad

Rating: Unrated
2076
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: Unrated
1149
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

Inspiration and Ideas

Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Zucchini

Cucumber-Tomato Salad with Zucchini

"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

"This is one of my favorite summer salads, and it's oh-so-easy." – Chef John
Thornehedge Peach Slaw

Thornehedge Peach Slaw

Refreshing Watermelon Salad

Refreshing Watermelon Salad

Savory Spanish Potato Salad

Savory Spanish Potato Salad

15 Best Macaroni Salad Recipes

15 Best Macaroni Salad Recipes

Chef John's Classic Macaroni Salad

Rating: Unrated
271

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.

More Summer Salad Recipes

Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

Rating: Unrated
383
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

Dad's Creamy Cucumber Salad

Rating: Unrated
275
This was my Dad's recipe and one of our family's all-time summer favorites.
By MHudson

Chicken Noodle Salad

Rating: Unrated
10
Get ready to make all sorts of friends when you bring a big bowl of this Asian chicken noodle salad to the next big cookout. The only folks you might scare away are the ones who brought regular pasta salads. There's just something delightfully addictive about this special combination of cold and spicy. This recipe is the perfect catchall for all those summer vegetables we're supposed to be eating more of, as well as any dry leftover chicken you have around.
By Chef John

The Best Vegetable Salad

Rating: Unrated
6
This is a refreshing salad using all different kinds of vegetables. You can use whatever you like, but the main things that makes it good are the tomatoes and cucumbers. It is much like an Israeli salad. The homemade dressing is very good on it, but so is just plain olive oil.
By DUSTYDO157

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad

Rating: Unrated
17
This is a favorite of ours in the summer. Also great made with shrimp in place of chicken!
By sixgermans

Avocado Salad

Rating: Unrated
247
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

Mandarin Chicken Pasta Salad

Rating: Unrated
259
I had this at a party and couldn't get it off my mind. It's a fruity Asian chicken salad that even my family's picky eaters enjoy. I bake my own chicken for more flavor, which adds to the prep time, but pre-cooked or canned chicken will also work just fine.
By KATRINP

Mom's Cucumbers

Rating: Unrated
224
Tasty marinated cucumbers. Ideal for a fresh side salad.
By Karen

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Rating: Unrated
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

Simple Pasta Salad

Rating: Unrated
128
An easy, yet very yummy pasta salad. Almost any type of pasta may be used. Best if left to sit overnight.
By Katzen

Greek Salad I

Rating: Unrated
186
This is an incredibly good Greek salad recipe, nice and tangy and even better in the summer when you use fresh vegetables!
By Meesh

Red Skinned Potato Salad

Rating: Unrated
1768
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

Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

Rating: Unrated
133
For anyone who likes Buffalo wings, this is a great change of pace from normal pasta salad. Really popular as a side dish for a barbeque or just about any gathering you can think of. You can substitute or add many different vegetables with this recipe.
By Andrew C

Thai Cucumber Salad

Rating: Unrated
434
This sweet and tangy summer salad of cucumber, cilantro, and peanuts with just a hint of heat is always a hit at picnics and potlucks since it doesn't need to be refrigerated and you're pretty much guaranteed to be the only one bringing this dish!
By camp0433

Chicken Salad with Bacon, Lettuce, and Tomato

Rating: Unrated
223
This chicken salad has a creamy dressing and is best served over crisp lettuce leaves.
By Angel

Pool Party Pasta Salad

Rating: Unrated
18
This Pasta salad is a nutritious and light summer meal or side dish. My 4 yr old loves the veggies in this. I regularly use up grilled leftovers (chicken and veggies) in this salad.
By Stacey Hiles Thune

Tomato and Mozzarella Bites

Rating: Unrated
278
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

Spinach and Orzo Salad

Rating: Unrated
606
A light, easy-to-make salad that's pleasing to the palate.
By Christine R.

Southern Dill Potato Salad

Rating: Unrated
210
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

Chicken and Vegetable Pasta Salad

Rating: Unrated
19
Chicken, vegetables and pasta make up this filling salad which everyone seems to like, even people who don't like pasta salad. This is great for hot summer days when you just don't feel like turning on the oven. Note: the amounts here are estimates, as I rarely measure when I make this salad, so feel free to add a bit more or less of whatever you please.
By BETHANYGRONBERG
Sponsored By MyPlate

Amish Slaw

Rating: Unrated
400
I live in a wonderful Amish community and the ladies here are wonderful cooks. This is a lovely cole slaw recipe for those who like slaw without mayonnaise.
By CHRISTINA J

Quinoa Tabbouleh

Rating: Unrated
698
This tabouli recipe is different. Instead of using bulgur like traditional tabouli, this recipe uses quinoa. It is a grain that is available at health food stores. It looks and tastes better than bulgur. My husband and I both love this and neither of us is vegetarian. It's a great meal for a hot summer day. The longer it sits the better it tastes.
By SYNEVA B
Sponsored By MyPlate

Bacon Avocado Salad

Rating: Unrated
171
This salad is a favorite during the hot summer months. Serve it on a bed of your favorite leafy greens with some garlic bread, and everyone is a happy camper.
By kristen

Seafood Pasta Salad

Rating: Unrated
200
Something different that's great for picnics. My family begs for it all year!
By flwrpwr60
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