A comprehensive list of summer salad recipes featuring savory meats, colorful veggies, fruits, flavors from around the world and other favorites. These fresh and colorful salads are perfect as side dishes or light meals.

A collection of refreshing summer salad recipes that feature savory meat, fresh veggies, fruit, flavors from around the world and other favorites. - 1

With summer on our heels and the weather getting warmer, many people are looking for recipes they can make that do not require the use of a stove. There are many summer salad recipes you can make that won’t heat your house when you are trying to cool it down. Summer dinners just got a whole lot easier this year!

I have gathered up 45 summer salad recipes to share with you as new ideas for sides at your barbecues, gatherings or just family dinners. Need dessert options? Here are plenty of summer dessert recipes to choose from.

These recipes include hearty salads featuring chicken and seafood, like shrimp salad and grilled chicken salad. There are also plenty of fresh vegetables like green beans, corn, and red cabbage. Some salads feature seasonal fruit in savory or sweet salads. This collection of recipes has fantastic dishes that are favorite crowd-pleasers for any gathering.

What is on your summer bucket list this year? I have you covered with creative ideas for meal times so that you can enjoy your family time stress-free. Looking for more warm weather menu inspiration? Check out my list of 4th of July recipes !

45 Summer Salad Recipes

Hearty Protein Packed Salads

Some of the best salads include chicken, bacon or seafood and are are perfect as an entrée for picnics, parties or as an easy meal. Try some recipes that showcase fresh seafood like crab salad or shrimp salad. Seafood salads are perfect when served with bread or crackers. Taste these amazing salads today!

A collection of summer salads featuring chicken and seafood. - 2 A serving bowl of avocado tuna salad topped with cilantro. - 3

Avocado Tuna Salad

A bowl of BBQ chicken salad topped with a drizzle of ranch dressing. - 4

BBQ Chicken Salad

BLT pasta salad in a creamy ranch dressing. - 5

BLT Pasta Salad

Italian pasta salad with rotini noodles, salami and pepperoni. - 6

Italian Pasta Salad

Creamy crab salad with fresh vegetables and dill in a mayonnaise dressing. - 7

Crab Salad

Curry chicken salad served on a croissant. - 8

Curry Chicken Salad

A serving bowl of seafood salad made with shrimp and imitation crab in a creamy dill dressing. - 9

Seafood Salad

Shrimp salad in a serving bowl, topped with fresh dill. - 10

Shrimp Salad

Grilled chicken salad with bacon, veggies and blue cheese. - 11

Grilled Chicken Salad

A bowl of lobster salad in a creamy dressing. - 12

Lobster Salad

Salads From Around The World

Salads can include bold bright flavors from everywhere on Earth. These recipes feature spices and ingredients from Mexico, Europe and Asia. Try some of these salads to liven up your meals!

A group of refreshing summer salad recipes such as Mexican corn salad, Thai cucumber salad and Italian salad. - 13 This easy Asian noodle salad recipe is ramen noodles and colorful veggies all tossed in a sesame hoisin dressing. The perfect side dish for any summer celebration! - 14

Asian Noodle Salad

A bowl of couscous salad garnished with parsley. - 15

Couscous Salad

A bowl of German potato salad topped with fresh herbs. - 16

German Potato Salad

Italian pasta salad with rotini noodles, salami and pepperoni. - 17

Italian Pasta Salad

A bowl of Italian salad with cucumber, cheese and croutons. - 18

Italian Salad

This recipe for mexican caesar salad is crisp romaine lettuce tossed in a creamy cilantro dressing, then finished off with a variety of fun toppings. It's caesar salad in a whole new way that might be even better than the original! - 19

Mexican Caesar Salad

A bowl of Mexican corn salad topped with cheese and cilantro. - 20

Mexican Corn Salad

This recipe for Mexican fruit salad is a blend of tropical fruit topped with chili lime seasoning - a sweet and savory delight that everyone will want seconds of! - 21

Mexican Fruit Salad

Taco salad made with ground beef, romaine lettuce and vegetables, topped with sour cream and tortilla strips. - 22

Taco Salad

A bowl of Thai cucumber salad topped with peanuts and cilantro. - 23

Thai Cucumber Salad

Vegetable Salads

When you want something more than a lettuce salad, a veggie based offering is the perfect solution. You can make amazing salads with sweet corn, fresh broccoli, ripe tomatoes and more. Don’t forget the summer classic, three bean salad!

A group of summer salads featuring vegetables like chickpea salad, red cabbage slaw and cucumber tomato salad. - 24 Tomato avocado salad with red onion and a cilantro lime dressing. - 25

Tomato Avocado Salad

A bowl of black bean salad with a serving spoon in it. - 26

Black Bean Salad

Broccoli salad in a creamy dressing topped with sunflower seeds and bacon. - 27

Broccoli Salad

Cherry tomato salad with halved cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls and red onion, all tossed with herbs and dressing. - 28

Cherry Tomato Salad

A bowl of chickpea salad with tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, feta cheese and herbs. - 29

Chickpea Salad

A bowl of corn salad with avocado and tomato, all tossed in a lime dressing. - 30

Corn Salad

A bowl of cucumber tomato salad garnished with fresh herbs. - 31

Cucumber Tomato Salad

A bowl of green bean salad made with feta cheese, tomatoes, red onion and kalamata olives. - 32

Green Bean Salad

Tongs serving up a portion of red cabbage slaw. - 33

Red Cabbage Slaw

A serving bowl of three bean salad topped with parsley. - 34

Three Bean Salad

Our Favorite Summer Salad Recipes

Here are salads that are perfect for parties and get-togethers. These summer salads are sure to bring grins to your friends and family. These dishes include classics like a chopped salad and wedge salad as well as new favorites like caprese salad and pesto pasta salad.

A group of summer salad recipes including favorites like a wedge salad, creamy cucumber salad and pesto pasta salad. - 35 Tongs serving up a portion of Asian slaw. - 36

Asian Slaw

Caprese salad with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves and balsamic glaze. - 37

Caprese Salad

A bowl of chopped salad made with chicken, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, bacon and chickpeas. - 38

Chopped Salad with Chicken

Creamy cucumber salad with red onion and dill, topped with fresh herbs for garnish. - 39

Creamy Cucumber Salad

A bowl of Mediterranean salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and olives. - 40

Mediterranean Salad

Cucumber feta salad with avocado, dill and red onions, all tossed in a Greek style dressing. - 41

Cucumber Feta Salad

Orzo salad in a serving bowl with tomatoes, cucumbers and chickpeas. - 42

Orzo Salad

Pesto pasta salad with cherry tomatoes, olives, mozzarella balls, pine nuts and red onion. - 43

Pesto Pasta Salad

A bowl of cucumber dill salad with a spoon in it. - 44

Cucumber Dill Salad

A wedge salad topped with bacon, tomatoes and cheese. - 45

Wedge Salad

Fruit Salads

There is nothing better on a summer day than a salad that is full of ripe, delicious fruit. Salads can be sweet or savory while showcasing summer fruits like berries, melons, pineapples and kiwis. Try these salads for a burst of sweetness in your summer.

A group of salads featuring fruit like berry fruit salad, strawberry spinach salad and ambrosia salad. - 46 A berry salad with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and strawberries all in a honey based dressing. - 47

Berry Fruit Salad

Watermelon salad with cucumbers, feta cheese and mint in a serving bowl. - 48

Watermelon Salad with Feta and Cucumber

This recipe for ambrosia salad is a variety of colorful fruit with marshmallows and coconut, tossed in a light and creamy dressing. An easy salad that's a classic for good reason, people always beg me for the recipe! - 49

Ambrosia Salad

A bowl of tropical fruit salad with mango, raspberries, papaya, kiwi and pineapple tossed in honey lime dressing. - 50

Tropical Fruit Salad

A bowl of strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing, feta cheese and sliced avocado. - 51

Strawberry Spinach Salad

These salads are a perfect way to beat the heat and enjoy everything that summer offers. You owe it to yourself to make some refreshing summer salads this year!

A list of summer salad recipes with meats, veggies, fruits and international flavors. - 52