Summer Salad Ideas

Get inspired with these 50 stunning summer salad ideas, featuring everything from classic favourites to unique twists. These recipes will add a fresh, healthy touch to your meals and make entertaining a breeze.


Summer Salad Ideas
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Jump to: ℹ️ Overview |☀️Best Summer Salads |🍅 Seasonal Produce |🍝Pasta Salads |🍓Salads With Fruit 🍖 For BBQ | 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 For A Crowd |🍗With Chicken |🌽With Corn |🥒Green Salads |🥬Vegetarian Salads |🥗More Summer Salads


Salad Ideas To Try This Summer

My collection of summer salad recipes includes vibrant pasta salads, refreshing fruit salads, and hearty options for a crowd. With easy recipes that highlight seasonal ingredients, you’ll find perfect options for dinner, lunch, or BBQs.

Whether you’re craving a vegetarian delight or a protein-packed chicken salad, these ideas offer something for everyone. Enjoy the simplicity and deliciousness of these healthy salads all summer long.

I’ve grouped the salads into handy categories, and of course, I always pick the absolute best recipes for you!


Seasonal Summer Produce

Cucumber Dill Salad

Cucumber dill salad with sour cream
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This cucumber dill salad delivers in the flavour department. It’s made with sour cream, which when mixed with the cucumber juice, salt, pepper and herbs, creates the dreamiest salad dressing. Calories: 66 Carbs: 6g Protein: 2g  Fat:4g Fiber: 2g

Tomato Ricotta Salad

Tomato Ricotta Salad With Gremolata
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This Italian-inspired tomato ricotta salad is perfect as a side dish, appetizer or a light meal. Sweet, nutritious tomatoes are topped with creamy ricotta, sea salt and zesty gremolata. Calories: 141 Carbs: 6g Protein: 5g Fat: 11g  Fiber: 2g

Zucchini Salad With Lemon & Mint

Zucchini Salad With Lemon & Mint
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This raw zucchini salad with lemon, mint, and olive oil is a perfect paleo, Whole30, keto and vegan-friendly side dish. The best part is that it only takes about 5 minutes to make. Calories: 98 Carbs: 7g  Protein: 2g  Fat: 8g  Fiber: 2g

Strawberry Arugula Salad

Strawberry Arugula Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
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This salad is loaded with strawberries, radishes, red onion, basil, jalapeño, toasty sunflower seeds, and fresh arugula, topped with goat cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette to round out the sweet-and-slightly-spicy flavours. It’s an unexpected combination that works.

Three Herb Tomato Zucchini Salad

Three Herb Tomato Zucchini Salad
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Made with fresh summer produce, this salad is nutritious and comes together in minutes! Perfect side for barbecues, picnics, dinners, and everything in between. Calories: 84 Carbs: 1.9 g Protein: 0.5 g Fat: 8.8 g Fiber: 0.6 g

Summer Salad with Fruit

Summer Salad with Fruit
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A light and filling meal on a hot day! It makes an easy, healthy vegetarian lunch idea, or serve as a side or at a backyard barbecue. Calories: 577 Carbs: 45g Protein: 14g Fat: 42g Fiber: 10g

Summer Salad With Corn, Strawberries & Avocado

Summer Salad With Corn, Strawberries & Avocado
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If summer was a flavour, this salad from Walder Wellness would be it! This reader-favourite summer salad is made with corn, strawberries, avocado, tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, and basil.

Summer Abundance Salad

Summer Abundance Salad
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This salad from Half Baked Harvest is so incredible, light yet filling and it gets better the longer it sits. Got to love a salad that can be made in advance and genuinely tastes better the next day.

Caprese Salad

Caprese Salad
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A classic Italian salad made with alternating slices of juicy, ripe tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella. It’s topped with fresh basil leaves, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and sprinkled with salt and pepper. Calories: 255 Carbs: 7g Protein: 13g Fat: 20g Fiber: 1g


Pasta Salads

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Mediterranean Pasta Salad
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Fusilli pasta is combined with baby spinach, cherry tomatoes, and cucumbers. Crumbled feta cheese and a homemade Mediterranean dressing add tons of flavour. Calories: 292 Carbs: 35g  Protein: 8g  Fat: 13g Fiber: 3g

Summer Pasta Salad with Baby Greens

Summer Pasta Salad with Baby Greens
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This pasta salad from Skinny Taste is loaded with baby greens, making it a lighter alternative to traditional pasta salads. Calories: 169 Carbs: 29.5g  Protein: 6g Fat: 5g Fiber: 4g

Sesame Noodle Salad

Sesame Noodle Salad
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This salad is fresh, light, and packed with fresh vegetables. Serve as a tasty side dish with dinner, or enjoy these cold sesame noodles on their own. Recipe from Iowa Girl Eats.

Budget Vegetable Pasta Salad 

Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad
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A medley of colourful vegetables, a tangy homemade vinaigrette, and plenty of ways to customize it based on what’s on hand. From Budget Bytes. Calories: 330 Carbs: 42g Protein: 9g Fat: 15g Fiber: 5g

Green Goddess Pasta Salad

Green Goddess Pasta Salad
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This stunning, veggie-laden green goddess pasta salad is loaded with the bounty of early summer, and thanks to a hearty toss in that classic, creamy herby dressing, it really looks the part, too. Recipe from The Modern Proper.


Salads With Corn

Mexican Salad With Black Beans, Corn & Avocado

Mexican Salad With Black Beans, Corn & Avocado
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You will love this Mexican salad for its vibrant colours, texture and bold flavours. Calories: 266  Carbs: 26g  Protein: 9g  Fat: 16g  Fiber: 9g

Mexican Street Corn Salad

Mexican Street Corn Salad
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Creamy, tangy, and a bit spicy, it’s a favourite way to showcase summer sweet corn. Recipe from Love and Lemons.

Creamy Corn Salad

Creamy Corn Salad
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This is not your average corn salad recipe. It’s cool and creamy with the perfect pop of fresh corn in each bite. I brought this super simple corn salad to a potluck the other day and it was gone in minutes. Calories: 176 Carbs: 23g  Protein: 4g Fat: 9g  Fiber: 3g

Avocado Tomato Corn Salad

tomato corn salad with avocado
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Fresh, vibrant, and packed with creamy avocado, sweet corn, and juicy tomatoes, this salad is your go-to for a quick, healthy, and utterly delicious meal. Recipe from Cafe Delites. Calories: 208 Carbs: 16g Protein: 3g Fat: 17g Fiber: 5g



Salads With Chicken

Buffalo Chicken Salad

Buffalo chicken salad recipe
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This Buffalo chicken salad with blue cheese dressing is finger-lickin’ good, minus the mess. You can toss any veggies into this salad because everything goes with buffalo sauce. Calories: 550 Carbs: 24g Protein: 40g Fat: 33g  Fiber: 5g

Chicken Cobb Salad With Grilled Pineapple

Chicken Cobb Salad With Chipotle Ranch & Grilled Pineapple
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My chicken Cobb salad with chipotle ranch dressing and grilled pineapple is a fun adaptation of the American classic that is dairy-free and paleo-friendly. Calories: 558 Protein: 42g Carbs: 31g Fat: 31g Fiber: 10g

Low-Carb Greek Chicken Bowls

Low-Carb Greek Chicken Bowls
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Skillet grilled seasoned chicken is paired with the Greek salad staples of tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, olives and feta cheese in this salad bowl. Served with a side of refreshing, garlicky Tzatziki sauce. Calories: 473 Carbs: 9g Protein: 35g Fat: 33g Fiber: 1g

Asian Chicken Salad

Asian Chicken Salad With Ginger Garlic Dressing
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This Asian chicken salad is perfect for a no-cook weeknight meal, especially when it’s hot. Made with leftover cooked chicken, cabbage, crunchy veggies, herbs and a delicious ginger garlic dressing. Calories: 420 Carbs: 23g Protein: 29g Fat: 23g Fiber: 3g


Great With BBQ

Red Cabbage Coleslaw With Apple & Parmesan

Red Cabbage Coleslaw With Apple & Parmesan
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A delicious twist of sweet apple and umami-rich Parmesan cheese. Serve it as a side with chicken nuggets or burgers, in fish tacos, with barbecued meat, or with a can of tuna for a quick lunch. Calories: 283 Carbs: 10g Protein: 6g Fat: 24g  Fiber: 2g

Potato Salad With A Twist

Best potato salad recipe
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It’s not a classic potato salad recipe but it’s delicious and creamy with salty, sweet, and sour flavours and lots of crunchy bits. It features ingredients like crispy bacon, green apple, fried capers, and dill. Calories: 333 Carbs: 29g Protein: 6g  Fat: 22g  Fiber: 4g

Georgian Salad With Walnut Dressing

Georgian Salad With Creamy Walnut Dressing
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Similar to a Greek salad but instead of feta, oregano and olive oil dressing, this salad is dressed with a garlicky, walnut dressing and topped with a generous amount of fresh herbs like coriander and parsley. Calories: 184 Carbs: 6g Protein: 3g  Fat: 17g  Fiber: 2g

Feta Watermelon Salad

Feta Watermelon Salad
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In this summer salad recipe, savoury arugula, sweet watermelon, salty feta, fresh mint and spicy red onion are tossed in a homemade balsamic glaze for a flavourful and refreshing summer side dish. Calories: 47 Carbs: 7g Protein: 2g  Fat: 2g Fiber: 1g


Summer Salads For A Crowd

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad

Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
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Filled with grilled vegetables, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and feta, this quinoa salad with lemon basil dressing is flavourful, vegetarian and gluten-free. This is a great quinoa meal prep recipe that can be made ahead of time. Calories: 494 Carbs: 49g Protein:13g  Fat: 29g  Fiber: 8g

Shredded Carrot Raisin & Pineapple Salad

Shredded Carrot Raisin & Pineapple Salad
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Shredded carrots, juicy pineapple & sweet plump raisins all tossed in a simple creamy greek yogurt dressing! This delicious carrot raisin & pineapple salad is the perfect make-ahead side dish to cool down during spring & summer. Recipe from Kalefornia Kravings.

Grape Salad

Grape Salad
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This simple recipe is full of red grapes tossed in a sweet cream cheese dressing and sprinkled with brown sugar and pecans. Serve as a side dish or dessert. Calories: 252  Carbs: 35g  Protein: 2g Fat: 12g Fiber: 1g

Thai Crunch Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing

Thai Crunch Salad with Spicy Peanut Dressing
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An irresistible combination of crisp vegetables, toasted peanuts and crunchy ramen noodles tossed in a drinkable, spicy peanut ginger sauce. Recipe from Simply Ceecee.

Green Salads

Rocket Salad With Pear & Parmesan

Rocket Salad Recipe With Parmesan & Pear
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When it comes to making a rocket salad, I wanted to share the way I like to make it along with some tips for quick, easy, tasty and crisp rocket leaf salad every time. Calories: 205  Carbs: 12g  Protein: 8g  Fat: 14g  Fiber: 2g

Cheesy Leafy Green Salad

Cheesy Leafy Green Salad
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Nutrient-dense and delicious, this creamy, cheesy leafy green salad is fantastic as a side dish or a light main, especially with extra protein on top. Calories:155  Carbs: 6g  Protein: 7g  Fat: 12g  Fiber: 3g

Green Avocado Salad

Green avocado salad
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Fresh, vibrant, and bursting with flavour, this salad is a perfect addition to any meal, packed with creamy avocado, crunchy pepitas, and a zesty lime dressing. Calories: 388 Carbs: 21g Protein: 4g Fat: 35g Fiber: 10g

Maroulosalata (Greek Lettuce Salad)

Greek lettuce salad
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Crisp, refreshing, and simply delightful, this Maroulosalata is a Greek classic that brightens up any meal with its lemony tang and fresh herbs. Recipe from Hungry Happens. Calories: 94 Carbs: 5g Protein: 1g Fat: 8g Fiber: 2g


Vegetarian Salads 

Grapefruit Salad With Avocado & Halloumi

Grapefruit Salad With Avocado & Halloumi
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This salad with avocado and halloumi is a vibrant mix of fresh flavours and textures. Made with arugula, red onion and maple Dijon vinaigrette, this salad is as pretty as it is delicious. Calories: 593 Carbs: 33g Protein: 23g Fat: 44g Fiber: 9g 

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

Mediterranean Couscous Salad With Feta
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This dish is a delightful fusion of Greek and Moroccan influences, combining fluffy couscous with creamy feta cheese, juicy vegetables, and a burst of herbs and spices. Calories: 593  Carbs: 33g  Protein: 23g  Fat: 44g  Fiber: 9g

Green Vegan Salad

Green vegan salad
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This intensely green salad is packed with seasonal green produce, quinoa and served with a lemony and herby vinaigrette. It’s delicious, easy to make and will keep you full for ages as it’s packed with fibre. Calories: 371  Carbs 31g  Protein: 12g  Fat: 24g

Greek Potato Salad

Greek Potato Salad
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This potato salad is a tangy spin on the traditional potato salad, with sun-dried tomatoes, olives, feta cheese, and a zesty Greek dressing that brings big, bold flavour. Calories: 264  Carbs: 24g  Protein: 5g  Fat: 18g  Fiber: 5g


Summer Fruit Salad Recipes

Summer Stone Fruit Salad With Orange Mint Dressing

Summer Fruit Salad With Orange Mint Dressing
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This vibrant summer fruit salad is juicy, fresh, sweet, and extra special with an orange mint dressing (featuring a kiss of vanilla!). It’s lovely to serve at a brunch gathering or as a light dessert on a warm evening.

Dragonfruit Grape Fruit Salad

Summer Fruit Salad
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A delicious combination of summer produce like dragon fruit, mangoes, green grapes, blueberries, and blackberries! It’s the perfect healthy dessert and an absolute crowd-pleaser every single time.

Berry & Fruit Salad

Summer Fruit Salad
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This gorgeous fruit salad is made with peaches, nectarines, cherries, fresh berries and a delicious lemon maple thyme dressing. The dressing elevates it to a whole new level – you won’t be able to stop eating!

Simple Red Fruit Salad

Simple Red Fruit Salad
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Red fruit salad is arguably better than old-school fruit salad. Made with plump strawberries, sweet cherries, lemon zest, and coriander brown sugar. Five ingredients.

Creamy Fruit Salad

Creamy Fruit Salad
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The creaminess of this yogurt packs in a little protein for this sweet treat. Greek yogurt makes for a great source of protein and a favorite to grab for a healthy snack. Recipe from One Balanced Life.


More Summer Salads

Shrimp Mango Salad

Shrimp mango salad recipe
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A classic summer dish with juicy tropical fruit and fresh grilled seafood. Paired with a little citrus, chilli and aromatic herbs, this dish offers a delightful mix of textures and flavours. Calories: 411 Carbs: 36g  Protein: 24g  Fat: 21g  Fiber: 7g

Tuna Lentil Salad

High protein high fibre tuna lentil salad
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If you’re looking for a quick and easy meal that is high in protein and high in fibre, this tuna lentil salad is something I can highly recommend. Only takes 10-15 minutes. Calories:515 Carbs: 46g  Protein: 32g  Fat: 24g  Fiber: 16g

Big Mac Salad

Big Mac salad with creamy dressing
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If you’re a fan of the classic Big Mac, you will love this hearty salad. With all of the hallmark ingredients and flavours of the classic burger in salad form. Calories: 476 Carbs: 10g Protein: 21g Fat: 39g Fiber: 3g 

Side Salad With Lemon Honey Vinaigrette

Side Salad With Lemon Honey Vinaigrette
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This everyday side salad with mustard, lemon, and honey vinaigrette is on regular rotation in my kitchen. A great side that goes with almost everything. Calories: 233 Carbs: 28g Protein: 9g Fat: 13g Fiber: 14g

Old-Fashioned Ham Salad

old-fashioned ham salad recipe in a big bowl.
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A classic American recipe that has been enjoyed for generations. It features finely diced ham, celery and sweet and zesty pickles all bound together by a medley of mustard and creamy mayonnaise. Calories: 230  Carbs: 2g  Protein: 13g  Fat: 19g  Fiber: 1g

Tuscan Artichoke Tomato Salad

artichoke tomato salad
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This salad is the best vegan, gluten-free, & lettuce-free salad. With marinated artichoke hearts, ripe tomatoes, chickpeas, red onion, & a simple vinaigrette, this Tuscan salad can be whipped up in just 20 minutes. Calories: 157  Carbs: 6g  Protein: 1g  Fat: 14g Fiber: 2g 

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Vinaigrette

Roasted Cauliflower Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
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Cauliflower and chickpeas, roasted with olive oil, smoky chipotle, paprika, and garlic until lightly charred, crisp, and delicious. All tossed together with a simple honey mustard vinaigrette, springtime salad greens, cucumbers, fresh herbs, feta cheese, and avocado for a salad that’s plentiful, healthy, and filling. Calories: 648 kcal.


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Summer Salad Ideas
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Irena Macri
By Irena Macri

About the author: Hi, I’m Irena Macri. I share delicious recipes that I have cooked and loved. I am a published cookbook author, have been food blogging for over 10 years and have a Diploma in Nutrition. You will find many healthy recipes as well as my favourite comfort food. More about me here | Subscribe to my newsletter and freebies

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