30 Quick and Healthy Summer Salad Recipes
Easy Salads for Your Summer Detox
The minute the long winter finally gives way to hot weather, we all crave a bountiful, colourful light and healthy summer salad. It is an almost cathartic feeling to prepare an easy lunch or dinner using all the fresh goodies in season.
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Here are some beautiful ideas to sort your detox cure for the rest of the month – and continue into the rest of the summer season! Finally, it is time for all that heaviness accumulated during the long winter – no, not the one in GOT, but the more realistic and largely spent in lockdown one! – and the excessive baking some of us delved into to keep their sanity intact to get out of our system.
Shake the bad habits off and get in your best physical and mental form by following these beautiful and healthy summer salad recipes! Enjoy!
As the name implies, the fresh, delicious and easy-to-make Caprese Salad originates from Capri – Mediterranean’s most fascinating island, just a short boat ride from Naples. It might seem a humble dish, but it is one of Italy’s favourites. And we love it too!
Recipe provided by theworldisanoyster.com.
2. Greek Salad
The truth is, you can’t go wrong with things that many people grow in their gardens. And you don’t have to physically be in Greece (even if it is preferable, being a holiday hot spot for all the right reasons!) to make a simple, filling, healthy and delicious starter such as a Greek salad.
Recipe provided by theworldisanoyster.com.
Light and refreshing, this Fresh Citrus Summer Salad will be the centrepiece for your next picnic or potluck. Topped with a honey drizzle and tangy goat cheese, this fruit salad combines many flavours to create a satisfyingly sweet salad.
Recipe provided by abundanceofflavor.com.
4. Vegan German Potato Salad with Cucumber and Dill
A vegan German potato salad? Yes, please! Who would have thought that you could find such a gem of a recipe in meat-heavy German cuisine? Easy to prepare, satisfying and refreshing. This easy German potato salad (Kartoffelsalat) with cucumber and dill is perfect when you need an uncomplicated dish.
Recipe provided by mydinner.co.uk.
Chickpea Kale Caesar Salad comes together in under thirty minutes and uses protein-packed ingredients! Even better, it is dairy-free, egg-free, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly!
Recipe provided by theurbenlife.com
6. Fresh Fig and Feta Salad With Pomegranate
This fresh fig and feta salad combines salty and sweet flavours brilliantly into a delicious meal. The addition of a balsamic honey dressing and the slightly sour taste of pomegranate seeds gives this salad an even bigger bouquet of flavours.
Recipe provided by thetastychilli.com
7. Sweet Pea Pesto Pasta Salad
Greg is learning that one can make pesto with many different ingredients other than basil. Traditionally, pesto is made with basil, pine nuts, olive oil, garlic and pecorino cheese. However, in modern times, chefs have morphed this delicious sauce to include different ingredients such as peas.
Recipe provided by cravingtheyum.com
8. Colourful Grilled Steak Summer Salad Platter
This colourful healthy summer salad is delicious and easy. Red ripe tomatoes, cool creamy avocado, crisp corn and robust garbanzo beans introduce many great textures. Lots of beautiful colours and fresh ingredients make it a show-stopper.
Recipe provided by homesteadingandhungry.com
This salad is a great way to use up your garden bounty. I know everyone will be harvesting tons of summer squash, zucchini and tomatoes, and this salad highlights all of these favourite summer staples.
Recipe provided by momthelunchlady.ca
10. Gluten-Free Taco Pasta Salad (Paleo)
This Gluten-Free Taco Pasta Salad is creamy, hearty, a little spicy, and the best side dish! Bold and hearty enough for any time of the year, this salad makes a great side dish, easy appetizer or light meal and the culinary experience unique and unforgettable!
Recipe provided by organicallyaddison.com
11. Beetroot Salad
This extremely healthy summer salad takes the classic Aussie flavour and throws them into a quick and easy summer salad. Often beetroot salad contains goat cheese and walnuts. I have mixed things up by pairing beetroot and fetta with roasted pepita seeds to add crunch and texture.
Recipe provided by aussiehomecook.com
12. Country-Style Potato Salad
The creator of this recipe says: “There’s an unspoken rule at every BBQ/cookout/picnic/family reunion: you must know who made the potato salad before you eat it. If your potato salad doesn’t have a super-flavorful pickle relish dressing and fluffy potatoes, then you need this recipe. With this Country-Style Potato Salad, you’ll not only be the star of the cookout, but you’ll also attain deity status.” We believe her; all her recipes are out of this world!
Recipe provided senseandedibility.com
13. Sesame Crusted Feta: A Delicious Mykonos Salad
This salad is truly the perfect combination of fresh, vibrant summer fruits, delicious vegetables, and herbs. And, of course, the amazingly soft and salty bite of pan-fried feta cheese combined with the nuttiness of the roasted sesame seeds.
Recipe provided by blueworlddreams.com
14. Tasty Pumpkin and Feta Salad
The star of this salad is definitely the dressing. The maple syrup adds a subtle sweetness and lovely woodsy-ness that would be missing if you used honey or sugar instead. This goes wonderfully with the understated sweetness of the butternut pumpkin.
Recipe provided by teawithmum.com
15. Easy Watermelon Salad Recipe with Feta, Mint, Balsamic Dressing
There’s nothing like biting into a juicy watermelon on a hot summer’s day. The taste brings back memories of picnics, beaches, and jumping through the sprinkler in the backyard. Watermelon is the perfect thirst-quenching fruit; it’s super hydrating and packed with vitamins A and C.
Recipe provided by plantfoodathome.com
16. Crunchy Kale Parmesan Salad
A bright and citrusy Crunchy Kale Parmesan Salad with lemon juice, olive oil, and parmesan cheese is the perfect healthy salad for a picnic, BBQ, or a side dish, and it only takes 4 ingredients! If you are unsure of kale, this is a great recipe to break you in. The fresh lemon and olive oil in this salad soften the kale and brighten up this hearty vegetable. This healthy salad will make the perfect side dish for a summer BBQ, picnic, or dinner.
Recipe provided by emilyfabulous.com
17. Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Kalamata Olive Salad Dressing
This crisp summer salad topped with flavourful lemon Kalamata olive dressing makes the perfect appetizer or a main course. Great with grilled chicken or pistachio-crusted salmon on top!
Recipe provided by aubreyskitchen.com
18. Grilled Corn and Halloumi Salad
This grilled corn and halloumi salad is the perfect side dish for your summer BBQs! Tender grilled corn, delicious grilled halloumi cheese, avocado, cilantro, and lime – minimal ingredients, full of flavour. Nothing beats a fresh grilled summer salad!
Recipe provided by girlwiththeironcast.com
Rice salad with chicken is one of the easiest and quite delicious summer salads. Cooked rice with pickled Italian giardiniera gives this dish a fantastic twist.
Recipe provided by giangiskitchen.com
This flavorful strawberry spinach summer salad (beautiful quadruple alliteration!) is an enjoyable dish that can be served year-round. It is a great side dish to pair with many different entrees. Serve with lunch or dinner, and your guests will love the amazing flavour and beautiful presentation.
Recipe provided by theartoffoodandwine.com
21. Burrata Salad
This is a tasty burrata salad recipe with sweetcorn and roasted tomatoes. It’s refreshing, nutritious and the burrata cheese makes it extra delicious. Perfect for special occasions!
Recipe provided by happyfoodstube.com
22. Strawberry Chicken Salad with Creamy Maple Dressing
This is a fantastic summer salad recipe because that’s when fresh strawberries are at their BEST. So let’s enjoy them while they are in season!
Recipe provided by deliciousonadime.com
23. Quick and Super Easy Chickpea Salad Recipe (Mediterranean Salad)
This chickpea salad is so versatile you only need to make the chickpeas the star of this recipe, add different kinds of vegetables or fruits, and rotate them to have additional texture, flavour, and taste in the salad.
Recipe provided by therunningbaker24.com
24. Easy Summer Green Salad {keto, paleo, Whole30, AIP, vegan}
If you are looking for a simple salad to throw together for dinner quickly, look no further than this no-fuss, easy summer green salad!
Recipe provided by wholesomefamilyliving.com
25. Spinach Raspberry Salad with Balsamic Reduction
This fresh and vibrant recipe is the perfect summer salad side! This spinach raspberry salad is topped with almonds and shaved parmesan before being drizzled in a balsamic reduction. Simple and quick to make, it’s a delicious way to get the goodness in!
Recipe provided by biteontheside.com
26. Red Rice, Cherry, Baby Spinach, and Hazelnut Salad
This colourful summer salad is hearty, fresh, and filled with textures and combines salty and sweet just right. Great on its own or served with red meat.
Recipe provided by foodnouveau.com
This keto salad can be served warm or cold. Grilled steak salad makes for some tasty leftovers, making it an ideal summertime meal for those days you don’t feel like cooking and just want to play.
Recipe provided by ketofocus.com
28. Delicious Berry Mandarin Tossed Salad
There are occasions when it is good to feel refreshed by an excellent salad on a hot summer day. This berry and mandarin tossed salad is ideal for family picnics, potlucks, and other large gatherings. Check it out and see what you think!
Recipe provided by fluxingwell.com
29. Arugula Avocado Salad With Homemade Lime Vinaigrette
The avocado in this salad pairs extremely well with the bold taste and spicy kick the arugula offers. Fresh juicy tomatoes and a homemade lime vinaigrette top off this salad to finish it off strong.
Recipe provided by thesixfiguredish.com
30. Chickpea Feta Salad with Lemon Tahini Dressing
Not only is this salad healthy and delicious, but it is incredibly hearty and can easily be eaten as a main for lunch. The chopped salad is delicious on its own, but it is the tahini lemon dressing that takes it to another level. The dressing is bright, creamy and adds a level of complexity to an otherwise simple dish.
Recipe provided by cookingwithcarbs.com
I hope you enjoyed reading this post and decided to give some of these quick summer salad recipes a go. Not only do they make a healthy family lunch or dinner on their own, but are beautiful, colourful and flavorful side dishes or can be prepared in advance for work/school lunch boxes.
Be safe, stay healthy and enjoy summer! Please remember to spread the word! Thank you!
Cover image credits: Unsplash
This is the perfect salad round up for summer! Every recipe is so delicious!
It is great, true. I feel much lighter already!:)
These are all so great and refreshing. I want to make all of them so vibrant. Thank you for sharing. Now any time I need a summer salad I just come here.
That’s great! It’s my preffered source for light dinners too!:))
These salads look so yummy and refreshing! I’ve got to start with the citrus one 🙂
Aww, the beautiful looking one! I love it, too!:)
This is exactly what I needed for the summer. The chickpea Caesar Salad is where I am going to start. All of these summer salads look healthy and delicious. I am saving for later.
Honestly, I wanted ideas for variation, as I kind of made the same 3-4 salads all the time. Hence, this round-up:) Gosh, I’m so glad I went for it; the recipes I received for it are amazing!
Great collection! Such a handy list!
Thank you for these! I love sumner salads and can’t wait to try some new ones!
Thank you! Plenty to chose from!:))
All these salads look so amazing!! I’ve tried some of them and it turned out so good! Can’t wait to try the others! Thanks for this!
So glad you like them!:) Enjoy!
I’ve never been much of a salad person, but so many of these salads look fantastic. I could totally see myself making and enjoying a number of these over the summer, especially the pasta and potato ones.
You might turn into a salad addict, especially since you like gardening:) Half of the ingredients are available and fresh in the season for you to try various combinations!:)
These are so creative and fun!! I struggle with making my salads interesting and this is a fantastic list of summer salads. Fabulous ideas to help spice up and cool off summer meals.
My feelings exactly!:))
So many great salads. I loved the citrus salad, it was so fresh and tasty. Was kind of like a dessert. My whole family devoured it. Thank you
Thanks for including my salad in your roundup post about summer salads. So many salads, so little time! I will definitely use this post for salad inspiration!
Thanks for sharing. I love salads.
I love this master list of amazing summer salads. I’ve been trying to eat more salads lately and this will definitely help. What a great roundup!
Thank you!
Summer is the time for salads. What a great collection you have here. Perfect for bbq season and eating on the patio.
These look so fresh and perfect for summer! The strawberry spinach salad is one of my favorites.
Mmm yessss, this is exactly what I needed! I’ve been getting so bored with my salads since I eat one every day. I love all the salad options in here and can’t wait to try it. Definitely have my eyes on that Burrata Salad and also the Fig and Feta!
WOW! This is an incredible list and now I am incredibly hungry! I think I’ll strat with the fresh citrus fruit salad and work my way through about 20 of these ideas I have never heard of..so many ideas for outdoor parties- thank you!
Wow! These summer salads all look amazing! Can’t wait to try some new ones….especially that fig and feta…yummy!
So many options! Cant wait to try some of these 🙂
I’ve been looking for easy salad recipes. It’s so hot in Arizona right now, so I need salads, so I don’t have to cook. Thanks for putting these together!
What a fantastic list! I am a huge salad fan, especially if the weather is warm like now (In Germany + 30 degrees). My favorites are Caprese, Greek, and Rice Salad with Chicken. But there are many recipes to learn and inspire from. I really like ”Strawberry Spinach Salad”. I will save this for a later! Thank you so much! 🙂
This is an awesome collection of salad recipes! I wish I had them all in front of me, so I could taste them all. So colourful and delicious!! Thank you for including my Shaved Summer Squash Salad!
You are absolutely right, and I feel the same: I want them all at once!:))) Thanks for sending your recipe, too! They will all have at least one go at my house, despite my other half saying that I only like to eat grass! Haha
Great collection! I need to try them all!
I love all these recipes and the vibrant colors. They all look so mouthwatering and satiating.
YUM these all look incredibly tasty! It’s such a diverse group of salads and I can’t wait to dive into these
This is one of the best collections of summer salads all in one place! Pinning for later and starting on the list ASAP!
All of these look so good!
I know what my next meal would be with your list 🙂 Thanks for this all looks delicious and easy to make.
I started yesterday! I have enough to last me for the rest of the summer!:))
Nothing beats a fresh salad during summer. I actually tried the Citrus Sumner salad last week and it was delicious 😋
I’m excited to try the rest on this list, thanks for sharing
I always start to crave salad once summer hits! I can’t wait to try the ones with chickpeas 🙂.
Chickpea ones are my favourite too, after Caprese:))) The good thing about chickpea is that it is so versatile; it is perfect for year-round salads!
Wow! So many great ideas now that summer-like weather is here! Will be trying many of these! Thanks for rounding up all these great recipes! 🙂
Ok, this is just what I’ve been looking for! I’m so boring when it comes to salad but these looks delicious! I’ll definitely be trying some of these recipes.
This is great! You have plenty of variety here:)) I’m inspired, too!
Wow, thank you for sharing <3 Rice Salad With Chicken got my attention. Haven't heard rice can be turned into a salad recipe!
So many great salads here to change up the weekly menu! Spoilt for choice!
I feel the same! After tons of pasta, meats and sweets, in summer, I crave something lighter and greener!:)
These look so delicious, especially the pumpkin and feta. And anything with sweetcorn or chickpeas are amazing in my book. I’m always looking for ideas like these but never seem to find them when I do look for them.
Today is your lucky day!:)) Enjoy anything you decide to make:))
Wow these all look great! Will save this post for my next summer party! 🥗🥗🥗
Have fun and enjoy any salads you decide to make!:)