9 Salads Made for Summer
Ditch the bagged lettuce salads! Sure, they’re convenient, but making salads at home lets you control exactly what’s in them. Give lettuce, greens, or even berries from your garden or local farmers market a quick spin in a Salad & Berry Spinner and begin assembly.
These nine salad recipes are some of our favorites, especially in late summer and the beginning of fall when there’s an abundance of fresh seasonal fruit to add as well.
There’s lots to love about this recipe—including making it and serving it in the same bowl. Spinning the fruit and romaine lettuce dry before assembling the salad helps keep it crisp and fresh. If you assemble the salad early and add the dressing and toss right before serving you can present a light dinner salad that makes it from fridge to patio in five minutes. Open a bottle of white wine, kick off your flip-flops, and enjoy the summer evening.
Creamy avocado, spicy arugula, and easy-sliced deli smoked chicken come together for a light but satisfying salad. You’ll recognize the tomatoes, fresh basil, and mozzarella balls as the classic components of caprese. Here, they’re reimagined as a summery main dish salad.
This sweet summer salad is the perfect combination of fresh spinach, strawberries, sliced almonds, and cucumber tossed in a creamy poppyseed dressing! It has all the flavor, texture, and deliciousness you need for a potluck in one bowl. Make it in the morning in an on-the-go serving bowl and bring it to your friend’s backyard barbecue or family picnic later in the day.
This restaurant-worthy salad is chock full of delicious steamed summer vegetables like corn, zucchini, tomato, and sliced green beans. Season the grilled chicken with a smoky barbecue rub, and chop crispy bacon for added texture. Arrange the ingredients in a large serving bowl for a lovely presentation before drizzling it with a creamy buttermilk dressing.
Inspired by a favorite Chicago-land chopped salad, our version will be ready in 30 minutes thanks to timesaving assembly tips like making the ditalini pasta in the microwave. Depending on traffic that’s faster than a trip to pick up carryout.
Baked goat cheese adds the perfect rich touch to this mixed green and fruit salad. Make it all summer long using fresh rocket and greens starting in spring. Top with grilled chicken for extra protein or add it to tortillas to make handheld wraps for easy picnicking.
Enjoy the flavors of summer with this easy and delicious salad. Studded with fresh berries and citrus, this light dish is the perfect addition to any brunch or bridal shower, or quick and easy dinner.
When is a salad not a salad? There’s still enough veggies in this recipe to call it a salad, but pickier eaters in your house might be persuaded to overlook them and focus on the ground beef, cheese, relish, and bun-croutons that make this taste more like a cheeseburger situation than an ‘eat your veggies so you grow up strong’ situation. The reviews are in, and this is kid-approved!
This last recipe does call for a bag of Italian salad blend, but you can swap it out for whatever greens you have on hand (or in the garden). Bleu cheese, nuts, cranberries, Granny Smith apples, and hard boiled eggs make this a late summer hit.
Looks good for hot days ?
I’m excited I ? salad, these salads look so good.
Barbecue chicken chopped salad looks delicious. Would definitely try that one first
I would try them all.
I look forward to salads in the spring and summer.
That southwestern salad looks so yummy
All look delicious. There are 5 of them I am going to try.
These look wonderful for the coming hot summer days!
Grilled Peach, Bar-b-que chicken and southwestern salad. ?
Looks great. Love salads
I think 1 and 7 would be good.
They look cool amd interesting.
Can’t wait to make some of these salads
Grilled peach salad sounds yummy
All of the salads llok good, but i really like 2 and 4.
The peach salad. I love peaches
The southwestern salad should be my signature salad since my chef name is Saucy Whisk… SW for SouthWestern!! 🌶🌽🥗
Grilled peach salad looks like something I might try.
I would love the Southwestern salad.
I would try grilled peach, chopped barbecue chicken, and southwestern.
The Southwestern Salad, then the Peach Salad!
These look amazing!!
They all look so good. I def have to try the grilled peach tho!
The spinach and strawberry salad looks mouthwatering! Also love me a good Ole southwest chicken n salad.