A collection of crowd-pleasing summer salad recipes perfect for backyard barbecues, cookouts, and picnics! These summer salads are one of my most popular recipes!
Summer salad recipes
You can’t have a summer cookout or barbecue without an array of summer salads! Whether you like it creamy and crunchy, savory or even sweet, I have every option you can think of. Below you’ll find a collection of summer salad recipes featuring everything from classics *literally* everyone’s favorite to new and unique options!
I usually like to highlight my top recommendation when I share a recipe list like this. I can’t help but pick myself today macaroni salad. Not only is this one of my top recipes for years, it’s #1 on Google for years! If you love pasta salad, you need try my version at least once!
1. Pasta salad
Let’s start with one of my most popular summer salad recipes, pasta salad. This recipe has thousands of 5-star reviews!
My pasta salad is made with classic ingredients like celery, bell pepper and onion and a simple creamy dressing.
2. Broccoli salad
Another fan favorite, my broccoli salad makes green veggies an irresistible side dish!
This broccoli salad features bacon, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and cheese for lots of flavor and texture. Less than 15 minutes to get ready!
3. Corn salad
Perfect for summer! This corn salad has all the summer veggies: corn, tomatoes, jalapeños, and more.
Corn salad is very easy to make and you can use fresh or frozen corn. It is topped with a simple lime vinaigrette.
4. Potato salad
A classic dish! My potato salad is always such a hit, I always come home with an empty bowl when I bring it to parties.
A bit different from the norm, my potato salad has the option of adding sugar and sweet pickle juice, smoked paprika and bacon.
5. Cucumber salad
This cucumber salad pairs well with many dishes, but especially Mediterranean-inspired dishes like mine Greek chicken orzos.
Cucumber Salad only takes 10 minutes to make, making it the perfect quick and easy side! My version has dill and chives for flavor.
6. Ambrosia salad
A bit different from my summer salad recipes, ambrosia salad is an old fashioned dessert salad. So refreshing and a must try!
Dessert salad perfection! My version is made with homemade whipped cream, colorful marshmallows, and sweet fruit.
7. Chicken salad
Great for a picnic or school lunchesmy chicken salad is easy to make and beautifully packaged.
7-ingredient chicken salad recipe! My version includes chopped celery, apples and onions.
8. Fruit salad
A little sweet among all the delicious fruit salads, it’s the perfect anytime salad. We love it for lunch and dinners alike!
Fruit salad only takes 5 minutes to make and tastes amazing with my honey lime dressing. Feel free to customize it with your favorite fruits!
9. Ramen noodle salad
Switch up your summer salads with this unique ramen noodle salad! It is very quick and easy to prepare.
Skeptics will wonder how crispy ramen noodles make the most delicious summer salad! Just 10 minutes to get ready.
10. Shrimp Pasta Salad
Like my pasta salad, this shrimp pasta salad is one of my family’s favorite recipes!
This shrimp salad incorporates lettuce shrimp and vegetables like celery, onion, and bell pepper into a creamy pasta salad.
11. Caprese salad
Turn an Italian classic into an easy-to-eat salad! We also love to serve spaghetti with meat sauce or rigatoni.
Basil, mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes combine with a fabulous balsamic vinaigrette in this caprese salad. Only 10 minutes to prepare!
12. Egg salad
Perfect for egg salad sandwiches or served on a bed of lettuce! This is a great option for a warm weather lunch.
Quick and easy egg salad! I use fresh ingredients like dill and celery for extra flavor and freshness.
13. Coleslaw
Another classic summer salad, coleslaw pairs beautifully with barbecue pulled pork or pulled a chicken.
Homemade coleslaw is surprisingly easy to make. My recipe includes a homemade dressing that tastes better than store bought!
14. Texas caviar
Also known as cowboy caviar, this dish can be served as a salad or even as an entree immersion with tortilla chips!
Made with beans, onions, avocado, tomatoes, corn, and peppers, this Texas Chowder is packed with fresh flavor. Serve with chips for a dip!
15. Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
If you love buffalo chicken soup or buffalo chicken pizzayou will love this pasta salad!
Perfect for warm weather, this recipe takes all the flavors of a buffalo chicken blizzard and turns them into a delicious pasta salad.
16. Brussels Sprout Salad
Brussels Sprout Salad is the perfect salad for the transition from summer to fall.
Crunchy, flavorful, and packed with nutrients, my Brussels Sprout Salad is the perfect light and unique salad option.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! In fact, all of these summer salad recipes benefit from a little time to sit so the flavors can meld before serving.
Yes! Since many of these salads are mayonnaise or milk based, they need to be refrigerated. If you plan to serve them outdoors on a hot day, refrigerate them or put them on ice to keep them as cold as possible, then refrigerate them as soon as possible.
What goes well with summer salad recipes?
These warm weather salads always pair well with picnic or barbecue meals pulled a chicken, pulled pork, sloppy joesor smashburgers. They also pair great with fried chicken, hot dogs, and anything else you want to serve in the summer!
I hope you found at least one summer salad recipe on this list that you want to try. Personally, we tend to rotate between pasta, potato and broccoli salads for our meals throughout the summer. And of course we serve lemonade All on the side to wash!
Did I miss any of your favorites? Or have an idea for another summer salad recipe? I’d love to hear about it in the comments!
Have a great summer!
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