Food and Recipes Entertaining Ideas & Tips 57 Easy Summer Salad Recipes For Hot Days By Brennan Long Brennan Long Brennan is the senior social media editor at Southern Living. For the past eight years, she's collaborated with print and digital editors to shape the brand's voice across social platforms. Today Southern Living hosts a passionate audience of millions on Facebook, Pinterest, TikTok, Instagram, and Snapchat. Southern Living's editorial guidelines and Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah Bailey McGough Nellah McGough runs the day-to-day operations in the Southern Living Birmingham office, responds to reader questions and comments, manages freelancer contracts, and invoices. She is also the co-host (with Steve Bender) of Ask Grumpy Podcast. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on April 25, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Give your summer salads a fresh, colorful spin with these quick and easy salad recipes. A few steps and a handful of creative ingredients will wow party guests or add a burst of flavor to any weekday lunch—preferably one eaten al fresco. Beyond the standard bowl of lettuce and salad dressing, we put together unique pairings ideal for a sweet side or a savory meal, from pasta salad to chicken salad to slaw. Both salad enthusiasts and the lettuce-averse will want to return to these customizable, quick summer salads again and again. 21 Grilled Vegetable Recipes That'll Make You Forget About Your Oven 01 of 57 Chopped Kale Salad With Toasted Breadcrumbs Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This light take on a Caesar salad is so good, it will be the salad you put on repeat. A few simple tweaks keep this salad big on flavor. Toasted breadcrumbs replace croutons, grated egg adds extra protein, and Worcestershire sauce in the dressing replaces anchovies and adds depth. The Parmesan cheese ties the salad together, so don’t skimp on that. Get The Recipe 02 of 57 Greek Salad With Baked Feta Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Crisp and juicy vegetables perfectly complement the warm baked feta in this simple Greek salad recipe. For a delicious protein boost, consider serving the salad alongside grilled chicken or lamb burgers. Get The Recipe 03 of 57 Ranch Potato Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox While you could easily pour a bottle of ranch dressing over boiled potatoes and call it a day, we think the easy homemade ranch in this potato salad makes it even more flavorful. It doesn't hurt that there's also a little bacon thrown in. Get The Recipe 04 of 57 BLT Salad With Buttermilk Parmesan Dressing And Buttery Croutons Alison Miksch Few things taste better than a BLT, and this delicious salad takes it off the toast and makes it easy to share. Bake the croutons and bacon together on the same baking sheet for a delightful crunch. You might be tempted to go for the store-bought stuff, but homemade buttermilk dressing will really kick this salad up a notch. The assortment of fresh tomatoes means you can keep this salad truly local and seasonal. Get The Recipe 05 of 57 Citrus Salad With Spiced Honey Iain Bagwell A riff on the nostalgic Southern favorite, ambrosia, this citrus salad is perfect for serving on the patio or by the pool. Get The Recipe 06 of 57 Loaded Potato Salad Fred Hardy II; Food Stylist: Kelsey Moylan; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke All the flavors of loaded baked potatoes in a portable, easy-to-serve salad. This recipe gets even more delicious the longer it sits, making it a great make-ahead recipe for a backyard picnic. Get The Recipe 07 of 57 Chopped Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Every bite of this chopped salad is a symphony of flavors. Romaine lettuce, corn, ham, tomato, cucumber, cheese, bacon, onion, and pecans are all tossed together to create a delicious and filling salad. The creamy buttermilk dressing binds all the flavors together, making this simple salad one to add to your rotation this summer. Get The Recipe 08 of 57 Field Pea And Pasta Salad Greg DuPree This salad uses three colors of bell peppers, and four different fresh herbs, to bring zest and spice to the fore. We like using mini farfalle in this recipe so that all of the ingredients are about the same size, but you can easily swap in any pasta shape you like. You'll get a little zest from the lemon juice, some heat from the Dijon mustard, and a sharp kick from a little white wine vinegar. Get The Recipe 09 of 57 Sesame, Tomato, And Cucumber Salad Alison Miksch It's the unexpected ingredients that give this recipe its special kick and surprise. Scallions, sesame seeds, and a serrano or jalapeño chile all add a little texture and a lot of bite to the crunch and flavor of the tomatoes and cucumbers. The vinaigrette is made with a little rice vinegar and some salty soy sauce, but before serving, sprinkle a pinch of flaky sea salt to add texture to the fresh tomatoes. Get The Recipe 10 of 57 Strawberry Caprese Salad IAIN BAGWELL Celebrate summer on the patio with this refreshing meal. Fresh strawberries and small mozzarella balls are dressed in a sweetened white balsamic vinaigrette. This fresh salad can be served as a lunch over fresh arugula or as an appetizer with toasted baguette slices. Get The Recipe 11 of 57 Lemony White Bean Salad With Broccoli Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Packed with roasted broccoli, white beans, and arugula, this healthy salad makes a satisfying work lunch. This salad is gluten-free, full of fiber, supports gut health, and tastes great. You'll love the bright lemony flavor of the vinaigrette. Get The Recipe 12 of 57 Summer Pasta Salad With Lime Vinaigrette Alison Miksch Our colorful pasta salad is so satisfying and packed with protein, it qualifies as dinner. A whole deli-cooked chicken is combined with fresh, sliced squash, sliced zucchini, and nectarines before being tossed with farfalle and the lime vinaigrette. The lime vinaigrette may be a tart temptation, but it also hides a little heat thanks to a tablespoon of Creole mustard. Be ready for it to tantalize your taste buds with just a little sizzle in every bite. Get The Recipe 13 of 57 Marinated Cucumber, Tomato, And Onion Salad Hannah Zimmerman This is one of those salads that the longer it sits, the better it gets. As the vegetables marinate in the dressing, their natural juices are pulled out and create a flavorful, punchy, can't-get-enough salad. If you're tempted to tip the bowl to drink the leftover marinade, we won't blame you. Get The Recipe 14 of 57 Orzo Salad With Shrimp And Lemon Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer You’ll need three cups of vegetables for this salad, but feel free to vary the amounts of each depending on what you have on hand. This salad is a good option for summer entertaining since it can be served chilled or at room temperature. The lemon and tarragon elevate this pasta dish. Get The Recipe 15 of 57 Grilled Baby Zucchini-And-Tomato Salad Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Make Panzanella, an Italian bread salad, a cookout favorite by tossing baby zucchini and garlic bread on the grill. Toss with multicolored cherry tomatoes and torn basil. The toasted chunks of bread will soak up the tangy mustard-shallot vinaigrette as it sits. Get The Recipe 16 of 57 Summer Hoppin' John Salad Iain Bagwell In the South, Hoppin' John is a New Year's tradition usually served hot, but this cool salad is perfect for a summer picnic or lunch or as a side salad for grilled meats. This recipe actually begins with Classic Fresh Field Peas, which means it already has the delicious flavors of smoked ham hocks, as well as bacon drippings, mixed in. If you have a preference, feel free to substitute your favorite cooked whole grain instead of rice. Get The Recipe 17 of 57 Crunchy Okra-and-Corn Salad With Ranch Dressing Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Okra and corn combine in this refreshing summer salad that deserves to be eaten on the porch. Long halves of okra are slightly seared in a hot cast-iron skillet to keep them crisp and green. Make the creamy homemade ranch with fresh chives, dill, and thyme. Get The Recipe 18 of 57 Arugula Salad With Bacony Croutons And Sherry Vinaigrette Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke A salad can be healthy and still have the characteristic flavors of favorite Southern meals. Arugula, apples, blue cheese, and toasted pecans are joined by decadent bacon fat croutons. The homemade sherry dressing finishes this dish that works just as well for weeknights as it does for guests. Get The Recipe 19 of 57 Strawberry-Tomato Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Few fruits have the true taste of summer like farmers' market strawberries, and pairing them with tomatoes truly brings the flavors of the season together. Toss the two together for a surprising combo to serve with grilled salmon, chicken, or pork. Work in some fresh herbs, then just a little salt and pepper to really bring out the flavor of this simple salad. Get The Recipe 20 of 57 Field Pea, Corn, And Bacon Salad Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Cook fresh field peas and corn in bacon drippings for the ultimate Southern salad. When buying unshelled field peas, ¾ pound of unshelled pods will yield about one cup of field peas. You can freeze any extra shelled peas for later. Get The Recipe 21 of 57 Grilled Peach-And-Arugula Salad With Feta Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Fire up your grill for this delightful summer salad—that’s right, salad. It is almost impossible to resist the taste of a ripe peach in a fresh summer salad, and this salad uses cut peaches that take just a few minutes to caramelize on the grill. Add them to an arugula salad and top them with feta, toasted pistachios, and mint for a surprising combination of flavors and textures. Get The Recipe 22 of 57 Farmers' Market Pasta Salad Photo: Hector Sanchez Our favorite in-season summer vegetables, including corn, baby heirloom tomatoes, zucchini, and bell pepper come to the table in this pasta salad that mixes in an unexpected sweet taste—peaches. Add in some shredded smoked chicken and this salad goes from side dish to substantial sensation, taking pride of place as a light-yet-filling summer dinner. Pour on a little Parmesan Vinaigrette for even more subtle Italian flavors, and then sprinkle on some fresh herbs for the finale. Get The Recipe 23 of 57 Penne With Green Beans And Tomatoes Hector Manuel Sanchez This simple pasta dish makes a quick weeknight meal or side. Use whole wheat penne as an earthy complement to the green beans and cherry tomatoes. The Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to one week. Get The Recipe 24 of 57 Watermelon-And-Feta Orzo Salad Hector Sanchez Move over fruit salad. Watermelon takes on the savory side in this orzo salad. Tangy feta cheese, peppery watercress, and Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette will change the way you look at watermelon. Get The Recipe 25 of 57 Tortelloni-And-Grilled Vegetable Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez This pasta salad adapts to whatever vegetables you have from your farmers’ market trip or your garden. This simple pasta salad relies on grilled vegetables and Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette for tons of flavor. Easy to make, you’ll put this on repeat. Get The Recipe 26 of 57 Three-Bean Pasta Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan Pasta salad and three-bean salad merge in an easy summer side. The green beans and celery stay crisp and green with a quick blanch and ice bath. Substitute cooked field peas for a can of beans to highlight more seasonal flavor. Get The Recipe 27 of 57 Tangy Tzatziki Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick There’s no mayo here, but you won’t miss it. Greek yogurt provides a tasty, tangy creamy tzatziki dressing for this Greek-style pasta salad. Add marinated artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, cucumber, and kalamata olives to penne for the ultimate summer cookout pasta salad. Get The Recipe 28 of 57 Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Micah A. Leal With bacon and ranch inside, everyone will swoon over this pasta salad. Cherry tomatoes, bits of bacon, and Parmesan cheese are mixed into the creamy pasta. Fresh dill adds oomph to the ranch flavoring. Get The Recipe 29 of 57 Chicken Tortellini Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This salad makes a quick summer meal that doesn’t keep you cooking over a hot stove all evening. The tortellini takes just a few minutes to cook. Bursting with flavor from rotisserie chicken, canned black-eyed peas, cherry tomatoes, and fresh corn, you’ll have a meal on the table in 20 minutes. Get The Recipe 30 of 57 Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad Robby Lozano; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall This is one of our most searched for recipes, and for good reason. This twist on many Southerners' favorite broccoli pasta salad includes grapes for sweetness and bacon for crunch, and we know it will be a hit at your next potluck. Get The Recipe 31 of 57 Marinated Tomato-And-Herb Salad Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch When it’s too hot to cook, this summer salad is a must. A variety of heirloom tomatoes marinate in a homemade vinaigrette. Toss those with beefsteak and cherry tomatoes, salt, and fresh herbs like basil, dill, parsley, and chives. Get The Recipe 32 of 57 Grilled Wedge Salad With Buttermilk-Blue Cheese Dressing Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton Take the wedge salad up a level by giving it some char on the grill. The hint of smoky flavor mixes nicely with blue cheese dressing and bacon crumbles. Make the dressing up to two days ahead. Get The Recipe 33 of 57 Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan A salad of tomatoes, basil, and fresh mozzarella is an easy way to enjoy your garden’s tomato harvest. White balsamic vinegar doesn’t turn the cheese brown like regular balsamic vinegar. Serve at room temperature so the tomatoes will be juicy. Get The Recipe 34 of 57 Summer Tortellini Salad Ralph Anderson Mix and match the ingredients for this salad according to what vegetables and pastas you have on hand. Chopped chicken ensures that it is substantial enough to be a summer dinnertime meal. Salty green olives, black olives, crunchy red bell peppers, and onions complement the chicken. A tangy vinegar-based dressing is loaded with herbes de Provence—or a teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning if that's all you have on hand—to coat all of the ingredients with a variety of aromatic flavors. Get The Recipe 35 of 57 Spicy Grilled Corn Salad Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan This spicy side salad is inspired by elote, Mexican-style street corn. The salad gets its smoky, creamy flavor from brushing ears of corn with mayonnaise before grilling at high heat. Three jalapeños add plenty of heat, but you can use less or substitute mini sweet peppers. Get The Recipe 36 of 57 Tomato, Peach, And Corn Salad Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele Enjoy your bounty of summer produce in one mouthwatering dish. Use peaches, corn, and tomatoes at their peak for the most flavor in this salad. Honey Vinaigrette and feta cheese provide a salty-sweet balance. Get The Recipe 37 of 57 Big Daddy's Grilled Blue Cheese-And-Bacon Potato Salad Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford Potato salad with bacon is a delicious twist on a traditional summer side. The potatoes are grilled, giving them an incredible smoky flavor, and blended with a mix of mayonnaise and white balsamic vinegar. The kicker here is the crumbled bacon. It brings a smoky taste and a bold crunch to this traditionally creamy classic. Get The Recipe 38 of 57 Broccoli Pesto Pasta Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely Try this new spin on making pesto—use broccoli. This recipe still uses plenty of Parmesan cheese, walnuts, and basil. Make this pasta for a warm weeknight dinner, or eat it as a cold salad lunch. Get The Recipe 39 of 57 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad With Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners You can never have too many pasta salad recipes, and this one is a must for your repertoire. The magic is in its mix of flavors—bright and lemony, honey-sweetened, with a Dijon kick. Use the abundance of fresh herbs you have on hand to make this dish. Get The Recipe 40 of 57 Watermelon, Cucumber, And Feta Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan On hot days, this is the cooling salad you need. Cucumber and watermelon combine with fresh herbs for a refreshing taste. Feta adds a nice contrast. Keep the watermelon and cucumbers from getting soggy and watering down the dressing by adding it just before serving. Get The Recipe 41 of 57 Crispy Chicken-and-Broccoli Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You don’t even have to turn on the oven for this main dish salad that features crispy chicken tenders. Pick some up at your supermarket or a fast-food chain, or use leftover fried chicken. This combination of savory chicken and cheese with sweet grapes will satisfy the taste buds of even the youngest in your crowd. Get The Recipe 42 of 57 Shrimp Cobb Salad With Bacon Dressing Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox You’ll find extra bacon—and bacon drippings—in the vinaigrette that douses this classic salad. Save time the day of serving by hard-boiling the eggs and steaming the shrimp ahead of time. Use chicken or ham in place of the shrimp if desired. Get The Recipe 43 of 57 Strawberry-Avocado Salad With Sesame-Ginger Dressing Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Melissa Gray; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Boston lettuce is the bed for a simple salad of juicy strawberries and creamy avocados. Sesame-ginger dressing gives it a unique twist. This would also be good with a combination of tomatoes, strawberries, and watermelon. Get The Recipe 44 of 57 Chicken-And-Quinoa Salad With Pepper Jelly Dressing Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis You can make this salad ahead so it’s ready after a busy day. Shake the ingredients for the spicy-sweet pepper jelly vinaigrette in a mason jar and store it in the refrigerator until needed. This is a hefty main dish salad that you can easily adapt to whatever’s in season. Get The Recipe 45 of 57 Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Potato salads may be barbecue, picnic, and summer party staples, so finding new ways to enjoy this favorite dish means more happy faces around the table—or sitting on the picnic blanket. When you bring this potato salad to a summer potluck, guests will be singing its praises. Salad pickles, diced pimiento, bell pepper, onion, celery, and jalapeño pack in a lot of flavors. Hot sauce kicks up the heat even more. Get The Recipe 46 of 57 Southern-Style Grilled Cobb Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas The Cobb salad gets the Southern treatment with the addition of grilled okra and corn. Trade the blue cheese for Cheddar, and dress the salad in a tangy Dijon vinaigrette. This is the salad for lunch, dinner, or backyard cookouts. Get The Recipe 47 of 57 Deviled Egg-Potato Salad Antonis Achilleos This salad combines the best of two of your favorite Southern classics into one delectable picnic dish. Yellow mustard, pickle relish, hard-cooked eggs, and a dash of hot sauce go into this potato salad recipe that’s anything but basic. You also should definitely not forget to sprinkle paprika over the top. Get The Recipe 48 of 57 Herbed Chicken-And-Rice Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely Perfectly cooked basmati rice has density, texture, and bite, and is perfect for soaking up the flavors from a subtly seasoned vinaigrette. Ditch a mayonnaise-laden potato salad for this fresh, lemony number. Rotisserie chicken and microwaveable rice make this a quick weeknight salad. Get The Recipe 49 of 57 Grilled Corn-And-Salmon Salad With Tomatoes Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Here’s the salad you’ll make as long as there are tomatoes and corn in season. It’s the perfect meal for alfresco dining. Use grilled steak or shrimp in place of the salmon. Get The Recipe 50 of 57 Heirloom Tomato-Cracker Salad Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely If you love tomato sandwiches, this is the salad for you. It takes the traditional salad version and turns it into a prettier layered salad. Spread a mayonnaise mixture on a platter, arrange tomatoes and corn on top, and crush garlicky crackers over the tomatoes. Get The Recipe 51 of 57 Street Corn Salad Hector Sanchez As easy as mixing everything in one bowl, this salad comes together quickly—and it won’t stick around long. Fresh corn, radishes, and cherry tomatoes get a boost of flavor from a simple lime vinaigrette. Use feta if you can’t find Cotija cheese. Get The Recipe 52 of 57 Tangy Raspberry Salad Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Christina Daley Delightfully complex, this berry salad is built on a Bibb lettuce base with red onion, avocado, raspberries, and feta cheese for a sweet-tart flavor. The white balsamic vinaigrette doesn’t overpower the other ingredients. Keep this recipe on hand for guests and summer luncheons. Get The Recipe 53 of 57 Shrimp Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox This essential summer salad is equally at home on bibb lettuce or in a roll. This version has a creamy lemon dressing complemented with the citrusy flavor of fresh dill. Make sure you buy fresh shrimp, not frozen, and cool it in an ice bath after cooking for the most tender results. Get The Recipe 54 of 57 7-Layer Salad Jen Causey; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist: Caleb Clarke This vintage salad is a fan-favorite for good reason. This version uses classic BLT ingredients plus black-eyed peas for their smoky, earthy flavor. Serve 7-Layer Salad on the day you make it so the lettuce is nice and crisp. Get The Recipe 55 of 57 Crispy-Shrimp Salad With Avocado Dressing Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners This shrimp salad looks harder than it is. It starts with a bag of mixed baby greens and everything comes together in 20 minutes. Bread the shrimp in panko and cook just until the coating is crisp for perfectly cooked shrimp. Make the homemade creamy avocado dressing up to two hours ahead of time and place plastic wrap over the surface to keep it from turning brown. Get The Recipe 56 of 57 Classic Macaroni Salad With Ham Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Stylist Shell Royster The hardest part about this recipe is waiting for it to chill before digging in! If you love macaroni salad, this gussied up version is great as a side dish or picnic main. Get The Recipe 57 of 57 Whipped Cream Corn Salad Southern Living Creamed corn, but make it salad. This light and refreshing corn salad is unlike any you've had before. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit