If you’re looking to stay cool and still eat something delicious this summer, I’ve got just the thing. Check out these 28 refreshing summer salads that really beat the heat. Whether you’re planning a barbecue, a picnic, or just craving a light dinner, these tasty salads are perfect for any occasion. You’re going to love them!
Creamy Southern Macaroni Salad with Cheese
A combination of both sour cream and mayonnaise create the creamiest Southern macaroni salad around. A hint of sweet and sour along with grated cheese makes this the star of any potluck or cook out. A fantastic make ahead summer salad that gets even better after a day in the fridge. No mushy bland salad here!
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad
Easy Overnight 7 Layer Salad – It’s a Classic
Warm Up Your Winter: Southern Classics!
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With its gorgeous rows of colors and bright flavors, this classic Southern seven-layer salad is the perfect make-ahead dish for family gatherings or a church potluck. Served in a clear glass bowl that showcases all the beautiful colors, this layered salad makes a gorgeous centerpiece to your dinner table.
Get the Recipe: Classic 7 Layer Salad
Tangy Cucumber Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar
This tangy Cucumber Salad is light, refreshing, and perfect for warm summer days. Since it has no mayo, it’s perfect for bringing to outdoor parties and summer barbecues–and the flavors only intensify as it sits. Despite the low-effort recipe, it’ll make a big impact!
Get the Recipe: Tangy Cucumber Salad with Apple Cider Vinegar
Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad
This is one of those summer BBQ dishes that will have everyone asking you for the recipe! With all the classic flavors of creamy ranch dressing, salty bacon, and sharp cheddar cheese, this pasta salad is a refreshing crowd pleaser that can be thrown together in less than 20 minutes
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad
Mixed Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Guys, this honey lime dressing is a fabulous addition to your next fruit salad. Ready within 15 minutes, it’s the perfect summer salad. The simple addition of lime zest adds a punch of flavor and brightens whatever fruit you have available. You’re going to love it at your next potluck or family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Mixed Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Dressing
Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad with Pepperoncini Peppers
Jump start your next picnic or potluck with this Italian-inspired pasta salad. It’s like a cheese board but in salad form with tangy pepperoncini peppers, salty and savory cured meats, and sweet roasted peppers that all come together with chewy pasta and a seriously flavorful dressing for a truly show-stopping pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Antipasto Pasta Salad
Green Beans and New Potato Salad with Honey Vinaigrette
Full of fresh summer flavors, this cold green bean salad recipe adds in tender new potatoes for a refreshing take on a classic summer meal. Once you’ve boiled the potatoes and fresh beans, you’re basically done! The homemade dressing gets a boost from honey and red onion for a tangy, but delicate flavor that’ll be the star of summer cookouts to come.
Get the Recipe: Green Bean and Potato Salad
Mint Watermelon Fruit Salad with Blueberries
There’s nothing like the first bite of this fresh and cool minty watermelon salad. I’ve had watermelon salads before, but never one as simplistic and refreshing to eat as this one. The difference is in a simple method for extracting the flavors from the mint without adding the leaves directly to the salad.
Get the Recipe: Mint Watermelon Fruit Salad with Blueberries
Classic Pea Salad with Cheddar Cheese
This creamy Southern pea salad bursts with flavors of the South, blending tender fresh or frozen peas with sharp cheddar cheese, smooth mayonnaise, and tangy sour cream. Its’ quick and simple preparation, with a unique combination of ingredients, creates a delightful summer salad that captures the essence of a Southern potluck. Refrigerating overnight brings all the flavors together.
Get the Recipe: Classic Pea Salad
Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries
Strawberry spinach salad is a colorful and refreshing salad that features fresh baby spinach leaves, sliced strawberries, and a tangy poppy seed dressing. The combination of sweet and savory flavors creates a unique balance, making it a perfect choice for a summer meal.
Get the Recipe: Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries
Creamy Red Cabbage Coleslaw with Buttermilk
This colorful combination of crunchy red cabbage, shredded carrots, and fresh herbs adds a burst of freshness to any meal. The crunch of the cabbage, coupled with the creaminess of the dressing, takes this coleslaw to a whole new level.
Get the Recipe: Red Cabbage Coleslaw
Zucchini Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinegar
Pull out the spiralizer and make a refreshing Zucchini Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinegar. With cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and zoodles, it’s a twist on a classic caprese salad. Just a few ingredients and you’ll have a healthy delicious salad to add to any meal.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinegar
Bow Tie Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto
Whip up a mouthwatering bow tie pasta salad with basil pesto in no time. This recipe is packed with fresh basil and spinach and of course garlic and pine nuts. Add some cherry tomatoes for an ideal summer salad. Perfect for busy cooks, you can have it on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Pasta Salad with Basil Pesto
Tomato Salad with Peaches and Feta
Fresh peach and tomato salad can’t be beat when summer produce is at its best. Try combining those juicy tomatoes with fresh sweet peaches, then sprinkle with salty feta for a light and refreshing summer salad.
Get the Recipe: Tomato Salad with Peaches and Feta
Greek Cucumber Salad with Lemon Dressing
Get ready to transport yourself to the sunny shores of Greece with this refreshing and vibrant Greek salad recipe! Crisp romaine lettuce, juicy cucumbers, tangy Greek olives, and creamy feta cheese come together in perfect harmony, all drizzled with a zesty lemon dressing.
Get the Recipe: Greek Cucumber Salad
No Mayo Roasted Potato Salad with Bacon
This warm roasted potato salad is not only great for your next potluck or cook out, but it’s perfect for a simple dinner. Roasted crispy potatoes and bacon in a balsamic dressing without mayo! Not your Mom’s potato salad, but possibly better.
Get the Recipe: No Mayo Roasted Potato Salad with Bacon
Loaded Ranch Potato Salad with Bacon
This Ranch potato salad with bacon, cheese and a sour cream ranch dressing is just what you need for a potluck or cook out. All the flavors of a loaded baked potato plus a flavorful dressing to coat tender new potatoes.
Get the Recipe: Loaded Ranch Potato Salad with Bacon
Summer Pasta Salad with Fresh Peaches
his peach pasta salad recipe uses fresh peach slices, sweet corn, juicy grape tomatoes, pine nuts, and your favorite pasta for a bright, light, and refreshing summer salad. Boil the noodles, assemble your produce, and toss it in a simple homemade dressing, and you’re done! It’s easy, quick, and just what a hot summer day calls for.
Get the Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad with Fresh Peaches
15-Minute Broccoli Slaw with Mango and Avocado
This easy 15-minute broccoli slaw with mango and avocado is one of my favorite, easy salads to throw together for a weeknight dinner side dish. I’ve been revamping this salad over the years, and I think I finally have it perfected – right down to the timing!
Get the Recipe: 15-Minute Broccoli Slaw with Mango and Avocado
Blueberry Salad with Tequila Dressing
Blueberries, mango and kiwi marinated in a slightly sweet tequila lime syrup may be the tastiest fruit summer salad you’ll find. Easy and so refreshing, a blueberry salad is a must for any summertime meal.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Salad with Tequila Dressing
Spicy Fruit Salad
Change up your traditional fruit salad with a little bit of spice that will bring out the fruity flavors even more. This spicy fruit salad recipe goes great with a summertime cookout in the backyard or dinner with friends. Star anise and a serrano pepper are subtle but create a “wow” factor everyone will be talking about.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Fruit Salad
Spicy Peach Coleslaw without Mayonnaise
Spicy Peach Coleslaw without Mayonnaise turns a classic summer salad into a more interesting side dish. A peach dressing adds even more flavor and a little Texas Pete gives it some pizzaz!
Get the Recipe: Spicy Peach Coleslaw
Corn and Cucumber Salad Recipe
Jazz up your Summer salad menu with a Corn and Cucumber Salad. The light and healthy mixture of veggies along with a creamy yogurt, mayo and dill dressing will satisfy any palate when the warm weather hits.
Get the Recipe: Corn and Cucumber Salad
Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and a Honey Yogurt Dressing
A light and fresh broccoli salad coated in a honey yogurt dressing is just what you need for a backyard cook-out or to add to a holiday table. Red onions and dried cranberries add a sweet and savory touch, and of course bacon makes everything tastier. Make it a day ahead and add the dressing an hour before serving.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad with Cranberries and a Honey Yogurt Dressing
Crisp Cucumber Salad Recipe With Zesty Honey Dressing
This light cucumber salad with fresh dill and a honey vinaigrette is a delicious and easy recipe you can make year-round. This crisp cucumber salad is incredibly simple to make in less than 10 minutes and requires only a few ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Crisp Cucumber Salad Recipe With Zesty Honey Dressing
Fuji Apple Salad Recipe: Panera Copycat
This Fuji Apple Salad Recipe is loaded with fresh, crisp fuji apples, sweet dried cranberries, and crunchy walnuts, then drizzled with a cinnamon honey vinegarette. If you enjoy a fresh, slightly sweet salad loaded with nuts and fruit, then you need to try this best salad recipe.
Get the Recipe: Fuji Apple Salad Recipe: Panera Copycat
Avocado Corn Salad
As invigorating as summer itself, this avocado corn salad recipe is everything wonderful about a gorgeous sunny day all in a bowl. Fresh yellow corn kernels, diced avocado chunks, red onion, bell pepper, and a simple homemade lime dressing make this a bright and tangy salad recipe you’ll be making as often as you can find corn on the cob.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Corn Salad
Blue Cheese Potato Salad
This blue cheese potato salad recipe is loaded with the tangy creaminess you expect from a potato salad but with an incredible blue cheese and bacon twist. We used Greek yogurt instead of mayo so the blue cheese could shine. And loaded it with chives and parsley for the most delicious cookout side dish around.
Get the Recipe: Blue Cheese Potato Salad
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