What I Served at Our Cookout: 27 Simple Salads That Disappeared Fast

I put together a bunch of simple salads for our cookout, and honestly, they vanished quicker than I expected. Each one was super easy to whip up but packed with flavor, making them the perfect sidekick for the main dishes. It’s wild how something so simple can steal the spotlight at a party!

Easy Overnight 7 Layer Salad – It’s a Classic

A bowl of seven layer salad next to individual servings. — Easy Overnight 7 Layer Salad – It’s a Classic. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

With its gorgeous rows of colors and bright flavors, this classic Southern seven-layer salad is the perfect make-ahead dish for any cookout. Served in a clear glass bowl that showcases all the beautiful colors.
Get the Recipe: Classic 7 Layer Salad

Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing

A bowl of Greek salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese on a white surface—perfect for spring recipes. Small bowls of olives and feta are nearby. — Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

My All-American Summer Menu 🇺🇸

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Looking for a quick and flavorful salad recipe? Try our Greek Salad with refreshing cucumbers and zesty lemon dressing. Perfect for a light and satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing

Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers

A serving bowl of antipasto salad. — Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This irresistible antipasto pasta salad is EASY to make with a simple homemade dressing, an Italian inspired pasta that’s great for summertime.
Get the Recipe: Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers

Tomato Salad With Peaches

Fresh Peach and Tomato Salad can’t be beat when summer produce is at its best. Try combining fresh peaches with juicy tomatoes, then sprinkle with salty feta for a light and refreshing summer salad
Get the Recipe: Tomato Salad With Peaches

Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp

A large bowl of shrimp orzo salad. — Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This cold lemon orzo salad recipe effortlessly marries shrimp, citrus, garlic, and fragrant basil for a quick and easy summer dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp

Spicy Fruit Salad With Star Anise

A bowl of spicy fruit salad with wooden spoon. — Spicy Fruit Salad With Star Anise. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

You can never go wrong with a bowl of fresh fruit. Spicy Fruit Salad adds just a hint of spice and seasoning to improve even the best fruit at the market.
Get the Recipe: Spicy Fruit Salad With Star Anise

Corn And Cucumber Salad With Greek Yogurt

A creamy cucumber salad with corn in a glass bowl with a serving spoon — Corn And Cucumber Salad With Greek Yogurt. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Jazz up your salad menu with a Corn and Cucumber Salad. The mixture of veggies in a creamy yogurt, mayo and dill dressing make it a favorite.
Get the Recipe: Corn And Cucumber Salad With Greek Yogurt

Zucchini Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinegar

Zucchini noodles with cherry tomatoes on a white platter with a wooden spoon — Zucchini Pasta Salad with Balsamic Vinegar. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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

Blueberry Salad With Tequila Dressing

Blueberry Salad with mangos and kiwi in a martini glass. — Blueberry Salad With Tequila Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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 must for any summertime meal.
Get the Recipe: Blueberry Salad With Tequila Dressing

Classic Southern Macaroni Salad

Classic Southern Macaroni Salad is a summertime comfort food, which is great if you’re craving Southern flavors this summer.
Get the Recipe: Classic Southern Macaroni Salad

Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows

A glass bowl filled with creamy fruit salad, inspired by vintage recipes, is topped with a red maraschino cherry; the salad contains marshmallows, fruit pieces, and whipped cream. Silver spoons rest beside the bowl on a gray surface. — Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

A nostalgic Ambrosia salad with mandarin oranges, pineapple, marshmallows, and coconut, topped with creamy whipped cream and a touch of sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Ambrosia Fruit Salad With Marshmallows

Tangy Cucumber Salad With Apple Cider Vinegar

A bowl of cucumber salad with onions and two serving spoons — Tangy Cucumber Salad With Apple Cider Vinegar. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This tangy Cucumber Salad is light, refreshing, and since it has no mayo, it’s perfect for warm summer days.
Get the Recipe: Tangy Cucumber Salad With Apple Cider Vinegar

Fruit Salad With Honey Lime Dressing

A spoon Full of fresh fruit. — Fruit Salad With Honey Lime Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Add lime zest and juice along with a little honey to your summer fruit salad, featuring your favorite fruits for a perfect summer side dish.
Get the Recipe: Fruit Salad With Honey Lime Dressing

Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries

A fresh spring salad with leafy greens, sliced strawberries, red onion rings, and almond slivers, sprinkled with black pepper, served in a dark bowl on a light tiled surface. — Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing has strawberries, fresh spinach and romaine along with pickled onions.
Get the Recipe: Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries

Lemon Orzo Salad

A platter of orzo salad with asparagus, diced tomatoes, shaved parmesan, fresh basil, and lemon slices, served with a wooden spoon on a silver tray. — Lemon Orzo Salad. Photo credit: Peel with Zeal.

A delicious lemon orzo salad recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or as an orzo pasta side dish for your next BBQ.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Orzo Salad

Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches

A pasta salad with peaches, corn and tomatoes in a serving bowl. — Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This refreshing summer salad is made with fresh peach slices, sweet corn, juicy grape tomatoes, pine nuts, and your favorite pasta. It’s one of my go-to cold pasta dishes to beat the heat.
Get the Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches

Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad

Ranch pasta salad in a bowl with a wooden spoon. — Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

With all the classic flavors of creamy ranch dressing, salty bacon, and cheddar cheese, this ranch pasta salad is a refreshing crowd pleaser, the perfect summer potluck food.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Pasta Salad

Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts

A side dish of pesto pasta next to fresh parsley. — Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This easy parsley pesto pasta salad with walnuts is a great summertime salad and incredibly simple to make for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts

Classic Pea Salad with Cheddar Cheese

A pea salad with cheddar cheese in a serving bowl. — Classic Pea Salad with Cheddar Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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.
Get the Recipe: Classic Pea Salad

Mint Watermelon Fruit Salad With Blueberries

A bowl of watermelon fruit salad with blueberries in a bowl. — Mint Watermelon Fruit Salad With Blueberries. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This quick and easy mint watermelon fruit salad combines crisp and juicy watermelon with sweet blueberries coated in a minty simple syrup.
Get the Recipe: Mint Watermelon Fruit Salad With Blueberries

Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing

A plate of creamy pasta salad with bowtie noodles, cherry tomatoes, peas, and cubes of ham, served on a blue-green plate with a light blue cloth underneath. — Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing. Photo credit: Southern Plate.

This creamy and cheesy ham pasta salad recipe is the perfect summer supper, with tender smoked ham, fresh veggies, and ranch dressing.
Get the Recipe: Ham Pasta Salad With Ranch Dressing

Old-Fashioned Carrot Salad With Raisins

A bowl of carrot and raisin salad next to a bunch of carrots. — Old-Fashioned Carrot Salad With Raisins. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fresh carrot raisin salad is EASY and so flavorful! All you need is a bowl and a grater to make this slightly sweet classic summer salad.
Get the Recipe: Old-Fashioned Carrot Salad With Raisins

Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto

Delicious pesto pasta salad with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes in a glass bowl. — Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Easy to make basil pesto pasta salad with bow tie pasta is a flavorful, colorful side that’s great for summer picnics or cookouts. It’s one of my favorite easy pasta salad recipes.
Get the Recipe: Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto

Burrata With Oranges

Close-up of a vibrant spring salad with slices of fresh mozzarella, orange segments, arugula leaves, and cracked black pepper sprinkled on top. — Burrata With Oranges. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy Burrata with Oranges instead of tomatoes is a great, light salad when the tomatoes are no longer fresh. A perfect salad for any cookout.
Get the Recipe: Burrata With Oranges

Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing

A bowl of broccoli salad on a serving tray. — Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

You’re going to love this healthy broccoli salad served with a yogurt dressing that’s sweetened with honey. An old fashioned salad you’ll love.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Salad With Cranberries And A Honey Yogurt Dressing

Grandma’s Cucumber Salad

A bowl of sliced cucumbers with a wooden spoon. — Grandma’s Cucumber Salad. Photo credit: Lauren’s Latest.

My Grandma’s Cucumber Salad Recipe is cool, crunchy, refreshing, and easy to throw together on a hot summer day! Great for BBQ’s or potlucks.
Get the Recipe: Grandma’s Cucumber Salad

Zesty Mexican Macaroni Salad

A bowl of creamy macaroni salad with kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, green peas, and fresh cilantro garnish—just like one of grandma’s favorite spring dishes. — Zesty Mexican Macaroni Salad. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

Zesty Mexican macaroni salad with a creamy, tangy dressing, fresh vegetables, and a perfect kick of spice is a twist on a classic favorite of easy pasta salad recipes.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Mexican Macaroni Salad

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