Credit: Joe Lingeman

Every Single Summer Salad Recipe You’ll Ever Need

updated May 11, 2021

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If you ask me, there isn’t a more satisfying, delicious, or easy way to take advantage of the bounty of summer produce at our fingertips than with a big ol’ salad. Truly, there is a salad for all occasions or any vegetables you picked up at the farmers market or received in your weekly CSA box.

Summer salads are the answer to almost any occasion, be it a casual lunch (go for a make-ahead, veggie-packed pasta salad), an easy weeknight dinner (panzanella is always a good idea), or a fresh and simple side to round out whatever you good for dinner (you can never go wrong with cucumber salad). There’s a time and place for leafy green salads, but now’s the time to build your salad with sweet summer corn, juicy red tomatoes, crisp cukes, and snappy beans.

From summer classics that highlight the season’s superstars (like cucumber, corn, and tomato salads) to tangy slaws and can’t-miss fruit salads, we’ve got them all right here.

Cucumber Salads

When the weather is steamy, it’s hard to beat the refreshing crunch of a cucumber salad. Whether you’re craving something tangy or creamy, these recipes deliver.

1 / 10

Salt and Pepper Smashed Cucumber Salad

The easiest cucumber salad made with just salt, pepper, and a homemade vinaigrette.

2 / 10

Sour Cream and Dill Cucumber Salad

This easy, potluck-friendly recipe for classic cucumber dill salad is tossed in a tangy sour cream dressing.

3 / 10

Cucumber Caprese Salad

This simple twist on classic Italian Caprese salad adds cool, crisp cucumbers to the equation.

4 / 10

Japanese-Inspired Cucumber Salad

This summery cucumber salad, inspired by sunomono, is crunchy, refreshing, and swimming in delicate umami notes.

5 / 10

Pineapple-Cucumber Salad

This quick and refreshing salad features chunks of juicy pineapple and crunchy cucumber, all tossed in a chili-lime dressing.

6 / 10

Shaved Cucumber and Fennel Salad with Olives and Feta

A Mediterranean-style salsa is layered with lemony fennel and cucumbers for a simple salad that's bright, fresh, salty, rich, briny, and crunchy.

7 / 10

Tangy Cucumber Salad

This light, fresh salad of quick-pickled cucumbers and chopped fresh chives if perfect for your next potluck or barbecue.

8 / 10

Buttermilk Cucumber Salad

This refreshing rendition of the classic creamy cucumber salad still has all the zip and crunch, but incorporates elements from raita and tzatziki, other cooling cucumber-and-dairy dishes.

9 / 10

Saucy Chili-Garlic Cucumber Noodles

This quick no-cook recipe for cucumber noodles features a spicy, fragrant chili-garlic vinaigrette that's easy to pull together.

10 / 10

Chilled Lemon-Dill Cucumber Noodles

Twirl your fork around these thin, ultra-crisp cucumber noodles dressed with a vinaigrette of lemon zest, olive oil, a little garlic, and dill.

Corn Salads

Sweet, juicy corn is one of the absolute best perks of the summer season. Beyond eating it straight from the cob, turning it into a colorful salad is always a good idea.

1 / 5

Esquites (Mexican Corn Salad)

Sweet, charred corn is partnered with a slew of ingredients for a salad that's just the right balance of smoky, spicy, tangy.

2 / 5

Black Bean Salad with Corn and Avocado

This classic black bean salad is packed with bright, refreshing flavors like corn, tomatoes, and cilantro, and has a kick from fresh garlic, jalapeño, and red onion.

3 / 5

This fresh corn salad is mixed with juicy tomatoes, sweet basil, and salty feta for a simple, refreshing salad that tastes like summer.

4 / 5

Corn and Avocado Pasta Salad with Cilantro and Lime

Every forkful of this colorful pasta salad is packed with fresh corn, creamy avocado, and plenty of cilantro and lime.

5 / 5

Succotash Salad

Succotash has many versions, but almost all contain corn and beans. Some succotash calls for heavy cream, but instead, this one is kept light with a few squirts of lemon juice as a stand-in dressing.

Tomato Salads

Eating your weight in tomatoes is basically a requirement in the summer. These vibrant salads will help you get there.

1 / 9

This simple salad, made with thinly-sliced red onions, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of oil and vinegar, lets juicy summer tomatoes shine.

2 / 9

Tomato Salad with Red Onion, Dill and Feta

This is the full-on maximalist tomato salad: tossed gloriously with red pepper, feta, dill, cucumber, and olives.

3 / 9

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Turmeric Yogurt

Turmeric yogurt is topped with a variety of different types of heirloom tomatoes in this summer recipe. The whole dish is drizzled with a homemade green goddess sauce.

4 / 9

Easy Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze

Our easy caprese salad recipe features in-season tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, fragrant basil, a drizzle of olive oil, and a spoonful of balsamic glaze.

5 / 9

Avocado Caprese Salad

There's one ingredient that's going to make this summer's classic caprese the best yet: avocados.

6 / 9

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Pomegranate-Sumac Dressing

Pomegranate molasses lends tangy sweetness to the Middle Eastern-inspired dressing that gussies up these tomatoes.

7 / 9

Tomato and Feta White Bean Salad

This light and easy no-cook tomato and white bean salad is a perfect lunch or light dinner — you decide!

8 / 9

The Perfect Tomato Salad

Sure, you could augment the experience with goat or feta cheese, or chopped greens. It’s a salad, there are no rules. But this simple way of preparing tomatoes honors them while they’re at their peak.

9 / 9

Panzanella (Italian Bread Salad)

This classic Italian salad seems somehow too simple — and too improbable — to be as good as it is. We’re talking about a mix of day-old bread and juicy ripe tomatoes with whatever veggies might be in need of using, all tossed with a light vinaigrette.

Tangy Slaws

If crunch is what you’re after, a slaw is the answer. Don’t just stop at at a classic cabbage coleslaw, however: Cauliflower and kale can become slaw, too.

1 / 12

Crunchy Peanut Slaw

This refreshing, light slaw is made extra fragrant and crunchy thanks to roasted peanuts.

2 / 12

Tangy Cabbage and Jalapeño Slaw

Thanks to the crunchy textures and bold tangy and spicy flavors, no one will ever be the wiser that you pulled this together in just five minutes.

3 / 12

This simple recipe for red cabbage and carrot coleslaw that's tossed in a spicy and creamy dressing is perfect with just about anything — not just tacos.

4 / 12

Sesame Ginger Slaw

If you want a potluck dish that's a total crowd-pleaser, there is no better choice than this sesame ginger slaw.

5 / 12

Swiss Chard Slaw with Creamy Avocado Dressing

This easy slaw, dressed with a creamy blender avocado dressing, hits all the things I love about slaw; it’s crunchy, tangy, and refreshing!

6 / 12

Tangy Carrot Slaw

This French-inspired recipe for easy carrot slaw is tossed with a tangy Dijon mustard dressing.

7 / 12

Cilantro-Jalapeño Jicama Slaw

Tossing the slaw at the last minute here helps the cabbage to retain its color and the slaw to stay crisp.

8 / 12

This easy slaw using shredded cruciferous vegetables features almonds and dried cherries in a tangy honey-mustard dressing.

9 / 12

How To Make Coleslaw

This coleslaw is a classic. Green cabbage, shredded carrots, creamy dressing. It's the perfect side for burgers and hotdogs at your next backyard party.

10 / 12

Cilantro Lime Coleslaw

Classic tricolor slaw updated with fresh cilantro and a punchy lime-mayonnaise dressing.

11 / 12

Broccoli and Cauliflower "Coleslaw"

This riff on classic coleslaw swaps cabbage for crisp, chopped broccoli and cauliflower florets, finished off with crunchy almonds and a tangy dressing.

12 / 12

Napa Cabbage and Kale Coleslaw with Creamy Miso-Ginger Dressing Go to Recipe

Pasta Salads

What’s great about pasta salads is not only can they be made ahead, but they can play side dish or main dish, lunch or dinner, depending on what you need them for.

1 / 13

Caprese Pasta Salad

All the classic components of caprese salad — juicy tomatoes, sweet basil, and milky mozzarella, come together in this crowd-pleasing pasta salad.

2 / 13

Lemon Herb Pasta Salad with Green Beans

This light and fresh pasta salad is packed with fresh herbs, snappy green beans, and a sunny lemon vinaigrette.

3 / 13

The Best Pasta Salad Without Mayo

This easy-to-make pasta salad has a creamy flavor, but ditches the mayo in favor of a rich vinaigrette and soft cheese.

4 / 13

Pesto Pasta Salad

Nothing says summer like tendrils of pasta, fresh mozzarella pearls, juicy tomatoes, and crunchy cucumber dressed in a basil pesto sauce.

5 / 13

Corn and Avocado Pasta Salad with Cilantro and Lime

Every forkful of this colorful pasta salad is packed with fresh corn, creamy avocado, and plenty of cilantro and lime.

6 / 13

Light & Fresh Italian Pasta Salad

This potluck-friendly recipe for Italian pasta salad is filled with sun-dried and fresh tomatoes, olives, fresh mozzarella, and arugula.

7 / 13

The Easiest Pasta Salad

This goes-anywhere, has-everything pasta salad is one we think you should know by heart.

8 / 13

Greek Pasta Salad

This Greek-inspired pasta salad is filled with tomatoes, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, and feta and dressed in a tangy oregano vinaigrette.

9 / 13

BLT Pasta Salad

This pasta salad takes everything you love about that classic sandwich, then folds it into a summery side that's sure to be a hit at your next potluck.

10 / 13

Broccoli and Feta Pasta Salad

This recipe for pasta salad filled with broccoli, feta, and Kalamata olives holds up well if made ahead.

11 / 13

Grilled Zucchini Pasta Salad

The farmers market is bursting with just-picked zucchini and tomatoes, making them the perfect addition to this vibrant veggie pasta salad.

12 / 13

Feta & Eggplant Pasta Salad

Salty, briny feta kicks up the flavor here, while chopped parsley and basil keep things fresh, and the whole mix is tossed with a simple red wine vinaigrette.

13 / 13

Antipasto Pasta Salad

This recipe takes inspiration from antipasto, the Italian first course that includes all kinds of pickled veggies, cured meats, and of course, cheese.

Potato Salads

A potato salad is typically one of the first things to go at a summer cookout. These are recipes you’ll turn to again and again, whether for a backyard barbecue or a weeknight dinner.

1 / 10

French-Inspired Potato Salad

This easy recipe for a mayo-free potato salad is light and tangy thanks to Dijon mustard and fresh herbs.

2 / 10

Buttermilk Ranch Potato Salad

This recipe blends the delicious comforts of traditional potato salad with another American favorite: ranch dressing.

3 / 10

Crispy Sheet Pan Potato Salad

Here, crispy smashed potatoes are tossed with arugula, bacon, red onions, and a whole grain mustard vinaigrette.

4 / 10

The Best Classic Potato Salad

Today, let's pare it down to the basics and talk about how to make an easy, classic, all-American potato salad.

5 / 10

Titi Nancy’s Potato Salad

This hearty and satisfying potato salad is a great side dish for the holidays. It's made with russet potatoes, bell peppers, mayonnaise, egg, onion, and parsley.

6 / 10

Mixed New Potato Salad with Sweet Basil and Shallots

Toss tiny new potatoes with tangy buttermilk and sour cream along with handfuls of fresh sweet basil and crunchy shallots. It's the new summer classic.

7 / 10

Potato Salad with Yogurt, Arugula, and Dill

This simple potato salad recipe is bulked up with arugula, which also adds extra freshness.

8 / 10

Classic German Potato Salad

Baby red potatoes, chewy bacon, and lots of fresh herbs are tossed in a warm bacon dressing for a flavorful, potluck-ready potato salad.

9 / 10

Cheezy Potato Salad

This creamy recipe is mayonnaise-free and full of crisp bacon and celery. The dressing has a cool, creamy tang that mayonnaise-based dressings just can’t beat.

10 / 10

Instant Pot Potato Salad

This basic potato salad has just 5-ingredients and can be served warm or chilled.

Bean and Lentil Salads

Since beans and lentils add lots of good protein to the situation, these are salads that absolutely can hold their own at the center of the table, if you need them to do so.

1 / 7

Easy Lemon-Marinated Bean and Vegetable Salad

Creamy white beans and crunchy vegetables marinated in a honey-lemon vinaigrette is the ultimate make once, eat all week summer salad.

2 / 7

Mediterranean Tuna and White Bean Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

This easy recipe for an Italian-inspired tuna and white bean salad is bulked up with fennel, radicchio, and arugula.

3 / 7

3-Bean Israeli Couscous Salad

The key to this flavorful salad is dressing the couscous and beans while still warm; they absorb the dressing and really make the whole dish much tastier.

4 / 7

Chilled Black Bean, Feta & Cucumber Salad

This hearty, refreshing salad takes about 15 minutes to make — no cooking, no excessive prep.

5 / 7

Chickpea Salad with Red Onion, Sumac, and Lemon

The onions here aren’t as overwhelming as you might think, especially after a night in the refrigerator, after the salt and sumac takes the edge off, and their flavors mingle with the tender chickpeas.

6 / 7

Cold Lentil Salad with Cucumbers and Olives

While the obvious pairing with cucumbers and olives is feta, ricotta is a great alternative. Stir in this creamy cheese just before digging in and love the way it mixes with the vinaigrette to create a lustier dressing.

7 / 7

Colorful Lentil Salad with Walnuts & Herbs

This lentil salad is full of crisp and colorful bell pepper and onions, with nutty toasted walnuts and fragrant herbs. A sweet, tangy dressing pulls it all together.

Fruit Salads

Nothing against baked treats, but a light fruit salad, made with perfectly sweet, in-season fruit, is one of the best ways to end a meal during the summer months.

1 / 8

Red Fruit Salad with Lemon-Vanilla Bean Syrup

This fruit salad filled with peaches, raspberries, and cherries is drenched in a light lemon-vanilla syrup.

2 / 8

Rainbow Fruit Salad

Fruit salad should be something you actually want to eat, rather than something that’s looked upon sadly when carried out for dessert. This one, featuring every color of the rainbow, is that and more.

3 / 8

Esquites-Inspired Watermelon Salad

This fresh, juicy, mouthwatering side dish is an mash-up of two iconic summer foods: ruby-red watermelon and Mexican street corn salad (esquites).

4 / 8

Berry Pineapple Fruit Salad

This berry and pineapple fruit salad gets a fast and fancy twist with a gingergy, cinnamon-spiked simple syrup for a punchy, spiced kick.

5 / 8

Easiest Summer Fruit Salad

We don’t typically think of salad dressing when it comes to fruit salad, but that’s exactly what turns a bowl of plain fruit into something extra special. Here, the dressing is a honey-cinnamon one.

6 / 8

Sweet and Salty Watermelon Fruit Salad

Made with blackberries, sliced cucumber, lime juice, and feta, this watermelon fruit salad is equal parts sweet, salty, and savory.

7 / 8

Fruit and Grain Salad

The best grains for this salad are those that have a strong and durable outer layer. Once made and refrigerated, the individual grains stay separate and retain their chewiness far better.

8 / 8

Watermelon Salad with Feta & Mint

Here, the watermelon is crisp and fresh, and the cheese creamy and bright. The mint isn’t just a garnish; its taste penetrates the watermelon quickly.

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