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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    18 Crunchy Summer Salads That Are Perfect for Hot Days

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 7, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, crunchy salads that are light and refreshing. With a variety of ingredients like crisp vegetables, juicy fruits, and zesty dressings, these 18 salads are ideal for hot days when you want something satisfying yet easy to prepare. Whether you're hosting a barbecue or just looking for a quick meal, these salads will keep you cool and energized.

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Get on my Plate.

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad is perfect for a simple family dinner or a tasty side dish for gatherings. It combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, pasta, and fresh veggies all mixed together in a creamy ranch dressing for a satisfying meal.

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    Shopska Salad

    Shopska salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    In just 15 minutes, you can whip up a delicious and cheesy Shopska salad. Packed with vibrant veggies, a light vinaigrette, and topped with Feta cheese, it works well as an appetizer, a side dish, or even a meal with some bread.

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    Cobb Pasta Salad

    Cobb pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Suburban Simplicity.

    This is a delicious twist on the classic Cobb Salad. It includes pasta, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, chicken, chopped eggs, creamy avocado, and blue cheese dressing, all ready in under 30 minutes.

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    Mediterranean Chickpea Cucumber Salad with Tomato

    Mediterranean Chickpea Cucumber Salad with Tomato
    Photo Credit: Our Plant Based World.

    Finding meals that are healthy, refreshing, and tasty is always a win. This summer salad checks all those boxes and is super easy to prepare.

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    Easy Lebanese Salad

    Easy Lebanese Salad
    Photo Credit: A Cedar Spoon.

    This salad features fresh chopped tomatoes, bell pepper, onion, cucumber, green onion, and parsley, all drizzled with a zesty lemon-mint dressing. It's a refreshing side that pairs perfectly with grilled dishes.

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    Spicy Southwest Salad

    Spicy Southwest Salad.
    Photo credit: The Oregon Dietitian.

    Grilled chicken marinated in honey and lime juice sits on a bed of lettuce, avocado, and fresh veggies. Topped with a zesty homemade ranch dressing, this salad is a refreshing choice for any meal.

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    Caulislaw - Raw Cauliflower Salad

    Caulislaw - Raw Cauliflower Salad
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This "Caulislaw" combines cauliflower, carrots, and red onions in a tasty mayonnaise dressing. It's a great side for barbecues or can be used to top burgers, making it a quick and healthy option you'll want to enjoy again and again.

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    Larb Gai

    Larb gai.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This Thai chicken salad is a healthy option you'll want to prepare regularly. It features a flavorful base and is topped with crunchy peanuts.

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    Avocado Mango Salad

    Avocado mango salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This is a great addition to salmon tacos and pairs well with almost any grilled meat. It's a refreshing side that adds a nice touch to your summer meals.

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    Cucumber Pasta Salad

    Cucumber Pasta Salad
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This pasta salad is a breeze to make and features a creamy vegan dressing that blends flavors of Ranch and tzatziki. With fresh cucumbers, red onions, and lots of chopped dill, it’s a great addition to any summer barbecue.

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    Ranch Coleslaw

    Ranch coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This ranch coleslaw is quick to whip up in just 15 minutes and is perfect for your next barbecue. Using store-bought mayonnaise and ranch dressing, it’s super easy to prepare and packed with flavor.

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    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Tuna pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Homemade Interest.

    Tuna pasta salad is loaded with fresh veggies and vibrant flavors. This dish skips the mayo, making it a light and healthy option that's great for sharing.

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    Warm Vegan Pasta Salad

    Warm Vegan Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Healing Tomato.

    This cauliflower gnocchi pasta is super quick to prepare, taking only 10 minutes. It's a great dish to take along to picnics or outdoor gatherings.

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    Blue Cheese Coleslaw

    Blue cheese coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Blue Cheese Coleslaw is a quick and easy side that pairs well with steak, barbecue, or buffalo dishes. Packed with blue cheese flavor and balanced seasoning, this coleslaw is sure to become a favorite.

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    Caprese Salad with Spinach & Cashews

    Caprese salad with cashews.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This caprese salad is simple to make and hearty enough to serve as a main dish. It's perfect for a light summer dinner that still satisfies.

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    Veggie Loaded Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

    Pasta salad with veggies and Italian dressing.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This pasta salad with Italian dressing is quick to prepare and packed with fresh vegetables. It's a great option for a side dish or for meal prep.

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    Roasted Rhubarb Salad

    Roasted Rhubarb Salad.
    Photo credit: Occasionally Eggs.

    This roasted rhubarb salad with rye croutons and vegan labneh is a great vegetarian dish that combines protein, fruit, vegetables, and greens. It's ideal for the shift from spring to summer, featuring both blueberries and sweet roasted rhubarb.

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    Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad

    Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie

    The Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad is a quick vegetarian dish that you can whip up in just 10 minutes. Packed with garbanzo beans, cucumber, Kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, red onion, and fresh parsley, it's all mixed together with a light white wine vinaigrette.

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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