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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Delicious Summer Salads That Are Perfect for Picnics

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on June 19, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, vibrant salads that are easy to prepare and great for sharing at picnics. With a variety of ingredients like crisp vegetables, juicy fruits, and flavorful dressings, these 20 salads will keep you cool and satisfied during those warm days. Whether you're looking for something light and refreshing or a bit heartier, there's a salad here for everyone.

    Avocado Mango Salad

    Avocado mango salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salad is perfect alongside salmon tacos and pairs well with just about any grilled meat. It's a refreshing addition to summer meals.

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    Blue Cheese Coleslaw

    Blue cheese coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Blue Cheese Coleslaw is a quick and easy side dish that you can whip up in under 15 minutes. Packed with blue cheese flavor and balanced seasoning, it’s sure to be a hit alongside steak, barbecue, or buffalo dishes.

    Get the recipe

    Vegetarian Ceasar Salad

    Vegetarian Ceasar salad.
    Photo credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    This vegetarian salad is a fresh take on a lunchtime favorite. It's perfect for warm days when you want something light and easy to prepare.

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    Chopped Italian Pasta Salad

    Chopped Italian Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad is great for summer gatherings, picnics, and barbecues. It's packed with fresh vegetables and beans, making it a colorful and satisfying dish.

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    Black Lentil Feta Salad

    Black Lentil Salad with Feta.
    Photo credit: Evergreen Kitchen.

    This Mediterranean salad is full of flavor and super easy to prepare. It's packed with healthy lentils, creamy feta, fresh veggies, and a simple dressing, making it perfect for lunches or dinners.

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    Ranch Coleslaw

    Ranch coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This ranch coleslaw comes together 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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    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad

    Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad on a white dish.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This pasta salad is packed with shredded rotisserie chicken, crispy bacon, fresh tomatoes, diced cheddar, and a generous amount of creamy ranch dressing. It's sure to be a hit at your next backyard barbecue.

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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 light and refreshing side that pairs perfectly with grilled dishes.

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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 salad. The Shopska salad is packed with vibrant vegetables, a light vinaigrette, and topped with shredded Feta cheese, making it a perfect appetizer, side dish, or even a meal with some bread.

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    Grilled Veggie Pasta

    Grilled veggie pasta.
    Photo credit: Healing Tomato.

    This veggie pasta dish with red lentil noodles is a great choice for a summer meal. Tossed with a light vegan butter sauce and fresh herbs, it’s an easy option for a weeknight dinner.

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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 a crunchy topping for burgers, and it's quick, healthy, and low in carbs.

    Get the recipe

    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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    Classic Potato Salad

    Classic Potato Salad
    Photo Credit: Cooking With Karli.

    This potato salad is creamy and tangy, perfect for summer gatherings. It features a unique ingredient in the dressing that adds a delightful twist to the classic recipe.

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    Greek Cucumber Salad

    A serving of Greek cucumber salad.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This Greek cucumber salad is quick and easy to make, using fewer than 10 ingredients and ready in just 15 minutes. It's a refreshing option for a summer lunch or a tasty side dish packed with fresh flavors.

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    Cold Soba Noodle Salad

    Cold soba noodle salad.
    Photo credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This cold noodle salad is perfect to bring along for meals outside - add a protein of your choice, or have it just as it is.

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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 warm summer evening when you want something fresh and satisfying.

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    Arugula Salad with Honey Lemon Vinaigrette

    Arugula salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salad combines sweet, salty, and tangy flavors that go well with any protein. It's a great side dish for grilled salmon or steak.

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    Greek Orzo Salad

    Greek orzo salad with feta.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This salad features orzo pasta cooked just right, along with crunchy cucumbers, soft artichoke hearts, filling chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, and Kalamata olives. It's all mixed together with a simple balsamic dressing and finished off with crumbled feta cheese.

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    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This red pesto pasta is quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes with only 15 minutes of hands-on time. It's loaded with veggies and flavor, and you can enjoy it hot or cold, whether you use homemade or store-bought pesto.

    Get the recipe

    French Potato Salad

    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This easy potato salad is a great summer dish that skips the mayo, eggs, and dairy. Instead, it uses a creamy Dijon mustard dressing, making it vegan, gluten-free, and perfect for warm days.

    Get the recipe

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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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