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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Summer Dinner Salads for Busy Evenings

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 15, 2025, updated May 15, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer evenings can be hectic, but that doesn't mean dinner has to be a hassle. Fresh salads are a perfect solution, offering a quick and healthy meal option that can be prepared in no time. Here are 20 delicious summer dinner salads that are not only easy to make but also packed with flavor and nutrition.

    Vegetable Pasta Salad

    Vegetable Pasta Salad Recipe.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    This vegetable pasta salad is great for a light summer dinner or as a side to grilled dishes. It's a tasty option for anyone looking for a fresh and healthy meal.

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    Orrechiette Pasta Salad

    Orecchiette Pasta Salad Recipe.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    Orecchiette Pasta Salad is a vibrant mix of vegetables and herbs that’s perfect for summer. It's a great addition to any barbecue or potluck.

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    Roasted Beet Pasta Salad

    Roasted Beet Pasta Salad with Basil Dressing.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad offers a fresh twist on a classic dish. It's easy to prepare and works well as a side for summer dinners.

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    Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad

    Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie

    This Mediterranean Garbanzo Bean Salad is a quick and easy 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 simple white wine vinaigrette.

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    Tuna Niçoise Salad

    Tuna Niçoise Salad.
    Photo credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Tuna Niçoise Salad is a refreshing dish that will change your view on canned tuna. Packed with a zesty red wine dressing, crisp green beans, soft potatoes, savory olives, and hearty chunks of tuna, this salad is perfect for a light summer dinner.

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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 dinner. It's a fresh and satisfying option for warm summer evenings.

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    Summer Pasta Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing

    Summer Pasta Salad with Lemon-Tahini Dressing.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This salad combines pasta with four fresh vegetables and a creamy tahini dressing, topped with parsley and basil. It's a refreshing option that's perfect for summer dinners.

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    Strawberry Balsamic Tofu Pasta Salad

    Strawberry Balsamic Tofu Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Naturallie Plant Based.

    With the arrival of warm weather, this Strawberry Balsamic Vegan Tofu Pasta Salad is a refreshing choice, featuring juicy strawberries, marinated balsamic tofu, fresh spinach and basil, and creamy feta cheese. It's perfect as a side for a picnic, BBQ, or as a main dish for a weeknight dinner.

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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

    Caprese Pasta Salad

    Caprese pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Leftovers Then Breakfast.

    This summer salad is simple to make and packed with fresh ingredients. The tangy balsamic dressing brings together juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, and soft pasta, making it a great side for any potluck or BBQ.

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    Sweetheart Cabbage Salad with Gyoza Chickpeas

    sweetheart cabbage salad.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This sweetheart cabbage salad comes together in just 15 minutes and is perfect for anyone who thinks they don’t like salads. Packed with spinach, crunchy cabbage, and tasty chickpeas, all topped with Parmesan cheese, it’s a healthy and satisfying meal.

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    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Tuna pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Homemade Interest.

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

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    Summer Salad With Peaches, Corn, and Crispy Proscuitto

    A peach salad.
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Enjoy the flavors of fresh summer vegetables with this simple Summer Salad. It's perfect with a drizzle of homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

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    Grilled Halloumi Cheese Salad

    A serving of grilled halloumi cheese salad.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This grilled halloumi salad features warm, salty halloumi cheese paired with fresh greens, chickpeas, tomatoes, and Kalamata olives, all topped with a creamy homemade balsamic dressing. It’s a simple and delicious option for a summer dinner.

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    Black Lentil Feta Salad

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

    This Mediterranean salad is full of delicious flavors and is simple to prepare. It's packed with healthy lentils, creamy feta, fresh veggies, and a light dressing, making it perfect for dinner or lunch.

    Get the recipe

    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 dinner. Tossed with a light vegan butter sauce and fresh herbs, it’s an easy meal to whip up on a weeknight.

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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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    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 homemade ranch dressing. It's sure to be a hit at your next backyard barbecue!

    Get the recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    Mediterranean Pizza Pasta Salad

    Mediterranean Pizza Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: A Taste For Travel.

    This pizza pasta salad is a fun twist on the classic dish. It's loaded with pepperoni, fresh vegetables, and a simple vinaigrette, and it comes together in just a few minutes.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

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      25 Dump and Bake Dinners That Are Perfect for Weeknights
    • Sheet pan roast pork tenderloin.
      29 Easy Dinners So Good Your Family Will Be Begging for Seconds

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of 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, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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