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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    21 Best Summer Salad Recipes to Try This Week

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 12, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, vibrant salads that are both healthy and satisfying. With a variety of seasonal ingredients available, these 21 salad recipes offer something for everyone, from light and refreshing to hearty and filling. Whether you're looking for a quick lunch or a side dish for a barbecue, these salads will bring a burst of flavor to your summer meals.

    Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad

    Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Health Starts in the Kitchen.

    This Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad combines the creamy flavors of a classic Caesar salad with pasta and grilled shrimp for a fun twist. It's a filling dish that’s perfect for summer meals.

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    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Tuna pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Homemade Interest.

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

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    Shrimp Ceviche Pasta Salad

    Shrimp Ceviche Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: The Foodolic.

    Shrimp Pasta Salad features shrimp marinated in lemon, mixed with peppers, onions, and a bit of hot pepper, all served on quinoa pasta. It's topped off with fresh cilantro for a refreshing summer dish.

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    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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    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, it’s topped with Parmesan cheese for a satisfying and healthy meal.

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    Caprese Salad

    Caprese Salad.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    This Italian salad, known as Insalata Caprese, comes from the island of Capri. It's incredibly simple to prepare and perfect for a light summer meal.

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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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    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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    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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    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 all comes together in just a few minutes.

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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.

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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.

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    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

    Pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Nutmeg and Vinegar.

    This chicken pesto pasta salad is great for warm weather. It's a healthy and easy dish that you can whip up quickly, making it ideal for a BBQ.

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    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 dish that everyone will enjoy at gatherings. It combines tender chicken, crispy bacon, pasta, and fresh veggies all mixed together in a creamy ranch dressing for a satisfying salad.

    Get the recipe

    Smoked Salmon Nicoise Salad

    Smoked Salmon Nicoise Salad.
    Photo credit: Lavender & Macarons.

    This salad is colorful and tasty, making it a great choice for summer meals. It's perfect for dinner or when you have friends over and want to whip up something quick and impressive for brunch.

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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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    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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    Chimichurri Chicken Salad

    Chimichurri Chicken Salad.
    Photo credit: Style and Grace.

    This chicken salad uses olive oil and tangy red wine vinegar instead of heavy mayonnaise, along with plenty of fresh herbs for flavor. It’s a quick and easy way to enjoy a lighter version of a classic lunch dish.

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    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.

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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

    Smoked Italian Pasta Salad

    Smoked Italian Pasta Salad with Pepperoncini Dressing.
    Photo credit: xoxoBella.

    This smoked Italian pasta salad combines all the best elements of pasta salad with a delicious smoky twist. It's perfect for summer gatherings and is sure to be a hit.

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Red pesto pasta with veggies.
      30 Easy Recipes for the Best Spring Picnics
    • Beef and shells.
      18 Kid-Approved Ground Beef Dinners You Can Just Dump, Cook and Enjoy
    • Broccoli grilled cheese.
      22 Best Vegetarian Dinners That Simplify Mealtime
    • Vegetable pasta salad.
      20 Pasta Salad Recipes That Will Steal the Show at Your Next BBQ

    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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