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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    21 Vibrant Summer Salads That Are Perfect for Dinner

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on May 24, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, colorful salads that are not only healthy but also satisfying for dinner. With a variety of ingredients like crisp vegetables, juicy fruits, and hearty grains, these 21 vibrant salads bring a burst of flavor and nutrition to your table. Whether you're looking for something light or a bit more filling, there's a salad here to suit every craving.

    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 perfect as a filling side dish or for meal prep.

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    Vegetarian Ceasar Salad

    Vegetarian Ceasar salad.
    Photo credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    This is a tasty vegetarian take on a classic lunch dish. It's perfect for a light summer dinner.

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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 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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    Cucumber Pasta Salad

    Cucumber Pasta Salad
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This pasta salad features a creamy vegan dressing that blends flavors similar to Ranch and tzatziki, paired with fresh cucumbers, red onions, and lots of chopped dill. It's a great addition to any summer barbecue.

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    Tuna Pasta Salad

    Healthy Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    This tasty tuna and pasta dish is perfect for a family dinner. It's so good, you'll want to go back for seconds.

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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 with fresh cilantro for a refreshing summer meal.

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    Greek Salmon Bowl

    A serving of salmon Greek bowl.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This Greek Salmon Bowl is a simple meal that you can whip up in under thirty minutes. It's packed with fresh vegetables and quinoa, all mixed together with a flavorful balsamic vinaigrette.

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    Avocado Pasta Salad

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

    This avocado pasta salad is delicious and simple to prepare. It's a great side dish for summer gatherings or can be enjoyed as a quick meal.

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    Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad

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

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

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    Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad

    Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Piping Pot Curry.

    Caprese Orzo Pasta Salad is a fresh and light dish featuring orzo pasta, grape tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil. It's simple to prepare and great for picnics or gatherings.

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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 cookouts. It's packed with fresh vegetables and beans, making it a colorful and satisfying dish.

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    Smoked Italian Pasta Salad

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

    This smoked Italian pasta salad combines the best elements of pasta salad with a delicious smoky twist. It's a great option for summer dinners, bringing a unique flavor to your table.

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    Green Mango & Seafood Salad

    Green Mango & Seafood Salad.
    Photo credit: Delightful Plate.

    Vietnamese Green Mango Salad with Seafood is a refreshing dish that combines different flavors and textures beautifully. It's quick and easy to prepare, making it perfect for a light summer dinner.

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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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    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

    A bowl of chicken pesto pasta salad.
    Photo Credit: Frozen Bananas.

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad is quick to prepare and really tasty. It comes together in less than 20 minutes, making it perfect for a summer dinner.

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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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    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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    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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    Warm Vegan Pasta Salad

    Warm Vegan Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Healing Tomato.

    This cauliflower gnocchi pasta is super easy to whip up in just 10 minutes. It's a great dish to take along to picnics or outdoor gatherings.

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    Antipasti Pasta Salad

    Antipasti Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: An Affair From the Heart.

    This salad is a great choice for any meal. It's easy to prepare and packed with salami, pepperoni, grape tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese, making it a satisfying dish for gatherings or summer cookouts.

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    More Recipe Roundups

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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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