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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Colorful Summer Salads That Will Brighten Your Day

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 1, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, vibrant salads that are as colorful as the season itself. With a mix of seasonal fruits, crisp vegetables, and zesty dressings, these 24 salads will not only brighten your plate but also add a burst of flavor to your meals. Whether you're looking for something light and refreshing or a hearty option, there's a salad here for everyone.

    Cherry Caprese Pasta Salad

    Cherry Caprese Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad combines sweet and savory flavors, perfect for summer dinners. It's vegetarian and can easily be made vegan, serving well as a side dish or a main meal.

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    Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad

    Italian Bow Tie Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Two Pink Peonies.

    This Italian bow tie pasta salad is a simple and affordable dish that's great for gatherings. It's quick to prepare and a fantastic way to use up leftover ham.

    Get the recipe

    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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    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 actual cooking 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

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    This pasta salad is a perfect option for lunch or dinner when the weather is warm. It's delicious and impressive enough to share with friends.

    Get the recipe

    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. You can whip it up in less than 20 minutes.

    Get the recipe

    Smoked Salmon Nicoise Salad

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

    This salad is colorful and full of flavor. It's a great choice for brunch during the warm months.

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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.

    Get the recipe

    Spicy Watermelon Salad

    Spicy Watermelon Salad
    Photo Credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    This watermelon salad with Feta cheese is elevated by a drizzle of lemon chili oil and a fresh mix of mint. It's a refreshing dish that's perfect for summer gatherings.

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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, making it a refreshing choice for summer. With the addition of parsley and basil, it’s a vibrant dish that’s perfect for warm days.

    Get the recipe

    Watermelon Caprese Salad

    Watermelon Caprese Salad.
    Photo credit: Foodess.

    This watermelon and basil salad is super easy to make and packed with flavor from a homemade balsamic glaze. With juicy watermelon, creamy mozzarella, fresh basil, and a simple balsamic reduction, it’s a refreshing dish perfect for summer.

    Get the recipe

    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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    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, a BBQ, or even as a main dish for a weeknight dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Halloumi & Watermelon Salad

    Grilled Halloumi & Watermelon Salad
    Photo Credit: The Food Blog.

    This is a great summer dish that can stand alone or be served with grilled meats, chicken, or fish. It's light and refreshing, making it ideal for warm days.

    Get the recipe

    Cucumber Greek Salad

    Cucumber Greek Salad
    Photo Credit: Bowls are the New Plates.

    This traditional Greek salad is quick to prepare and packed with fresh flavors. It combines crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes with kalamata olives and feta cheese, all tossed in a delicious dressing.

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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!

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    Grilled Veggie Pasta

    Grilled veggie pasta.
    Photo credit: Healing Tomato.

    This veggie pasta dish uses red lentil noodles and is a great base for a grilled vegetable dinner. Tossed with a simple vegan butter sauce and herbs, it’s a fun option for a weeknight meal.

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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, especially salmon or steak. It's a refreshing dish that adds a bright touch to your meal.

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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, taking just about 15 minutes with fewer than 10 ingredients. It's a refreshing option for a summer lunch or a tasty side dish packed with fresh flavors.

    Get the recipe

    Summer Salad With Peaches, Corn, and Crispy Proscuitto

    A peach salad.
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Enjoy the freshness of summer with this simple salad that highlights seasonal produce. A drizzle of homemade balsamic vinaigrette adds the perfect finishing touch.

    Get the recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    Tuscan Pasta Salad

    Tuscan Pasta Salad Recipe
    Photo credit: The Gracious Pantry.

    Tuscan Pasta Salad is a simple and refreshing dish perfect for summer. With a mix of veggies, beans, and cheese, it works well as a main course or a side.

    Get the recipe

    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 meal.

    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 all comes together in just a few minutes.

    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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