• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
always use butter
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Air Fryer Resources
  • Subscribe!
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Air Fryer Resources
    • Subscribe!
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipe Roundups

    24 Must-Try Summer Dinner Salads

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on June 2, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh and vibrant salads that are both satisfying and easy to prepare. With a variety of ingredients available, these 24 dinner salads offer a mix of flavors and textures that can brighten up any meal. Whether you prefer something light and refreshing or hearty and filling, there's a salad here for everyone to enjoy during the warm months.

    Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad

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

    As the weather warms up, this pasta salad is a perfect option for lunch or dinner. It's delicious and impressive enough to share with friends.

    Save This Recipe Form

    Want to save this recipe?

    Enter your email below & we'll send it straight to your inbox. Plus you’ll get more great recipes from us each week!

    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 a summer dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Chinese Chicken Salad

    A bowl of Chinese chicken salad.
    Photo Credit: XOXOBella.

    Chinese chicken salad is a simple and healthy option for a quick dinner or lunch. It features a light dressing that keeps things fresh and flavorful.

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

    Get the recipe

    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta

    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta.
    Photo credit: Delightful Plate.

    This mushroom and sweet corn pasta combines the rich flavors of mushrooms with the sweetness of charred corn, all in a light cream sauce. It's a simple and filling meatless meal that you can whip up in just half an hour.

    Get the recipe

    Salmon Asparagus Pasta Salad

    SALMON ASPARAGUS PASTA SALAD.
    Photo credit: Maple + Mango.

    This salad is packed with fresh asparagus, salmon, hard-boiled eggs, and pasta, all mixed in a creamy lemon dill dressing. It's simple to prepare and perfect for warm summer evenings.

    Get the recipe

    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

    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.

    Get the recipe

    Pasta Fresca

    Pasta Fresca.
    Photo credit: Profusion Curry.

    This dish features perfectly cooked pasta, fresh ripe tomatoes, tender baby spinach, and flavorful mushrooms, all tossed together with balsamic vinegar and garlic for a delicious sauce. It's a great option for a light summer dinner salad.

    Get the recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    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 homemade balsamic dressing and finished off with crumbled feta cheese.

    Get the recipe

    Mediterranean Chicken, Cucumber and Tomato Salad

    Mediterranean Chicken, Cucumber and Tomato Salad in a wooden bowl.
    Photo Credit: Moderately Messy RD.

    This chicken, cucumber, and tomato salad is full of fresh veggies and protein. It's easy to whip up, especially if you have leftover chicken, making it a great option for a quick summer lunch or dinner on a busy weeknight.

    Get the recipe

    Spicy Southwest Salad

    Spicy Southwest Salad.
    Photo credit: The Oregon Dietitian.

    Grilled chicken is marinated in honey and lime juice, then cooked until it's just right. Served on a bed of lettuce with avocado, fresh veggies, and a zesty homemade ranch dressing, this salad is a great choice for summer dinners.

    Get the recipe

    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 meal option. It's great for gatherings and a good way to use up leftover ham.

    Get the recipe

    Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad

    chicken pesto pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Barley & Sage.

    This chicken pesto pasta salad is a quick and easy meal that's perfect for summer. With creamy pesto, grilled chicken, fresh spinach, and tomatoes, it’s a light and satisfying option for dinner or lunch.

    Get the recipe

    Orzo Pesto Salad

    Orzo pesto salad.
    Photo credit: Healthfull Blondie.

    This orzo pesto salad is packed with veggies and fresh mozzarella, all tossed in a delicious nut-free basil pesto. It's a great choice for lunch, dinner, or as a side at any spring or summer get-together.

    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 vegetables, beans, and cheese, it works well as a main course or a side.

    Get the recipe

    Italian Pasta Salad

    Italian Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Rich and Delish.

    This Italian pasta salad is packed with fresh veggies, mozzarella pearls, and salami, all tossed together with a tasty homemade dressing. It's a great option for a light summer dinner.

    Get the recipe

    White Bean Panzanella

    White Bean Panzanella
    Photo credit: J Cooking Odyssey.

    This Italian-style salad features fresh, juicy tomatoes mixed with white beans and crunchy toasted bread. It's all brought together with a flavorful tomato and white bean dressing.

    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 dinners. It's perfect when you want to whip up something quick and impressive for friends or family.

    Get the recipe

    BBQ Pasta Salad

    BBQ Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

    This pasta salad is perfect for BBQ fans. It combines elbow noodles, corn, tomatoes, scallions, and BBQ tofu crumbles in a creamy dressing for a tasty twist.

    Get the recipe

    Greek Pasta Salad

    Greek pasta salad.
    Photo credit: Home at Cedar Springs Farm.

    This Greek pasta salad is full of fresh vegetables and has a delicious dressing that brings everything together. It's a light and refreshing option that's perfect for summer dinners.

    Get the recipe

    Santa Fe Chicken Salad

    Santa Fe chicken salad.
    Photo credit: Healthy Mom Healthy Family.

    Santa Fe Chicken Salad is a quick and easy meal that uses rotisserie chicken and a simple creamy salsa dressing. It's a satisfying and healthy option for summer dinners.

    Get the recipe

    Cherry Caprese Pasta Salad

    Cherry Caprese Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Delish Knowledge.

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

    Get the recipe

    More Recipe Roundups

    • Cauliflower beef taco skillet.
      12 Cheap Summer Ground Beef Dishes We’re Craving Right Now
    • Stuffed peppers.
      27 Quick and Easy Summer Dinners to Make in Your Slow Cooker
    • 15 bean soup.
      21 Hearty Slow Cooker Meals That Will Save You Time and Energy
    • A bowl of potato soup with toppings.
      18 Hearty Slow Cooker Meals Your Kids Will Beg For

    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.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    No Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    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!

    More about me →

    Popular Recipes

    • Sliced air fryer roast beef.
      Air Fryer Roast Beef

    • top down view of a tortellini casserole
      Cheesy Tortellini Casserole with Spinach

    • Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pasta Bake [Dump and bake!]

    • sliced rib eye steak topped with salt
      How to Cook a Rib Eye Steak Without a Cast Iron Skillet (3 Methods)

    Popular Articles

    • Bolognese.
      20 Grandma Approved Ground Beef Dinners for Super Busy Nights

    • Cherry caprese pasta salad.
      24 Must-Try Summer Dinner Salads

    • 24 Flavorful Crockpot Meals for Busy Weeknights

    • Lazy lasagna.
      25 Dump-and-Bake Dinner Casseroles for Busy Weeknights

    We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    All affiliate links are always marked with "*" or "affiliate".

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    A collage of sites where always use butter content has been featured.

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Disclaimer
    • Disclosures
    • Editorial Policy
    • Accessibility Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • info@alwaysusebutter.com
    • Pink Giraffe Ventures AB, Runstens Byväg 51, 147 91 Grödinge, Sweden
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2018-2025 Pink Giraffe Ventures AB