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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    25 Unique Summer Salads That Will Impress Your Guests

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on July 13, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, vibrant salads that showcase the season's best produce. With a variety of flavors and textures, these 25 unique salad recipes will not only satisfy your cravings but also impress your guests at any gathering. From refreshing fruit salads to hearty grain-based options, there's something here for everyone to enjoy.

    White Bean Panzanella

    White Bean Panzanella
    Photo credit: J Cooking Odyssey.

    This Italian-style dish 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.

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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 light summer dinner that still satisfies.

    Get the recipe

    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.

    Get the recipe

    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. It's topped off with a creamy homemade balsamic dressing and uses fewer than 10 ingredients.

    Get the recipe

    Melon Prosciutto Salad

    Melon Prosciutto Salad
    Photo credit: Midwest Foodie

    The Melon & Prosciutto Salad is a refreshing dish that's great for summer. It combines sweet honeydew and cantaloupe with fresh mozzarella cheese for a light and enjoyable 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 and will leave you feeling satisfied.

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    Chinese Chicken Salad

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

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

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    Ranch Coleslaw

    Ranch coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This ranch coleslaw is quick to whip up 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.

    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 enjoying during the warmer months.

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    Black Lentil Feta Salad

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

    This Mediterranean salad is full of flavor and super easy to prepare. It's packed with healthy lentils, creamy feta, fresh veggies, and a simple dressing, making it perfect for lunches or dinners.

    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 dish.

    Get the recipe

    Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese Pasta Salad

    Roasted Garlic Blue Cheese Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Pups with Chopsticks.

    This creamy pasta salad features fresh veggies mixed with a roasted garlic and miso dressing that has a nice blue cheese flavor. If blue cheese isn't your thing, you can leave it out and still enjoy the rich taste from the miso.

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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

    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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    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 touch.

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    Deviled Egg Pasta Salad

    Deviled Egg Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Courtney's Sweets.

    This pasta salad is perfect for gatherings and is a great way to use up leftover deviled eggs. It's a simple dish that adds a refreshing touch to any meal.

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    Antipasti Pasta Salad

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

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

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    Watermelon Panzanella

    Watermelon Panzanella.
    Photo credit: Pretty Delicious Life.

    Watermelon Panzanella salad is a simple and refreshing summer dish. It combines a few fresh ingredients to create a delightful and colorful salad.

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    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta

    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta.
    Photo credit: Delightful Plate.

    This pasta dish combines earthy mushrooms and charred corn in a light cream sauce. It's a quick and satisfying meatless option that you can whip up in just half an hour.

    Get the recipe

    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 30 minutes. It's packed with fresh vegetables and quinoa, all mixed together with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette.

    Get the recipe

    Salty & Crunchy 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.

    Get the recipe

    Grilled Halloumi & Peaches

    Grilled halloumi and peaches.
    Photo credit: Coley Cooks.

    This salad is a fresh and healthy option for warm weather meals. Grilled Halloumi cheese pairs perfectly with sweet charred peaches, arugula, spicy jalapeños, and a honey lemon dressing, making it a great choice for lunch, dinner, or brunch.

    Get the recipe

    Blue Cheese Coleslaw

    Blue cheese coleslaw.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Blue Cheese Coleslaw is a quick and easy side that pairs well with steak, barbecue, or buffalo dishes. Packed with blue cheese flavor and balanced seasoning, this coleslaw is sure to become a favorite.

    Get the recipe

    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 makes a great side for summer gatherings.

    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

    More Recipe Roundups

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      16 Easy Indulgent No-Bake Desserts Perfect for Hot Summer Days
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      21 Dump-And-Go Dinner Casseroles You Might Not Have Tried Yet
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      22 Set It and Forget It Recipes You Might Not Have Tried Yet

    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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