20 Summer Salads That Hit the Spot on a Sunny Day
It’s time to enjoy all those fresh fruits and veggies.
When the weather gets hot outside, fresh meals are an absolute must. For Ree Drummond, that means leaning on healthy dinner ideas that keep kitchen time to a minimum. “Ladd will grill steaks (does a grilled meal count as a no-stove dinner?!) and we’ll have them with an iceberg wedge salad. Sometimes, we’ll even have the salad as a main course,” she says.
That's when you need these summer salads. They’re crisp, colorful, satisfying, and endlessly versatile as easy summer side dishes or appetizers. Whether it’s a classic Caesar or a creative combo loaded with fun salad toppings, these salads are made for warm-weather meals. Ahead, you’ll find everything from simple leafy greens and berry-packed bowls to heartier dishes filled with salmon, shrimp, chicken, and more. Whichever one you choose, be sure to have your favorite salad dressing handy, such as the Drummond all-time favorite: homemade ranch.
Salmon Niçoise Salad
This one’s a little fancy: It comes together with flaky roasted salmon, crisp green beans, buttery fingerling potatoes, jammy eggs, tomatoes, and briny olives. Drizzle a lemon-Dijon herb dressing over the whole thing—and voilà!
Get Ree’s Salmon Niçoise Salad recipe.
Cobb Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
A loaded Cobb salad is summer’s answer to a full meal in one bowl. It’s piled high with crisp greens, smoky bacon, juicy tomatoes, creamy avocado, chicken, and hard-boiled eggs.
Grilled Chicken Salad with Berries and Blue Cheese
This salad is truly made for warm-weather meals. Chicken, mixed berries, pecans, greens, and creamy blue cheese get tossed with a bright raspberry vinaigrette dressing.
Get Ree’s Grilled Chicken Salad with Berries and Blue Cheese recipe.
Perfect Side Salad
Simple in the best way! The garden-fresh ingredients in this salad really shine. Add a zippy homemade vinaigrette, and it belongs next to just about every summer meal.
Get Ree’s Perfect Side Salad recipe.
Fish and Chips Salad
Who says a pub favorite can’t be reimagined as a summer salad? This playful twist combines crispy fish and fries with tender butter lettuce, tangy pickled onions, and a drizzle of tartar-inspired dressing.
Get the Fish and Chips Salad recipe.
Waldorf Salad
This retro favorite still holds its own. Crunchy apples, grapes, celery, and walnuts come together in a creamy lemony dressing that's as refreshing as ever.
Get the Waldorf Salad recipe.
Green Goddess Salad
This salad lives up to its name with a gorgeous mix of greens like cabbage, cucumbers, snap peas, and green onions. It's all coated in a creamy, herby avocado dressing that's packed with flavor from basil, spinach, parmesan, and lemon.
Get the Green Goddess Salad recipe.
Caesar Salad
Sometimes, simple is best. This classic Caesar pairs crisp romaine with homemade croutons, lots of parmesan, and a rich dressing that's way better from scratch than anything in a bottle.
Get the Caesar Salad recipe.
Asparagus Salad
Tender-crisp asparagus gets tossed with bacon, radishes, walnuts, and parmesan for a salad that’s fresh, salty, and just the right amount of crunchy. It's perfect for summer gatherings.
Get the Asparagus Salad recipe.
Salad with Radishes
Use any mix of greens you like, then toss in a bunch of peppery radishes and drizzle on a bright, homemade dressing. It's a light, versatile salad you'll come back to again and again.
Get Ree's Salad with Radishes recipe.
Cabbage Salad
This crunchy salad brings together green cabbage, tart apples, peppery arugula, and toasted pecans for a bright, satisfying bite. A zippy vinaigrette pulls it all together.
Get the Cabbage Salad recipe.
Southwestern Salad
There's nothing boring about this bed of greens. It's packed with corn and black beans, veggies, cheese, and a zippy avocado-cilantro dressing that you can make ahead. Crushed tortilla chips on top bring a welcome crunch.
Get the Southwestern Salad recipe.
BBQ Salad
BBQ and summer go hand-in-hand, but this recipe keeps things fresh by turning the smoky barbecue flavors into a hearty salad. It's piled high with pulled pork, fried onions, cornbread croutons, and a barbecue dressing.
Get the BBQ Salad recipe.
Strawberry Arugula Salad
Sweet seasonal strawberries work surprisingly well with peppery arugula and tangy feta in this bright summer salad. We also love the crunch from the pecans.
Get the Strawberry Arugula Salad recipe.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Light, bright, and filled with sweet fruits—this salad is perfect for enjoying on a hot summer day.
Get the Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe.
Greek Salad
This classic salad is made up of cucumbers, tomatoes, olives, and feta. It's perfectly refreshing, easy to make, and delicious when paired with your favorite lamb burger.
Get Ree's Greek Salad recipe.
Arugula and Three-Pea Salad
Fresh arugula acts as the base for this flavorful salad. It's peppery, tender, and perfect when paired with seasonal peas.
Get Ree's Arugula and Three-Pea Salad recipe.
Ginger Shrimp Salad
Marinate your shrimp in a mixture of garlic, ginger, brown sugar, and soy sauce for a delicious mix-in to this simple green salad.
Get Ree's Ginger Shrimp Salad recipe.
Antipasti Chopped Salad
Whether you're making a light and summery pasta or grilling up pizzas, you can't go wrong with this Italian-inspired chopped salad on the side.
Get Ree's Antipasti Chopped Salad recipe.
Chipotle Caesar Salad with Grilled Salmon
The trick to this refreshing salad is using the adobo sauce from a can of chipotles in both the salad dressing and the marinade for the fish. It'll turn a simple salad into something bold and flavorful.
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