Quick & Delicious Summer Salad Recipes

Berry Delicious Summer Salad

Sweet, juicy blueberries are the stars of this quick-toss salad, but it’s equally good (and even more colorful) served with a mix of summer berries. Creamy gorgonzola cheese and walnuts complement the perfect mix of leafy greens. Pair with grilled beef, pork, or chicken for a simple but elegant menu that’s easy enough to serve anytime.

Recipe: Berry Delicious Summer Salad

Cha-Cha Chicken Salad

Shaped in a cake pan and trimmed with a festive border of fresh herbs and berries, Cha-Cha Chicken Salad doubles as a quick and easy centerpiece for summer entertaining. Serve it as a luncheon entrée or as an appetizer with assorted crackers and sliced breads.

Recipe: Cha-Cha Chicken Salad

William Dickey/ Styling Rose Nguyen/ Food Styling Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Potato Cobb Salad

Instead of being tossed together in a bowl, the ingredients for this colorful side salad are arranged on a platter. The potatoes can be cooked and marinated overnight – ready to assemble just before serving.

Recipe: Potato Cobb Salad

Lemon-Basil Shrimp Salad

Fresh basil and lemon zest add a summery twist to our favorite marinated shrimp. Easy-to-make Parmesan cheese baskets double as crisp and stylish serving dishes.

Recipe: Lemon-Basil Shrimp Salad

Jennifer Davick; Styling Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling Angela Sellers

Mustard Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

These festive party pick-ups get a quick start with refrigerated cheese tortellini. If you’re short on time, simply toss the ingredients together in a pretty bowl and set out some forks.

Recipe: Mustard Dill Tortellini Salad Skewers

Grilled Peach and Mozzarella Salad

Fresh peaches replace tomatoes in this Southern twist on Insalata Caprese. A drizzle of cilantro vinaigrette spiked with tequila adds the finishing touch.

Recipe: Grilled Peach and Mozzarella Salad

Green Bean, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Broccoli salad fans will love the mix of green beans and grapes in this colorful new pasta salad. It’s not a combination you see often, but one that’s a sure-fire crowd pleaser. Cook the pasta al dente, so it’s firm enough to hold its own when tossed with the tangy-sweet salad dressing.

Recipe: Green Bean, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Fresh Pesto Pasta Salad

Toss chopped fresh basil, toasted pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese with still-warm pasta shells and a flavorful garlic vinaigrette – and you’ve got the perfect side dish for a summer sandwich.

Recipe: Fresh Pesto Pasta Salad

Spinach and Strawberry Salad

A homemade Sesame-Poppy Seed Dressing makes this simple-to-fix salad really special. You can prepare the dressing, spinach, and vegetable toppings up to a day ahead – then just cover and chill.

Recipe: Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Chilled Vegetable Salad

A favorite at backyard cookouts, this colorful confetti of crisp and tender vegetables is marinated in a sweet and tangy homemade dressing.

Recipe: Chilled Vegetable Salad

Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Salad

A make-ahead recipe for great chicken salad is like money in the bank when it comes to easy entertaining – and this is one the best. A wreath of pencil-thin green beans creates a simple but striking garnish.

Recipe: Lemon-Tarragon Chicken Salad

Spinach-Chopped Grape Salad

Chopped salads are all the rage. The fact that this irresistible combo is super healthy and light is just an added bonus. Turn it into an entrée by topping with grilled flank steak or steamed shrimp.

Recipe: Spinach-Chopped Grape Salad

Sliced Tomatoes With Fresh Peach-Basil Vinaigrette

It’s a simple but unexpected combination of flavors – and absolutely delicious. You’ll taste how special it is with the very first bite.

Recipe: Fresh Peach-Basil Vinaigrette

Sugar Snap – Snow Pea Salad

Light and brightly flavored with fresh ginger, this Asian-inspired medley of fresh and frozen peas takes just minutes to toss together.

Recipe: Sugar Snap – Snow Pea Salad

Layered Cornbread and Turkey Salad

Served in glass Mason jars, this all-in-one salad is perfect picnic fare. Look for Mason jars in the canning section of supermarkets and discount stores, or order online from www.canningpantry.com.

Recipe: Layered Cornbread and Turkey Salad

Watermelon, Mache, and Pecan Salad Recipe

William Dickey/ Styling Rose Nguyen/ Food Styling Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

Spiked with the sweet-sharp heat of a pepper-jelly vinaigrette, ice-cold cubes of watermelon team up with buttery crumbles of Gorgonzola cheese and toasted pecans. Mâche is a tender, heirloom variety of lamb’s lettuce, but the salad is equally good prepared with a mix of baby lettuces.

Recipe: Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

Jennifer Davick; Styling Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling Angela Sellers

Cranberry-Nectarine Salad

Tossed with blue cheese, walnuts, and toasted ramen noodles this crisp green salad is the perfect partner for anything grilled.

Recipe: Cranberry-Nectarine Salad

Peanutty Coleslaw

Lightly dressed with the salty snap of roasted peanuts, fresh ginger, and wasabi paste, this crisp coleslaw stands out from the crowd.

Recipe: Peanutty Coleslaw

Honey-Chicken Salad, Shrimp Salad, and Tomato & Cucumber Salad

Entertaining is easy with this elegant trio of simple-to-fix party salads. Make-ahead tart shells dress up individual servings of Honey-Chicken Salad. Use refrigerated piecrusts, or take a super-shortcut and bake off a package of frozen tart shells.

Recipes:
Honey-Chicken Salad
Shrimp Salad
Tomato and Cucumber Salad

Photo: Lauren Rubinstein

Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

This rainbow of summer fruit makes an elegant presentation and a refreshing side for a luncheon, brunch, or dinner. Layer and chill the salad up to eight hours in advance.

Recipe: Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

Photo: Lauren Rubinstein

Strawberry Fields Salad

Ripe orange nectarines add a colorful layer of flavor to this refreshing salad. Layers of greens, strawberries, feta cheese, green tomato, fresh basil, and glazed pecans make for an unbeatable summer salad.

Recipes: Strawberry Fields Salad

Photo: Ralph Anderson; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Summer Tortellini Salad

Cheese-filled tortellini pasta is complemented by salty green and black olives and crunchy red bell peppers and onions. A tangy vinegar-based dressing is loaded with herbes de Provence to coat all of the ingredients with a variety of aromatic flavors.

Recipe: Summer Tortellini Salad

Citrus-Walnut Salad

Grapefruit adds sweet-tart flair to this salad of Belgian endive. Flavorful Cumin-Dijon Vinaigrette finishes off the fruity, nutty salad.

Recipe: Citrus-Walnut Salad

Strawberry-Chicken Salad

A festive basket made from refrigerated breadstick dough turns this simple-to-fix salad into a showstopping centerpiece.

Recipe: Strawberry-Chicken Salad

Ralph Anderson, William Dickey / styling Buffy Hargett, Rose Nguyen / food styling Vanessa McNeil

Bacon Potato Salad

Bring a heaping bowl of comfort to your warm-weather table with this terrific potato salad recipe. Though your family favorite may be the traditional mayonnaise-and-sweet pickle variety, try one of this recipe for a fresh twist. Jazz up your presentation by serving this salad in paprika-rimmed glasses. (Simply dip the rims in lemon or lime juice, then into paprika.)

Recipe: Bacon Potato Salad

Photo: Charles Walton IV

Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad

Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad is a combination of flavors and textures that complement each other perfectly.

Recipe: Chicken-and-Strawberry Salad

Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

Red and green grapes make the perfect sweet addition to this chicken salad. If you aren’t a fan of nuts, substitute celery for the pecans to ensure a crunchy bite.

Recipe: Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Stylist: Rose Nguyen

Party Chicken Salad

This simple yet elegant salad makes for a beautiful presentation when served in individual glasses atop of beds of fresh baby lettuces. Add basil, peach slices, and plump blackberries to complement this savory salad with a hint of sweetness.

Recipe: Party Chicken Salad

Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

This salad includes just about everything but the kitchen sink, but feel free to add any extra vegetables or herbs of your choice. Artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, smoked mozzarella chunks, and chopped green chiles create a great mix of flavors while pine nuts add a finishing crunch. The rotini pasta is perfect for holding the dressing, but substitute the pasta of your choice if desired.

Recipe: Smoked Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Tina Cornett, Charles Walton IV / Styling: Cindy Manning Barr / Food styling: Vanessa McNeil

Watermelon-Prosciutto Salad

Watermelon-Prosciutto Salad, drizzled with a super-simple homemade vinaigrette, becomes a light summer meal when paired with your favorite appetizer.

Recipe: Watermelon-Prosciutto Salad

White Bean-and-Tuna Salad

Try a refreshing spin on tuna salad with cannellini beans, lemon juice, oregano, parsley, and green onions. Serve over lettuce with crusty bread and fresh fruit for a home picnic meal.

Recipe: White Bean-and-Tuna Salad

Chicken-Horseradish Salad

Add some heat to the chicken with prepared horseradish. Horseradish is a pungent herb that is hot to the taste buds but is not spicy like jalapeños. Add more or less of the sauce depending on your preference.

Recipe: Chicken-Horseradish Salad

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Lemon-Garlic Potato Salad

A mixture of Yukon gold potatoes and sweet potatoes provides a refreshing twist on potato salad. A lemon-garlic vinaigrette, chopped pecans, and fresh basil finish off the salad. Choose small to medium-size potatoes of similar diameter for this colorful recipe.

Recipe: Lemon-Garlic Potato Salad

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Apple-Pear Salad With Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing

Even salads get dressed for Easter. Try this version with a Zesty Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing to start the meal.

Recipe: Apple-Pear Salad With Lemon-Poppy Seed Dressing

Beth Dreiling Hontzs / Styling: Missie Neville Crawford / Food Styling: Vanessa McNeil Rocchio

Herbed Potato Salad

This updated Southern classic is made with a creamy herb mixture that has fewer fat grams but still all the flavor of the heavier traditional recipes.

Recipe: Herbed Potato Salad