Cool Salads for Hot Summer Nights

Alison Miksch

Every Southern cook needs a recipe box full of no-fail summer salad recipes. Invest in the box to ensure that you’ll never be without a quick and refreshing recipe for a family-favorite salad. Sometimes you just can’t get behind the grill. Sometimes you just need a great salad. We’re with you. We have more than a few ideas for your summer salad-making exploits, and these recipes are guaranteed to please. These are easy salads with fresh flavors and crisp textures that you can whip up in a flash. They’ll feed a crowd, from meat-lovers to vegetarians and every appetite in between. Try our Avocado Fruit Salad for an utterly fresh take on a classic fruit salad. Mix up our fan-favorite Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad for a super easy dish that will please at dinner time, at a shower, or at a neighborhood potluck. From wedge salads and shrimp salads to pasta salads and fruit salads, there is truly a recipe here for every palette. These simple summer salads won’t let you down. They’re tried and true—and oh-so cool and refreshing. So keep scrolling, and find your new favorite salad recipe for every hot summer night this season.

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Spinach-and-Romaine Salad with Cucumbers, Radishes, and Creamy Mint Dressing

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Spinach-and-Romaine Salad with Cucumbers, Radishes, and Creamy Mint Dressing

We can’t think of a more refreshing combination than crisp cucumbers, crunchy radishes, and fresh mint.

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Crab Salad with Peaches and Avocados

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Crab Salad with Peaches and Avocados

This recipe is best served seaside, but close your eyes, take a bite, and you have the next best thing. This rich salad is the trifecta of cool, summery flavor. You’ll want to eat this crab, peach, and avocado salad every weekend.

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Strawberry Chicken Salad

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Strawberry Chicken Salad

Put a bowl of this salad in the middle of the table, and it will be gone in no time. The sweet strawberries and crunchy pecans are irresistible.

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Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Feed the whole family with this crowd-pleasing pasta salad—filled with squash, zucchini, and nectarines—that’s perfect for a sweltering summer night.

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Chopped Salad with Steak

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Chopped Salad with Steak

Chop your way to a family-favorite summer meal with this fantastic, steak-studded salad.

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Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad

This salad is an ideal complement to any summer meal. It’s utterly refreshing, and it pairs well with all flavor profiles.

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Tomato-and-Fruit Salad

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Tomato-and-Fruit Salad

Add your favorite fruits, and personalize this salad to your heart’s content.

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Marinated Shrimp Salad with Avocado

Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Marinated Shrimp Salad with Avocado

Marinate shrimp in a delectable citrus vinaigrette to jump-start your dinner prep. Cover and chill, and then break out the rest of your ingredients once dinnertime rolls around.

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BLT Salad

Alison Miksch

Recipe: BLT Salad

This BLT Salad can’t be beat. Toast your croutons ahead of time to make your prep even easier.

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Avocado Fruit Salad

Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Katherine Eckert

Recipe: Avocado Fruit Salad

Summer’s favorite fruit plays well with others. Combine creamy avocado with orange, grapefruit, cantaloupe, mint, and lime juice for a tropical blend that will have you dreaming of the coast.

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Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

When in doubt, add a splash of citrus vinaigrette. This salad is destined to be a new family favorite.

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Georgia Shrimp and Radish Salad

Helene Dujardin

Recipe: Georgia Shrimp and Radish Salad

The oft-neglected radish gets a boost when paired with juicy shrimp in this quick and easy, 20-minute salad.

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Spinach Salad with Honey Dressing and Honeyed Pecans

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Spinach Salad with Honey Dressing and Honeyed Pecans

Send spinach to the top of the most-requested list with the help of this delicious, fruit-filled summer salad recipe.

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Strawberry-Tomato Salad

Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Recipe: Strawberry-Tomato Salad

Strawberries and tomatoes. They’re delicious together. Trust us. This unlikely pair will become your new go-to summer salad duo.

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Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

Add all of your favorite spices and citrus slices into this bright salad recipe (kumquats, limes, and peppercorns included!).

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Greg DuPree

Recipe: Field Pea and Pasta Salad

Fresh summer veggies elevate this simple (but oh-so-flavorful) farfalle pasta salad.

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Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad

The crisp, juicy melon in this salad helps create a substantial, satisfying dish that’s just sweet enough.

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Mixed Fruit Chicken Salad

Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Mixed Fruit Chicken Salad

Take a classic chicken salad to the next level with the addition of juicy fruits and crunchy pecans.

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Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad

This fan-favorite recipe of snappy peas embellished with basil, mint, and parsley will turn any frown upside down.

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Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

Take advantage of fresh summer produce by mixing up this bright, juicy salad. The flavorful vinaigrette elevates mere vegetables to works of culinary art.

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Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

Lauren Rubinstein

Recipe: Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

Perfectly refreshing for a hot night, this salad is the hit of every summertime party.

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Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

William Dickey

Recipe: Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

Put your watermelon to good use in this incredible salad. It’s not just a cool salad for a hot, summer night. It’s a revelation.

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Cranberry-Nectarine Salad

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

Recipe: Cranberry-Nectarine Salad

You can thank crunchy ramen noodles, tangy cranberries, and sweet nectarines for the fantastic textures and flavors of this popular salad.

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad
Watch the Video

Mix up this pasta salad, let it chill, and there you have it! You have a ready-made meal for dinnertime all summer long.

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Shrimp-and-Pasta Salad

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Shrimp-and-Pasta Salad

This light salad won’t overwhelm you when the temps rise and rise.

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Berry Delicious Summer Salad

Southern Living

Recipe: Berry Delicious Summer Salad

Claim: You can never have too many berries. Evidence: This berry-packed summer salad. We made it with blueberries, but you can throw in all your favorite juicy, summery berries.

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Shrimp and Pesto-Rice Salad

Alison Miksch

Recipe: Shrimp and Pesto-Rice Salad

Make this salad ahead of time and serve it chilled for a refreshing summer take on a coastal favorite.

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Watermelon "Steak" Salad

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Watermelon "Steak" Salad
Watch the Video

No cook, no problem! This hearty salad substitutes a slice of juicy watermelon for a slab of steak.

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Strawberry Fields Salad

Lauren Rubinstein

Recipe: Strawberry Fields Salad
Watch the Video

It’s going to be strawberry fields forever once you have a bite of this delicious salad.

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Green Machine Salad

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipes: Green Machine Salad

If you want a salad with all of the flavor and none of the heavy lifting, try this light, tasty mix of apples, asparagus, green onions, and cabbage.

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Tipsy Red-and-Yellow Watermelon Salad

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Tipsy Red-and-Yellow Watermelon Salad

This cheery fruit salad mix is as delicious as it is summery and vibrant.

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Sugar Snap-Snow Pea Salad

Southern Living

Recipe: Sugar Snap-Snow Pea Salad

Get your greens—and then some—in this utterly crisp and refreshing, pea-filled salad.

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Cool Salads for Hot Summer Nights

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Spinach-and-Romaine Salad with Cucumbers, Radishes, and Creamy Mint Dressing

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Crab Salad with Peaches and Avocados

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Strawberry Chicken Salad

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Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

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Chopped Salad with Steak

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Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad

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Tomato-and-Fruit Salad

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Marinated Shrimp Salad with Avocado

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BLT Salad

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Avocado Fruit Salad

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Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

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Georgia Shrimp and Radish Salad

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Spinach Salad with Honey Dressing and Honeyed Pecans

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Strawberry-Tomato Salad

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Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

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Field Pea and Pasta Salad

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Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad

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Mixed Fruit Chicken Salad

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Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad

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Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

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Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

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Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

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Cranberry-Nectarine Salad

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Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

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Shrimp-and-Pasta Salad

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Berry Delicious Summer Salad