Cool Salads for Hot Summer Nights

RX_1706_Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli_Cool Salads

Hector Manuel Sanchez

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.

Start Slideshow

1 of 34

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.

2 of 34

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.

3 of 34

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.

4 of 34

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.

5 of 34

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.

6 of 34

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.

7 of 34

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.

8 of 34

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.

9 of 34

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.

10 of 34

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.

11 of 34

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.

12 of 34

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.

13 of 34

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.

14 of 34

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.

15 of 34

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!).

16 of 34

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.

17 of 34

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.

18 of 34

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.

19 of 34

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.

20 of 34

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.

21 of 34

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.

22 of 34

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.

23 of 34

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.

24 of 34

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.

25 of 34

Shrimp-and-Pasta Salad

Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Shrimp-and-Pasta Salad

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

26 of 34

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.

27 of 34

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.

28 of 34

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.

29 of 34

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.

30 of 34

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.

31 of 34

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.

32 of 34

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.

33 of 34

Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli

Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli

This is a salad that can serve as a main, no problem. Toss all of the ingredients together for a hearty dish that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Replay gallery

Account

More

Cool Salads for Hot Summer Nights

1 of 34

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

2 of 34

Crab Salad with Peaches and Avocados

3 of 34

Strawberry Chicken Salad

4 of 34

Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

5 of 34

Chopped Salad with Steak

6 of 34

Herbed Cucumber-and-Tomato Salad

7 of 34

Tomato-and-Fruit Salad

8 of 34

Marinated Shrimp Salad with Avocado

9 of 34

BLT Salad

10 of 34

Avocado Fruit Salad

11 of 34

Chicken and White Bean Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette

12 of 34

Georgia Shrimp and Radish Salad

13 of 34

Spinach Salad with Honey Dressing and Honeyed Pecans

14 of 34

Strawberry-Tomato Salad

15 of 34

Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

16 of 34

Field Pea and Pasta Salad

17 of 34

Melon and Crispy Prosciutto Salad

18 of 34

Mixed Fruit Chicken Salad

19 of 34

Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad

20 of 34

Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

21 of 34

Melon-and-Mozzarella Salad

22 of 34

Watermelon, Mâche, and Pecan Salad

23 of 34

Cranberry-Nectarine Salad

24 of 34

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

25 of 34

Shrimp-and-Pasta Salad

26 of 34

Berry Delicious Summer Salad

27 of 34

Shrimp and Pesto-Rice Salad

28 of 34

Watermelon "Steak" Salad

29 of 34

Strawberry Fields Salad

30 of 34

Green Machine Salad

31 of 34

Tipsy Red-and-Yellow Watermelon Salad

32 of 34

Sugar Snap-Snow Pea Salad

33 of 34

Dixie Chicken Salad with Grapes, Honey, Almonds, and Broccoli

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery