Food and Recipes Dish Salad Cool Salads for Hot Summer Nights By Southern Living Editors Updated on November 2, 2022 Fact checked by Jillian Dara Fact checked by Jillian Dara Jillian is a freelance writer, editor and fact-checker with 10 years of editorial experience in the lifestyle genre. In addition to fact-checking for Southern Living, Jillian works on multiple verticals across Dotdash-Meredith, including TripSavvy, The Spruce, and Travel + Leisure. brand's fact checking process Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: 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 palate. 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. 01 of 21 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. 02 of 21 Crab Salad with Peaches and Avocados Photo: 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. 03 of 21 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. 04 of 21 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. 05 of 21 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. 06 of 21 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. 07 of 21 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. 08 of 21 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. 09 of 21 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. 10 of 21 Spinach Salad with Honey Dressing and Honeyed Pecans Photo: Hector 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. 11 of 21 Strawberry-Tomato Salad Hector 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. 12 of 21 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!). 13 of 21 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. 14 of 21 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. 15 of 21 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. 16 of 21 Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Snappy Pea-and-Herb Salad This fan-favorite recipe of snappy peas embellished with mint will turn any frown upside down. 17 of 21 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. 18 of 21 Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Jennifer Davick Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad Mix up this pasta salad, let it chill, and there you have it! You have a ready-made meal for dinnertime all summer long. 19 of 21 Watermelon "Steak" Salad Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Watermelon "Steak" Salad No cook, no problem! This hearty salad substitutes a slice of juicy watermelon for a slab of steak. 20 of 21 Strawberry Fields Salad Lauren Rubinstein Recipe: Strawberry Fields Salad It's going to be strawberry fields forever once you have a bite of this delicious salad. 21 of 21 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. Was this page helpful? 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