Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Popular Ingredients 12 Easy Summer Salad Recipes That Use The Season's Best Ingredients By Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple.com. Prior to joining Real Simple, she wrote and edited stories about food trends, plant-based food, nutrition, and new product releases for Food Network, LIVEKINDLY, and Eat This, Not That. She also launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. She is a graduate of New York University as a University Honors Scholar. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Betty Gold Betty Gold With more than a decade of experience writing and editing food and nutritional content, Betty Gold is the former senior digital food editor at Real Simple and acting senior food editor at Well+Good. Betty has also spent time working in product analysis at Good Housekeeping and in food production on The Martha Stewart Show. Highlights: * Bachelor of Science in Food Studies & Nutrition from New York University * Industry professional for 11 years * Served on mastheads at Food Network, Bon Appetit, and Good Housekeeping Magazines * Worked in publications department at James Beard Foundation Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 15, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: GREG DUPREE Grill fare is great and all, but sometimes the best part of a barbecue is the fresh-picked produce that made its way into the mountain of salad on your plate. After all, summer is high time for scouring the farmer's market for fresh fruits and vegetables. And asparagus, corn, tomatoes, and peppers at their peak don't need much more than a drizzle of dressing. This means you have lots more time to be doing the important things, like lounging poolside and figuring out what's for dessert. If you'd like to take your greens game up a notch and wow your guests with minimal effort—or just get the kids to eat some farm fresh veggies—these simple salad recipes will do the trick. We're got the classic crowd-pleasers, like nectarine and burrata salad, sweet-and-savory fruit options (watermelon!), plus other fresh takes and recipe upgrades. We Finally Found the Perfect Formula for a Super Satisfying Salad 01 of 14 Every-Citrus Salad With Almonds and Manchego Caitlin Bensel Though citrus season is typically a bit earlier in the year, most grocery stores carry oranges, grapefruits, and other citrus options all year round, and they still taste delicious. Use the juiciest citrus fruits you can get your hands on to make this fresh salad, which also includes radicchio, parsley, Manchego, and roasted almonds. You'll get an extra burst of citrus courtesy of an orange juice-based dressing, which also helps ensure that every bite is crunchy, salty, nutty, bright, sharp, and bitter. Enjoy this vibrant salad solo, or serve it alongside salmon or grilled chicken. get the recipe 02 of 14 Grilled Halloumi Salad Greg DuPree There are a few reasons why this delicious grilled halloumi cheese salad is going to become your summer dinner fave. First, it's easy to throw together after work, and still manages to be super filling. Second, it hits all the right flavor notes, from briny olives to spicy garlic and cool, crunchy cucumbers. But, the most important reason to make this salad is to eat grilled halloumi, a firm cheese that can stand the heat of a grill or grill pan. The taste is salty like feta, but you can cut into the planks of crispy, melty cheese with a knife and fork like you would tofu or a portobello mushroom. get the recipe 03 of 14 Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree Look no further: your go-to summer side dish for every potluck, barbecue, and picnic is here. If you've never eaten a raw squash salad before, you're in for a treat (and there's no need to cook a thing). Tossing the rounds with salt allows them to soften and absorb every bit of flavor. While the vinegar adds the right amount of acidity to pair well with almost any meat, but grilled steak, roasted chicken, or quick-sautéed shrimp are particularly perfect alongside. Topped with a chopped almond dressing, the result is light, flavorful, and perfect for a hot summer evening. get the recipe 04 of 14 Crunchy Chicken Salad With Oregano Vinaigrette Jennifer Causey What pairs perfectly with a crispy chicken cutlet? A fresh, green salad that's dressed in a lemony vinaigrette and showered with cheese. The vinaigrette in this simple recipe might just become a house favorite—the shallots become lightly pickled in the vinegar, and fresh oregano lends sophisticated flair to an everyday dressing. The salad can be adjusted based on the season—try tomatoes and arugula in the summer and roasted squash and kale in the fall. Bitter greens work particularly well, as they balance the rich, fried cutlet. get the recipe 05 of 14 Spring Green Salad with Avocado and Herbs Greg DuPree This simple salad recipe proves that a fresh-tasting hearty plate of greens and mix-ins can be part of a delicious dinner that the whole family will love. The base is romaine lettuce hearts—the crispiest of lettuces—with chopped cucumber, snap peas, and edamame mixed in. Add in chives and mint from the garden, plus pistachios for crunch and it's pretty much a perfect salad. The dressing's a creamy avocado and yogurt situation with a Caesar-esque twist. If anchovies freak your kiddos out, you can skip them and just season the dressing to taste with salt. get the recipe 06 of 14 Watermelon Salad With Pickled Rind Victor Protasio Watermelons are synonymous with summer and certainly don't need much help to shine. This recipe makes use of the whole fruit—pairing sweet watermelon slices with a rind that's been quick-pickled in a chili-spiked mixture. A whipped feta base, peppery arugula, and a confetti of chopped salted pistachios complete this sweet and savory dish that's bound to become a summer fave. get the recipe 07 of 14 Nicoise-Inspired Summer Salad Caitlin Bensel If you need a protein boost, give this healthy yet hearty salad a whirl. Smoked trout, chickpeas, and soft-boiled eggs are packed with the muscle-building nutrient, while blanched sugar snaps and cherry tomatoes add some sweetness. And don't forget the salty garlic and anchovy dressing, which ties everything together. get the recipe 08 of 14 Ginger-Lime Melon Salad Jennifer Causey Watermelon isn't the only melon that peaks in the summertime. Cantaloupe and honeydew come into their own, with their buttery textures and richly floral flavors, so take advantage of the spoils of melon season with a unique salad. Only a simple coating of lime zest and fresh ginger are needed to make the whole dish coherent. The fruits get to shine in this dish. get the recipe 09 of 14 Spicy Grilled Chicken With Shaved Zucchini Salad Jen Causey Are you searching for a recipe for a flavorful, healthy chicken dinner? Look no further than this simple, summery number. The Aleppo pepper-rubbed chicken packs just enough heat, and is paired with a lemony-marinated zucchini salad, all of which gets drizzled with a garlic and herb dressing. To make this recipe even more filling, add some grilled bread or pita. Shopping tip: If you can't find Aleppo pepper, which is imported from Syria, you can use regular chili flakes. get the recipe 10 of 14 Chicken Salad With Chard, Cabbage, and Pickled Onions Anna Williams Want a low-maintenance chicken salad minus the mayo? Simply use your broiler to make irresistibly crispy chicken thighs then pair them with quick-pickled onions, green cabbage, and raw chard leaves (think kale that's easier to chew). It's quick, it's easy, and best of all, it's delicious. get the recipe 11 of 14 Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad Greg DuPree Who doesn't love pasta salad? Salty olives and feta cheese combined with fresh tomatoes, chewy pasta, and tender cubes of roasted eggplant make this the perfect satisfying and healthy lunch or dinner. The longer it sits, the more the flavors meld together, so make extra and eat well all week long. get the recipe 12 of 14 Summer Shrimp Salad Philippa Brathwaite Against the heat and kick of jalapeños, watermelon stands sweet and firm. Against buttery avocado, the tart fruit breaks through. But altogether, these ingredients make for a truly special summer salad. What's more, this whole dish is ready in 30 minutes, so you can get a presentation-worthy dinner on the table for company in a blink when the need arises. get the recipe 13 of 14 Torn Pita and Eggplant Salad With Parsley and Green Tahini Jennifer Causey If you're a baba ghanoush fan, you'll love this summer salad, which is basically a deconstructed version of the popular dip. It's made with eggplant, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, and pita, and features a flavorful green tahini that can pull double duty as a dip for crudités or a roasted vegetable accompaniment. The best part about this simple salad is that it comes together in just 15 minutes. get the recipe 14 of 14 Nectarine-and-Burrata Salad GREG DUPREE Though there are minimal greens in this salad, we have a feeling that you won't miss 'em. That's because the sweet and savory combo of creamy burrata, tangy pickled onions, and juicy nectarines easily steal the show. And let's not forget the mint leaves and salty Marcona almonds, which balance the rich flavors. Serve this salad at your first BBQ of the summer and your guests will thank you! get the recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit