Easy Cold Salad Recipes for Summer Dinners

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20 Best Salad Recipes That Are Sensational!

Let’s talk about the best cold salad recipes for summer that are sensational!!! Often, when we’re grilling or at cookouts with family and friends, salads are on the menu for several reasons. They lighten up the meal that’s often grilled/BBQ meat mains, PLUS they feed a crowd!

Let’s get going with the list, there’s no time to wait, summer is here!!

Shredded Carrot Raisin Pineapple Salad

If you are looking for a refreshing way to use up fresh carrots from the garden or on sale in your local produce section you will love this sweet flavorful salad that is easy to make and packed with flavor.

Shredded carrot pineapple salad in a white bowl.

Asian Cucumber and Carrot Salad

This salad has a hint of some of your favorite Asian flavors to help bring the carrots and cucumbers up a notch. If you like some sauce try adding a bit of homemade hot honey for an extra kick. Serve this chilled for a refreshing dish on a hot summer day.

Cucumbers, carrots, red onion and dressing in a white bowl with a fork in the bowl.

Corn Salad With Bacon

This corn salad is the perfect treat as corn goes on sale for next to nothing this time of year. Make the most of the sales and feed your family this classic corn salad with crispy chunks of bacon that is sure to please just about everyone.

A spoonful of corn salad with bacon in a glass bowl.

Shaved Carrot Salad with Sweet Orange Dressing

If you are looking for a crunchy and sweet salad to hit the spot on a sunny summer day you will love this shaved carrot salad. Put carrots, radishes, and celery from the garden to work in this easy-to-make flavorful dish.

Shaved carrot salad in a white bowl.

Cranberry Chicken Salad with Pecans

If you love chicken salad you will love this version with cranberries and pecans making the perfect summer lunch or snack.

Cranberries, chicken and other ingredients to make the salad, in a bowl.

Creamy cucumber tomato salad

Is your garden overflowing with fresh cucumbers and tomatoes? Put them to use in this simple creamy cucumber and tomato salad that brings back childhood memories of my grandmother and her love of adding cream or butter to just about anything.

Cucumber slices with tomato and red onion with parsley garnished on top.

Ambrosia salad

Looking for a sweet summertime treat to use the fruit you find on sale? This ambrosia salad will go well with nearly any fruit you have on hand and it makes the perfect easy dreamy summer treat.

Ambrosia salad in a glass bowl. A red cherry tops the salad.

Creamy Dill Pickle Salad with Pasta

I love creamy salads. This salad uses one of my favorite herbs to enjoy right out of the family garden. Dill. Many gardeners grow dill to help keep pests at bay and attract beneficial insects to the garden. This is a great way to use up that abundance.

Super yummy and delicious dill pickle veggie pasta salad! Bring this salad to any bbq or cookout, and you have a winner!

Beet Salad with Avocado and Feta Cheese

This is a perfect way to use up your summer beet crop and take advantage of the avocado sales with this flavorful salad perfectly complimented by fresh feta cheese.

Feta cheese sprinkled on top of cooked beets, avocado and cherry tomatoes in a shallow dish.

Chicken Caprese Pasta Salad

This pasta salad has the classic chicken caprese flavor which makes this pasta salad stand out from the crowd. This will be a hit as the pasta salad for your next cookout or potluck.

Caprese chicken salad in a lavender colored enamel bowl with a napkin next to it.

Mediterranean cucumber salad

This bright summery salad is the perfect Mediterranean addition to your summer table. The olives bring the flavor home for an amazing summer salad.

Ingredients like feta, cucumber, black olives and tomatoes in a white bowl. There is a serving spoon on the right side of the bowl.

Spicy southwest salad

Want to kick your summer menu up a notch? You will love this spicy southwest salad. Add just the spice to the perfect level for a southwestern or TexMex style salad that is sure to be a summer staple.

Ingredients like chicken, corn, black beans, red onions and tortilla strips arranged on a large white plate.

Incredibly Easy Pesto Pasta Salad

If you love pesto and have an abundance of basil you will love this pesto pasta salad that uses up plenty of fresh basil.

Bowtie pasta with tomatoes in a white bowl and a spoon on the left side.

BBQ Chicken Salad

This BBQ Chicken salad is a great option for you if you like the salad from Panara. This creator made their own BBQ ranch dressing but you can use any dressing you want.

All the ingredients for this bbq chicken salad in a white bowl. There is a spoon on the right side in the bowl and a blue and white napkin on the left.

Salmon Caesar Salad

If you love salmon you are sure to love this twist on the classic Caesar salad with fresh salmon instead of traditional chicken for a seaside summer flavor.

Salmon, croutons, and romaine are some of the ingredients in this salad in a white serving bowl. A spoon and a fork are at the top to serve the salad.

Smoked Mackerel Salad with Apple and Bacon

If you prefer mackerel over salmon you will absolutely love this mackerel salad that puts fish, bacon, and apples together for the perfect sweet salty, and slightly tart salad.

Smoked Mackerel salad in a black bowl with silverware on the left.

Kale Orange Cranberry Salad

If you like kale you will love this salad that balances out the flavor with fresh orange and dried cranberry.

Kale salad in a white bowl. There is serving utensils on either side with a white napkin on the left.

Persimmon Salad

Persimmons are one of those things we do not always know what to do with. This salad makes use of your fresh persimmons for the perfect sweet and savory summertime salad.

Persimmon salad ingredients in a serving dish. There is a utensil on the bottom right inside the dish.

Keep going, for more Sensational Best Summer Salad Recipes!!!

Easy Shrimp Avocado Salad with Tomatoes and Feta

This festive salad with shrimp, fresh avocado, juicy tomatoes, and rich feta cheese is sure to stand out on the dinner table.

Shrimp, avocado and other ingredients in a wood bowl.

Grilled Flank Steak Salad with Strawberries

This savory salad has a kick of sweetness to make the perfect combination for dinner.

Flank Steak Salad in a bowl on a red tablecloth.

Broccoli Slaw Salad

This simple cole slaw salad can be assembled in a jar for the perfect on-the-go summer lunch that lets you keep leftovers from going to waste.

Salad ingredients in a mason jar on the left of the image. Behind in the background is a bag of croccoli coleslaw. In the front is the salad with chicken on it.

Refreshing Watermelon Mint Feta Salad

This fresh salad turns watermelon a summer favorite into an unexpected surprise that is sure to hit the spot on a hot summer day.

20 twenty of the very best salad recipes for summer that are sensational! There's a salad recipe here for every palate!

Picnic Perfect Kale Quinoa Salad Cider Vinaigrette

This salad is the perfect option for grown-ups at the picnic. Packed with nutrient-rich kale, quinoa, and cider vinaigrette.

Kale and quinoa salad in a serving bowl.

I hope that with this awesome collection of the best summertime salads, you’ll find something that will be a sure winner for your family’s plates! And even if it’s not summertime, these incredibly tasty salad recipes will be perfect any time of the year!

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