These Summer Salads Are Fresh, Healthy, and Full of Good-For-You Ingredients
Craving a light, healthy, and easy-to-make meal? There's nothing as refreshing as a summer salad to curb your cravings. These colorful dishes are complete with the season's best offerings including bright berries, good-for-you greens, and so many more fresh ingredients. They're perfect when you want to add a healthy spin to your backyard cookout menu, and they make for easy meals when you can't get food on the table fast enough. With ingredients you probably already have in the kitchen, these salads can be made by even the most inexperienced chef, and they contain some of summer's freshest finds. Read ahead for the best summer salad recipes, and enjoy all the flavors of the season in one hearty forkful!
— Additional reporting by Brittany Natale
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Rainbow Quinoa Salad With Honey-Citrus Vinaigrette
Colorful, healthy, and packed with flavor, this rainbow salad will make anyone fall in love with just one bite. Did we mention how good the honey-citrus vinaigrette is?
Get the recipe: rainbow quinoa salad with honey-citrus vinaigrette
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Shrimp Salad With Jicama, Strawberries, and Avocado
Juicy shrimp and sweet strawberries marry together to make this mouthwatering salad. Top it off with sliced nuts or even a hint of basil.
Get the recipe:shrimp salad with jicama, strawberries, and avocado
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Grilled Chicken and Corn Salad
The perfect barbecue side, this grilled chicken and corn salad will make hot dogs take the back seat. Top it off with crumbled feta, if you so please.
Get the recipe:grilled chicken and corn salad
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Caprese Salad
A summertime staple, it doesn't get much better than caprese salad. Add a rich balsamic glaze to top it off.
Get the recipe:caprese salad
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3-Bean Salad With Wild Rice
Kidney, garbanzo, and black beans team up to make this salad as protein-packed as they come. With wild rice and fresh veggies, this will be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the recipe:three-bean salad with wild rice
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Tomato Salad With Chickpeas, Avocado, and Cucumber
Red and yellow cherry tomatoes are the star of this healthy salad. Cucumbers, avocados, and chickpeas work together to give this as much flavor as you could wish for.
Get the recipe:tomato salad with chickpeas, avocado, and cucumber
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Roasted Cherry Tomato, Arugula, and Sorghum Salad
Bursting with flavor, the roasted cherry tomatoes that top this healthy salad give it that drool-worthy flavor you've been looking for. Add nuts of your choice to really make this salad shine.
Get the recipe:roasted cherry tomato, arugula, and sorghum salad
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Spring Carrot, Radish, and Quinoa Salad With Herbed Avocado Mash
Veggie-lovers, rejoice! This jam-packed bowl has all the flavors, colors, and ingredients you could dream of. Add extra quinoa to make your meal more hearty.
Get the recipe:spring carrot, radish, and quinoa salad with herbed avocado mash
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Greek Chickpea, Cucumber, Tomato, and Farro Salad
This ravishing salad is about as gorgeous as they come. With light cucumbers, hearty chickpeas, and juicy tomatoes, you'll want to eat this for every meal of the day.
Get the recipe:Greek chickpea, cucumber, tomato, and farro salad
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Crispy Chickpea and Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad
This recipe inspired by Katie Lee features hearty tabbouleh served on a bed of good-for-you greens. Crispy chickpeas add a crunch, leaving you practically begging for more.
Get the recipe:crispy chickpea and quinoa tabbouleh salad
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Cucumber Tomato Avocado Salad
Watch out! The best summer veggies of all teamed up to make this colorful and healthy salad. With crumbled feta cheese and chopped cilantro, you'll be scraping your bowl for more.
Get the recipe:cucumber tomato avocado salad
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Grilled Corn and Barley Salad With Blueberries and Goat Cheese
With a nod to one of summer's favorite ingredients, this grilled corn salad is even better than it looks. Dig in!
Get the recipe:grilled corn and barley salad with blueberries and goat cheese
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Jicama and Pineapple Spinach Salad
Take your salad to the next level when you incorporate fresh pineapple into the mix. Juicy and oh so sweet, this fruit will make your salad shine.
Get the recipe:jicama and pineapple spinach salad
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Summer Fruit Salad With Mint and Almonds
You'll get fork-fulls of fresh fruit, glorious mint, and crunchy nuts when you bite into this dreamy summer salad. Pair it with a glass of ice-cold sweet tea for best results.
Get the recipe:summer fruit salad with mint and almonds
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Vegan Farro Salad With Citrus Vinaigrette
Looking for a salad that won't bore your taste buds? This vegan farro salad is just what you need. The citrus vinaigrette will take your taste buds to places they've never been before.
Get the recipe:vegan farro salad with citrus vinaigrette
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Arugula Salad With Grapes, Farro, and Black Pepper Vinaigrette
Imagine: juicy grapes, tangy arugula, and a black pepper vinaigrette with a bite. Top it off with grilled chicken if you're looking to add extra protein.
Get the recipe:arugula salad with grapes, farro, and black pepper vinaigrette
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Mexican Grilled Street Corn Quinoa Salad
Having a barbecue? Not without this salad, you aren't! With lime juice, cilantro, and chili powder, it's the side dish of everyone's dreams.
Get the recipe:Mexican grilled street corn quinoa salad
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Zucchini, Mint, and Millet Salad With Cilantro Dressing
If you've never topped a salad with mint, you're missing out! This fresh herb adds the extra flavor you need, meaning you won't be able to get enough.
Get the recipe:zucchini, mint, and millet salad with cilantro dressing
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Chopped Brussels Sprouts, Kale, and Chard Salad
If Brussels sprouts are on your list of favorite veggies, you need to make this salad ASAP! It features candied pancetta, pears, and blue cheese, so you already know it's going to be a hit.
Get the recipe:chopped Brussels sprouts, kale, and chard salad with candied pancetta, pears, and blue cheese
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Tropical Quinoa Salad
Take your taste buds to the tropics when you whip up this delightful salad. It has a lovely coconut-lime dressing that will make you forget about every other kind.
Get the recipe:tropical quinoa salad with jicama and coconut-lime dressing
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Southeast Asian Tomato Salad
Light, easy, and to the point, this Asian salad can be whipped up in minutes. The secret ingredient is dark brown sugar, and wow, it makes it good.
Get the recipe: Southeast Asian tomato and cucumber salad
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Shredded Brussels Sprouts, Kale, and Kumquat Salad
The summer season calls for kumquats and this recipe is chock-full of them! Brussels sprouts and kale make this salad healthy and filling, too.
Get the recipe:shredded Brussels sprouts and kale salad with mustard vinaigrette and kumquats
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Arugula, Dried Cherry, and Wild Rice Salad With Lemony Dressing
The tangy arugula mixed with the sweet dried cherries makes this salad a treat for your taste buds. The lemon dressing really gives it a kick!
Get the recipe:arugula, dried cherry, and wild rice salad with lemony dressing
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Apple, Cabbage, and Walnut Salad
Easy and simple, this apple, cabbage, and walnut salad has some serious flavors that will excite your taste buds. Feel free to add sliced almonds or pecans, too.
Get the recipe:apple, cabbage, and walnut salad
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Savory Mango, Cucumber, and Watermelon Salad
The summer salad of all summer salads, this mango, cucumber, and watermelon dish pairs well with a sunny afternoon and a tall glass of lemonade. Serve it cold for best results.
Get the recipe:savory mango, cucumber, and watermelon salad
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Watermelon Caprese Salad
Add a summertime twist to your caprese salad when you pair it with watermelon. The juicy melon adds the perfect kick to the caprese.
Get the recipe:watermelon caprese salad
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Black Bean Quinoa Salad With Orange Vinaigrette
The ideal summertime dinner side, this black bean salad is filling, hearty, and oh so good. Topped with an orange vinaigrette, it's got just the kick you need.
Get the recipe:black bean quinoa salad with orange vinaigrette
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Kale, Quinoa, and Blueberry Salad
Why blueberries aren't featured in more salads is beyond us. This rich salad is seriously good for you, and you have more than just the blueberries to thank for that.
Get the recipe:kale, quinoa, and blueberry salad
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Green Goddess Quinoa Summer Salad
This delicious salad features a homemade green goddess dressing, and talk about healthy. See how many veggies you can top it off with. The more the merrier!
Get the recipe:green goddess quinoa summer salad
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Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad
Traditional caprese calls for tomatoes, but switch things up with juicy strawberries if you're feeling adventurous.
Get the recipe:strawberry caprese pasta salad
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Cucumber Corn Salad
For a lighter lunch, you could eat this black bean and corn salad as is or eat it with a pita, tortilla chips, or extra protein.
Get the recipe:cucumber corn salad
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Avocado and Bell Pepper Salad
This avocado and bell pepper salad is a fresh and crunchy side to have on hand for every barbecue. It's also incredibly easy to put together — red and green bell peppers are cut up using a spiralizer, making preparation a breeze!
Get the recipe:avocado and bell pepper salad
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Quinoa, Black Bean, Corn, and Tomato Salad
You can treat this as a standalone lunch or use it as the base for DIY burrito bowls. The choice is yours!
Get the recipe:quinoa, black bean, and corn salad
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Corn, Tomato, and Avocado Pasta Salad
Need something both healthy and filling? Throw together this pasta salad, which features a hint of cheddar cheese to give it an extra kick.
Get the recipe:corn, tomato, and avocado pasta salad
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Avocado, Blue Cheese, and Strawberry Salad
The unexpected flavors found in this good-for-you salad come together to create a delicious dish. Serve it with a dressing made of balsamic vinegar, oil, and a touch of orange juice.
Get the recipe:avocado, blue cheese, and strawberry salad
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Avocado Egg Salad
More unique than traditional avocado salads, this avocado egg salad can be served as is or piled high on a piece of sourdough bread. Serve with a side of grilled vegetables for a tasty vegetarian spread.
Get the recipe:avocado egg salad
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Summer Tomato Salad with Avocado and Pecans
Both crunchy and creamy, this summer salad will wow everyone you serve. Bursting with flavor and an array of herbs such as basil, parsley, and thyme, this creative salad will definitely be a memorable one.
Get the recipe:summer tomato salad with avocado and pecans
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Avocado Shrimp Salad
Mashed avocado, chilled cooked shrimp, and zesty lemon take center stage in this fresh salad. More hearty than other salads, this one will help you cool down on a hot day.
Get the recipe:avocado shrimp salad
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Strawberry Avocado Pasta Salad
This strawberry avocado pasta salad is an inventive take on the traditional pasta salad that's usually served at summer barbecues. A balance of avocado, feta, strawberries, and poppy seed dressing create a light dish that will have you coming back for seconds.
Get the recipe:strawberry avocado pasta salad
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