As the days get longer, our summer salad standards only get higher. We want juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, sweet corn, ripe stone fruit, and bold dressings built for hot weather and even hotter grills. These easy summer salad recipes make the most of peak-season produce, whether you’re headed to a backyard cookout, packing a picnic, or trying to assemble lunch without turning on the oven.
This collection includes everything from classic Caprese salad and creamy coleslaw to grilled corn salads, fruit-packed combinations with watermelon and nectarines, hearty potato salads (and pasta salads too), and refreshing dinner salads topped with salmon or halloumi. Some are crisp and cooling, others rich and satisfying, but every one belongs in your warm-weather rotation. Whether you need salad ideas for summer weeknights, a backyard barbecue side dish, or a make-ahead picnic, you’ll find plenty of fresh inspiration here.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime
Tomato Caesar
Thick slices of peak-season tomatoes replace romaine in this bold, Caesar-inspired summer salad recipe, finished with anchovies, Parmesan, garlic, and crunchy toasted breadcrumbs.
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Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams
Crunchy and Bright Greek Salad
This combo of juicy, ripe tomatoes, briny Kalamata olives, creamy feta cheese (in slabs, not crumbles), crisp cucumber, and more gets a simple dressing of oregano, red wine vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil.
