40+ Spring & Summer Salad Recipe Ideas
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.
This collection of 40+ dietitian-designed spring and summer salad recipe ideas will show you that eating salad doesn’t have to be boring! These recipes use simple, healthy, and seasonal ingredients that are easy to prepare while packing in a ton of flavour. You’ll find everything from refreshing side salads for a crowd or BBQ, main dish salads for lunch or dinner, as well as plenty of pasta salads.
It’s probably no surprise to hear that as a registered dietitian I’m a big fan of salads! With that said, I am a HUGE proponent of making sure that salads are delicious, refreshing, and actually satisfying. There’s no bland bowls of lettuce around here – I promise 🙂
As soon as the weather gets warmer, I often find myself craving super refreshing salads filled with plenty of seasonal produce like strawberries, corn, cucumbers, romaine lettuce, and fresh herbs like basil. Each of these salad recipes truly celebrates the best of spring and summer produce. I’d love to know if you try any!
In this post, you’ll find 40+ spring and summer salad recipe ideas from the blog! Keep scrolling or click on the following sections to go straight to them:
- refreshing side salads (for a bbq, picnic, or alongside your main meal)
- main dish salads (for lunch or dinner)
- healthy pasta salads
No More Boring Salads Ebook
Want these salad recipes all in one convenient, downloadable place? Check out my 134-page eCookbook of 60 easy, delicious, and nutritious salad recipes. You’ll get instant access from your phone, tablet, or computer – ad-free!
Refreshing Side Salads
In this section you’ll find refreshing summer side salads that are perfect to bring with you to a BBQ, picnic, or to serve alongside your meals at home. If you’re planning to serve a lot of people, feel free to increase the recipes as needed!
1) Summer Salad With Corn, Strawberries & Avocado
If summer was a flavour, it would taste like this! This salad is loaded with fresh, seasonal fruits and veggies. It's super refreshing and perfect for your next summer BBQ or picnic.
Get the recipe
2) Cantaloupe Melon Salad With Cucumber & Feta
This cantaloupe melon salad is made with refreshing ingredients like cucumber, fresh mint, lime, and feta cheese. It's a super simple summer side salad idea that's both sweet and savoury. This recipe is easy, healthy, and gluten-free!
Get the recipe
3) Grilled Nectarine Salad With Burrata
This grilled nectarine salad is made with burrata, heirloom tomatoes, arugula, basil, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It's so easy to make and bursting with fresh summer flavours! Recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian, and meant to be enjoyed as a side salad.
Get the recipe
4) Grilled Kale Salad
This healthy grilled kale salad is paired with avocado, lemon, garlic, pecans, and parmesan. It's one of the best ways to eat kale!
Get the recipe
5) Halloumi Salad With Couscous
This halloumi salad recipe is made with fried halloumi cheese, couscous, tons of veggies, and a delicious balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It's a quick and easy salad idea that can be enjoyed as a side dish or as a yummy lunch! For a gluten-free version, simply swap couscous with quinoa.
Get the recipe
6) Shaved Raw Zucchini Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette
This easy raw zucchini salad recipe combines shaved ribboned zucchini with Italian-inspired flavours like parmesan, olives, basil, and an easy lemon vinaigrette dressing. Ready within 25 minutes, it's super refreshing, flavourful, and meant to be enjoyed as a cold vegetable side dish.
Get the recipe
7) Strawberry, Tomato & Avocado Salad
This strawberry, tomato & avocado salad is bursting with flavour and nutrition. Make it in minutes and bring to your next summer BBQ or picnic!
Get the recipe
8) Smoked Salmon Avoado Potato Salad
This smoked salmon salad is made with avocado, potatoes, cucumber, arugula, fresh dill, goat cheese, and a simple lemon dijon dressing! It's so easy to make and is perfect for an appetizer or side salad. Recipe is nutritious, gluten-free, and can easily be made dairy-free!
Get the recipe
9) Simple Tomato Bread Salad
This vegan Panzanella-inspired tomato bread salad recipe is so quick and easy to make! All you need are 6 simple ingredients, like fresh basil, shallots, and sourdough bread. It's SO fresh, flavourful, and sure to be a crowd favourite!
Get the recipe
10) Watermelon, Feta & Arugula Salad
A refreshing summer salad, ready in 15 minutes — yes please! This lightly dressed watermelon feta salad recipe with fresh mint and arugula is easy, healthy and quick to make. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s a wonderfully simple summer salad. Add fresh blueberries for an extra burst of flavour!
Get the recipe
11) Roasted Pepper Salad With Farro & Goat Cheese
This easy roasted pepper salad recipe is made with farro, goat cheese, arugula, basil, and a simple white wine + lemon vinaigrette dressing. It can be enjoyed warm or cold, and served as either an entree style salad or as a side dish.
Get the recipe
12) Balsamic Roasted Beet Salad
This roasted beet salad with goat cheese and walnuts is simple, healthy, and lightly tossed in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It's the perfect salad or vegetable side dish!
Get the recipe
13) Cold Asparagus Salad
This cold asparagus salad recipe is made with potatoes, avocado, parmesan, and a simple lemon vinaigrette dressing. It's such an easy, nutritious salad perfect for spring and summer!
Get the recipe
14) Strawberry Quinoa Salad With Feta
This Strawberry Quinoa Salad is made with feta cheese, cucumbers, tomatoes, parsley, and mint. It's refreshing, nutritious, and incredibly easy to make! Gluten-free, with dairy-free/vegan option.
Get the recipe
15) Grilled Watermelon Salad With Balsamic
This grilled watermelon salad recipe is made with simple ingredients like strawberries, avocado, feta, basil, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It's easy, refreshing, and absolutely delicious! Recipe is gluten-free, vegetarian, and meant to be enjoyed as a side salad.
Get the recipe
16) Spinach Goat Cheese Salad With Potatoes
Crunchy vegetables like radish and cucumber are paired with creamy goat cheese and roasted potatoes to create this refreshing and nutritious spinach salad. Finished with a homemade lemon vinaigrette dressing, this salad is perfect for warm spring and summer nights!
Get the recipe
17) Carrot Cucumber Celery Salad
This raw cucumber carrot celery salad recipe is crunchy, refreshing, and delicious! It's made with simple ingredients like fresh dill, parsley, mint and a lemon vinaigrette dressing. Recipe is easy, healthy, vegan, gluten-free and makes a perfect side salad!
Get the recipe
18) Healthy Canned Salmon Potato Salad
Looking for an easy side dish to bring to your next party or get together? This mayo-free, healthy canned salmon potato salad with arugula, dill & chives is for you!
Get the recipe
19) Mango Avocado Salad With Shrimp
This mango avocado salad recipe is made with shrimp and a spicy lime dressing! It's quick, unique, and delicious. Option to leave out shrimp for a vegetarian version.
Get the recipe
20) Spinach Blueberry Salad
This healthy spinach blueberry salad recipe is made with goat cheese, walnuts, avocado, mint, and a simple balsamic vinaigrette dressing. It's super quick to make, packed with flavour and nutrition!
Get the recipe
21) Simple Watercress Salad
This watercress salad recipe is a nutrition powerhouse! Made with green apple, cucumber, almonds, pecorino, and a lemon vinaigrette dressing, this side salad is light, crisp, and refreshing. Ready in just 20 minutes!
Get the recipe
22) Peach Feta Salad With Tomatoes
This quick + simple peach feta salad recipe is made with cherry tomatoes, shallots, fresh basil, and mint. The flavours are a perfect marriage of sweet, juicy, salty, and acidic – every bite tastes just like summer!
Get the recipe
23) Strawberry Walnut Salad With Goat Cheese
This 20-minute strawberry salad is made with walnuts, goat cheese, basil, and a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. Sweet, savoury, and refreshing!
Get the recipe
Main Dish Salads (Lunch or Dinner)
In this section you’ll find plenty of main dish spring and summer salads that are perfect for lunch or dinner. These recipes are filling and nutritionally balanced, complete with sources of protein, complex carbs, healthy fats, and (of course) fiber-rich veggies. They’re awesome for a packed work lunch or a refreshing dinner!
24) Broccoli, Cauliflower & Salmon Salad With Curry Tahini
This roasted broccoli, cauliflower, and salmon salad is made with arugula, quinoa, dried cherries, and a creamy curry tahini dressing. It's an easy, healthy, and balanced meal that packs in a ton of nutrition, like fiber and protein. Recipe is gluten-free and dairy-free.
Get the recipe
25) Crispy Tofu Salad With Miso Tahini Dressing
Filled with crunchy veggies and crispy tofu, this healthy salad is satisfying, delicious, and packed with nutrients. With a creamy and rich miso sesame tahini dressing, this recipe is vegan and gluten-free. This salad is meant to be eaten cold and enjoyed as a complete meal!
Get the recipe
26) Shrimp Taco Salad Bowl
This taco salad recipe is such an easy and quick-to-make shrimp dinner idea. It combines sautéed shrimp and nutritious cooked quinoa with healthy salad ingredients, such as crunchy romaine lettuce and chopped bell peppers. A terrific 35-minute meal!
Get the recipe
27) Quinoa Edamame Salad
This quinoa edamame salad recipe is made with colourful, crunchy vegetables like cucumber, celery, carrots, and purple cabbage. Tossed in an Asian-inspired miso sesame ginger dressing, this salad recipe is so flavourful and PACKED with plant-based protein!
Get the recipe
28) Crunchy Romaine Salad With Za’atar Dressing
This Crunchy Romaine Lettuce Salad is packed with chopped raw vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and radishes. Toasted almonds and sunflower seeds add an extra crunch, while fresh mint, parsley, and a za’atar dressing add that punch of Mediterranean flavour. It’s simple, healthy, and delicious!
Get the recipe
29) Cold Soba Noodle Salad
This nutritious soba noodle recipe is made with a delicious tamari lime dressing. Vegan, gluten-free, and ready in 30 minutes!
Get the recipe
30) Cucumber Avocado Salad With Quinoa
This Easy Cucumber Avocado Salad is made with nutritious ingredients like quinoa, sauerkraut, nutritional yeast, hemp seeds, lemon, and fresh herbs. It's healthy, refreshing, and can be enjoyed as a complete meal or side salad! Gluten-free with vegan option available.
Get the recipe
31) Costco Copycat Dill Pickle Salad
You're going to love this healthy, homemade Costco copycat dill pickle salad! It's easy to make and paired with a greek yogurt-based dressing and hard-boiled eggs for protein.
Get the recipe
32) Salmon Couscous Salad Bowl
This salmon couscous salad bowl serves crispy, spiced salmon over a refreshing couscous salad made with cucumber, mint, and feta. Filled with Mediterranean flavours, this salmon bowl is easy, refreshing, and incredibly nutritious!
Get the recipe
33) Tuna Cucumber Salad With Avocado
This tuna cucumber salad with avocado is one of my go-to meals when I'm craving something light. It's super hydrating, quick to make, and packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats!
Get the recipe
34) Hummus Salad
This Mediterranean-inspired green salad is tossed in a deliciously tangy and creamy hummus salad dressing! Using store-bought hummus, the dressing comes together in minutes and can be used in a variety of ways. Serve it with the included salad recipe or over pita wraps, grain bowls, and more.
Get the recipe
Summer Pasta Salads
Pasta salads are the ultimate summer dish! These salads would work great for a main dish or to bring with you to a summer party. Feel free to switch up the pasta shapes to any smaller pasta. You can swap them with gluten-free pastas if needed, or even increase the protein content by using a legume-based pasta!
35) Lemon Orzo Salad
This lemon orzo salad is served with feta, zucchini, and shrimp. Light, delicious, and easy – enjoy it as a cold summer pasta salad!
Get the recipe
36) Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad With Shrimp
This roasted veggie pasta salad is packed with balanced nutrition and tons of antioxidants! Perfect to make for an easy weeknight dinner, packed lunch, or to bring to your next summer BBQ.
Get the recipe
37) Bruschetta Pasta Salad
This cold bruschetta pasta salad is made with juicy cherry tomatoes, minced garlic, and fresh basil. Homemade sourdough breadcrumbs add the perfect crunch + bruschetta-inspired flavour! This recipe is seriously SO delicious – it's great for a dinner party, barbecue, or packed lunch.
Get the recipe
38) Simple Caprese Pasta Salad
Bursting with flavour, this caprese pasta salad recipe is easy to make, or make-ahead. It's perfect for a BBQ, picnic, or packed lunch idea. Balsamic vinaigrette and pesto dressing options included!
Get the recipe
39) No-Mayo Tuna Pasta Salad
This Tuna Pasta Salad Recipe is easy, fast, and healthy. Made without mayo and ready in 20-minutes! Perfect for a make-ahead meal. Recipe is dairy-free and can be gluten-free if using gluten-free pasta.
Get the recipe
40) Tuna Pasta Salad With Pesto
This Tuna Pasta Salad With Pesto is an easy, healthy make-ahead lunch idea. It's made with protein-packed canned tuna and a dairy-free hemp seed pesto. Simple, delicious, and ready in 30 minutes!
Get the recipe
41) Canned Mackerel Pasta Salad
This Canned Mackerel Pasta Salad is an excellent source of omega-3s, protein, and tons of veggies. Super delicious, ready in 30 mins, and great for meal prep or a packed lunch!
Get the recipe
42) Couscous Salad With Roasted Corn, Tomatoes & Shrimp
This easy and healthy couscous salad is made with baked shrimp, pearl couscous, roasted corn, tomatoes, feta, basil, and arugula. It’s a tossed dinner salad that can be enjoyed warm as a main meal, or as a cold packed lunch. Or, bring it with you to serve at a BBQ, picnic, or potluck party!
Get the recipe
And there you have it – 40+ Easy, Healthy Spring & Summer Salad Recipes to cook and enjoy. I so hope you found some inspiration from this list!
More Recipe Round-Ups To Explore
- 9 Easy, Healthy Breakfast Smoothie Recipes
- 10 Simple, Healthy Salmon Recipes
- 15+ Easy, Healthy Shrimp Recipes
- 20+ Easy, Healthy Pasta Recipes
- 20+ Easy, Healthy Vegetable Side Dish Recipes
- 15+ Easy, Healthy Egg Recipe Ideas
- 30 Healthy Plant-Based Breakfast Ideas
If you make any of these recipes, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!
Get the Recipe: 40+ Spring & Summer Salad Recipes, Including Strawberry, Tomato & Avocado Salad
This strawberry, tomato & avocado salad is bursting with flavour and nutrition. Make it in minutes and bring to your next summer BBQ or picnic! Plus more spring and summer salad recipe ideas.
Ingredients
- Approx. 25 grape or cherry tomatoes, vine-ripened if possible (about 285 grams)
- 1 lb fresh strawberries (1 container)
- 1 large avocado, ripe
- 1/2 cup fresh basil (loosely packed)
- 1/2 cup fresh mint (loosely packed)
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds
Salad dressing:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 Tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder (or 1-2 cloves garlic)
- 1 tsp liquid honey
- Salt + pepper to taste
Instructions
- Wash and dry strawberries, tomatoes, and fresh herbs.
- Remove stems from strawberries, and slice into quarters. Slice tomatoes into halves. Place into a large bowl.
- Shred mint and basil, add to large bowl.
- Add all dressing ingredients to a small glass jar or container with a lid, shake well. Adjust seasonings to taste.
- Pour dressing over salad ingredients. Slice avocado and add to salad along with hemp seeds. Toss all ingredients well.
- Serve immediately or keep in the fridge. Best served cold!
Notes
*If you can, I would strongly suggest getting VINE-RIPENED tomatoes…it makes all the difference in flavour, I promise!
*If making salad in advance, I would suggest adding the avocado just before serving to prevent browning.
*Number of servings will vary depending on how hungry you are. Recipe can easily be increased!
Nutrition
As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.
Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.
Did you make this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!
You'll Also Love
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.
