Cool, Crisp, and Gone—Summer Salads That Actually Hit
When the days get longer and the temperatures rise, there’s nothing better than a crisp, colorful salad to keep things light and delicious. Bursting with seasonal produce, bold flavors, and vibrant textures, these 17 refreshing summer salads are perfect for picnics, cookouts, or easy weeknight meals. From juicy fruits to grilled veggies and zesty dressings, these recipes are sure to brighten your table and your taste buds all summer long.
BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT Pasta Salad is an easy, delicious side dish for summer picnics and cookouts on the patio or for a dish to pass at your next gathering. It can be finished in the time it takes to boil the pasta, and everyone will love it. Use fresh cherry tomatoes from your garden in this recipe.
Get the Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad.
Southwestern Salad
The Southwestern Salad, featuring garbanzos and a zesty chipotle, lime, and roasted garlic dressing, brings a touch of heat from the chipotle. Toss in plenty of fresh veggies, and you have a colorful, tasty salad perfect for summer! Get the recipe: Southwestern Salad.
Macaroni Salad with Tuna
This Macaroni Tuna Salad is a great recipe for potlucks. It only takes a few minutes to make, and is loaded with fresh herbs like chives, parsley, and dill. Garnish it with hard-boiled eggs, herbs, and edible flowers, like nasturtiums.
Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad with Tuna.
Classic Pea Salad Recipe
Pea Salad is such a classic summer salad! This Pea Salad Recipe is perfect to make when my Mom is coming because it is both gluten and dairy-free!
Get The Recipe: Classic Pea Salad Recipe.
Antipasto Chopped Salad
This Antipasto Chopped Salad is a fresh and healthy side dish that your whole famiy will love. Packed full of fresh vegetables and a tangy italian dressing, it’s always a favorite.
Get The Recipe: Antipasto Chopped Salad.
Cucumber Carrot Salad
This Cucumber Carrot Salad is a light and refreshing dish that is perfect for summer. It’s easy to make, full of fresh vegetables and bursting with flavor.
Get The Recipe: Cucumber Carrot Salad .
Chickpea And Avocado Salad
This Chickpea and Avocado Salad is light, refreshing, and super easy to make. It’s perfect for summer potlucks and cookouts.
Get The Recipe: Chickpea and Avocado Salad .
White Bean And Tuna Salad
This Tuscan white bean and tuna salad (fagioli e tonno) is really easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. The result is a a tasty mixture of flavors that works well as an antipasti, potluck side or simply a quick lunch.
Get The Recipe: Tuscan white bean and tuna salad – Caroline’s Cooking.
Strawberry Spinach Feta Salad
This simple strawberry spinach feta salad is a delicious combination that you can feel good about enjoying. It makes a colorful, flavorful and easy lunch.
Get The Recipe: Strawberry spinach feta salad – Caroline’s Cooking.
Quinoa Veggie Salad With Peanut Dressing
This quinoa veggie salad with peanut dressing is vibrant, crunchy, and bursting with bold flavor. Bright, colorful, and so delicious.
Get The Recipe: Quinoa Veggie Salad with Peanut Dressing.
Easy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe
My easy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad recipe is a cool, creamy, crunchy and delicious salad sensation! This broccoli cauliflower salad recipe is a welcome
Get The Recipe: Easy Delicious Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe.
Easy Tomato Salad Recipe
You’re gonna love my easy tomato salad! It’s all about letting the bright, juicy, and sweet flavor of tomatoes shine through and be the star of the dish.
Get The Recipe: Easy Tomato Salad Recipe.
Kimchi Salad
This Korean kimchi salad with tuna and a tangy Asian dressing is an easy, healthy and unique recipe, ready in about 10 minutes.
Get The Recipe: Kimchi Salad – In the Kitch.
Arugula Salad With Apples And Quinoa
This Arugula Salad with Apples and Quinoa features crisp apple chunks on a bed of arugula and quinoa, topped with cheddar cheese, red onion, candied
Get The Recipe: Arugula Salad with Apples and Quinoa.
Grandma Hunts Tomato Cucumber Onion Salad
Classic Cucumber Tomato Salad with a sweet and tangy dressing made with simple pantry ingredients. Super easy recipe made in under 10 minutes.
Get The Recipe: Cucumber Tomato Salad.
Salade Nicoise
This bright and varied salade Nicoise combines fresh vegetables, potatoes, beans and fish. A delicious combination as a light meal or appetizer.
Get The Recipe: Classic Salade Niçoise – Caroline’s Cooking.
Tuna Pasta Salad
Quick, creamy tuna and pasta salad – a high-protein meal packed with veggies. Perfect for meal prep, lunch, or dinner. Ready in just 30 minutes!
Get The Recipe: Tuna And Pasta Salad.
Easy Black Bean And Corn Mexican Salad Recipe
Discover a vibrant Black Bean and Corn Salad recipe. Fresh, zesty, and easy to make, this dish works well for any occasion.
Get The Recipe: Easy Black Bean And Corn Mexican Salad Recipe.
Zucchini Salad
This fresh zucchini salad recipe is light, crisp, and full of colorful veggies like cherry tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, and carrots. It’s a great way to use up summer zucchini and makes the perfect side
Get The Recipe: Zucchini Salad.
Easy Deviled Egg Macaroni Salad
Deviled egg macaroni salad is a simple side dish that is made with tender pasta, mayonnaise, hard boiled eggs, relish, and more.
Get The Recipe: Easy Deviled Egg Pasta Salad.
Kale White Bean Salad
This Kale White Bean Salad is a vibrant, flavorful, and a simple side dish to feed your family. The tender kale, hearty white beans, all coated in a lemon mustard vinaigrette.
Get The Recipe: Kale White Bean Salad .
The 12 Best 9×13 Cakes for When You Need Dessert Without the Fuss
A 9×13 cake is the perfect dessert for any occasion, offering a simple way to feed a crowd without the hassle. These cakes are easy to make and packed with flavor, making them a go-to for family gatherings, potlucks, or just because. With a variety of recipes to choose from, each one is designed to impress and satisfy every sweet craving. Get ready to enjoy the ultimate 9×13 cakes that are as delicious as they are simple.
Get the Recipes: 9×13 Cakes.
These Layer Cakes Taste Like Sunshine and Long Weekends
Layer cakes aren’t just dessert—they’re a full-blown event. Tall, dramatic, and packed with flavor, these cakes bring serious wow without needing bakery skills. Each slice shows off thick layers, rich fillings, and just the right amount of frosting. They’re the kind of cakes people can’t stop staring at, then ask for seconds before they finish their first bite. These recipes don’t play it safe, and that’s exactly why everyone’s obsessed.
Get the Recipes: Layer Cakes.
Dinner in 30 Minutes That Aren’t Chicken or Boring
When time is tight and you’re looking for something quick, these 30-minute meals are the answer. Packed with flavor and made without chicken, these recipes offer a delicious variety of options to keep your meals exciting. Perfect for busy nights, these dishes will have you fed in no time without sacrificing taste. Enjoy simple yet satisfying meals that everyone will love!
Get the Recipes: 30-Minute Dinners That Aren’t Chicken.
14 Spring-Flavored Desserts That Aren’t Carrot Cake
Carrot cake had its moment—but Easter desserts don’t have to stop there. This lineup brings color, crunch, chocolate, and a little drama to your spring spread. Think cool pies, fluffy bars, creamy layers, and treats that actually get people excited. These are the desserts that disappear fast, get talked about even faster, and don’t leave you stuck grating carrots.
Get the Recipes: Desserts Aren’t Carrot Cake.
