Summer Salad Recipes

We’re currently in the middle of summer and it’s hot-hot outside! But that also means it’s one of the absolute best times to make cool, fresh & easy summer salad recipes. We’ve got the perfect lineup for you including summer pasta salads, easy summer green salads, summer salads with sweet corn, refreshing cucumber salads, and quick & easy summer salad recipes – all are perfect to help you beat the summer heat!

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Summer Pasta Salad Recipes

1. Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad

This light and fresh Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad is perfect for summer BBQs and potlucks, or your weekly meal prep.

4.77 from 39 votes

$8.76 recipe / $1.10 serving Get the Recipe

We love salad recipes over here at Budget Bytes and especially pasta salads! This Summer Vegetable Pasta Salad is a reader favorite…and for good reason! It includes a medley of colorful vegetables, an easy homemade vinaigrette, and it’s easy to customize based on what you have on hand. You really can’t go wrong with this pasta salad so definitely save this one for later!

2. Tortellini Salad

Tortellini Salad

This fresh, vibrant, and utterly delicious Tortellini Salad feeds a crowd on a dime. The best part: you can put it together in minutes!

4.86 from 14 votes

$15.57 recipe / $1.30 serving Get the Recipe

What’s better than traditional pasta salad??…one with stuffed Tortellini pasta of course! Our Tortellini Salad includes cheese tortellini mixed with summer vegetables, herbs, greens, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing.

3. Broccoli Pasta Salad With Tomato Vinaigrette

Broccoli Pasta Salad with Tomato Vinaigrette

This Broccoli Pasta Salad features a tangy homemade vinaigrette, nutty sunflower seeds, and creamy-salty feta.

4.70 from 20 votes

$4.67 recipe / $1.17 serving Get the Recipe

For all you broccoli lovers out there, this Broccoli Pasta Salad is just for you! It features our tangy homemade tomato vinaigrette and has the perfect flavor-texture combination.

4. BLT Pasta Salad

BLT Pasta Salad

Close up side view of a bowl of BLT pasta.

This BLT pasta salad recipe is the perfect summer meal! It's easy to make, full of flavor, and perfect for a potluck or picnic.

4.75 from 16 votes

$7.39 recipe / $0.92 serving Get the Recipe

If you love classic, juicy BLT sandwiches, then you’ll also love this creamy, BLT Pasta Salad recipe! It’s one of our newest salads to hit the scene and it’s perfect for summer BBQs, picnics and potlucks.

Summer Green Salad Recipes

5. Panzanella

Panzanella

This scrumptious Panzanella salad is a quick and delicious way to use up day-old bread, ripe tomatoes, and other summer produce. For the ultimate convenience, you can even prep the ingredients ahead of time.

$13.54 recipe / $2.26 serving Get the Recipe

Have fun making this simple Panzanella salad with some day-old bread, your favorite summer fruits and veggies and our easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette.

6. Big Kale Pasta Salad

BIG Kale Pasta Salad

Overhead view of the serving bowl full of kale pasta salad.

This Big Kale Pasta Salad is the perfect fast and filling summer lunch, packed with flavors, textures, and colors. Great for meal prep!

4.90 from 19 votes

$7.88 recipe / $1.31 serving Get the Recipe

This Big Kale Pasta Salad hits all the bases with massaged kale, chickpeas for extra bulk, grape tomatoes for freshness, red onions and of course parmesan cheese!

7. Spinach And Orzo Salad With Balsamic Vinaigrette

Spinach and Orzo Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

A quick homemade balsamic vinaigrette makes this simple Spinach and Orzo Salad extra special. Serve as a light lunch or a side with dinner.

4.77 from 26 votes

$5.50 recipe / $1.38 serving Get the Recipe

Spinach and Orzo Salad is another super simple salad that’s packed with flavor. It includes sun-dried tomatoes, creamy-salty feta cheese, and a quick homemade balsamic vinaigrette dressing.

Summer Salad REcipes With Corn

8. Summer Sweet Corn Salad

Summer Sweet Corn Salad

Colorful summer vegetables, creamy avocado, pasta shells, and a homemade lemon vinaigrette make this light and fresh Summer Sweet Corn Salad.

4.80 from 20 votes

$7.67 recipe / $0.96 serving Get the Recipe

A light, fresh and colorful Summer Sweet Corn Salad is absolutely perfect to enjoy during the hot weather months. This is another one that’s great for cookouts and family gatherings.

9. Charred Corn And Zucchini Salad

Charred Corn and Zucchini Salad

This Charred Corn and Zucchini Salad perfectly captures the flavor of summer with fresh sweet corn, salty feta, and a smoky grill-like flavor.

4.94 from 16 votes

$3.92 recipe / $0.98 serving Get the Recipe

Enjoy the best parts of summer with this Charred Corn and Zucchini Salad. So simple and extremely delicious!

10. Warm Corn And Avocado Salad

Warm Corn and Avocado Salad

Warm Corn and Avocado Salad makes the perfect light and fresh side dish for enchiladas, grilled meats, tacos, or any summer meal.

4.85 from 19 votes

$3.15 recipe / $0.79 serving Get the Recipe

This light and fresh Warm Corn and Avocado Salad has cumin, cilantro and lime mixed in and goes perfectly with enchiladas, cilantro lime rice, or even on top of homemade tacos.

Cucumber Salad Recipes

11. Super Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad

Super Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad

Super Fresh Salad is a cold, crunchy, juicy mix of flavorful vegetables topped with a simple red wine and oregano vinaigrette. BudgetBytes.com

Super Fresh Cucumber Salad is a cold, crunchy, juicy mix of flavorful vegetables topped with a simple red wine and oregano vinaigrette.

4.93 from 40 votes

$7.30 recipe / $1.22 serving Get the Recipe

I absolutely love a good cucumber salad! Even better if its packed with delicious flavor like this Super Fresh Cucumber Tomato Salad. With feta cheese added in and a homemade red wine vinaigrette, it’s an absolute must-have to enjoy all summer long.

12. Lemony Cucumber CousCous Salad

Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad

Lemony Cucumber Couscous Salad is a light, fresh, and vibrant pasta salad perfect for any summer meal.

4.84 from 60 votes

$6.46 recipe / $1.08 serving Get the Recipe

Lemony Cucumber CousCous Salad is a simple, delicious summer salad made with just a few easy ingredients like fresh lemon and english cucumber and it stays good in the fridge for days!

13. Cucumber and Black Bean Salad

Cucumber and Black Bean Salad

This light and fresh cucumber and black bean salad is the perfect summer side dish. It is refrigerator stable so make it once and snack on it all week!

5 from 20 votes

$3.20 recipe / $0.80 serving Get the Recipe

This Cucumber and Black Bean Salad incorporates earthy black beans balanced with fresh cucumbers. This is also a flexible salad and easy to add other vegetables you might have on hand including corn, avocado, diced bell peppers and tomato.

14. Sesame Cucumber Salad

Sesame Cucumber Salad

Sesame Cucumber Salad is light, refreshing, and vibrant in flavor. It's the perfect summer side dish or companion to any Southeast Asian inspired meal.

4.88 from 100 votes

$2.44 recipe / $0.41 serving Get the Recipe

We absolutely love serving this Sesame Cucumber Salad with our favorite Asian-inspired recipes. It’s simple, refreshing and an easy addition to your summer recipes.

Easy Summer Salad Recipes

15. Creamy Cucumber Salad

Creamy Cucumber Salad

This simple Creamy Cucumber Salad is the quintessential side dish of summer. It's light, fresh, and so quick to prepare!

4.84 from 37 votes

$2.31 recipe / $0.58 serving Get the Recipe

If it’s hot, and I mean really hot, in your neck of the woods, then you’ll love cooling down with this Creamy Cucumber Salad. It’s a Budget Bytes favorite and perfect for the summer.

16. Avocado And Tomato Salad

Avocado and Tomato Salad

This simple avocado and tomato salad is a chunky mix of all of summer's fresh flavors, like tomato, avocado, lime, and cilantro.

4.17 from 6 votes

$6.13 recipe / $1.02 serving Get the Recipe

When you’re craving guacamole, but want to keep things super simple and budget-friendly, this Avocado and Tomato Salad is perfect to make!

17. Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad

Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad

Light, bright, and full of spring flavors, this Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad will keep you full all afternoon. Serve as a sandwich, wrap, or salad!

4.82 from 53 votes

$2.46 recipe / $1.23 serving Get the Recipe

This creamy and delicious Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad includes a mayo-free dressing and can be served as a salad, stuffed into a pita, or piled between two slices of hearty bread.

18. Classic Three Bean Salad

Classic Three Bean Salad

Overhead view of a bowl of three bean salad

Simple ingredients come together in this Classic Three Bean Salad to make a simple summer side dish, perfect for BBQs and potlucks!

4.70 from 13 votes

$2.79 recipe / $0.56 serving Get the Recipe

We’re finishing our list of the best summer salad recipes with one of our favorites – this super easy Classic Three Bean Salad! It has minimal ingredients, a tangy-sweet dressing, and the perfect summer salad for all of your BBQs, potlucks or busy weeknight meals.

19. Jello Salad

Jello Salad

Jello salad is a sweet, creamy, popular dessert that’s easy to make and always a crowd favorite for potlucks, picnics, and holidays!

5 from 3 votes

$7.87 recipe / $1.12 serving Get the Recipe

Well hello, my favorite dessert from childhood! Jello Salad is a classic potluck dessert that’s always fun to share at family gatherings. It’s simple, sweet, and definitely a crowd favorite ;)