When the weather gets hot, a cold salad can do a lot more than sit on the side of the plate.
This roundup of summer salads for lunch and dinner has a little bit of everything, from light veggie bowls and fruit salads to heartier options with chicken, shrimp, steak, beans, quinoa, and pasta.
Some are quick enough for busy weekdays, some hold up well for meal prep, and some are the kind of chilled dishes you’ll want to pull from the fridge for an easy dinner.
You’ll find fresh flavors, crunchy textures, creamy dressings, bold Tex-Mex and Mediterranean-inspired picks, and plenty of salads that feel filling enough to count as the whole meal.
There are also a few simple side options that pair well with grilled foods, sandwiches, or summer cookout menus.
If you want lunches and dinners that feel cool, fresh, and a little lighter during warm weather, these summer salads are a good place to start.
BLT Pasta Salad
Healthy pasta recipes get a summer update with this BLT Pasta Salad, a chilled mix of macaroni, bacon, lettuce, tomatoes, and creamy tangy dressing.
It works for healthy lunch or dinner recipes when you want something cold, make-ahead friendly, and good for warm weather meals.
Creamy Broccoli and Feta Salad
Healthy salad recipes get a meal prep angle with this creamy broccoli and feta salad, where crisp broccoli, feta, and a tangy Greek yogurt dressing hold up well in the fridge.
It works for healthy lunch or lunches and dinners when you want something cold and make-ahead.
Southwest Black Bean and Avocado Salad
Southwest Black Bean and Avocado Salad keeps things cool with romaine, black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and a fresh lime dressing.
Healthy salad recipes like this are great for healthy lunch or lunches and dinners when you want something filling without turning on the stove.
High Protein Thai Steak Salad
Protein recipes get a fresh summer twist with this High Protein Thai Steak Salad, made with lean marinated steak, crisp greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, herbs, and a lime dressing with a little heat.
A strong pick for healthy lunch recipes or dinner recipes when you want something light that still feels
Zesty Lime Chicken Taco Salad
Zesty lime dressing gives this chicken taco salad a fresh, cooling feel for summer, with lettuce, chicken, black beans, corn, rice, tomatoes, and crunchy tortilla chips in every bite.
A smart pick for healthy lunch recipes or dinner recipes when you want something hearty without feeling too heavy.
Weight Watchers Zucchini Ribbon Salad
Zucchini ribbons, Parmesan, almonds, and a lemon-basil dressing keep this salad crisp and fresh for summer meals.
Healthy salad recipes like this one suit healthy lunch, healthy side dishes, or light dinners when you want something chilled from the fridge with a little crunch
Cajun Chicken Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette
Cajun Chicken Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette leans on bold seasoning, mixed greens, bell pepper, tomato, avocado, and a salsa-lime dressing for a lunch or dinner that stays fresh and filling.
Healthy lunch recipes and dinner recipes like this are handy when you need a 20-minute meal.
Tomato Salad with Grilled Italian Bread
Juicy tomatoes, red onion, basil, and grilled Italian bread give this salad a bruschetta-style feel that fits summer recipes without feeling too heavy.
Healthy lunch and dinner recipes like this also suit healthy side dishes when you want something fresh off the grill in just 19 minutes.
Mexican Black Bean Vegetable Salad
Weight Watchers Mexican Black Bean Vegetable Salad keeps lunch or dinner cool with black beans, corn, tomatoes, bell pepper, lettuce, cilantro, and lime.
Ready in 10 minutes, it leans pantry-friendly and filling, which makes it a handy pick for healthy lunch, healthy salad recipes, or summer recipes.
Classic Tossed Salad
Crisp romaine and red leaf lettuce, feta, olives, mushrooms, tomato, and toasted almonds give this tossed salad more texture than the usual side bowl.
Healthy salad recipes like this fit healthy lunch, healthy side dishes, or lunches and dinners when you want something fresh with a little crunch.
Tomato and Avocado Salad
Tomato and avocado carry this chilled summer salad, with red onion, black pepper, and balsamic vinaigrette keeping the ingredient list short.
A nice fit for healthy lunch, healthy side dishes, or lunches and dinners when you want a no-cook option that can chill in the fridge before serving.
Easy Avocado Salad
Chopped avocado, tomato, sweet onion, bell pepper, cilantro, and lime juice keep this salad bright and fresh without much prep.
Healthy lunch, healthy side dishes, and summer recipes all make sense here, especially when you want a 10-minute bowl that stays light but still feels satisfying.
Summer Fruit Salad
Summer recipes lean sweet and chilled with this fruit salad, layered with pineapple, strawberries, kiwi, bananas, oranges, grapes, and blueberries under a citrus-vanilla sauce.
A fresh choice for healthy side dishes, summer recipes, or lunches and dinners when you want something cold in the fridge for cookouts or warm afternoons.
Weight Watchers Bean Salad
Five kinds of beans give this chilled salad a sturdy, old-school picnic feel, with onion, green pepper, celery, and a sweet-tangy vinegar dressing soaking in as it rests.
Healthy side dishes, healthy lunch, and summer recipes all fit here, especially for make-ahead meals from the fridge.
Tomatoes Cucumber Dill Salad
Tomatoes, cucumbers, and red onion soak up a homemade dill dressing in this chilled salad that tastes even better after a short rest.
Healthy side dishes like this also suit healthy lunch or summer recipes when you want a fridge-friendly bowl to pack for work or set out with dinner.
Avocado Shrimp Salad
Shrimp makes this avocado salad feel more like a full meal, with tomatoes, onion, lime juice, and creamy avocado keeping it cool and fresh for summer.
Healthy lunch recipes, dinner recipes, and protein recipes all fit here, especially when you need something cold in 25 minutes.
Black Bean Salad
Black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, jalapeno, and cilantro give this Mexican-style salad a colorful, picnic-ready feel with hardly any cooking.
Healthy side dishes, summer recipes, and healthy lunch all fit here, especially when you need a 30-minute bowl that can chill until mealtime.
California Roll Salad
California Roll Salad turns sushi flavors into a cold, fork-friendly meal with crab, rice, cucumber, lettuce, avocado, and a wasabi-soy dressing.
Healthy lunch recipes, dinner recipes, and summer recipes all fit here, especially when you want something a little different from the usual picnic salads.
Spicy Quinoa Salad
Quinoa gives this summer salad a more substantial feel, with black beans, cherry tomatoes, green onions, cilantro, lime, cumin, and red pepper flakes in the mix.
Healthy lunch recipes, vegetarian recipes, and summer recipes all fit here, especially since you can serve it warm or cold.
Chilean Salad
Weight Watchers Chilean Salad keeps things stripped down in a good way, with tomatoes, sweet onion, lemon juice, olive oil, and coriander doing all the work.
Healthy side dishes, healthy lunch, and summer recipes all fit here when you want something fresh, fast, and straight from the bowl.
Healthy Greek Salad
Greek salad keeps summer meals crisp with tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, green bell pepper, kalamata olives, and feta in a lemon and olive oil dressing.
Healthy lunch recipes, healthy side dishes, and summer recipes all fit here when you want a cold bowl with barely any prep.
Easy Edamame Salad
Edamame, corn, red bell pepper, onion, herbs, and a lemon-Dijon dressing give this salad a bright, picnic-table feel with more staying power than a leafy bowl.
Healthy lunch recipes, vegetarian recipes, and summer recipes all make sense here, especially for a cold make-ahead lunch.
Mediterranean Lentil Salad
Lentils give this Mediterranean salad a heartier, make-ahead feel, with carrots, red onion, celery, parsley, thyme, garlic, and lemon in the mix.
Healthy lunch recipes, vegetarian recipes, and summer recipes all fit here, especially when you want a chilled salad with more substance than greens alone.
Chicken Taco Salad
Crispy baked tortilla wedges turn this chicken taco salad into more of a dinner bowl, with romaine, shredded chicken, tomatoes, cheese, and a creamy salsa dressing in every bite.
Healthy lunch recipes, dinner recipes, and protein recipes all make sense here for a 30-minute summer meal.
High Protein Tex-Mex Chicken Salad
Corn, black beans, bell peppers, scallions, cilantro, lime, and chicken make this Tex-Mex salad feel more like a full lunch than a side bowl.
Healthy lunch recipes, dinner recipes, and protein recipes all fit here, especially for meal prep since it comes together in 15 minutes.
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