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Don’t miss these easy summer salad recipes, perfect for relaxed lunches al fresco and lighter dinners on warm evenings. A fresh summer salad alongside a chilled glass of wine is the perfect antidote to an appetite that has disappeared with the heat.
A bit of preparation in the early morning when temperatures are lower can make a huge difference. I keep cooked chicken breast in the fridge, ready to pop into a salad later in the day. Most salads can be put together a few hours – or even the night before in some cases – before serving and kept in the fridge, ready to be dressed and served later.
Hearty appetites will appreciate some crudités or fresh bread or rolls served alongside, but these salads will stand alone if you prefer.
Tips for Better Salads
Chicken or seafood salads made with creamy dressings often benefit from a few hours resting in the fridge before serving to let the flavours mellow.
Prepare in advance for easier summer salad recipes. For example, marinate and cook a few chicken breasts at a time to keep on hand in the fridge. Boil potatoes, pasta or rice in advance. Cool quickly and store in the fridge. Wash and dry lettuces to keep on hand in the fridge and pre-chop and slice salad vegetables.
If you can eat nuts, they make a great alternative to croutons . Or make your own croutons with past its best bread, preferably sourdough or whole wheat varieties.
Always add dressing to lettuce salads just before serving. If you are serving lettuce alongside a salad made with a mayonnaise, always assemble the salad at the last minute to keep the lettuces crisp.
Consider serving a mixed salad plate for dinner, combining small servings of your favourite summer salad recipes for variety and flavour.
My Favourite Summer Salad Recipes
These are some of my favourite summer salad recipes, tried and tested recipes I have been making for years.
This light and delicious Coronation Chicken Salad recipe is gently spiced with curry powder and sweetened with fresh and dried fruit. It’s a more substantial salad, perfect for hearty appetites. It also makes a fabulous sandwich filling.
My Mom’s Potato Salad is a real family favourite. This make ahead salad is a great way to use up leftover potatoes. This is one of the summer salad recipes I also serve as a side at barbecues and picnics.
Vintage Waldorf Salad makes a wonderful lunch or dinner. Make it with chicken for a hearty yet elegant salad or leave the chicken out for a vegan variation.
Crunchy veggies, canned tuna and pasta combine in this easy Tuna Pasta Salad recipe. It’s perfect for summer barbecues, or pot luck dinners all year round.
When it comes to summer salad recipes, they don’t get much easier than this. Strawberries add a fresh twist to this easy Strawberry and Walnut Salad recipe, which can be made with or without chicken.
And last but by no means least, my late Mom’s Homemade Coleslaw recipe makes a wonderful side salad. It’s also perfect for topping baked potatoes or sandwiches.
Even here in California, the early mornings are starting to feel fresher. These look wonderful, especially the chicken and mango….
Thank you, Pauline. It really is becoming autumnal here too, although we are getting more sunshine than usual which is lovely.
Oh my! Not only do all your salad choices look delicious, but your description of enjoying a salad outdoors (chilled wine and all) is all the incentive I need to put a dinner salad on the menu for this coming week. 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration! ~Lisa 🙂
Thank you, Lisa! I always find salads so much more relaxing to prepare, but they are every bit as satisfying as something more complicated. Hope you enjoy them! x
What a super delicious salad round-up! Thanks for sharing at Simple Supper Tuesday. Have a great week April!
My pleasure, Cindy. Thank you for the feature 🙂
I love the picture you paint of salads on summer evenings. Beautiful! And a fantastic group of salads too. Lots of variety and beautiful colors.
Thank you for stopping in and linking this week!
Thank you, Michelle, and thank you for featuring this post at See Ya in the Gumbo 🙂
These salads all look so delicious! I pinned so I can make each one! Thanks for sharing! <3
Thank you so much – and thank you for pinning too 🙂
Great collection of salad ideas!!!
I am always looking for good Summer recipes, especially salads! I will definitely be trying some of these out. Pinned.
Nice blog to follow while preparing recipes.Thank you so much for sharing with us.
Thank you 🙂
These all look scrumptious! I think I’ll start by trying the tuna pasta salad. It’s one of my favorites.
Thank you, Donna!
What a great collection of Summer Salad Recipes! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,547. Hope you are having a great summer and come back to see us soon!
Miz Helen
These all look yummy!