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Summer Salads You’ll Actually Crave

by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 06/19/26

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

by Lisa Longley

|

posted: 06/19/26

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

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If you invite me to your summer BBQ, I will inevitably bring a salad with me. There is nothing better at a summer gathering than a great spread full of delicious side dishes. And these are some of my very favorites. They start with fresh summer produce and come together with delicious dressings that will have you coming back for thirds.

overhead view of Mediterranean salad in a bowl in a wooden bowl

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Overhead view of bowl of Antipasto Salad

5 from 3 votes

Antipasto Salad

Antipasto Salad combines the best ingredients into a huge, delicious, mouthwatering salad. This is perfect to serve to guests or make into a weeknight meal.

overhead view of a watermelon salad with mint, cucumbers, red onions, and feta in a white bowl with silver serving spoon and fork

5 from 7 votes

Watermelon Salad

This Watermelon Salad makes the perfect easy summer side dish. With great fresh ingredients, this is exactly what you should bring to picnics and BBQs.

Bowl of Greek Salad with dressing, feta cheese, and seasonings.

Greek Salad

This simple chopped Greek Salad is bursting with freshness. It is made with just a handful of ingredients, but they pair together in the most magical way.

Bowl of German Potato Salad topped with fresh parsley

German Potato Salad

German Potato Salad is a classic side that you will absolutely love. The savory and sweet combine with the creamy potatoes and bacon dressing in the most beautiful way.

bowl full of cucumber tomato avocado salad

5 from 2 votes

Cucumber Avocado Salad

Cucumber Avocado Salad is the perfect easy and light side dish. Made with fresh ingredients and a simple dressing, this is a great dish to bring to outdoor picnics and gatherings.

Bowl of chick pea salad garnished with parsley. Drinks beside.

Chickpea Salad

This delicious chickpea salad comes together in a snap and makes a great light lunch, side dish for dinner, or dish to pass. You will love the delightful simplicity of this wonderful recipe.

fruit salad in a bowl that is topped with a mint leaf sprig

5 from 1 vote

Easy Fruit Salad

This delicious and easy Fruit Salad comes together with a really simple glaze and is perfect for potlucks and brunch gatherings.

Bowl of Cucumber Tomato Salad sitting on a cutting board. Fresh tomatoes sitting in background

5 from 9 votes

Cucumber Tomato Salad

This Cucumber Tomato Salad is the perfect easy summer side dish. It comes together with simple ingredients and a light dressing. This is delicious enough for entertaining but easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

bowl of homemade potato salad

5 from 3 votes

Potato Salad

Potato Salad is a go-to potluck dish for good reason and this recipe is the best. Made with really simple ingredients, you will absolutely love this fantastic dish to pass.

Overhead view of Broccoli Salad in a glass bowl with wooden spoon and grapes beside.

Broccoli Salad

Broccoli Salad is the perfect summer side dish. It is made with simple ingredients, comes together in a snap, and is absolutely delicious!

bowl of Greek Panzanella Salad with tomatoes and two drinking glasses sitting in background

Greek Panzanella Salad

This delicious Greek Panzanella Salad puts a Greek-inspired spin on a classic panzanella salad. It is comfort food and salad all at once in the perfect combination of flavors.

overhead bowl of coleslaw recipe in a big serving bowl

5 from 1 vote

Coleslaw Recipe

This Coleslaw is going to be your new go to. Not only is it easy to make, but it has that classic taste that is exactly what you want in a good coleslaw recipe.

overhead of a strawberry salad with sliced strawberries, mandarin oranges, bacon, and red onions

5 from 1 vote

Strawberry Salad

This Strawberry Salad is easy to throw together but packed with tons of amazing flavor! It's easy enough for a weeknight dinner but delicious enough to serve company!

overhead view of broccoli cauliflower salad in a clear serving bowl with extra bacon, cheese, sunflower seeds and red onions on top

5 from 25 votes

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad

Broccoli Cauliflower Salad is easy to throw together and so delicious. This is classic side dish recipe that is loved at family functions and picnics.

overhead of a bowl of italian potato salad in a serving bowl garnished with fresh parsley

5 from 14 votes

Italian Potato Salad

Italian Potato Salad is a family recipe I think you are going to fall in love with. Red potatoes combine with tomatoes, green peppers, red onions, and the simplest light dressing. It is easy to make and packed with flavor – perfect for family gatherings.

overhead view of Mediterranean salad in a bowl in a wooden bowl

5 from 26 votes

Mediterranean Salad

This Mediterranean Salad comes together with just a handful of ingredients for an easy chopped vegetable salad. This great salad recipe works as a side dish but also makes a great full meal.

close up of corn salad in a glass bowl with fresh cut cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, feta cheese, and fresh basil on top

5 from 51 votes

Corn Salad

This easy Corn Salad recipe comes together with just a few ingredients and is absolutely delicious. Your family will love this on the side of burgers and this is great to bring to picnics and BBQs!

Lisa is the founder of Simple Joy. Lisa, is a self taught cook and avid lover of all things food, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For the last 10 years Lisa has been reading cookbooks, experimenting in the kitchen, and learning everything she possibly can about cooking. The result has been the ability to create recipes, both classics and new twists, that readers fall in love with and make with ease. Lisa loves not only providing delicious and easy recipes, but also giving the why behind what we are doing in the kitchen. She gets such great joy in sharing my love for food.

Lisa has been featured in many media outlets. These outlets include Country Living, Real Simple, Today, Parade, Good Housekeeping, Buzzfeed, Delish, Elle, and many others.

Prior to becoming a food creator, Lisa was a social worker. She received her master’s in social work from the University of Milwaukee and worked in child welfare.

Lisa is the mom to four amazing kids: Gavin, Elliot, Quinn, and Piper. Gavin, Quinn, and Piper are happy, amazing kids she loves spending time with.

Her husband, Nathan, is her partner in life and in business. He is her rock in more ways than one and supports all of her crazy dreams.

Lisa and Nathan lost their second child, Elliot, when he was 8 days old. If you want to know more about Elliot, you can read it here. If you want to read more of Lisa’s experience of grief, you can read this post.

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