Hot summer days call for a cool meal. The summer months are the perfect time to dive into salads because they are refreshing and light as well as incredibly easy to put together. You can grab your favorite leafy greens, some olive oil and lemon juice for fresh flavor and throw together the ultimate summer salad. A simple salad is a delicious dish full of fresh vegetables. But if you want something a little bit more fun and full of protein, keep reading to see what my favorite summer salads are!
Watermelon Salad
Firstly, it’s summer and if there’s a perfect salad to begin with, it’ll be one that includes watermelon! This is one of those easy salad recipes because it requires very few ingredients, most of which you already have in the fridge! Watermelon, mint and feta are the main ingredients here to create one of the best, simple summer salads! Who knew feta and mint complimented each other so well for a light lunch?
Lobster Salad
Seafood fans, this one is for you! There’s something about being out east over the summer that makes me crave lobster. Local restaurants make amazing lobster salads, but it’s quite pricey to eat out every single day. The best way to enjoy a good salad is to have the perfect balance between healthy fats, protein and fresh greens. And if you make this one yourself, you can control how much dressing is on the lobster!
Avocado Caprese
We all know the traditional caprese salads. This one has a new addition to make is even better for a cool summer salad! Cherry tomatoes, mozarella and avocado come together to create a really creamy and fresh salad that I think is perfect for summer picnics! Fresh ingredients can make or break a salad and this caprese salad will be on repeat for you all summer long! It even makes a fabulous side dish.
Cucumber Radish Salad
If you want a really fresh summer salad, go light! Cucumber and radishes are pretty hydrating veggies themselves and topping it with a creamy dressing makes it absolutely delicious. Fresh dill in the summer is one of my favorite additions to recipes from my garden.
Mandarin Chicken Salad
A great way to add protein into a salad is with chicken! We like to enjoy this salad as an early dinner option in the backyard in the summertime. The dressing mixed with the orange slices is so tangy and in my opinion, it’s the best part!
Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad
Peaches are another fruit that scream summertime to me! If I’m given the choice of burrata cheese on a salad, I’m always going to add it! Shockingly peaches and burrata go well together. It’s the salty and sweet balance and the textures melt together. I would not meal prep this or your lettuce will go soggy, but you can keep it all separate and prepared to throw together!
Southwest Chicken Caesar Salad
This is a newer concept to me, but it’s something that I think my family will be obsessed with! It’s almost like a chicken burrito in a bowl– but caesar vibes, not southern! Chicken, corn, beans, tomatoes, avocado, cheese and your choice of greens are tossed together with a creamy caesar salad to finish it off! I recommend grilled corn, if you have time!
Taco Salad
If you want an easy dinner salad, we actually eat this one year round! We love tacos, but think it’s more fun to make all the ingredients in a bowl. Adding tortilla chips to dip into this salad make it even better!
Broccoli Salad
Fresh broccoli is something we all need a little more in our diets. This is a super cool salad to enjoy on a warm night that will actually fill you up. Salads sometimes can be full of ingredients that will bloat you or maybe have some not so great ingredients in the dressing. This one is not that! It will keep you full and you will feel your very best.
Mediterranean Pasta Salad
Mediterranean food is supposed to be some of the cleanest eating and I’d believe that. I love eating this way because I always feel great afterwards! There’s minimal to no bloating and I feel full while being energized. Olives, cucumbers and pasta meet feta and olive oil in this salad that is so easy to meal prep!
Blackberry Chévre Salad
Finally, let’s finish off with a posh salad! This is something I’d say to have on a day you feel like indulging a little or for brunch when friends come over. The goat cheese and blackberries compliment each other incredibly well while the honey mustard vinaigrette provides a tangy bite.
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