Easy summer salads that are kid-friendly and refreshing for a hot summer day!
25 of the best salad recipes for summer!
When the warm weather starts, it’s natural to crave fresh foods from the garden.
We grow a small garden every year, but we still visit the farmer’s market every Thursday to grab some local veggies.
When it’s hot outside there is nothing better than having a cool, refreshing salad for dinner or even as a side dish several days a week.
Summer salads are the best because they incorporate all those robust flavors of greens, berries, citrus, grilled meat, and fresh homemade salad dressing.
The awesome part about tossing all these fresh, ripe ingredients together is they require NO COOKING for moms!
Well, unless you add some grilled meat, but then you can always let dad be the grill master.
And let’s not forget, most of these healthy ingredients are cheaper in the summer.
Kid-Friendly Summer Salads
Keep in mind, that when adding berries or melon, you are instantly making a kid-friendly salad.
Thankfully, my kids love eating salads. Not to say it was always that easy.
They started out picking out all their favorite ingredients to eat and would usually leave the greens behind.
Throughout the years, they eventually found out that when it is all mixed together it tastes delicious.
The key to getting your kids to be salad-eaters is to let them add their favorite ingredients.
Who knows, tossing in some mini-marshmallows may sound disgusting, but it could be the key to getting your child to eat fresh spinach leaves.
Let them use their imaginations and try different salad concoctions.
Summer Salad Recipes
Here is a roundup of some of the most refreshing summer salad recipes.
The best part is, these are all kid-approved!
These mouth-watering recipes have the most delicious summer veggies and fruits that the whole family will devour.
Having a delicious summer salad for dinner is the perfect mom hack! The ingredients are cheap, healthy, and in season. Let your kids add their favorite summer fruits to make the perfect kid-friendly salad. This grilled chicken and peaches spinach salad topped with blueberries and pecans is the perfect summer meal. Topped with the homemade honey mustard dressing it's the perfect pairing to enjoy this tasty but healthy meal. An easy shrimp zucchini salad is a perfect summer dish. Full of flavor, color and texture. The best thing is it's delicious warm or cold. This quick and easy pear and walnut salad is the perfect side dish for your summer meals. The refreshing, mild flavors compliment most meat based dishes. Classic Insalata Caprese (Tomato Mozzarella Salad) is the perfect quick appetizer or salad packed with summer flavors! Light, refreshing and so easy to make! A great way to enjoy in-season tomatoes at the fullest. Fresh and vibrant California-style cobb salad with a spicy chipotle ranch dressing. Made with avocado, the ranch dressing is a healthier option to keep your salads squeaky clean. This Kale Quinoa Salad with Orange Miso Dressing is crazy delicious and so easy to make. An amazing nutrition powerhouse salad of kale, quinoa, mandarin oranges, and so much more! What could be better than a healthy and delicious salad? Add blackened Salmon and fresh berries and you've got yourself a meal to remember! Arugula Salad with Avocado, Blue Cheese and Pecans is a rich, nutrient dense meal that can be enjoyed on hot summer days! This is a refreshing summer salad that’s tasty and filling and super easy to make. I love the combination of sweet grilled corn and peaches with tangy lime marinated chicken and tons of fresh herbs. Fruity salads are perfect for summer, and this Grilled Steak and Strawberry Salad is no exception. This sweet and savory salad makes for a great light but filling summer meal. This Trail Mix Salad is vegan and gluten free and packed with all the things you love about trail mix (minus the chocolate chips of course). Dried fruit and nuts are mixed with whole grains and a lovely, fresh dressing. Super portable making it great for packing to school, work or on hikes. This easy cherry tomato salad may be one of the prettiest you'll ever make. A chef's recipe, you won't believe how good ingredients makes a quick salad. It uses vibrant cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and a bit of creme fraiche for a decadent summer salad. BLT Salad with Creamy Dijon Dressing and Garlic Herb Butter Croutons. This salad may have very few components but it's very big on freshness and flavor. It has turned out to be an ongoing family favorite. A flavor bursting, healthy mango salad with refreshing cucumbers and red onions, drizzled with sweet and spicy dressing and topped with crunchy roasted peanuts. Best of all it is ready in 20 minutes! This traditional Greek Salad recipe is brimming with crunchy cucumbers, sweet tomatoes and creamy Feta cheese delicately tossed in a tangy lemon dressing. It’s a simple and elegant salad recipe served with warm pita or as part of a beautiful Mediterranean meal! Paleo Strawberry Spinach Salad with Walnuts and Rotisserie Chicken packs summer into a mason jar! It’s gluten-free and Whole 30 friendly! We love how quick, simple, and healthy this lunch is to meal prep! This watermelon salad gets a Mexican makeover with crunchy toasted pepitas, salty queso fresco, fresh cilantro and a tangy lime vinaigrette. Avocado Black Bean Corn Salad ~ fast, easy, fresh and colorful! No cooking required – just chop the veggies and toss with a zesty Cilantro Lime Dressing. Delicious Tex-Mex Doritos Taco Salad is loaded with ground beef taco meat, kidney beans, cheese, green onions, avocado, tomatoes and Nacho Cheese Doritos. It’s a family favorite that we like to serve at potlucks and family dinner on hot summer nights! Craving a burger this summer? Try this delicious Bacon Ranch Burger Salad instead! Tortellini caprese pasta salad is an easy and delicious pasta salad recipe perfect for your summer cookout. Refreshing, sweet, and crowd-pleasing Watermelon Salad with Cucumber, Feta and Mint. Enjoyed by kids and adults alike with 6 simple ingredients, this 10 minute salad is not to be missed! This salad works for every season, but does double duty in the summertime with juicy, ripe strawberries added in -- and watch out the dressing is quite addictive! This Creamy Pesto Summer Pasta Salad is a vibrant summer pasta salad recipe tossed in a creamy pesto dressing and topped with fresh basil! This fresh Summer Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe is bursting with fun and flavors. Romaine and spinach are topped with grilled chicken, three different berries, and a easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette. You’ll have this Mixed Berry Salad on regular rotation all summer long!25 Kid-Friendly Summer Salad Recipes
Rocket Salad - Delicious Rocket Salad With Avocado, Walnuts & Blue Cheese
Grilled Steak and Strawberry Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette Recipe
BLT Salad with Creamy Dijon Dressing and Garlic Herb Butter Croutons
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Let me know what you think of these recipes in the comments or if you have any summer salad recipes that your family loves!
Krystin
Tuesday 4th of August 2020
Such delicious recipes! There's nothing better than salads in the summer!
Robyn Jones
Monday 3rd of August 2020
Thank you for rounding up these creative salad ideas. I do not like mixing fruit with veggies, but these are all very adaptable and I especially like the salad dressing ideas. I can’t wait to try these! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
Under flowery sky
Monday 3rd of August 2020
I love the ideas, specially if they're veggie. Cherry tomatoes look awesome and the mix trail...
Beth
Monday 20th of July 2020
There are so many delicious looking salads, I don't know where to start, but that Trail Mix Salad may be the winner! Yum! Thank you for sharing!
Brie
Monday 20th of July 2020
OMG THESE ALL LOOK AMAZING! Cant wait to try the sweet maple apple pecan salad.