5 Summer Salad Recipes We Can’t Get Enough Of

5 Summer Salad Recipes We Can’t Get Enough Of

A light, refreshing salad hits different on a hot summer day. These summer salads are perfect to serve for family dinners or during your next outdoor get-together with the girls. With a variety of tasty ingredients, you can toss together a masterpiece.

Check out these easy summer salad recipes your taste buds will love.

  1. Southwestern Chicken Salad

Spicy chicken and creamy cilantro dressing is a winning combination. Adding protein to your salad will keep you feeling full and give you extra energy to beat the summer heat.

What you’ll need:

For the Chicken:

  • 2medium chicken breasts
  • 1tablespoon taco seasoning
  • 1/2teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4teaspoon salt
  • Juice of 1/2 lime(reserve other half for dressing)
  • 1tablespoon olive oil

For the Salad:

  • 2cups romaine lettuce chopped
  • 1ripe avocado sliced
  • 1medium tomato diced
  • 1/2cup black beans rinsed
  • 1/2cup corn rinsed
  • 1/4cup cilantro for topping

For the Creamy Cilantro Dressing:

  • 1/2cup sour cream or Greek yogurt
  • 1/4cup packed cilantro with stems
  • Juice of 1/2 lime
  • 1/4teaspoon salt 

How to make it:

  1. Place the chicken breasts, taco seasoning, cumin, salt, lime juice and olive oil in a Ziplock bag and shake until fully combined and chicken is coated. Marinate for 10 minutes or up to 2 days in advance.
  2. To cook chicken:heat a heavy skillet to medium/high heat (Be sure the skillet is very hot before adding chicken). Add 1 teaspoon oil of choice to skillet. Place the chicken on a skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side. Allow chicken to rest in pan for at least 5 minutes before cutting.
  3. To make the dressing: Place the sour cream (or greek yogurt), cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a blender or food processor. Pulse for a few seconds or just until the cilantro is fully chopped.
  4. To assemble:Place the chopped romaine lettuce on the bottom of a salad plate. Top with avocado, chopped tomatoes, black beans, corn, cilantro, and sliced chicken. Top with cold creamy cilantro dressing just before serving.
  1. Cucumber Greek Salad

This salad is zesty, fresh, flavorful and simple to put together. The hardest part is chopping the veggies, but it is so worth it. Serve it as a side dish or as a meal–the choice is yours.

What you’ll need:

  • 2cucumbers, peeled and chopped into 1/4 slices
  • 4-6Roma tomatoes, chopped
  • 1/2of a red onion, sliced
  • 1/4cup olive oil
  • 1 1/2Tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2teaspoons dried oregano
  • 1/2cup crumbled feta cheese
  • Salt and Pepperto taste
  • Black olives, pitted and sliced (to taste)

How to make it:

  1. In a large bowl, combine cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions.
  2. In a smaller bowl, mix the olive oil, lemon juice, and dried oregano. Pour over the vegetables and mix well. Season salad with salt and pepper.
  3. Sprinkle feta cheese and olives over the top of salad and mix. Refrigerate until ready to eat.
  1. Avocado Tuna Salad

Hold the mayo. There’s a new, healthier ingredient in town: avocado. You may not think of combining avocado and tuna, but trust us, this spin on classic tuna salad is a must. 

What you’ll need:

  • 15 oz. tuna in oil, drained and flaked (3 small cans)
  • 1 English cucumber, sliced
  • 2 large or 3 medium avocados, peeled, pitted & sliced
  • 1 small/medium red onion, thinly sliced
  • ¼ cup cilantro
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/8 tsp black pepper

How to make it:

  1. In a large salad bowl, combine sliced cucumber, sliced avocado, thinly sliced red onion, drained tuna and ¼ cup cilantro.
  2. Drizzle salad ingredients with 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper.
  3. Toss to combine and serve.
  1. Honey Mustard Chicken Avocado Bacon Salad

This salad sounds like a delicious sandwich, sans bread. It’s sweet and savory all in one yummy bite. With a variety of textures, it will be sure to please your palate.

What you’ll need:

For the Dressing/Marinade:

  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons whole grain mustard
  • 2 tablespoons smooth and mild Dijon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1-2 tablespoons Apple cider vinegar (or white vinegar), (OPTIONAL -- to cut through the sweetness)
  • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
  • Salt to season
  • 4 skinless and boneless chicken thighs or chicken breasts

For the Salad:

  • 1/4 cup diced bacon, trimmed of rind and fat
  • 4 cups Romaine lettuce leaves, washed
  • 1 cup sliced grape or cherry tomatoes
  • 1 large avocado, pitted and sliced
  • 1/4 cup corn kernels
  • 1/4 of a red onion, sliced

How to make it:

  1. Whisk marinade/dressing ingredients together to combine. Pour half the marinade into a shallow dish to marinade the chicken fillets for two hours if time allows. Refrigerate the reserved untouched marinade to use as a dressing.
  2. Heat a nonstick pan (or grill pan or skillet) over medium heat with about a teaspoon of oil and sear/grill chicken fillets on each side until golden, crispy and cooked through. (Grill in batches to prevent excess water being released.) Once chicken is cooked, set aside and allow to rest.
  3. Wipe pan over with paper towel; drizzle with another teaspoon of oil and fry the bacon until crispy.
  4. Slice chicken into strips and prepare salad with leaves, tomatoes, avocado slices, corn, onion strips and chicken.
  5. Whisk 2 tablespoons of water into the remaining untouched marinade / dressing and drizzle over the salad. Sprinkle the bacon over the top and season with a little extra salt and cracked pepper (optional)

 

  1. Apple Brie Salad

If you’re looking for a fancy dish to elevate your summer gathering, this is it. Mostly sweet, this salad delivers ultimate comfort and happiness. It is the perfect balance of crunch and creaminess.

What you’ll need:

  • Mixed greens
  • Apples
  • Brie cheese
  • Dried cranberries
  • Chopped pecans
  • Green onions
  • Olive oil
  • Apple cider vinegar
  • Apple cider
  • Honey
  • Ground ginger
  • Pepper

How to make it:

  1. In a large salad bowl, combine mixed greens, chopped apple, sliced Brie, dried cranberries, pecans, and sliced green onions.
  2. In a small container with a lid, combine olive oil, apple cider vinegar, apple cider, honey, ginger, and pepper. Shake well.
  3. Pour dressing over salad and toss to combine.

 

Remember, always keep your dressings in a separate container if you’re not eating the salad right away. No one likes soggy lettuce!

When it comes to summer salads, there are a lot of options to choose from, each with a unique flavor profile. We hope you love these salad recipes to try at your next cookout. Bon appétit!

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