Our 17 Best New Salads for Summer

a recipe photo of the Zucchini Salad
Photo:

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop stylist: Lindsey Lower

Calling all of our salad fans! These newest additions are packed with flavor and are refreshing options for summer. Plus, our readers have been so impressed by these new offerings, they've all received 4- and 5-star reviews. With choices like our tasty Cucumber-Blueberry Spinach Salad or Zucchini Salad with Burrata, there's no shortage of delicious combinations for you to enjoy!

01 of 17

Cucumber-Blueberry Spinach Salad

a recipe photo of the Cucumber-Blueberry Spinach Salad

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This spinach-blueberry salad has the perfect balance of sweet and tart flavors complemented by refreshing cucumber slices and creamy goat cheese. Champagne vinegar adds a mild, delicate touch that pairs beautifully with summer fruit. You can use white-wine vinegar instead; simply reduce the amount by a teaspoon to maintain the balance of flavors, as it has a sharper taste.

02 of 17

Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes

a recipe photo of the Green Bean Salad with Balsamic & Tomatoes

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This green bean salad recipe features crisp-tender green beans, juicy cherry tomatoes and peppery red onions, all coated in a sweet and tangy balsamic dressing. This colorful salad captures the essence of summer and shines when served alongside grilled meats or seafood. To add even more color to this vibrant salad, swap out half of the green beans for yellow wax beans.

03 of 17

Zucchini Salad with Burrata

a recipe photo of the Zucchini Salad

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop stylist: Lindsey Lower

This zucchini salad is a taste of peak-season bliss, combining sun-kissed zucchini with the creaminess of burrata cheese. Pink peppercorns offer a sweet, fruity and slightly floral taste that pairs nicely with the citrus flavors in the dressing; however, freshly ground black pepper can be used in their place.

04 of 17

Bacon-Ranch Potato Salad

a recipe photo of the Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

This bacon-ranch potato salad is a versatile and crowd-pleasing side that complements just about everything, making it a perfect choice for bringing along to potlucks, barbecues and family gatherings. Our tangy, creamy ranch dressing features all the same classic herbs and seasonings as the bottled version. In a pinch, you can swap it out for store-bought.

05 of 17

Cucumber Salad with Mint

a recipe photo of the Cucumber Mint Salad

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This cucumber mint salad is crisp and refreshing. While white balsamic and brown balsamic vinegar have similar flavor profiles, white balsamic is used here to keep the salad green and vibrant. Salting the cucumber before it’s mixed with other ingredients allows some moisture to leach out, helping to keep the cucumber crunchy while it sits in the dressing, so be sure not to skip this step!

06 of 17

Simple No-Cook Grated Beet & Carrot Salad

a recipe photo of the Simple No-Cook Grated Beet & Carrot Salad

Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Marianne Williams, Prop Stylist: Tucker Vines

This vibrant beet and carrot salad combines shredded carrots and beets with a sweet-tangy dressing. Serve it solo, toss it with greens, or use it as a sandwich or wrap filler. For best results, grate fresh carrots and beets using a box grater’s large holes or a food processor’s shredding disk. Wear gloves when grating beets to prevent staining your hands.

07 of 17

Chicken Fajita Salad

a recipe photo of the Chicken Fajita Salad

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

Try this chicken fajita salad to mix up your dinner routine with slightly charred and blackened chicken, crispy romaine and plenty of veggies. Topped off with the crunch of the tortilla chips, this salad is a true dinner winner. To cut down on the number of ingredients, you can use fajita seasoning to season the chicken, but keep in mind that may increase the amount of sodium in the dish.

08 of 17

No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

a recipe photo of the No-Cook White Bean & Spinach Caprese Salad

This easy white bean and spinach caprese salad features the classic combination of juicy tomatoes, creamy mozzarella, fragrant basil and tangy balsamic vinegar, but adds tender white beans and fresh baby spinach to the mix.

09 of 17

Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Balsamic Vinaigrette

a recipe photo of the Beet Salad with Goat Cheese & Balsamic Vinaigrette

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Addelyn Evans

This beet salad with goat cheese and balsamic vinaigrette is flavor-packed, blending earthy beets, tangy balsamic vinegar and creamy goat cheese. Oranges lend a citrusy brightness, while arugula adds a peppery kick. Versatile and satisfying, this healthy beet salad complements any meal. Enjoy it as a side or turn it into a main dish topped with grilled chicken or roasted tofu.

10 of 17

Tomato-Cucumber Salad with Whipped Feta

a recipe photo Tomato-Cucumber Salad Over Whipped Feta

Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum

The feta and cream cheese whip up into a smooth and creamy dip topped with summer-ripe tomatoes and cucumber. Each bite keeps you coming back for more! Opt for feta in brine for the best texture, as pre-crumbled feta tends to lack moisture and can make the dip grainy.

11 of 17

Anti-Inflammatory Sweet Potato Salad

a recipe photo of the Anti-Inflammatory Sweet Potato Salad

Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling

This sweet potato salad is packed with anti-inflammatory foods like cherries, kale, avocado and, of course, sweet potatoes, which are packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins and minerals to help keep inflammation at bay.

12 of 17

Roasted Cabbage Caesar Salad with Chicken

a recipe photo of the Creamy Roasted Cabbage Caesar Salad With Chicken

Photographer: Stacy k. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf

This warm and inviting salad swaps crunchy romaine lettuce for sweet roasted cabbage in a fun twist on Caesar salad. To make this main-dish cabbage salad vegetarian, opt for vegetarian or vegan Worcestershire, leave out the anchovy paste from the dressing, and use cubed tofu in place of the chicken.

13 of 17

Chickpea, Beet & Feta Salad with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette

a recipe photo of the Chickpea, Beet & Feta Salad with Lemon-Garlic Vinaigrette

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Addelyn Evans

This chickpea, beet and feta salad is a vibrant blend of flavors and textures, marrying the earthy sweetness of beets with the creamy richness of feta cheese, all tied together with a zesty lemon-garlic dressing. 

14 of 17

Cabbage Salad with Apple, Walnuts & Gorgonzola

a recipe photo of the Cabbage Salad with Apple, Walnuts & Gorgonzola

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser

This crisp and fresh cabbage-apple salad features carrots, walnuts and creamy Gorgonzola cheese. Allowing the cabbage to sit before serving helps develop the flavor and soften the cabbage. While any type of cabbage will work well, tender cabbage like napa will need less time to soften, while a sturdier cabbage like red or green cabbage will take a bit longer.

15 of 17

The Simplest Spinach Salad

a recipe photo of the Spinach Salad

Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hauser

This bright spinach salad, with sweet notes from the fresh orange segments and briny feta cheese, is sure to make it into your regular rotation. Make this easy salad a more substantial main dish by adding grilled chicken or roasted tofu on top.

16 of 17

Chicken Caprese Salad

a recipe photo of the Chicken Caprese Salad

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

This chicken caprese salad has all the fresh bright flavors of a classic caprese plus a protein boost from simple quick-marinated chicken cutlets. For extra convenience, buy pre-sliced chicken cutlets to streamline your prep. On sunny days, take the cooking outdoors and grill the chicken for an extra layer of flavor.

17 of 17

Carrot Salad

a photo of the ingredients all mixed together in a bowl

Photographer: Morgan Hunt Glaze, Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This zesty carrot salad features a sweet-and-savory vinaigrette that adds punch to every bite. Serve it on its own, mix it with greens, or use it as part of a sandwich or wrap filling. Let it stand for at least 10 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.

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