What do gorgeously ripe watermelons, tomatoes, and peaches have in common with perfectly grilled corn, steak strips, and zucchini? They’re all superstar ingredients in the best summer salad recipes.
It’s no secret that some of the tastiest salads you can make are the ones loaded with juicy fruits and veggies that peak in the summertime—and pretty much anything cooked on the grill. Add a flavorful dressing, some fresh herbs, and some year-round staples (like beans, nuts, grains, cheese, and seeds), and you have the makings of a crave-worthy, satisfying, flavor bomb in a bowl.
Summer salads packed with refreshing ingredients like strawberries and cucumbers make a great BBQ side, but they can also be quite hearty as their own meal. They don’t need to always include greens—some summer salad recipes have a completely different base, like pasta or quinoa. Some don’t have a base at all, and simply feature a mash-up of seasonal produce and toppings that just taste delicious together.
The bottom line is that there’s really no wrong way to enjoy a salad this summer. And when you’ve got so much in-season produce (and perhaps a grill, if you’re lucky!) at your disposal, you can make great salads all season long and never get bored of them. Need a good place to start? Try some of the great summer salad recipes below.