Whenever I’m stuck on what type of side dish or salad to make for dinner—whether it’s a festive dinner party or a cozy meal for just a few, I think about surprising ingredient combinations. Sweet and savory flavor combinations are a tale as old as time—but they’re all-too-often forgotten. These recipes are a reminder that sweetness doesn’t have to be reserved for the dessert course, nor does it have to be overly complicated to incorporate sweet, refreshing, and juicy fruits into an approachable and easy-to-make side dish. From aromatic herbs and oils to briny cheeses and crunchy toppings, you’ll find a lot of inspiration in these tasty, balanced recipes that are a little sweet, and—yes—savory, too.
Save to MyRecipes
Love these recipes? Tap ‘Save’ to add them to MyRecipes—your new, free recipe box for Allrecipes!
Avocado Watermelon Salad
bd.weld
“The sweet of the watermelon and tart from the lime were perfectly refreshing on a hot summer day.” –Cyndi Marshall
Spinach and Strawberry Salad
Allrecipes member
“I made this for my husband who won’t eat spinach… he ate the spinach. In fact he ate the whole salad and I didn’t get a single bite. Only change I made was a little more vinegar. Perfect recipe. The absolute best.” –PuffyGrill9050
Watermelon Feta Salad
Allrecipes/France C
“This was a delicious summer salad. We had it for Father’s day brunch and my dad said it was tasty and refreshing on a hot summer day. It would even be a great salsa for fish tacos.” –April Backus
Strawberry and Feta Salad
Allrecipes / Diana Chistruga
“The salty, creamy feta mixed with the sweet, juicy strawberries is such a fresh and perfect balance. It’s simple but has an unexpectedly elegant touch, and I’d definitely make it again.” –Diana Chistruga
Strawberry Mango Mesclun Salad
Molly
“Amazing Amazing ..perfect summer salad! I Was wondering if the dressing would thicken and it did and it’s perfect. I just had to be patient. It’s my favorite now for sure!!!! Nice change from the ordinary common salad.” –Vanessa Laws
Avocado Salad
Allrecipes / Diana Chistruga
“Simple ingredients, and delicious, fresh flavors. I normally wouldn’t add green pepper, but I did end up enjoying the crunch. Make sure to use a sweet onion, so it doesn’t overpower the salad.” –France C
Italian Bread Salad with Strawberries and Tomatoes
Allrecipes member
“Delicious! Made as written, but sort of eyeballed everything (except for the dressing). I just knew that my mom would love this and she did…so did the rest of us! A definite keeper and a great spin on panzanella~YUM!” —Christina
Grilled Chicken, Peach, and Arugula Salad
Allrecipes member
“I made this and it was delicious! My husband who doesn’t always care for salads as a dinner had 2 helpings! I did not grill my peaches, added candied pecans, blue cheese, avocado, and cucumbers. It was so dang good. If you haven’t tried it, you must!” –PattiVP
Peach and Blueberry Feta Salad
Shelia Johnson
Balance sweet peaches and tart blueberries with briny feta, aromatic basil, and fresh cucumbers. Peach and basil vinaigrette dressing ties it all together, and you’ll be coming back for seconds.
Grilled Panzanella Salad with Peaches and Fennel
Allrecipes
“This salad is lovely, delish and easy to make. My family enjoyed it. I will make this again before summer peach season ends.” –Kathryn Fyffe Harrison
Stonefruit and Tomato Salad
AR Magazine
Fresh stonefruit like peaches, plums, and cherries are tossed with tart-sweet cherries in a zesty blend of parsley and lemon juice for a sweet and subtly savory—and irresistible—salad.
Dining and Cooking