Summer nights are made for refreshing, fuss-free suppers starring in-season produce—and these main-course salads fit the bill. Each is packed with crisp, crunchy ingredients and bursting with nutrients and protein. They’re filling enough to serve as your entrée but light and bright enough to suit the warm-weather season—plus, they’re big on taste and low on prep time. Some are built around grilled chicken or steak; others feature shrimp or cheese. All have a colorful range of crunchy fresh produce, so you’ll feel like you’re eating with the seasons.
Grilled Skirt Steak Salad
Credit: Con Poulos
The best of summer on a platter, this colorful salad stars cherry tomatoes, corn, romaine, bell peppers, red onion, and juicy steak.
Strawberry Spinach Salad
Credit:
Kelsey Hansen
Strawberries are in season through July for most states, so it’s the perfect time to use them up in a refreshing salad. This salad combines fresh strawberries with tender baby spinach, crunchy almonds, salty feta, sesame seeds, and a quick vinaigrette for a delicious and easy salad you’ll make again and again this summer. Add your choice of protein to make it a complete meal, from chicken breast to cooked grains.
Greek Salad
Made with romaine, feta cheese, black olives, and red onion, this Greek salad delivers a refreshing meal. Serve with pita or another flatbread.
Mexican Seafood Salad
Credit: Sidney Bensimon
Red-snapper fillets and shrimp are served over bibb lettuce in this bright seafood salad that’s perfect for lunch or a light dinner. Thinly sliced jalapeño adds a subtle dose of spice.
Chicken Caesar Salad
Adding chicken cutlets to this classic salad makes it a full meal. You can sit down to eat this Caesar—including homemade croutons and dressing—in 45 minutes. But it’s also a perfect candidate for making the components ahead of time, stashing them in the refrigerator, and assembling in mere minutes.
Salmon Nicoise With Caper Dressing
Credit: Bryan Gardner
Make your salade Niçoise more sustainable by using salmon instead of the traditional tuna. It’s loaded with heart-healthy omega fats and pairs beautifully with creamy potatoes, briny olives, and tender green beans.
Broiled Coconut-and-Lime-Crusted Shrimp With Rice-Noodle Salad
Credit: Bryan Gardner
Ready in 25 minutes, this salad is packed with crunch and bright flavors. In addition to the crispy coconut-coated shrimp, there’s a cooling rice noodle salad with romaine, radishes, avocado, and chile.
Summer Waldorf With Yogurt-Tarragon Dressing
Credit: Bryan Gardner
How do you make a Waldorf salad summery? Replace the apples with sweet-tart plums. We also mix things up by adding toasted almonds instead of the usual walnuts.
Greek Mezze Salad
Credit: Armando Rafael
Roasted za’atar chickpeas, grape leaves, cucumber, and creamy yogurt come together in this quick yet filling summer salad.
Shrimp Cobb With Cilantro-Lime Dressing
Credit: Bryan Gardner
Shrimp replaces the usual chicken in this delicious riff on the classic cobb salad. All the other elements are there: hard-boiled eggs, sliced avocado, romaine and watercress, and cherry tomatoes. It’s the protein-packed summer dinner of your dreams.
Grilled Chicken and Eggplant With Mozzarella and Tomatoes
Credit: Linda Xiao
A flavorful take on the caprese salad, this satisfying main-course salad adds chicken and eggplant and puts one of summer’s star players on display: tomatoes. We like mixing varieties—our recipe calls for both heirloom and cherry.
Barbecued Chicken Salad
Credit: Bryan Gardner
Toss flame-kissed chicken and corn with lettuce, avocado, cherry tomatoes, and tortilla chips for this smoky, satisfying salad.
Crispy Panko Shrimp Salad
Credit: Ren Fuller
Panko fried shrimp gives this satisfying salad a little crunch. It comes together in under 30 minutes and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Chicken Taco Salad
Credit: Mike Krautter
Skip the fast-casual Tex-Mex and treat yourself to this zesty salad instead. It packs a serious punch thanks to all of its flavorful components.
Grilled Asparagus and Farro Salad
Credit: Chris Simpson
Freshly grilled asparagus is the star of this delicious grain salad, which features lemon zest, sliced almonds, and briny feta cheese atop filling farro.
Dining and Cooking