Chill Out: Tasty Summer Salad Ideas

Whether you're hosting a barbecue for 10 or a cookout for 100, there are tons of great summer salad recipes for everyone. Take these tips and ideas to help you plan your next event - and to keep them coming back for more!

Easy to make fruit salads are a refreshing addition to any meal. They're perfect for backyard barbecues, Sunday church cookouts, and festive retreat events. Whether you’re looking for a side salad or a full dessert, make sure to prep extra as these are true crowd pleasers.

1. Strawberry-Melon Summer Salad

This is a 5-star recipe that's always a crowd pleaser. Load up on this so everyone can take as much as they want. A Delicious mix of berries, honey, lemon, and yogurt will keep folks and the kids coming back for seconds.

2. Green Grape Salad

A very popular fruit salad recipe. It's a bit creamy and sweet with the dressing and sweetness from the grapes.

3. Judy’s Strawberry Pretzel Salad

This old-fashioned potluck favorite is so easy to make and it's super tasty with its mix of sweet and salty from the pretzels. Mix it with frozen whipped topping or whip up your own whipped cream.

4. Apple Yogurt Salad

Crisp, tart apples and sweet vanilla yogurt are combined with dried cranberries, dried cherries, and slivered almonds in this refreshing salad. It's a very healthy, quick, and easy salad to make that's so tasty. The kids love this one!

5. Strawberry Spinach Salad

Fresh strawberries and spinach make a winning pair in this classic salad. It's a super healthy salad that pairs well with pecans or sliced almonds.

6. Perfect Summer Fruit Salad

This eye-catching salad showcases summer’s most gorgeous fruit. A citrus syrup adds the finishing glaze that brings it all together. Let it rest in the fridge to soak in its own juices and the syrup a few hours before serving.

7. Herb Watermelon Feta Salad

There’s something so right about the combination of juicy crisp watermelon and lightly salty feta cheese. A very light and fresh salad that can serve as a side or as a light dessert, even with the onions.

8. Pistachio Fluff Fruit Salad

“To keep the bananas from browning, toss them in a little lemon juice. This tasty treat has pecans to top it off.

9. Fruit Salad with Lemon Poppyseed Dressing

Crisp apples and juicy pears take the spotlight in this seasonal salad. A twist on standard summer salads, it’s one of the most popular fruit salads that the kids will love to eat. “Super easy and makes a great potluck salad.”