Summer is the season cool sides. Crispy, fresh, and ready for the picking, fruits, and veggies are refreshingly center stage during the warmer months of the year. While we have our go-to favorite recipes, here are twelve sides and salad that’ll shake things up.
Layered Dublin Salad
Layered Dublin Salad is the perfect visual show-stopping salad for a crowd. Frozen peas are the base of a salad filled with lettuce, peppers, onions, eggs, and sharp Irish cheddar. A creamy dressing is layered on top and then mixed before serving to ensure everything stays crunchy and crisp. If you want to make the recipe, click the link!
Mandarin Lunchbox Salad
When you want a satisfying salad full of intriguing textures and tastes, then this recipe for Mandarin Lunchbox Salad is here to fill the void. A base of quinoa and bagged coleslaw is mixed with onion, crunchy almonds and cashews, and bright wedges of mandarin oranges. A from-scratch dressing, with rich umami flavor coming from sesame oil and soy sauce, is contrasted with a touch of sweet honey. It’s a great make-ahead salad that keeps all of its amazing textures. To get more details about the recipe, click the link here!
Creamy Tomato Cabbage
Simple, and quick but packed with tomato flavor, this Creamy Tomato Cabbage is the perfect companion to grilled or barbecued meat. A creamy from-scratch dressing is packed with bright tomato flavor. Coating every inch of crunchy cabbage, this salad has the satisfying creaminess of coleslaw but without the unnecessary sweetness and fussy mix-ins. Curious about the recipe? Find the recipe here.
BLT Chicken Salad
The classic BLT gets a side salad makeover in the form of BLT Chicken Salad. Large shredded chunks of chicken partner up with crispy bacon, juicy tomatoes, and a creamy mayo-Greek yogurt dressing. The result is so super satisfying that you might forget the original sandwich version! If you want to make the recipe, you can click the link here.
Chopped Shrimp Salad
Chopped Shrimp Salad harbors the epitome of summer! Sweet corn, crunchy celery, crispy cucumber, and tender shrimp create a salad that’s full of a variety of textures. Fresh citrus and dill are bright notes of flavor to the creamy dressing that coats every inch of the salad. To get the full list of ingredients and step-by-step instructions, click the link here.
Crunchy Avocado Cucumber Salad
This Crunchy Avocado Cucumber Salad is a side salad that is inspired by classic deli salads but is brimming with loads of creamy rich avocado. Green onion, fresh parsley, and fresh cilantro add brightness to the creamy base of the cucumber-studded dressing. This salad is packed with so many fresh green ingredients, that it may put green goddess dressing to shame! If you want to make the recipe, you can click the link here!
Honey Mustard Pasta Salad
Honey mustard graces a kid’s platter of chicken tenders or coats every inch of game day wings, but we don’t seem to use it for anything beyond poultry. That’s where this recipe for Honey Mustard Pasta Salad is here to change the game. Macaroni buddies up with an assortment of colorful veggies before being coated in a savory mayo-mustard sauce that’s countered with tangy and sweet notes. Curious about the recipe? You can find the recipe details here!
Calistoga Pasta Salad
Calistoga Pasta Salad has a bit of everything. Pasta is the base but its sidekick cast of grapes, broccoli, red onion, bacon, and pecans add a diverse array of tastes and textures. A simple dressing binds everything together for a salad that’ll be made even after summer is over. Get the recipe details over here.
Southwest Broccoli Salad
There are a hundred and one ways to make broccoli salad, but this Southwest Broccoli Salad takes the cake. Crunchy companions like walnuts, cucumbers, bell peppers, corn, and red onion pair up with broccoli to give it an even more satisfying texture. A from-scratch dressing brimming with southwest flavors is blended until smooth and made to coat every inch of the salad. Find the ingredient list and step-by-step instructions over here.
Country Club Salad
A club sandwich has graced the tables of golf clubs and diner counters alike, but has it been served like this? Probably not! This Country Club Salad goes all out. Big pieces of juicy chicken are mixed with chunks of beefsteak tomatoes, fresh corn, meaty bacon, crisp romaine, and large toasted cubes of bread. A creamy note of sliced avocados adds to the richness of the salad, which is coated in a garlic vinaigrette studded with fresh chopped chives. If you want the details of the recipe, click the link here!
Sesame Celery Salad
Sesame Celery Salad is a take on an actual Chinese dish but done much simpler. Celery is boiled to remove the sharp flavor and then shocked in cold water to maintain its satisfying crispy crunch. An earthy, salty, and savory dressing coats the celery alongside toasted sesame seeds. Get the recipe by clicking the link.
Peach Prosciutto Caprese
Bring the flavors of summer to your table with this recipe for Peach Prosciutto Caprese Salad. Fresh ripe pieces are chopped in large segments of peaches, beefsteak tomatoes, and torn-up fresh mozzarella. Balsamic reduction, robust olive oil, and bitter arugula are a simple earthy base for the prosciutto, peaches, tomatoes, and mozzarella to shine! Find all of the recipe’s details over here.