52 Best Salad Recipes - Love and Lemons

A big, bountiful salad is the best way to celebrate delicious seasonal produce! Here are 52 stunning salad recipes I love to make again and again.

Updated Dec 18, 2026

Salad recipes are my favorite way to showcase vibrant, in-season produce—fruits and veggies that taste so good on their own that it doesn’t take much to make them into a delicious meal. On cold winter nights, I like to brighten up our table with a colorful mix of root veggies and hearty greens. On beautiful, warm days when I’d rather be outside than in the kitchen, summer salads are the perfect lunch or dinner: they’re simple to toss together, but they’re super flavorful nonetheless.

Whether you want to add more plant-based meals to your diet or are simply looking to change up your salad game, you’ll find tons of inspiration in the salad recipes below. With everything from green salads to pasta salads and more, these recipes are perfect for passing at potlucks, serving as dinner side dishes, and enjoying as full meals on their own.

Green Salad Recipes

Green salads don’t have to be boring, and these recipes are here to prove it! I often make these salad recipes for a healthy lunch, but they’re great cookout and dinner side dishes too.

Crunchy roasted almonds and creamy avocado add amazing textural contrast to this simple salad. My zippy ties it all together!

This chopped salad is so flavorful that even salad skeptics will pile their plates with seconds! The key ingredients? A punchy dressing, pepperoncini, and TWO types of cheese.

This fresh arugula salad is simple yet elegant, topped with toasted pine nuts, shaved Parm, and a bright lemon dressing.

Everything you love about the classic salad—crunchy ! crisp romaine! lots of Parmesan cheese!—but with an easier homemade . It has a creamy mayo and olive oil base—no raw egg yolks here!

This beet, apple, and goat cheese salad would be at home on any holiday table. To get ahead, and make the a day or two in advance.

This pink and green salad is practically spring on a plate! I love to serve it alongside a or for Easter or Mother’s Day brunch.

It’s complete with crispy tortilla strips, savory plant-based taco “meat,” and a zesty . Healthy lunches don’t get tastier than this.

Another great lunch salad! It’s piled high with a rainbow of root veggies, crispy , and creamy avocado. A vibrant takes it over the top.

Pasta Salad Recipes

Pasta salads are the ultimate summer and a great party dish at any time of year. You can make them ahead, and they can double as a side dish for some and a main dish for others. Plus, like all salad recipes, they’re a fantastic showcase for the season’s best produce.

As its name suggests, this pasta salad is a breeze to make. Just whisk together the zippy lemon dressing in a big bowl, add the other ingredients, and toss! You’ll end up with a heavenly combo of fresh and tangy summer flavors.

Our kiddo loves this salad, and I think you will too! It’s briny and bright, filled with chewy, cheesy tortellini, pepperoncini, and artichoke hearts.

Love ? You’ll love this orzo salad too! A tangy coats al dente orzo pasta, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, and mint.

Like , but designed to be eaten cold. It’s a filling, refreshing meal on a hot summer day.

This creamy pasta salad recipe isn’t made with mayo. Instead, tahini gives the dressing its delicious rich texture.

A mix of jammy and juicy fresh ones makes this recipe one of my favorite summer salads. With spiced , tangy feta, and big pearls of couscous, it’s hearty enough to be a meal on its own.

Not your average pasta salad! A tangy sesame-ginger dressing coats gooey soba noodles, green veggies, and avocado.

Crowd-Pleasing Slaws

Slaws are typically made with hardy veggies like cabbage, broccoli, or kale, so they hold up well if you dress them in advance. Because of this, they’re some of the best salad recipes to make ahead. Often, their flavor and texture even improve after an hour or two in the fridge!

The secret to great coleslaw? A great ! Mine is creamy, tangy, and easy to make with just 5 ingredients.

There are two types of people in the world: those who like , and those who prefer vinegar coleslaw. If you’re in the second group, you have to try this recipe! My makes it deliciously sweet and tangy.

Need a simple side dish to round out a meal? You can’t go wrong with this 10-ingredient slaw! Crunchy and refreshing, it comes together in minutes.

If you like , chances are you’ll be a fan of broccoli slaw too. It’s creamy and crunchy, with dried cranberries adding delightful pops of sweet-tart flavor.

You won’t miss the bacon in this lightened-up twist on classic broccoli salad. Smoky roasted nuts take its place. They’re crunchy, rich, and savory—be sure to make extra for snacking. If you don’t, you’ll devour them all before they make it onto the salad!

As soon as the temperature starts to dip in the fall, I look forward to making this salad. With just 7 ingredients, it’s a breeze to put together, but it’s still insanely flavorful and fresh.

Tomato Summer Salads

If there’s one veggie (or fruit, if you’re looking to get technical) that’s the star of summer, the tomato is definitely it. Here are some of my favorite summer salad recipes that put tomatoes front and center.

Made with tomatoes, red onion, vinegar, olive oil, and a quick , this salad is supremely simple, and that’s why I love it. It really lets the tomatoes shine! Bookmark it for late summer, when tomatoes are at their best.

Got some stale bread on your counter? Don’t let it go to waste! Make this Italian bread salad instead. The bread soaks up the sweet tomato juices and tangy dressing, filling each bite with bold summer flavor.

Big cubes of feta, juicy tomatoes, olives, herbs, bell peppers, and cucumber tumble together in this stunning summer salad with a homemade . You only need 7 ingredients and a few minutes to make it. What are you waiting for?

Fresh chiles add some heat to the sweet, juicy mix of tomatoes and watermelon in this recipe.

Juicy cherry tomatoes mingle with tender grilled eggplant and peppers in this vibrant summer salad. Feta cheese, , and a lemon dressing fill it with bright, tangy flavor.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Check out this recipe to find my best tips for making a classic Caprese summer salad.

Corn Summer Salad Recipes

If tomatoes are #1 in the summer, corn comes in as a close #2. , , or fresh off the cob, it’s the perfect addition to all sorts of summer salads.

This fresh corn salad features all my summer favorites: , juicy peaches, and lots of fresh basil! To highlight the crisp, fresh ingredients, I toss them with a zesty chile lime dressing.

Make this salad for your next summer cookout, and the whole bowl will be gone in minutes! The combination of charred sweet corn, creamy mayo, Cotija, and lime is a tough one to beat.

Potato Salad Recipes

It’s taken me a while to get on board with potato salad, but after a few summers spent experimenting with bold dressings and different mix-ins, I’ve become totally hooked. Here are a few of my favorite potato salad recipes.

Try this version of classic potato salad, and you’ll never want it any other way. make it extra-creamy, and pickle brine and fresh dill give it an addictive sour flavor. It’s impossible to resist seconds!

Want to take this plant-based green bean, corn, and potato salad over the top? Drizzle it with my before serving. It offers an amazing rich contrast to the fresh veggies and tender potatoes!

If you’re grilling , make this summer salad right along with them. Topped with a grilled scallion vinaigrette and , it’ll steal the show at a summer cookout.

Fruity Summer Salads

Of course, your summer salads should feature seasonal fresh vegetables, but it’d be remiss not to take advantage of fresh fruits too! Stone fruits, berries, and melon are all delicious sweet additions to summer salad recipes.

Make this ultra-refreshing salad on hot summer days! Creamy avocado, tangy feta, and bright lime accent cool, juicy melon and cucumber. A handful of fresh herbs is the perfect finishing touch.

Slippery strips of mango curl around crisp bell peppers, spicy jalapeños, and loads of fresh herbs. If you love dishes that contrast sweet and savory flavors, this salad is for you.

We all love tomatoes and basil, but did you know that strawberries and basil are amazing too? This salad delivers the best of all worlds, with tomatoes AND strawberries AND basil, plus creamy mozzarella, avocado, and toasted pecans. Drizzle it with a syrupy for an acidic finishing touch.

Everyone needs a good fruit salad recipe in their back pocket, and this one’s mine. A honey-lime dressing livens up a vibrant mix of summer berries and other colorful fruits.

Chopped Medjool dates add a surprising sweet twist to this hearty chickpea salad. Topped with , grape tomatoes, and creamy goat cheese, it’s a great salad to pack for lunch, but it’s also a guaranteed hit at any gathering.

Grain Salad Recipes

If you’ve never added cooked grains to a salad, now’s the time! They introduce more variety in terms of texture and flavor, not to mention extra fiber and plant-based protein.

I’ve tried a MILLION farro salad recipes over the years, so trust me when I say that this one’s a keeper. A wonderful fall and winter salad, it’s filled with chewy, nutty , sweet apples and dates, bitter greens, crunchy walnuts, and salty pecorino cheese. It’ll wow guests at a dinner party, and it’s also a delicious light lunch.

Ok, if we’re getting technical, tabbouleh is more of an herb salad than a grain salad, but because it has some bulgur wheat in it, I included it in this category nonetheless. Intensely bright and aromatic, it’s just as good on its own as it is stuffed into with and .

This hearty salad goes BIG on flavor! A zingy coats earthy and punchy add-ins like , olives, and feta.

Bean and Lentil Salad Recipes

Beans and lentils can be bland on their own. But toss them into a salad with a zesty dressing and seasonal veggies, and they start to sing. Tip: chill these salads for at least 1 hour before serving to give the flavors a chance to mingle. No bland beans here!

This healthy salad recipe is a lunchtime hero. It holds up brilliantly for several days in the fridge, so you can prep it on the weekend and look forward to fresh, filling lunches all week!

This zesty, no-cook salad is a such a satisfying meal on a hot day! Serve it topped with avocado slices and nutty pepitas.

I’ll be making this recipe for lunches all summer! I love the mix of fresh herbs—parsley, dill, and mint—alongside the lemony dressing and pop of .

A fresher version of the Midwest classic! It features crunchy veggies and a bold, tangy homemade dressing.

Is it a salad, or is it a dip? I say, who cares?! This medley of beans, corn, and fresh veggies is seriously tasty. Whether you eat it with a fork or scoop it up with , you’re going to love it.

Radishes are often supporting players in the kitchen, but this gorgeous white bean salad lets them take center stage. Tender contrast with crunchy raw ones, and dollops of add bright, nutty flavor. Radish lovers, get ready to make this recipe on repeat.

More Favorite Salad Recipes

If you’re not in the mood for a green salad but you still want to fill up on veggies, try one of these salad recipes! They star vegetables that aren’t leafy greens or cabbage (i.e., asparagus, green beans, and squash). They’re a great way to add variety to your salad routine.

A vegetarian spin on the French classic! Artichoke hearts and lemony white beans step in for the traditional fish. Pair it with a glass of white wine for a refreshing summer dinner.

On the fence about raw zucchini? This easy salad recipe will make you a convert. It looks gorgeous (how pretty are those squash ribbons?!), and it tastes just as good, featuring a bold lemon dressing, toasted pine nuts, and fresh herbs.

You had me at .

This vibrant salad tastes like spring! It boasts snappy asparagus, sweet peas, crunchy radishes, and big drizzles of my creamy .

The first time I made this salad, I caught myself standing at the counter, devouring the whole thing straight off the serving platter. …Oops! Honestly, though, once you try your first bite, it’s hard not to want more. It’s sweet, earthy, nutty, and aromatic. If you’re serving a group, you might want to double it.

This sweet and tangy cookout classic pairs perfectly with , , or . Oh, and FYI, you can make it in less than 15 minutes!

If you love these salad recipes, check out my favorite  , and top next!