Easy Summer Salads Menu Plan

Be the queen of the summer picnics and back yard barbecues, even fill in your weeknight dinner menu with this Easy Summer Salads Menu Plan.

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Summer is the perfect time for salads! From family fun night cookouts, to picnics, family reunions, and trips to the lake, cool summer salads are always a hit.

When the weather is hot, and no one wants to eat hot soups and heavy casseroles, a healthy summer salad is the answer for a light dinner menu.

Salads are a perfect meal to serve on the way out the door to the ball field . Summer is the perfect time to break away from the traditional salad. Serve up something on a chilled plate or in an insulated carrier.

Salads take on a little different flavor in the summer. Instead of the typical greens based salad, fresh fruits and vegetables become the starting point for some really delicious and filling salads. So, think outside the box! When you are in the grocery store or the local farmers market, pick up some of these items to use for salad recipes:

Base ideas for summer salads:

• Potatoes
• Pasta
• Greens
• Wheat Berries
• Split Peas
• Apples
• Eggs
• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Couscous
• Beans

Toppings

You can get a little more creative with summer salads by adding some seasonal toppings like:

• Berries
• Seasonal Fruits
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Fresh Herbs
• Hard Cheese

Summer Salad Dressings

You can also give a regular salad a summer flavor by using a berry flavored or zesty dressing like one of these delicious and easy to make salad dressings:

• Strawberry
• Raspberry
• Apple cider vinegar (with some sweetner and oil)
• Greek Salad Dressing by A Simple Pantry

Easy Summer Salads for a Crowd

If you have a large family to feed or are looking for a salad to feed a crowd, starting with a base of pasta, rice or a grain is always easiest. To make a salad a meal, consider adding some beans or chicken.

You can also prepare a salad that is typically served as a side dish and serve it with tortilla chips or Wasa Crackers. Try these salads to feed dinner to a crowd.

• Italian Chicken Pasta Salad by Dear Creatives
• Chicken Pasta Salad by Wondermom Wanna Be
• No Cook Bean Salad by Everyday Southwest
• Citrus Shrimp and Avocado Salad by Foodie Crush