19 Summer Salads For Refreshing Dinners
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Summer is basically upon us and most folks are focusing on lighter foods that don’t need to heat up the kitchen much. Salads and summer just go together. They make an easy meal that you can pull together in a minimal amount of time. They are filling and satisfying, and for most of them, you don’t have to heat up the kitchen a lot unless your toppings require it. These 19 summer salads are the answer to what’s for dinner tonight.
1. Panzanella
Panzanella is an Italian classic that uses up day-old bread before it goes bad. Cut small cubes of bread, add some veggies, and toss everything with some delicious dressing for a wonderful salad that’s impossible to dislike.
2. Spinach Summer Salad
This spinach summer salad is easy to make and tastes amazing. Fresh baby spinach, fresh raspberries, chopped nuts, and so much more make this an epic salad you can’t resist. Serve with a side of gazpacho to round out the meal.
3. Chicken Apple Salad
Chicken apple salad is a super simple dish that will go well with many different types of vinaigrette. In fact, it’s super simple to mix up a quick vinaigrette to go with this. It’s a hearty salad that offers delicious chunks of apples and tender chicken, some chopped nuts, and a gentle spring mix.
4. Strawberry Spinach Salad
If you like the spinach and bacon combination, this strawberry spinach salad should really get you excited. It’s a hearty and filling salad that gives you some of summer’s best produce. It’s refreshing and satisfying every time.
5. Wedge Salad
If a wedge salad sounds like an easy meal, you’d be correct. Wedge salads are fast and simple to put together. And while the toppings might require a bit of cooking, it’s certainly nothing that will keep you standing over a hot stove.
6. Easy Asparagus Salad
A great option for dinner tonight is this easy asparagus salad. Asparagus cooked al dente, hard-boiled eggs, and chunks of delicious bacon with a tasty vinaigrette make this an amazing salad you aren’t likely to forget.
7. Baby Kale Salad
Getting your greens doesn’t have to be a drag. With a salad like this baby kale salad, you’ll love every bite thanks to delicious chunks of bacon, tasty hard-boiled eggs, and fresh raw onions and tomoates with a tasty dressing.
8. Spinach Salad
Need a simple idea for a fresh spinach salad? With a package of baby spinach leaves and a few fresh ingredients, you’ll have a salad that’s as delicious as it is filling. It will pair well with several different types of dressing, and you can add any number of fresh summer ingredients to fix this up exactly the way you want it.
9. Chinese Chicken Salad
Chinese chicken salad is one of those salads that might take a little work to make, but it ends up being an incredible meal that you don’t mind cooking for one bit. You can make the ramen noodles your self or purchase them for convenience. All you really have to do is cook the chicken and chop some veggies.
10. Cranberry Walnut Salad
Cranberry walnut salad is a simple but decadent salad that will make you feel like you’re eating something you shouldn’t. It’s a wonderfully rich salad with savory crumbles of blue cheese, sweet dried cranberries, crunchy pieces of chopped walnuts, and a vinaigrette that will put it over the top.
11. Corn Salad
A simple corn salad makes a surprisingly filling meal when it’s mixed with other veggies and tangy crumbles of feta cheese. It’s a versatile dish that you can add almost any fresh veggies to and goes well with any number of vinaigrette recipes.
12. Kale Salad
It always sounds funny to say you massaged your kale, but it’s completely worth the few minutes of kale relaxation. This simple kale salad relies on avocado as a secret ingredient for its amazing flavor, without the need for traditional dressing. It’s all about the avocado as a secret ingredient.
13. Italian Chopped Salad
An Italian chopped salad is the freshest salad you’ll eat all summer. Chunks of romane, hunks of fresh cucumbers, pieces of sweet red onions, tender beans, and a wonderful Italian vinaigrette are all you need to make an incredible dinner you won’t be able to stop eating. Pair it with some crunchy garlic bread and a cup of minestrone if you want to round out the meal.
14. Mexican Chicken Salad
Mexican chicken salad is a fiesta in a bowl. It’s zesty, filling, and topped with a fantastic avocado dressing reminiscent of guacamole. This hearty salad will truly fill you up. Serve it with a side of rice and beans to round out the meal.
15. Tomato Salad
Tomato gardeners will want to save this tomato salad recipe. It’s an epically delicious salad that can be enjoyed as a main course or a delicious side dish. Mix it with pasta or rice, or spoon it over meat such as chicken or beef as a garnish. It’s a multi-purpose salad that will help you use up that summer harvest in no time.
16. Mandarin Orange Chicken Salad With Dried Cranberries
This refreshing mandarin orange chicken salad with dried cranberries is a mix of fresh fruits and vegetables with dried cranberries. Add in tasty morsels of chicken and a delicious dressing and you have a filling main-course salad that you’ll want to make again and again.
17. Chickpea Salad
A good chickpea salad makes a hearty meal for summer. You can enjoy this as a main course or as a tasty side dish for things like grilled meats and other popular summer dishes. This makes a great potluck dish and packs up well for a summer picnic.
18. Celery Salad Recipe With Citrus
Celery salad with citrus is a German salad that packs a hearty crunch. The flavor truly pops with this one. It’s a stand-alone meal that is perfectly refreshing for hot summer days. But if you want to round out the meal, enjoy this with a dinner roll or a cup of soup.
19. Pork Peach Arugula Salad
This pork peach arugula salad is the perfect way to use grilled summer pork chops. Grill the peaches as well for an epic salad that offers the pure flavors of summer. Drizzle a bit of peach vinaigrette over the top, and you’ll have a complete meal that will truly satisfy you.
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