32 Summer Potluck Salads to Make Now

Now that the summer months are rolling in, you’ll probably be wanting to eat lighter. This list of healthy summer potluck salads is going to make your mouth water! Tons of ideas to add to your menu!

Jump to:

• Potluck Salads
• Things To Remember When Prepping Your Salads
• Our Final Say
• 📖 Recipe

Potluck Salads

While barbeque is very tasty and juicy, people do tend to pile on the pounds if they are eating chicken, pork, and hearty joints of beef every week. However, you might be struggling to find the right salad to suit your schedule. These days everyone is in a rush to get to the office, and you might not have much time to cook a whole chicken to put in your green dish.

Luckily for you, we have plenty of salads on this list that will satisfy everyone, from the rushed vegetarian to the expert carnivorous chef. Because another great thing about potluck salads is the ease with which you can put them together. All you need for these recipes will be a salad bowl and a few inches of space - although some of these dishes might require you to cook a chicken before adding it to your vegetables.

And if you need even more meal plan inspiration, check out the list of ideas below for adding to your menu.

• 50 Mediterranean Diet Recipe Favorites
• 25 Light And Easy Chicken Recipes For Dinner
• 20 Healthy Air Fryer Recipes You Must Try
• 20 Easy Flavor-Packed Sheet Pan Chicken Dinners
• 35+ Instant Pot Comfort Food Recipes For Weeknight Meals
• 30 Slow Cooker Pork Recipes Your Family Will Love

So what are you waiting for? Let’s get stuck in!

Easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad

A few simple ingredients are all you need for this light and healthy pasta salad recipe. It's a great side to grilled chicken, especially if you add some Greek seasoning to the chicken!

Beetroot and Feta Cheese Salad

If you haven't had beets before, this is a great recipe to use for them! They are a delicious root vegetable that is super healthy and loaded with an earthy flavor. This recipe is fast, easy, and sure to please.

Creamy Corn Salad Recipe with Cucumbers and Bell Peppers

I absolutely love how refreshing this is! It's even better if you can use fresh corn from the garden. It never fails to be a hit at the barbecue picnics all summer long!

Avocado Caprese Salad

This first salad really is very simple to make, containing only a few ingredients.

But what ingredients they are! With wonderfully meaty avocado and some egg, then you can be sure that this salad has plenty of clout and will keep you full all day long.

Chickpea Salad With A Mediterranean Twist 

This is very delicious and will give you that added boost when it comes to pulses.

This contains fresh oregano as well as parsley, giving you a healthy balance of carbs and proteins. This is definitely a must for anyone looking to lose weight.

Cucumber Salad

If it’s zest and zing that you are looking for, then you can’t go far wrong with this salad.

This will give you a lemony punch that will leave you reeling. It knocks your taste buds out completely, giving you everything you need for both taste and nutrition.

Three Bean Salad

Now, this is one for the fruit fans, containing not only fresh tasting cucumber but some cranberries on the side too. This is a great mix of fruity and earthy salad leaves, making it perfect for your family or an adventurous group of friends.

Chicken And Berry Pesto Salad

Now, this is one for those who fancy trying something a little more adventurous, with a fruity berry texture that is nicely offset by protein-packed chicken. If you are cautious about this one, we would definitely recommend giving it a try.

Cucumber Basil Watermelon Salad 

Now we’re sticking with the fruit and watermelon combos, with some cucumber that will lighten up the mix along with zesty basil and some mouthwatering watermelon. Why not treat yourself to one of these after a very long and hot workout on a summer afternoon?

Broccoli And Cauliflower Salad

This is one for the people who want to up their green intake. With both florid green and hearty cauliflower, then you can be certain that you’ll have a lot of food to boost your immune system. This is great for increasing your fiber and giving you lots of protein.

Mexican Street Corn Salad

This one is perfect if you are interested in Mexican street food, with spicy flavors that you can be sure will leave your tastebuds dancing. This comes with plenty of corn that will leave you feeling full after eating, which will reduce your snacking and overall weight gain.

Greek Pasta Salad

This is a classic Greek salad, with lashings of feta cheese and veggies that you can add and subtract at your will. We would recommend that you opt for black or green olives with this salad, as well as artichokes, as all these will give it a meaty flavor without actually having to ingest any animal flesh.

Summer Salad With Dill Dressing

This summer salad is brimming with delicious ingredients, making sure that your at least getting 10 different food groups in one hearty meal. We would recommend snacking on this salad after a workout, as it has everything that you need to build lots of protein.

Strawberry Caprese Farro Salad

This is another one for the more adventurous salad eater, with a mixture of delicious fruit and vegetables, giving you exactly what you need for your protein and healthy sugar balance. We would also recommend that you make one of these if you are not the most comfortable chefs and want to start with something easy.

Chicken And Smashed Avocado Salad 

This is a wonderful salad that is filled with green and plenty of vegetable and meat proteins. If you are looking to shed pounds, then we would certainly recommend that you dine out on this salad a few times a week. Just make sure that you grill the chicken well and that it is not left to go lukewarm.

Mexican Coleslaw

If you are not a huge fan of the mayo-slicked coleslaw that you can buy in the shops, then we would recommend that you make your own at home. This comes with fresh lime and cilantro, both of which combine to make a wonderful mix of flavors.

Orzo Pasta Salad

This is a pasta salad that is perfect for any vegetarians who are looking to put themselves on a low-calorie diet. It contains delicious chicken that will be a wonderful source of protein.

This comes with garlic dressing and honey vinaigrette sauce that will leave your tastebuds reeling.

Herbed Red Potato Salad 

This is a potato salad that tastes unlike any other that you’ve ever laid your tongue on - with lemon and citrus flavors, this one will feel a lot brighter and less stodgy than some potato salads that you might find on the market.

Charred Corn Red Pepper Salad

This charred corn red pepper salad comes with plenty of delicious flavors such as onion, as well as grilled cheese that will certainly make this one taste amazing.

This has a blend of lime and smoky flavors, so it is the perfect accompaniment for a warm summer evening.

Honeydew Melon And Blackberry Salad

That’s right, this salad has all the sweet notes that come with honey along with juicy melon and the tart taste of traditional blackberries.

This salad will be lingering on your palate for hours to come, going perfectly with a wedge of ciabatta bread, with or without butter.

Thai Quinoa Salad

This is a really versatile salad, coming with plenty of crunchy vegetables, peanuts and carrots shavings, you can be sure that you will have plenty of vitamins to ensure against any illness and fatigue.

Plus, this comes loaded with quinoa, so you can expect to be a lot fuller than most other salads.

Israeli Couscous 

This is a very tasty salad with plenty of hearty couscous that will keep you full for a few hours after eating.

It also comes with tiny florets of broccoli and pesto, making sure that it is both healthy and flavorsome. This is a particular favorite with mums trying to introduce greens to their children.

Lemon Orzo Salad

This salad is full of chickpeas, greens and cheese, however, there are no hard and fast rules with regards to what you can include with your salad. A lot of meat-lovers like to add their own chicken to make sure that they have plenty of protein before and after their workout.

Watermelon Salad

Now we have another watermelon salad, because who can’t get enough of that juicy texture?

This has a wonderful flavor and texture, with a lot of salad fans signing up for this one. We would recommend that you have this either by itself or as a starter for your chicken or pork main dish.

Israeli Salad

Here we have another Israeli salad, with a very diverse array of vegetables and flavors that will give you everything that you need for a boost of protein and fibers. This is one for those for whom presentation is key.

Tuscan Pasta Salad (Extra Creamy)

This salad contains over 3 different types of salami, so it is definitely one for those who like their meat.

It is also very creamy, which is also great if you are trying to smuggle additional greens into your child’s diet. This also contains egg noodles, black olive and traditional Italian dressing - for all authentic tastes of Italy!

Broccoli Slaw With Nuts And Raisins

Throwing some walnuts and raisins in a blender is a quick and easy way to blend as many pulses and antioxidants into your diet.

If you are looking to prevent disease the natural way, then we would suggest that you choose this salad. This will also last you a very long time in the fridge.

Ramen Noodle Salad 

This is another very diverse salad, it gives you all the nutrients that you’ll need to make sure that your food will be extra delicious.

It also comes with very zesty oranges, so this is great for those that like to contrast those earthy tones with oranges that really pack a punch on your tastebuds.

Strawberry Avocado Chicken Salad

When we took a straw poll to decide what people’s favorite ingredients in their salad were, they said chicken, avocado and, surprisingly, strawberry.

The tart flavor will actually work really well with juicy chicken, forming a flavor that will be unforgettable at your next barbeque or summer dinner party.

Three Bean Quinoa Salad (Mediterranean-style)

You can sample all the delicious tastes of the seafront with this salad, which is packed full of vegetables to fill you up until dinnertime.

This salad is extremely high on protein, giving you everything that you need to build muscle and get healthy quickly and easily on the treadmill.

Roasted Garlic Italian Couscous Salad

This salad comes brimming with delicious ingredients - couscous, garlic, grilled vegetables, olives and basil.

This is ideal for vegetarians who want to improve their diet and get as many different types of foods in their stomachs as possible. This is a very satisfying meal that won’t lie too heavily on you after eating.

Avocado Black Bean Corn Salad 

This type of salad will give you everything that you need for a delicious salad recipe, you can even serve it with tortilla chips and dipping sauces.

This is really a sharing salad, so make sure to invite some of your favorite pals around to indulge in this very unique tasting green dish.

Traditional Potato Salad

Finally, we’d thought we’d end with something very traditional, it’s everyone and their mother’s favorite - the potato salad.

While this might not be that light on carbs, it will give you everything that you need for a great side salad, complementing chicken, pork and even beef dishes.

We would recommend this only in small portions if you are planning to lose a few pounds.

Things To Remember When Prepping Your Salads

There will be many things that you need to bear in mind when you are rustling up your next green-leafed dish. You’ll need to set the right amount of time aside to make your salad, firstly, as well as prepping the right amount of space in your kitchen.

Here are a few tips and trick for salad making that will make sure that you don’t spoil it:

Make Sure That You Have All The Ingredients

This might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people get halfway through a recipe and realize only too late that they are missing a very crucial ingredient.

This might cause you to have to abandon the dish if you are in a rush. You may have to bin the dish altogether.

Read the ingredients carefully before embarking upon your salad. Make sure that there are enough onions and potatoes and that you have plenty of vinaigrette dressing.

If you are missing some crucial seasoning, then you can expect your salad to taste very different from that described on the menu.

Prepare The Kitchen Workspace

Make sure that you have enough room to cook your salad. One of the many bonuses of a potluck salad is the fact that you don’t have to have much in the way of cooking pots or hob space.

However, there are a lot of ingredients in most salads, so make sure you have enough space to spread everything out.

If you are roasting any of your chicken ingredients, then we would recommend that you have at least one hob free. We would recommend frying the chicken, as this is the healthiest option for you.

If you have an air fryer, then this is even better, as you can grill the chicken with minimal fat, which will keep the calorie count low.

Make Sure The Salad Is Well-Balanced

Some salads can turn out very uneven, often with a lot of one ingredient and too little of another.

Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully and do not go overboard with ingredients such as salt or garlic. Too much of either will often spoil a perfectly good salad.

Our Final Say

We hope that our list of the top 30 potluck salads for a summer’s day gives you everything that you need to try making one. Not only are they very easy, but they also tick a lot of the boxes in terms of nutrients and protein.

If you are looking to shed some pounds, then we would definitely recommend trying more than one of the above salads.