Make the Most of Summer With These 10 Main Meal Salads

From classics to new favorites, we've got ideas that the whole family will love!

By
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia Cash
Claudia has been a contributor for Simply Recipes 2017, writing numerous articles focused on cooking on a budget, quick and easy meals, and kid-friendly foods.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
and
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated April 27, 2025
Three photos side by side of summer dinner salads. On the left is a platter of Farmers' Market Salad with Peaches, Goast Cheese, and Basil. In the center is a plate of Chicken Pozole Salad with thick wedges of avocado and sliced chicken breast in the center of the plate. On the right is Shrimp, Arugula, White Bean, and Cherry Tomato Salad with large shrimp set atop a bed of vegetables and beans.

Summer is the season for salads! Nothing highlights my garden bounty like crisp, crunchy vegetables tossed together for quick, healthy weeknight dinners.

I love salads packed with vegetables, but I need to make sure they are filling too. Making a salad into a complete meal can sometimes be a challenge, especially for my growing tweens. While a light plate for lunch will suffice, by the end of the day, we need a hearty dinner! We’ve worked hard and played hard and we are hungry.

If you're looking for bold, robust salads you're in luck! Pick from any of the recipes below and you are certain to have a healthy, filling, and utterly delicious weeknight dinner.

Robin Shreeves joins Claudia in compiling this list.

  • Cobb Salad

    Cobb Salad
    Sally Vargas

    This is my first go-to because I always have the ingredients on hand. You could also easily do a serve-yourself salad bar. Set all the ingredients on the table and let everyone build their salad.

  • Easy Steak Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

    Steak salad made with thinly-sliced pan-seared flank steak on a bed of arugula and lettuce with avocado, pomegranate seeds, and other add-ins
    Elise Bauer

    Arugula's strong peppery flavor is balanced out by steak and lemony vinaigrette. If you want to save on time, make the steak beforehand!

  • Shrimp, Arugula, White Bean, Cherry Tomato Salad

    Shrimp Arugula White Bean Salad
    Elise Bauer

    Easy, healthy, and quick is the name of this salad’s game. It’s on the table in 20 minutes and has bold Mediterranean flavor!

  • Asian Tuna Salad

    Asian Tuna Salad
    Elise Bauer

    No need to turn on the oven for this Asian-inspired salad! Canned tuna is the star of the show and is surrounded by the flavors of radishes, green onions, and shredded carrots.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below

  • Farmers' Market Salad with Peaches, Goat Cheese, and Basil

    Salad recipe with peaches, goat cheese and basil
    Alison Conklin

    Juicy, ripe peaches and aromatic basil never looked better than on this salad. It takes only 10 minutes to whip up. Make extra. You’ll definitely want seconds.

  • Dakos Salad

    Overhead view of a white bowl filled with Cretan Dakos salad.
    Lori Rice

    A specialty of the Greek island of Crete, this salad of fresh tomatoes, feta, capers, red onions, oregano, and basil can be served with the tomatoes and cheese crumbled on top of rusks (savory biscuits) or as a salad, like it is here.

  • Un-Cobb Salad

    Elise Bauer

    If you’re in the market for a meal that is on the lighter side, try this Un-Cobb Salad. Fresh fruits like mangos and apples are served with avocados and dried cranberries.

  • Classic Chicken Salad

    Chicken Salad with celery and bell pepper in a serving bowl
    Elise Bauer

    This chicken salad is really the best there is. Serve it on a sandwich, in pitas, or over a bed of lettuce (so it really can be a salad)! Its sweet and tangy flavor will drive your taste buds wild.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below

  • Chow Mein Noodle Chicken Salad

    Chow mein chicken salad
    Elise Bauer

    A great make-ahead salad if you keep the dressing separate from the rest. It's a colorful and tasty way to use up leftover chicken in a quick and easy light lunch or dinner with a Chow Mein noodle crunch.

  • Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

    How to Make a Thai Noodle Salad
    Jessica Gavin

    Fresh, colorful, and tossed in a peanut dressing so good you could drink it. Make this one to take along to work or a picnic.

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