Easy Salad Recipes for Every Season

There’s something so simple and comforting about a good salad. They’re low-prep (which I always appreciate on busy days), they’re perfect for using up whatever is coming out of the garden or tucked into your farmers market basket, and they make the easiest side dish for dinners, cookouts, and potlucks. Fresh, flexible, and fuss-free — that’s my kind of recipe.

Collage of delicious salads for every season. Includes potato salad, watermelon salad, tomato and white bean salad and tortellini with balsamic vinegar glaze.

Whether you need a fresh summer pasta salad, a light spring side dish, a fall fruit salad, or a hearty winter salad, this collection has options for every time of year. These recipes are simple to make, family friendly, and perfect for potlucks, holidays, or everyday dinners.

Tortellini Caprese Salad (Easy Cold Pasta Salad)
Caprese Pasta Salad
Easy Greek Pasta Salad with Dressing
Orzo Caprese Salad
Pasta Bar – Build Your Own Pasta Salad
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Asparagus Salad
Cucumber Salad with Dill
Simple Radish Salad
Greek Salsa
Tomato and Kielbasa Salad
Easy Three-Ingredient Salad
Greek Salad with Easy Homemade Dressing
Bean & Hearty Salads
Black Bean Salad (Texas Caviar)
Black Bean and Corn Salsa
Tomato & White Bean Salad
My Mom's German Potato Salad
Blueberry Salad
Summer Watermelon Salad (3 Ingredients)
Apple Salad with Honeycrisp Apples and Walnuts
Need More?

Hearty Make-Ahead Pasta Salads

These salads are perfect for meal prep or making ahead of time because they taste great cold!

Tortellini Caprese Salad (Easy Cold Pasta Salad)

This Tortellini Salad is so easy to make and perfect for a light lunch or potluck side dish. It stands out since it's a bit different than your average pasta salads.

A fresh and colorful tortellini Caprese salad with cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, baby spinach, and basil, drizzled with balsamic glaze. Served cold as a summer pasta salad.

Get the recipe here: Tortellini Pasta Salad

Caprese Pasta Salad

If you love the fresh flavors of a caprese salad, you are going to love this caprese pasta salad! This is especially good if you have fresh basil from the garden.

pasta salad with fresh cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls and fresh basil.

Get the recipe here: Caprese Pasta Salad

Easy Greek Pasta Salad with Dressing

Easy Greek Pasta Salad with Dressing is a fresh, colorful mix of pasta, crisp vegetables, and salty feta tossed in a bright homemade vinaigrette. It’s a simple, crowd-friendly side that works just as well for weeknight dinners as it does for summer gatherings.

Greek Pasta salad with cut up tomoatoes, cucumbers, feta, red onions, olives and a fresh oregano, lemon with olive oil dressing.

Get the recipe here: Easy Greek Pasta Salad

Orzo Caprese Salad

Another delicious way to enjoy caprese salad! This recipe uses orzo to make a fun and filling Orzo Caprese Salad that is perfect for meal prep.

caprese orzo salad with fresh tomatos, basil, small mozzarella and orzo all in a glass bowl.

Get the recipe: Orzo Caprese Salad

Pasta Bar – Build Your Own Pasta Salad

Creating a Pasta Bar turns a classic side dish into a fun, interactive meal with endless topping combinations. It’s a great way to feed a group while letting everyone create a salad plate they’ll love.

pasta bar ingredients including cooked spaghetti, spiral pasta, tomatos, cucumbers, steamed broccoli, hard boiled eggs, feta cheese, cut up rotisserie chicken, peppers.

Get the recipe here: Pasta Bar Ideas

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Dill Pickle Pasta Salad is the perfect salad for pickle-lovers! It’s a fun twist on traditional pasta salad that stands out at potlucks and cookouts.

Get the recipe here: Dill Pickle Pasta Salad

Fresh Veggie Salads

Some of these double as side salads or light lunches, especially when you add grilled meat or air fryer mains.

Asparagus Salad

Asparagus Salad is a fresh, spring side dish filled with crisp spears and bright flavor. It’s light yet satisfying, perfect for pairing with dinners when asparagus is abundant.

asparagus topped with balsamic vinegar and feta cheese.

Get the recipe here: Asparagus Salad

Cucumber Salad with Dill

Cucumber Salad with Dill is a cool, crunchy salad. It’s so easy to toss together and makes a lovely side alongside grilled meals or summer suppers.

Get the recipe here: Cucumber Salad

Simple Radish Salad

Radishes are one of the first spring vegetables, enjoy them in this Simple Radish Salad! This quick salad is perfect for enjoying the harvest straight from the backyard.

Get the recipe here: Simple Radish Salad

Greek Salsa

Greek Salsa is a simple mix of juicy tomatoes, cool cucumbers, and salty feta that’s ready in minutes. It’s the kind of dish that disappears fast.

Greek chopped salsa including cucumber, tomato, olives and feta on a slice of bread.

Get the recipe here: Greek Salsa

Tomato and Kielbasa Salad

Tomato and Kielbasa Salad is a speedy, satisfying salad with savory kielbasa and fresh tomatoes tossed together in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for busy days when you want something fresh that's a whole meal.

Get the recipe here: Tomato and Kielbasa Salad

Easy Three-Ingredient Salad

Mandarin Orange Salad is exactly what it sounds like — simple, sweet, and especially loved by little helpers. With just three ingredients, it’s the go-to when you need a quick salad that the kids will love.

Mandarine orange salad with mandarin slices and almonds for garnish in a white bowl.

Get the recipe here: Mandarin Orange Salad

Greek Salad with Easy Homemade Dressing

Greek Salad is a colorful bowl of crisp veggies (but no lettuce!) and bold flavors dressed in a homemade vinaigrette that tastes so much better than anything store-bought.

Final mixed Greek salad with chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, feta, and olives tossed in lemon oregano dressing.

Get the recipe here: Greek Salad

Bean & Hearty Salads

These are technically salads, even if “salsa” is in the name! These salads are scoop-with-chips, spoon-over-grilled-chicken, or meal-prep lunch options.

Black Bean Salad (Texas Caviar)

Cowboy Caviar is filled with protein and fiber to keep you full! Serve this salad as a hearty side when you need something fresh but filling.

cowboy caviar in a small white bowl. the cowboy caviar contains a couple of been varieties, corn, tomatoes and peppers with optional avacado on top.

Get the recipe here: Cowboy Caviar

Black Bean and Corn Salsa

This simple Black Bean and Corn Salad is the perfect appetizer and one of my favorites to make because it comes together so quickly.

Black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, and red onion in a glass mixing bowl after tossing with dressing. Corn tortilla chips are in a bowl to the side.

Get the recipe here: Black Bean and Corn Salad

Tomato & White Bean Salad

This delicious Tomato and White Bean Salad is made with plenty of fresh garden herbs. Use some garden tomatoes, and you will have a super flavorful side salad!

Overhead view of white bean and tomato salad with feta in a white bowl, garnished with fresh basil and parsley.

Get the recipe here: Tomato and White Bean Salad

Cucumber Chickpea Salad

This Cucumber Chickpea Salad is a great one to make in the summer to use fresh garden herbs. It also has a nice boost of protein from the chickpeas.