46 Delicious Summer Salads: Perfect for Picnics | What’s Your Favorite?

Quick & Easy Pasta Salad, the perfect side dish for every picnic!

A great pasta salad for any gathering. Use your homegrown basil & tomatoes for a fresh taste of summer!

This is a yummy, hearty salad recipe with chickpeas & feta cheese as the main ingredients. Very refreshing!

This macaroni salad is a family favorite. We eat this year round, but it makes a great side dish for any picnic!

This easy classic coleslaw recipe is so creamy and delicious! Whip it up in 10 minutes flat, and it’s the perfect side to a burger or as a topping for a pulled pork sandwich.

I'm asked to make this recipe every gathering I attend. It's addictively delicious served with tortilla chips.

Everyone will enjoy this fresh, flavorful salad made with creamy white beans, juicy tomato, crisp cucumber, tender spinach, and a super easy homemade dressing. Makes a nice side or heartier option for non-meat eaters. Perfect for picnics and potlucks alike!

This ultimate Greek salad with mini sweet peppers is sure to impress! It’s filled with a variety of colorful veggies, feta cheese, olives, and topped with homemade Greek salad dressing with lemon.

This cucumber tomato onion salad recipe is a delicious summer veggie salad for your next picnic! Served with homemade lemon garlic dressing, it’s the perfect side dish for any summer day.

This simple salad is a summer staple in my house. So simple to make and it travels well for picnics. Just keep it cold!

A Classic Italian Pasta Salad that’s gluten-free, vegan, and allergy-free! The cold pasta salad you love, with tri-colored pasta, fresh veggies, and a healthy homemade Italian dressing! A super easy and quick meat-free vegetarian and dairy-free recipe that’s a perfect side dish to feed any crowd!

Vegan watermelon feta salad is incredibly refreshing, light, and super easy to throw together in less than 15 minutes. Use my easy vegan feta cheese or store-bought vegan feta for a delicious summer salad that’s perfect for sharing… or not.

This zesty Asian slaw made with crisp veggies in a sesame ginger dressing. Packed with flavor and whips up in minutes!

This scrumptious mayo-free potato salad is made with tender red potatoes and fresh herbs dressed in a refreshing Dijon vinaigrette. Perfect for cookouts, this easy side dish comes together in a flash and is full of flavor!

A simple 4 ingredient Macaroni Salad with tuna, that can be thrown together last minute or made ahead. It's served cold so is perfect for feeding a crowd, or bringing along to a potluck, picnic or BBQ!

A simple salad full of amazing flavors with vegetables, feta cheese, Kalamata olives, and topped with a very tasty dressing. A delicious Mediterranean vegetable side dish salad.

Broccoli Grape Salad has bacon and other tasty ingredients, and also has a delicious dressing. You can make this wonderful broccoli salad recipe for picnics, parties, and potlucks.

A crunchy, light twist on orzo salad – this Coleslaw Orzo Salad is made with a light and tasty citrusy dressing, toasted almonds for crunch, and dried cranberries for a touch of sweetness.

All the great flavors of buffalo chicken dip, in a satisfying tortellini pasta salad! It’s perfect as a main dish salad, or as a hearty side, and it’s easy to prep ahead and can even be served without the chicken for a vegetarian option!

Amish Macaroni Salad is a favorite picnic classic. The combination of creamy noodles and sweet + tangy flavor are sure to make everyone happy.

Lots of nutritious superfoods, plus irresistible mix-ins like crunchy pistachios and sweet-tart dried cranberries … all tossed with a delicious Maple-Balsamic Dressing! And it's ready in about 5 minutes flat! 

A lighter version of the traditional macaroni pasta salad loaded with veggies and dressed in a white bean sauce.

Refreshing and bright, this Chicken Strawberry Avocado Salad is a not-boring salad that works as the perfect cold lunch idea, light dinner, or as a potluck dish!

This make-ahead Marinated Salad is perfect picnic food. The variety of canned veggies marinated in a delicious sweet + tangy sauce makes this a great pantry recipe. It's easy and yummy!

Italian pasta salad with tricolor noodles, Zesty Italian dressing, and Italian spices. Customize with your choice of veggies, cheese, or mini pepperonis. It’s the perfect cold dish to bring to a picnic!

Southern Potato Salad is creamy, starchy, and a little crunchy. It is the perfect summer cookout side dish.

This easy pasta salad recipe with italian dressing is perfect for your next backyard barbecue, picnic or to simply enjoy during the summer months.

The long hot days of summer are upon us and light dishes are on the menu. A refreshing cucumber salad is the best summer salad side dish for a light meal on a hot day.

So creamy and tasty with all the flavors you love from a classic Caesar salad.

This flavourful pasta salad with a non-creamy homestyle vinaigrette dressing is quick to make and makes a perfect picnic addition.

Greek orzo salad is so simple, but so flavorful and filling. Made with fresh ingredients, this pasta salad is packed with nutrients and flavors.

This summer fresh salad is sooo yummy! Perfect for a light lunch or serving as a picnic recipe. I know you'll enjoy it!

Healthy, colorful, and delicious kid-friendly pasta salad that your kids will love!

This Mexican style Quinoa Salad is a must-try vegan and gluten-free summer salad. A medley of textures and flavors, it can be served as a side dish, enjoyed as a lunch, stuffed in the wraps, or added to vegan bowls.

This Orzo Pasta Salad is loaded with roasted corn, tomatoes and basil then seasoned wit the perfect light lemon dressing.

A light and refreshing cucumber salad is the perfect summer side dish. It’s quick and easy to make, with simple ingredients. This Cucumber salad recipe has a mix of zesty seasonings and oils that make a delicious dressing to perfectly coat your crisp cucumbers and chopped red onion.

This classic broccoli salad is an easy, healthy side dish that brightens up any table. It’s loaded with cranberries, sunflower seeds, almonds, and bacon — a perfect mix of sweet and crunchy.

Simple and quick, this easy macaroni salad is a breeze to make from scratch. This classic side dish combines tender pasta, a quick homemade sauce, and fresh, crunchy veggies. You’ll love how tasty it is!

This Asian pasta salad is my daughter Laura's favorite pasta salad! It's so simple to make and would be great for a picnic!

This Mediterranean Bean Salad is a fantastic side dish for outdoor bbqs and picnics.

This recipe goes beyond the basic old-fashioned egg salad. In this seriously filling dish, the eggs compliment the crunchy vegetables and add a deliciously creamy texture to the sweet and hearty flavors. Pair it with sprouted corn tortillas for a full and satisfying lunch.

When spring and summer are in full swing, this sweet broccoli apple salad with pasta makes the perfect side dish for all your BBQ’s, potlucks. This healthy but still creamy side dish is fresh and deliciously full of sweet honey crisp apple, carrots, broccoli and raisins all mixed with pasta.

This simple taco salad is great for crowds and makes a perfect easy picnic recipe. Just be sure to add the dressing right before serving so the tortilla chips don't get soggy!

I've been making this salad for over 25 years. It's so yummy and easy to make. Perfect for picnics. Serve as a side or main dish!