This post may contain affiliate links. Please see disclosure form more information.
Here are our favorite cold summer salads perfect for potlucks and cookouts. From pasta salad to potato salad, try these easy salad recipes at your next BBQ or family dinner.
Over the years, I’ve built up a collection of cold summer salads that my family absolutely loves. These are our favorite recipes that I make on repeat all season long. From my grandma’s classic potato salad, that my kids eat by the spoonful, to a hearty chicken bacon ranch pasta salad, these recipes are lifesavers!
The best part? You can make them ahead of time, making summer entertaining and dinnertime easy!
What To Look For in a Summer Salad?
If you’re bringing food to a potluck or hosting a cookout, you need something cool, light and refreshing to contrast the summer heat. I have a variety of salads to fit these needs! Some are mostly crisp vegetables like my Broccoli Cauliflower Salad, and some are full of sweet fruits like my Tropical Fruit Salad. Many of these salads also have protein like chicken, chickpeas or mozzarella!
I also have several sweeter salads, from Strawberry Jello Salad to Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad for upcoming Memorial Day! These salads can be used for a simple side or fluffy dessert. All of my other salads can also be a side dish or even a light dinner on their own! If you’re using these as a side dish and need some dinner inspiration, check out my list of Blackstone Griddle Recipes!
Our 35 Favorite Cold Summer Salads
Here are 35 amazing summer salads for your potlucks, cookouts, or an easy side dish anytime! This list is divided into categories of pasta salads, vegetable salads, Jello salads, fruit salads, chicken salads and dessert salads. Whatever you need in a side dish, I’ve got a salad for that.
To go to the page for any of these recipes, click the View Recipe button. You can save and print the recipe whenever you’re craving a cool and refreshing summer salad!
Pasta Salads
Easy Buffalo Chicken Pasta Salad
This easy Buffalo chicken pasta salad recipe combines spicy chicken, tender pasta and crunchy veggies in a deliciously creamy dressing. A real crowd pleaser perfect for any occasion!
View Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad recipe with cooked chicken, tender pasta and crispy bacon in creamy ranch dressing is a delicious main dish. Cold pasta salad is perfect for a light summer dinner and a hit at family gatherings or potluck dinner!
View Recipe
BLT Pasta Salad
BLT Pasta Salad is a creamy pasta salad with romaine lettuce, crispy bacon and juicy cherry tomatoes in a simple mayonnaise ranch dressing. Tastes just like the classic sandwich! This cold pasta salad recipe makes a delicious side dish or main dish perfect for summer!
View Recipe
Easy Cucumber Tomato Pasta Salad
This easy cucumber tomato pasta salad recipe is made with crisp cucumbers, ripe tomatoes, mozzarella cheese and fresh herbs in Italian dressing. It's a delicious side dish perfect for potlucks and cookouts all summer long!
View Recipe
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad Recipe
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad (Mac Salad) is made with a handful of simple ingredients and a super creamy dressing. This easy recipe is the perfect side dish for summer cookouts!
View Recipe
Greek Pasta Salad
This Greek Pasta Salad recipe with feta cheese, kalamata olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and homemade dressing is a delicious pasta salad and an easy side dish perfect for summer potlucks and picnics. This healthy. Greek salad is easy to make ahead and serve with chicken or your favorite protein for a quick dinner the whole family will love!
View Recipe
Italian Pasta Salad
This Italian Pasta Salad Recipe with pepperoni, salami, rotini pasta and fresh vegetables with Italian dressing is a delicious main dish perfect for potlucks or picnics. Enjoy this easy pasta salad as a cold main dish or side dish all summer long! It's easy to customize to suit your own tastes!
View Recipe
Tortellini Pasta Salad with Pesto
This Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe combines tender tortellini, cherry tomatoes and fresh mozzarella balls with basil pesto for an easy summer side dish. Perfect for potlucks, a summer BBQ or a light dinner on its own!
View Recipe
Vegetable Salads
The Most Delicious Broccoli Apple Salad
My easy Broccoli apple salad recipe combines fresh broccoli, crisp apples, raisins and carrots in a ranch-flavored creamy dressing. This simple side salad is perfect for potlucks and cookouts!
View Recipe
Easy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
This easy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe with a homemade creamy dressing is the perfect side dish for family gatherings or a potluck dinner. A delicious side salad that goes well with almost any main dish!
View Recipe
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican Street Corn Salad recipe, sometimes called elote salad or esquites, is made with canned corn in a creamy dressing. This easy side dish is perfect for taco night or your next cookout.
View Recipe
Red White and Blue Potato Salad
This red white and blue potato salad recipe makes a delicious and colorful addition to your Memorial Day and Fourth of July cookouts or any summer BBQ or Patriotic holiday. It's cool, creamy and super easy to make!
View Recipe
Grandma’s Potato Salad Recipe
My Grandma’s Potato Salad Recipe with eggs, potatoes, celery and mayonnaise is a classic side dish and a family favorite for generations that tastes simply like home. Enjoy this delicious side salad at your next summer BBQ, picnic or holiday gathering.
View Recipe
Creamy Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream
Creamy Cucumber Salad with sour cream is cool, crisp and takes minutes to make. This quick and easy summer salad recipe is a classic side dish that goes well with just about anything.
View Recipe
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Cucumber Tomato Salad is an easy salad recipe made with crisp cucumbers and ripe tomatoes in a lemony dressing. The perfect side dish for a hot summer day!
View Recipe
Easy Green Bean and Tomato Salad
Easy Green Bean and Tomato Salad combines crisp green beans, juicy ripe tomatoes and creamy mozzarella cheese for a refreshing side dish perfect for hot summer days. Perfect for potlucks and cookouts!
View Recipe
Easy Three Bean Salad
A classic recipe for old fashioned Three Bean Salad that combines canned green beans, wax beans and kidney beans with a tangy homemade dressing.
View Recipe
Chickpea Salad Recipe
Simple Chickpea Salad Recipe with cucumbers, tomatoes and bell peppers in a quick homemade dressing is an easy high protein salad perfect for meal prep. Enjoy this easy garbanzo bean salad for a delicious lunch, or add grilled chicken for a complete meal.
View Recipe
Chicken Salads
Chinese Chicken Salad with Ramen
This Chinese Chicken Salad Recipe with ramen noodles, Napa cabbage, coleslaw mix and Mandarin oranges is an easy main dish salad perfect for summer. With its tangy homemade dressing, this easy meal is a family favorite and perfect for potluck dinners!
View Recipe
Ranch Chicken Salad
Ranch Chicken Salad with Bacon is an easy recipe for rotisserie chicken salad with ranch dressing mix, mayonnaise, celery and bacon. The whole family will love this delicious chicken bacon ranch salad!
View Recipe
The Best Easy Chicken Salad Recipe
The BEST easy chicken salad recipe made with simple ingredients is perfect for a quick lunch or dinner and makes delicious sandwiches. You'll love this classic way to use up leftover chicken
View Recipe
Lemon Chicken Apple Salad
This easy lemon chicken salad recipe combines tender chicken and crisp apples in a tangy lemony dressing. Perfect for a light lunch or dinner! Serve over fresh salad greens, in a sandwich or in wraps.
View Recipe
Fruit Salads
Watermelon Salad with Cucumber and Goat Cheese
Watermelon Salad is a refreshing salad made with juicy watermelon cubes, crisp cucumbers and goat cheese in a simple homemade dressing. The perfect side dish for hot summer days!
View Recipe
Watermelon, Feta and Blueberry Salad
Watermelon Feta and Blueberry Salad a refreshing summer salad with juicy watermelon, fresh blueberries and salty feta cheese. This easy recipe makes a gorgeous red white and blue salad perfect for any patriotic holiday.
View Recipe
Easy Tropical Fruit Salad
This easy Tropical Fruit Salad recipe made with fresh fruit and simple honey lime dressing is an easy side dish. This delicious fruit salad is perfect for cookouts during the summer months and goes with just about anything!
View Recipe
Ambrosia Fruit Salad Recipe
Ambrosia Fruit Salad recipe with sour cream, pineapple, mandarin oranges, mini marshmallows and coconut is a classic dessert salad. This creamy fruit salad is perfect for family dinners and special occasions!
View Recipe
Marshmallow Fruit Salad
This easy Marshmallow Fruit Salad with Cool Whip is a simple side dish made with fruit cocktail, marshmallows and whipped topping. Just 3 ingredients! This easy recipe is on the menu for every special occasion and family gathering and kids can make it.
View Recipe
Jello Salads
Orange Jello Fruit Salad
Orange Jello Fruit Salad is a retro side dish or dessert recipe made with Cool Whip and mandarin orange slices. It’s perfect for holiday dinners and potlucks and picnics!
View Recipe
Lime Jello Salad
Mom's Lime Jello Salad recipe with sour cream and pineapple is an easy vintage Jello recipe that you make with just 4 ingredients. Perfect for potlucks and holidays and tastes just like Mom and Grandma used to make!
View Recipe
Pistachio Salad
Pistachio Salad is a creamy fruit salad made with Jello pudding mix, Cool Whip, crushed pineapple and mini marshmallows. An easy recipe and a family favorite dessert salad perfect for holidays and family gatherings.
View Recipe
Strawberry Jello Salad
This easy strawberry jello salad recipe with Cool Whip makes a vintage pink dessert salad perfect for spring, summer and any holiday gathering.
View Recipe
Strawberry Pretzel Salad
This Strawberry Pretzel Salad recipe is a layered dessert salad with a tangy strawberry Jello topping over sweetened cream cheese and a buttery pretzel crust. A family favorite perfect for holidays, showers, potluck dinners and special occasions!
View Recipe
Dessert Salads
Snickers Apple Salad
Snickers Apple Salad is an easy recipe for dessert salad made with tart apples, Cool Whip and Snickers candy bars. Only 3 ingredients in this simple side dish and perfect for holidays, family gatherings and potluck dinners!
View Recipe
Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad
Easy Strawberry Banana Cheesecake Salad recipe combines fresh strawberries with sweet bananas in a creamy cheesecake filling. This delicious dessert salad is the perfect side dish for a church potluck, summer BBQ or family gathering!
View Recipe
Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad
This easy Red White and Blue Cheesecake Salad recipe combines fresh strawberries and blueberries in a creamy cheesecake dressing. The perfect patriotic dessert or side dish for Memorial Day and Fourth of July and summer potlucks!
View Recipe
For more easy recipes, sign up for the free weekly newsletter, and follow me on social media.
