Easy Veggie Side Salads for Spring and Summer
If you’re looking to lighten up your plate without losing flavor, these 8 veggie-packed salads are just the thing! They’re fresh, simple to make, and use easy-to-find ingredients—no fancy stuff required.
From creamy classics like broccoli salad to bright bowls like cucumber tomato, these budget-friendly sides are perfect for warm-weather meals, cookouts, or weekly dinners.
As a bonus, most of these salads can be adapted to your personal preferences! Throw in some leftovers or items you already have, and you can make a whole new dish that you will be known for at future potlucks!
Is it a Veggie or a Salad? It’s Both!
Broccoli Salad
We have switched this up and used ranch or Ceasar salad dressing in a pinch, and it is fabulous! (If raw broccoli upsets your stomach, try blanching the broccoli in boiling water for a few minutes and then putting in an ice bath!)
Carrot Raisin Salad
This is such a throwback salad, but it is still quite tasty. Mix it up with golden raisins, dried cranberries, or really any dried fruit!
Cauliflower Crunch Salad
This is so good and can easily be applied to raw broccoli as well. Switch out the sunflower seeds for any nuts, crushed croutons, or any crunchy bites you like!
Corn and Black Bean Salad
This is one of those super versatile side dishes that can also be used as a topper for grilled fish, tacos, and used as a salsa with tortilla chips!
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Hands down this is my go-to Spring and Summer side dish. When we had a front yard garden, we always had tomatoes and cucumbers. This became a weekly staple at our house!
Spinach & Strawberry Salad
This is another great salad that you can swap around a ton of ingredients based on what you have on hand. The basics just include some greens, a crunch, and some cheese! Plus, your favorite salad dressing and fruit!
Sweet Pea & Cheese Salad
This is another retro style salad, but to be honest it just sounds weird. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to try it! But then I tasted it to be polite, and my mind was forever changed. So don’t knock it till you try it!
Zucchini Ribbon Salad
This is another great salad with options. Skip the zucchini and use yellow squash or carrots instead! Switch up the herbs and you could easily make 3 very different side dishes!
Spring & Summer Salad Side Dishes
I’m not sure if it is because it is hot and humid in the south during spring & summer, but I am much more likely to want to eat something cooled or room temperature. These salads are also great because you can make them ahead of time!
The best part though is I can easily get everyone to eat more vegetables. That may not seem like much, but everyone could use a little extra fiber in their meals, so why not make that fiber taste amazing?
