Fresh Summer Vegetarian Salad Recipes, Never Boring
Summer is the best time for fresh vegetarian salad recipes made with seasonal ingredients that can hang out in the fridge for days. I’ve rounded up 12 meal prep ready, fresh veggie salad recipes perfect for picnics, road trips, lunch, dinner or for al fresco dinning!
These vegetarian salads are hearty, versatile, and texture-rich. With vegan and gluten-free options, there’s a salad here for everyone! Which salad recipe will you try first?
Summer Pesto Tortellini Salad
Cheese tortellini pasta salad with pesto highlights fresh summer veggies and features an easy to make spinach-basil walnut pesto. This simple summer Pesto Tortellini Salad is hearty enough as a main or share it as a side. This recipe is vegetarian.
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Black Bean Sweet Potato Quinoa Salad Recipe
Texture, flavor and spice come together in this hearty, slightly spicy quinoa salad. Make-ahead for lunch on the ready or for a light yet hearty dinner. Versatile and packed with goodness. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and easily gluten free.
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Grilled Panzanella Salad with Chickpeas and Quinoa
This hearty and flavor-packed panzanella salad recipe (tomato and bread salad) features grilled sourdough. Chickpeas and quinoa round out this main-course Tuscan bean salad, which is topped with a snappy red wine vinaigrette! Use fresh, in-season, plump tomatoes for the juiciest and best flavor. This salad is vegan, vegetarian, and easily gluten-free.
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Thai Peanut Noodle Salad Recipe
Packed with crunchy veggies, edamame, rice noodles and a scrumptious garlicky, gingery peanut-lime dressing, this Thai Peanut Noodle Salad recipe is make ahead ready and simple to pull together! This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, and easily gluten free
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Crunchy Garbanzo Summer Salad with Creamy Dill Dressing
Hearty, delicious and full of vibrant veggies, this salad holds beautifully for up to three days making it ideal for meal prep. It travels with ease for picnics, potlucks or packed lunches. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan, and easily gluten-free.
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Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad with Chickpeas
Simple ingredients come together in this flavor packed Quinoa Tabbouleh Salad with Chickpeas. A portable, make ahead salad for lunches, picnics, light dinners or to share at potlucks. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.
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Lemon-Dijon Asparagus and Pea Macaroni Salad
Texture, flavor, creamy and make-ahead easy, Lemon-Dijon Asparagus and Pea Macaroni Salad is packed with veggies and is a welcomed summer and spring pasta salad at picnics, BBQs and potlucks. Cooking the pasta, then blanching the asparagus and peas in one pot means clean up’s a snap! This recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, and is a community favorite. This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and easily gluten free.
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Sesame Ginger Noodle Salad with Cashews
A flavor packed dressing with crunchy veggies, Sesame Noodle Salad with Cashews comes together with ease. Make once, eat all week! Use your favorite noodle. Soba, whole wheat angel hair, spaghetti or gluten free varieties work beautifully. Picnics, potlucks, weekday lunch or summertime dinner… versatile and delicious!
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Summer Quinoa Veggie Salad with Fresh Mozzerella
A delicious and texture-rich Quinoa salad made with the freshest farmers market finds! A zippy balsamic dressing ties all the flavors together. Summer Quinoa Vegetable Salad with Fresh Mozzarella is vegetarian, easily vegan and gluten-free.
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Black Rice Salad with Mango, Bok Choy and Coconut Curried Dressing
Packed with crunchy and creamy flavors, simple to make Forbidden Rice® Salad with Mango, Bok Choy and Coconut Curried Dressing is meal prep easy, hearty and so satisfying! This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and gluten free.
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35 Minute Quinoa Mango Black Bean Salad with Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette
Sweet and spicy come together in this Quinoa Mango Black Bean Salad with a scrumptious Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette and Smoky Pepitas. Cook Black Beans from scratch and make this ahead, ideal for lunch, dinner, potluck or picnic. It comes together in about 35 minutes! This recipe is vegetarian, vegan and easily gluten free.
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Spinach Pecan Brown Rice Salad
A fresh and wholesome salad perfect for a weekday lunch or weekend picnic. This hearty salad features crunchy pecans, green bell pepper, fresh spinach, buttery olives, and salty feta. The lemony dressing ties all the flavors together. This recipe is vegetarian, easily vegan and gluten free.
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These look so fresh and full of flavor. I need to eat like this more, and this amazing group of recipes will help!
Hi Kim! Let me know what you try first!
Will you be making a book soon?
Hi Stephanie! Thank you for your note. No plans, but am considering a series of e-books. Of course if I do, I’ll announce it via social and through my email list. I hope this helps!
Your salad recipes truly are the best-full of so much flavor and color. I love having them around for lunches and I’m always asked to bring salads for picnics though this summer I’m sharing the recipes instead of the salads (not as much fun, but it’s ok!). Thanks, always, for the inspiration.
There is nothing that I love in this world more than salads.
Hi Haley! I’m a fan too! :D
I have tried every one of these and all are super delicious. Complete meals and great for lunches to take to work! Several have been repeated since posted. Would highly recommend them to all.
Dear Traci, thank you for this round-up! Instantly I am craving all of these;)). I have tried some already and loved them all. Healthy and different from any old green or potato salad – for sure. Lots of love, Christine