Skip to main content

Seven easy salads for summer celebrations

A serving bowl of Greek salad with the addition of pan-fried gnocchi, a colourful and easy dinner.

There are only three steps involved in this easy and fast recipe. (ABC Everyday: Hetty Lui McKinnon)

Every summer gathering needs a salad, and we have plenty of easy options for you.

We've put the fastest recipes up top, and there are three versions of potato salad to choose from.

10 minutes prep: Leafy green salad 

A picture of mixed lettuce leafs in a bowl garnished with seeded mustard vinaigrette.

The humble side salad that ties a meal together.  (ABC News: David Sier)

Stephanie Alexander's leafy green salad is colourful and tasty, with a seeded vinaigrette that's easy to whisk up. A couple of simple tricks make this salad extra special, from chilling the leaves before serving to rubbing the salad bowl with a clove of garlic.

Greek salad with gnocchi is ready in 20 minutes

Hetty Lui McKinnon's Greek salad and gnocchi served into bowls for a vegetarian family dinner.

Salad and gnocchi combine in this easy weeknight meal. (ABC Everyday: Hetty Lui McKinnon)

Store-bought gnocchi bulks out this Greek salad, which can also double as a speedy midweek meal. There are just three steps in this simple recipe, which is handy if you're assembling a salad at short notice.

Slice-and-serve beetroot and almond salad

Beetroot salad with lentils

This recipe uses vacuum-packed beetroot to create a nourishing, quick-to-assemble salad. (ABC Everyday: Heidi Sze)

Perfect for hot days, this salad makes use of pre-cooked beetroot, sold in vacuum packs. Simply slice the beetroot and halve some red grapes for sweetness. The vinaigrette comes together in a jar.

Speed it up: Buy roasted almonds to make this a no-cook recipe.

Creamy potato salad in 30 minutes

An oval platter of potato salad on a table with a white dining cloth. A plate and cutlery nearby for serving.

A classic, creamy salad that's a welcome addition to any summer spread. (ABC News: Clementine Day)

Using baby chat potatoes makes this recipe fast, and you can chop the rest of the ingredients while the potatoes boil. This is a punchy version with plenty of herbs, sweet caramelised shallots, mustard, mayo and pickled onions.

There are so many ways to enjoy potato salad. Check out our vegan potato salad or a simple potato salad with no mayo.

Tomato, cucumber and crouton salad in 30 minutes

A pair of hands hold a bowl filled with tomato and cucumber salad.

This salad will happily sit alongside a variety of dishes at BBQs or potluck gatherings. (ABC Everyday: Heidi Sze)

This is a simple, festive salad that involves roughly chopping the veggies, before frying up some chunky croutons. If you're travelling with this salad, scatter the croutons right before serving to avoid them becoming soggy.

Tabouli in 30 minutes

A wooden salad bowl with tabouli and salad servers. Tomatoes, spring onions and herbs nearby.

This tabouli recipe is plentiful and easy to prepare.  (ABC Everyday: Lina Jebeile)

A big bowl of tabouli adds freshness to any summer spread, and this easy recipe serves 6-8. To make it, simply toss a mixture of fresh parsley, tomatoes and burghul in a zesty lemon dressing. It's a great one if you grow your own herbs. 

Pasta salad with roasted tomatoes, beans and corn

Close-up of hands serving pasta salad with corn, feta, tomatoes and basil on a plate, from a large bowl of pasta salad.

This pasta salad takes a little bit of time to cook but the steps are simple and the result is perfect for casual dining. (ABC Everyday: Heidi Sze)

The best of summer produce is captured in this substantial salad, with slow roasted cherry tomatoes, corn and basil. Tinned cannellini beans and goats cheese add substance to this salad, which can be prepped in stages. The tomatoes roast for 30 minutes, the corn can be cooked in the pasta water and the salad dressing is simple and bright.