57 Cold Salads to Make When the Weather Gets Hot
57 Cold Salads to Make When the Weather Gets Hot
Read Time: 24 mins
57 Cold Salads to Make When the Weather Gets Hot
This Southern potato salad is perfect for a church supper or potluck
2/57 Southern Potato Salad 40 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This Southern potato salad is perfect for a church supper or potluck. The pickles add extra sweetness. —Gene Pitts, Wilsonville, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 377 calories, 26g fat (4g saturated fat), 169mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 8g protein. 3/57 Juicy Watermelon Salad 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Juicy Watermelon Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This
fruit salad has such a surprising yet fabulous mix of flavors that friends often ask for the recipe. Combine seedless watermelon varieties in yellow, red and pink for a colorful twist. —Heidi Haight, Macomb, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 232 calories, 20g fat (5g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 295mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (12g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. 4/57 Turkey and Pasta Ranch Salad Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This easy pasta salad is loaded with fresh veggies, and the classic ranch dressing makes it appealing to kids.
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable
—Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland Nutrition Facts: 1-2/3 cups: 256 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 50mg cholesterol, 383mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 19g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat, 1 starch, 1 vegetable. 5/57 Bacon Salad 8 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Christine Ma/Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Everyone in my family loves this bacon avocado salad—even the younger kids! The recipe’s been shared too many times to count. —Noreen McCormick Danek, Cromwell, Connecticut Nutrition Facts: 1-1/3 cups: 339 calories, 31g fat
It’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or a festive weekend barbecue
(7g saturated fat), 22mg cholesterol, 626mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 5g fiber), 9g protein. 6/57 Macaroni Salad Recipe 40 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Classic Macaroni Salad Recipe Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or a festive weekend barbecue. —Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 115 calories, 2g fat (0 saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 362mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein.
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch
Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch. 7/57 Heirloom Tomato Salad 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a simple yet elegant dish that always pleases. Not only is it tasty, but it is healthy, too. The more varied the colors of the tomatoes you choose, the prettier the salad will be. —Jess Apfe, Berkeley, California Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup: 75 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 161mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat. 8/57 Broccoli
Add the nuts and bacon just before serving so they stay nice and crunchy
Almond Salad Test Kitchen Approved Broccoli Almond Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This colorful broccoli almond salad is easy to make in advance. Add the nuts and bacon just before serving so they stay nice and crunchy. —Margaret Garbade, Tulsa, Oklahoma Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 236 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 1mg cholesterol, 180mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (15g sugars, 3g fiber), 3g protein. 9/57 Blood Orange Avocado Salad 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Blood Orange Avocado Salad Recipe photo by Taste
My refreshing side salad is such a nice addition to dinner
of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My refreshing side salad is such a nice addition to dinner. Use regular oranges if you can’t find blood oranges. Finely chopped walnuts work well in place of the pomegranate seeds, too. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 241 calories, 16g fat (3g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 89mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (17g sugars, 6g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fat, 1 fruit, 1/2 starch. 10/57 Chicken Pasta Salad 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Laura Scherb for Taste of Home Total
Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:
Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family loves pasta salads, but usually they have too much mayonnaise or oily dressing. Using hummus gives this dish a great taste and texture, while also increasing its nutritional profile. Adding chicken (store-bought rotisserie chicken works well), makes this pasta salad a complete meal. —Jenny Lynch, Rock Island, Illinois Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 263 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 20mg cholesterol, 405mg sodium, 35g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 7g fiber), 16g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 2 starch, 1 lean meat, 1 fat. 11/57 Sweet & Sour Squash
min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:
Salad 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Sweet & Sour Squash Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This salad goes over really well with all ages, and it’s a good way to get kids to eat summer squash. —Opal Shipman Levelland, Texas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 241 calories, 10g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 703mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (30g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein. 12/57 Summertime Tomato Salad 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the
Then I layer on the flavor with fresh corn, red onion and mint
Recipe Creator: My crazy good salad has cherry tomatoes, squash and blueberries together in one bowl. Then I layer on the flavor with fresh corn, red onion and mint. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 95 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 108mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat, 1/2 starch. 13/57 14/57 Garden Pesto Pasta Salad 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Garden Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator:
Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fat, 1-1/2 starch
My family and I live on a homestead in the Missouri Ozarks and produce much of our own food. In the summer, when the garden is bursting with fresh vegetables and it’s too hot to cook, I like to use the season’s veggies for pesto pasta salad and other cool meals. —Sarah Mathews, Ava, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 267 calories, 17g fat (3g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fat, 1-1/2 starch. 15/57 Old-Fashioned Potato Salad 44 Reviews Contest Winner Total Time 35 min Servings 8 servings Go
Country markets are plentiful here, so potatoes are a staple
to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We live at the edge of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where there are lots of small farms. Country markets are plentiful here, so potatoes are a staple. I use them up in this delicious old-fashioned potato salad recipe. —Nancy Grove-Nichols, Dillsburg, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 231 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 85mg cholesterol, 265mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. 16/57 Cauliflower Broccoli Salad 12 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cauliflower Broccoli Salad Recipe photo by Ruthie Darling for Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 20 servings
It holds well and leftovers are still tasty a day later
Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This broccoli cauliflower salad has been to as many family gatherings as I have! It holds well and leftovers are still tasty a day later. —Linda Kangas, Outlook, Saskatchewan Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 248 calories, 22g fat (4g saturated fat), 19mg cholesterol, 269mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. 17/57 Creamy Potato Salad Recipe 18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Creamy Potato Salad Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandma makes the best potato salad, but
she doesn’t use a recipe!
she doesn’t use a recipe! So I watched while she put together “a little of this and a little of that” and jotted a creamy potato salad recipe that comes close. The dressing also works well for making deviled eggs. —Jill Steiner, Hancock, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 451 calories, 37g fat (8g saturated fat), 122mg cholesterol, 269mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. 18/57 Avocado & Artichoke Pasta Salad 7 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Grace Natoli Sheldon For Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
Cauliflower Potato Salad 14 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Cauliflower in potato salad?
Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.
Dilled Potato Salad Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: What’s a picnic without potato salad?
Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.
⭐ Expert Tips
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Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.
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Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.
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Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.
✅ Key Takeaways
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These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.
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Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.
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Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.
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