Summer's in full swing, and my mind's preoccupied with vibrant, nourishing paleo salad recipes.
I used to strongly dislike (hate?) salads back when I thought all they could be was iceberg lettuce and dressing. I mean, duh - who actually LIKES that?
But since starting this blog and experimenting more in the kitchen, I quickly realized that salads don't have to be sad piles of greens with goopy dressing. Salads can be a collage of veggies, herbs, nuts, seeds, fruits, and dressings, pieced together into something spectacular.
So to celebrate summer salad season, I rounded up 30 paleo salad recipes filled with color and serious flavor!
Summertime Paleo Salad Recipes
Thai Cabbage Salad with Sunbutter Dressing
This salad packs a lot of crunch with red onion, cashews, green onions, and fresh herbs. The SunButter dressing takes the whole thing over the top!
Kale Salad with Roasted Salmon and Warm Blueberry Balsamic Vinaigrette via Tasty Yummies
Kale and roasted salmon make for a nourishing, hearty salad. The blueberry-based dressing takes this salad to the next level!
Watermelon Arugula Salad with Chili Honey Lime Dressing
Peppery arugula and sweet watermelon make a surprisingly good match in this salad. The chili honey lime dressing pushes the sweet and spicy combo home!
Paleo & Whole30 Grilled Peach Salad With Bacon via What Great Grandma Ate
Grilled peaches just belong on a salad. And this version has bacon, too, so you know it's a winner!
Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad
This might just be my favorite salad recipe out there! Tender cauliflower, roasted bell pepper, olives, herbs, and red onion make for one swoon-worthy side dish.
Simple Greek Salad via Steph Gadreau
I love Greek flavors in a salad, and this recipe is a simple approach to making that happen. Be prepared to take your tastebuds for a ride!
Broccoli Cranberry Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing via Ana Ankeny
This salad makes a perfect picnic companion! That creamy lemon poppy seed dressing takes this crunchy concoction over the top.
Easy Cucumber Salad
Cucumbers, herbs, and a simple dressing make this salad a simple picnic or summer potluck go-to!
Pomegranate Salad with Spinach, Hazelnuts, and Mint via The Endless Meal
Everything about this salad screams decadent and fun. Pomegranate and hazelnuts? Yes please!
Shredded Cruciferous Salad with Grilled Chicken, Apple, and Avocado via Perchance to Cook
With a cabbage and kale base, this salad packs in lots of flavor into each hearty bite. This one works very well for meal prep!
Orange Pecan Kale Salad with Citrus Tahini Dressing
Chopped kale, crunchy pecans, and bursts of citrus make this summer salad an easy side dish. And if you've never had tahini dressing before, you've got to hit up the recipe just for that!
Nicoise Salad - Asparagus and Green Bean Nicoise Salad via How Sweet Eats
This salad has all the color, all the veggies, all the hype. I mean, just look at it!
Mâche Salad with Beets, Pecans, and Goat Cheese
Ever had mâche? It's a delicate little leafy green that's super easy to grow — and it makes an awesome salad!
Chopped Hamburger Salad with ‘Big Mac’ Sauce via The Bettered Blondie
All the flavors of a hamburger in a salad. Seriously, that "Big Mac" Dressing changes everything!
Chinese Chicken Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
With lots of crunch and pan-fried chicken breast, this simple summer salad makes your lunches something to look forward to!
German Potato Salad Recipe
You can't talk summer salads without mentioning potato salad! This classic German version features crumbled bacon and a warm vinaigrette instead of a mayo-based dressing. And boy, is it a hit!
Chopped Spinach Salad with Sunbutter Vinaigrette
A Thai-style salad with lots of veggies and an irresistible SunButter vinaigrette!
Spiced Steak Salad with Mango Salsa via The Bettered Blondie
With simple steak and a simple mango salsa, this salad is perfect for lunch OR dinner. Works well for meal prep, too!
Tomato and Cucumber Salad with Mustard Vinaigrette
Cucumber and tomato are the perfect summer veggie pair. For this recipe, you just have to toss the two together with a mustard vinaigrette, and you've got a potluck-worthy salad that took no time at all.
Roasted Beet & Arugula Salad with Maple Dijon Vinaigrette via Mary's Whole Life
Roasted beets + mustard + maple? That combo is calling my name, and this salad delivers.
Grilled Peach & Walnut Salad with Honey Mustard Vinaigrette
Grilled peaches, salty prosciutto, and crunchy walnuts make this summer salad perfect for lunch!
Crispy Chicken Salad with Black Pepper Strawberries & Creamy Golden Balsamic Dressing via Meatified
This salad's got a lot going on, but I'm going to focus on the golden balsamic. Tahini and balsamic make a wonderful match, pairing perfectly with strawberries.
Mediterranean Watermelon Salad
With watermelon, cucumber, kalamata olives, and fresh herbs, this salad is a welcome shakeup for summer picnics and potlucks!
Arugula and Fresh Cherry Salad with Candied Pecans via The Endless Meal
Cherries are only in season for a short time, so take advantage of when they're available and make this awesome-looking salad!
Classic Paleo Potato Salad
Of course, we can't skip the classic American potato salad in this list! With tender potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, a mayo-based dressing, and bacon, this salad is LOADED and ready for backyard barbecues.
Paleo Pesto Chicken Salad via The Movement Menu
Pesto + salad — I'm in! Can't resist all the veggies coated in creamy basil flavor.
Apple & Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Creamy Balsamic via Eat The Gains
Shaved brussels sprouts is one of my favorite salad bases. For real! This version features apples and a creamy balsamic for a meal prep-worthy salad.
Grilled Steak, Zucchini, and Pesto Salad
With grilled steak as the star of the show, this recipe is definitely more of a meal than a side dish. Hearty summer lunch, here we come!
Creamy Cilantro Lime Coleslaw via Mary's Whole Life
Yes, coleslaw is a type of salad! This cilantro lime version is a new take on the classic.
30 Minute Grilled Peach Steak Salad via Healthy Little Peach
Grilled peaches and steak, all on a bed of greens and veggies. All the flavors of summer right here!
Make any of these? Let me know what you think!
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