I have a confession. No, it’s not anything kinky. It’s actually the reason you clicked on this article . . . I am part of a cooking club.
I know, I know. You’re totally jealous. Now that I’m in one, I can admit that I was jealous before I got into a cooking club, too. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of a club where you get to eat restaurant-worthy, home-cooked meals only partially prepared by you with little-to-no clean up, AND no little people complaining that their favorite foods are missing from the table?! They are wonderful!
In fact, 10 out of the 15 recipes below came to my attention during one of my cooking club’s get-togethers. If that doesn’t tell you how wonderful cooking clubs are, I don’t know what will.
Now, let’s get on to some salady goodness! Below, I have compiled a variety of summer salads — mostly green with a few pasta, side, and even dessert options — that have BLOWN MY MIND. If you try any of them, I would love to read your review of them. Or if you think there is a summer salad this list is regrettably missing, please share it in the comments! I have major FOMO.
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Leafy Green Salads
The Best Salad Ever! :: I’m not making this up, it’s the actual name. This green salad is made with mouth-watering gorgonzola, apples, cherries (or cranberries), pecans, bacon, and topped with a sweet balsamic dressing.
Panera’s Fuji Apple Salad | Copycat Recipe :: This salad is SO good, you’ll be hard pressed to go to Panera’s ever again. The pièce de résistance is definitely the dried apples! Note: It’s great as a side salad, but if you serve it with roasted chicken, it could be a whole meal.
10-Minute Crazy Good Italian Chopped Salad :: I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about this salad with its beans, but it tasted just as good as an Italian sandwich, with half the carbs and the same amount of prep.
Nordstrom Cafe Chinese Chicken Salad Copycat :: The wonton strips and Asian ginger sesame dressing really set this salad apart! If you don’t have access to the Nordstrom salad dressing, I recommend making your own via the recipe here.
Better Than Panera’s BBQ Chicken Salad :: This is one of my go-to salads whenever I have guests over. It’s tangy, salty, and sweet! If you take the time to make the lime crema dressing, you won’t regret it, but if you’re stressed for time, you can use ranch instead.
Steak Salad :: I know the thought of cooking a steak just to toss it in a salad is not everyone’s idea of a simple meal, so here’s my pro-tip: Buy Costco’s sliced beef sirloin instead. Whether you cook the steak yourself or buy Costco’s precooked, this salad is killer.
Chicken Mango Avocado Salad :: This salad is so good I’m temped to buy a mango slicer! The combo of mango and avocado, along with the citrus dressing, just screams “summer.” Give it a try and let me know what you think.
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Pasta Salads
Ramen Noodle Oriental Chicken Salad :: While this is not a traditional pasta salad, I am organizing this under “pasta salads” since it does incorporate ramen. That being said, it is a truly delicious salad recipe, so I highly recommend giving it a try.
Southwestern Quinoa Salad :: Another untraditional pasta salad — I love how light this recipe feels, and how long it keeps in the fridge! I highly recommend eating it topped with avocado and tortilla chips.
Zippy Orzo Summer Salad :: Orzo pasta is one of my favorite small pastas, and in this recipe, it truly shines paired with dill, roasted corn, and lemon juice.
Summer Couscous Salad :: I don’t add a lot of peaches to my salads, so I was a little nervous when I put this together for the first time. But the tartness of the peach with the couscous is mouthwatering. Seriously, I’m drooling just thinking about it!
Side Salads
Broccoli Salad with Bacon :: Bacon, slivered almonds, grapes, and celery make this chilled salad sweet, savory, and crunchy — it doesn’t get better than this!
Cucumber Tomato Salad :: I love the way this light salad comes together with just a few ingredients that pack a punch (and some crunch). The flavors just sing!
Dessert Salads
Mojito Fruit Salad :: The dressing (more like syrup) for this salad requires a tad bit more work than regular fruit salads, but trust me when I say the result is addicting.
Berry Cheesecake Salad :: Whipped cream cheese, fresh berries, a dusting of granola . . . need I say more? More of a treat than a salad, this is one of my favorites to bring to a potluck.
I hope you find a new favorite recipe or two amongst the tried and true ones above!
