15-Minute Salads That Are Perfect for Summer

Serve these simple main and side dish salads at your next barbecue or get-together for a fresh and delicious bite. You'll be loading up your plate with all kinds of tasty fruits summer, from tomatoes and cucumbers to pineapple and watermelon you can have a flavorful salad on your hands in just 15 minutes.

Watermelon, Orange & Cucumber Salad with Olive Vinaigrette

This easy and superfast salad is incredibly refreshing, thanks to juicy watermelon and oranges! Olives lend a briny hit, while the herbs add lots of delicious depth to the salad. Pair this colorful salad with grilled shrimp or chicken.

Ingredients

4 cups (3/4-inch) watermelon chunks (from 1 small watermelon)

1 ½ cups oblique-cut Persian cucumbers (about 3 cucumbers)

1 cup navel orange sections (about 2 oranges)

⅓ cup olives

¼ cup fresh lemon juice (from 2 lemons)

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, plus more for garnish

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus more for garnish

1 ounce goat cheese, crumbled (about 1/4 cup)

Lemon zest

Directions

Step 1

Gently combine watermelon, cucumbers and orange sections in a large bowl. Transfer to a large platter.

Step 2

Stir together olives, lemon juice, oil, cilantro and mint in a small bowl; drizzle over fruit. Sprinkle with goat cheese, cilantro, mint and lemon zest, if desired.

Watermelon Caprese Salad

This refreshing twist on the classic caprese salad replaces tomatoes with sweet, juicy watermelon. Basil and balsamic vinegar push this easy summer salad to the savory side, but if you want some sweeter notes, opt for balsamic glaze. An optional drizzle with extra-virgin olive oil at the end helps marry the flavors.

Ingredients

4 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

4 cups cubed seedless watermelon

¼ cup thinly sliced fresh basil

1 tablespoon best-quality balsamic vinegar or balsamic glaze (see Tip)

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (Optional)

Directions

Step 1

Stir mozzarella, salt and pepper together in a medium bowl. Add watermelon and basil; toss to combine. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar (or glaze) and olive oil (if desired).

Pineapple & Cucumber Salad

Enjoy this sweet, refreshing salad alongside grilled meat or fish to cut through the richness and refresh the palate. If you like a little heat, adding jalapeño will give you the kick you crave. While packs of prechopped pineapple are convenient, they're almost always more expensive. When pineapple is in season, it's best to buy fresh and chop it yourself. Look for a pineapple with a golden-yellow exterior, which is a good indicator of ripeness.

Ingredients

2 tablespoons avocado oil or extra-virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons lime juice

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground pepper

1 medium pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into bite-size pieces

2 cups halved and thinly sliced cucumber

1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped

½ cup coarsely chopped fresh cilantro

Directions

Step 1

Stir oil, lime juice, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Add pineapple, cucumber, jalapeño (if using) and cilantro; stir well to coat.