When that warm weather finally hits, salads are my “go to” meal! These salads are ideal for main dishes, lunches, cookouts, and to take to those summer BBQ’s!
These lightened up salad recipes are perfect for lunch, dinner, or for your BBQ’s this summer! Here are 20 lightened up salads that are easy to throw together and taste extra delicious on a hot summer day!
Lightened Up Dorito Taco Salad
This recipe is a lighter version of the traditional Dorito salad that my family allays had made-but this one is made using lean ground beef, light Catalina dressing, and garnished with Quest protein taco chips! It’s healthy and so delicious.
This Big Mac Salad tastes just like a Big Mac from Mcdonalds-without the high calories and fat. This Big Mac Salad is an absolute keeper!
Skinny Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Skinny Mexican Street Corn Salad is over the top delicious! It’s exploding with flavors! A perfect addition for parties, potlucks, or a side dish to any meal! This is a dish that will be a hit at your outdoor barbecue or picnic!
This Easy Seven Layer Salad is a classic layered salad with seven colorful layers and a homemade lightened up creamy dressing. This is an easy make ahead salad that looks and tastes amazing!
Strawberry Poppyseed Salad (Panera Copycat)
This Strawberry Poppyseed Salad was inspired by Panera’s Strawberry Poppyseed Salad! It’s packed with so much goodness- romaine lettuce, fresh fruit, boneless skinless chicken strips, toasted pecans, and then drizzled with a mouth watering homemade poppyseed dressing!
This Skinny Creamy Broccoli Salad is packed with broccoli, bacon, red onions, sunflower seeds and tossed together with a creamy ranch dressing!! The combination of all the flavors makes this Broccoli Salad irresistible!
This Strawberry Spinach Salad is simple to make and is packed with baby spinach, juicy strawberries, toasted pecans, thinly sliced red onion and feta then drizzled with light Poppy Seed White Balsamic Dressing for the tastiest summer salad. It’s quick and refreshing-perfect for potlucks, BBQ’s, or summertime picnics.
This Caprese Chicken Pasta Salad is fresh, flavorful and delicious! Packed with cold pasta, chicken, tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil-then seasoned with Italian seasonings, salt, pepper, a little olive oil and white balsamic vinegar! This pasta salad is a true winner in my book!
Lightened Up Coleslaw Macaroni Salad
This Lightened Up Coleslaw Macaroni Salad is an easy summer side dish that combines two favorite summer salads: coleslaw and macaroni salad-packed with pasta, coleslaw, celery, diced apples-this is an easy and delicious dish to take to a potluck or your next BBQ!
This Skinny Creamy Grape Salad is a tasty dessert salad- and summertime favorite at our house! A combination of bright green and red grapes slathered in a creamy lightened up cream cheese dressing and then topped with brown sugar and crunchy pecans. It’s a crowd pleaser and great for potlucks!
Mexican Black Bean and Corn Salad
This Mexican Black Bean and Corn Salad is colorful, infused with Mexican flavors, and drizzled with a tasty lime and garlic dressing. This salad for a great side dish for any meal!
This Skinny Creamy Cucumber Salad perfect for spring and summer-made with crisp English cucumbers, sweet onions, and tossed in a homemade dill dressing.
Lightened Up Asian Chicken Salad
This Lightened Up Asian Chicken Salad is packed with so much goodness-teriyaki chicken, mandarin oranges, edamame, chow mein noodles, almonds, shredded carrots, cilantro leaves, green onions, red cabbage, and then drizzled with delicious homemade dressing!!
This Easy Chickpea Salad is packed with chickpeas, fresh vegetables and drizzled with a simple homemade vinaigrette dressing. It’s a great side dish to any meal! This Easy Chickpea Salad is naturally gluten-free, healthy, and vegan!
Looking for a great summer salad to take to those family BBQ’s or gatherings?! Here is one I definitely recommend! The combination of the corn, chili seasoning, lime juice along with the creaminess of the yogurt really makes this salad delicious!
This Skinny Loaded Potato Salad is a healthier version of a loaded potato salad-packed with protein-made with non fat Greek yogurt, light mayo, bacon pieces, green onions, potatoes, and hard boiled eggs! It’s an easy potato salad recipe that has become a staple at our summer picnics, BBQ’s, and holiday gatherings. This is a MUST have side dish!
This Skinny Classic Macaroni Salad is a lightened up version of a classic macaroni salad-packed with elbow noodles, chopped celery, scallions, red peppers, and hard boiled eggs, then tossed in a light creamy dressing! It’s sure to be a picnic favorite!
This Antipasto Salad has a winning combination of meats and fresh vegetables. It’s packed with turkey pepperoni, red roasted peppers, salami, mozzarella, pepperoncinis, red onions, artichokes, olives, and chickpeas-then tossed in a homemade vinaigrette! This salad can be served as a main dish or side dish!
This Tex-Mex Pasta Chicken Salad is an easy and delicious pasta salad packed with pasta, cooked chicken, black beans, corn, tomatoes, cilantro, red onion, and topped with a creamy, spicy, flavorful dressing. Perfect for your next BBQ or summer picnic!
This Watermelon Feta Salad made with watermelon, feta cheese, and fresh mint is simply irresistible! Perfect for summer. It’s the combination of the saltiness of the feta combined with the sweetness of the watermelon that makes this salad mouth watering delicious!
Now’s the time to make these refreshing salads. If you make any of these summer salad recipes, I’d love to hear which ones are your favorite in a comment below!
Did you know? Sharing our website, leaving a review, or making comments helps us continue to do what we love to do; which is helping others find success on their wellness journey and creating FREE delicious lightened up recipes!
If you have made one of our recipes-please tag @therealpounddropper on Instagram or on Facebook at Pound Dropper and share it with others!
Anita
Sunday 7th of July 2024
I ordered the Pound Dropper e-books 2 set. Paid thru Paypal, got an email to set up an account but never received the links to the 2 ebooks. Please send me that link or refund my monies
Lindsay Kehl
Wednesday 17th of July 2024
Hi Anita,
I have sent you the updated email with the links a few times. Please be sure to check your spam folder-that has usually been the issue of you haven’t seen the email confirmations. If you still haven’t gotten the emails, please reach out to me via email. [email protected]
Thank you