Easy Summer Salad

This Summer Salad Recipe is light enough for a hot day, but filling enough that you won’t feel snacky later on. Oh, and four words: TWO. TYPES. OF. CHEESE.

“I love this recipe and made it tonight since I had most of the ingredients already on hand. I’ll be making this again soon. The dressing is the bomb!!!”

—Cindy

Stay cool with a Summer Salad

As the temperature rises, pretty much all I want to eat for dinner is a cold, crisp salad. I’ve tried many different combinations of ingredients over the years, but this one feels the best for June and July, when strawberries and blueberries are at their best.

The combination of the juicy berries, super creamy goat cheese, crunchy pecans, savory grilled chicken and homemade raspberry vinaigrette is light enough to make it appealing on a hot day, but still filling enough that you won’t feel snacky later on.

And if your family is like mine and doesn’t get through “salad night” without some sort of bread, don’t miss the ricotta toast – crunchy grilled bread topped with ricotta cheese, more of those amazing strawberries, and a drizzle of honey.

Ingredients for the Best Summer Salad

• chicken – one pound of boneless, skinless chicken breast will provide some lean protein to make this salad more filling. You can also use chicken thighs if you prefer.
• salt and pepper – for seasoning the chicken and the ricotta toasts.
• bread – the base of the ricotta toast. I like to slice about half of a full size baguette, but cutting Italian bread into smaller pieces would also work great.
• olive oil – for brushing over the bread so that when it grills, it gets nice and crisp.
• ricotta cheese – the creamy topping for the toast, which will complement the fresh strawberries.
• strawberries – these appear in both the salad and on the ricotta toasts, because when stawberries are in season, we go all out!
• blueberries – these add another pop of berry goodness (and pretty color) to the salad.
• honey – drizzled over the ricotta toast to add sweetness.
• arugula – I love this peppery salad green, especially when paired with sweet ingredients.
• pecans – add a crunchy texture and nutty flavor.
• goat cheese – adds a tangy contrast to the salad that pairs so well with the berries.
• dressing – one batch of homemade Raspberry Vinaigrette will tie everything together!

How to prepare the perfect Fresh Summer Salad

1. PREP. Preheat the grill, season the chicken with salt and pepper, and brush the bread with oil.

2. GRILL CHICKEN. Grill the chicken until it’s cooked through.

3. COOL AND SLICE. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board and let it cool for a few minutes before slicing it, so all the juices don’t seep out.

4. GRILL BREAD. Grill the bread until it is lightly toasted on both sides.

5. ASSEMBLE TOASTS. Spread the toasted bread with the ricotta, then divide the strawberries over the ricotta. Drizzle the toasts with honey and sprinkle them with a bit of pepper.

6. ASSEMBLE SALAD. Arrange the arugula on a large platter. Arrange the blueberries, pecans, goat cheese, sliced chicken and remaining strawberries over the greens. Serve the salad with the raspberry vinaigrette and the ricotta toasts.

Summer Salad Variations

• GREENS – If you’re not into arugula, you can use baby spinach or spring mix.
• BERRIES – If it’s blackberry or raspberry season, use those in place of strawberries and blueberries!
• NUTS – Don’t have pecans? Try walnuts, almonds or pine nuts.

This Easy Summer Salad pairs perfectly with Ricotta Toast

This salad is made into a full meal with the addition of the ricotta toast. But, you can serve it with garlic bread or easy yeast rolls instead for mopping up any extra dressing, if you wish.

More Summer Green Salad serving suggestions

If you omit the chicken, this berry salad is a really nice complement to other types of grilled and smoked meats, so consider it as a side dish for your next barbecue! In particular I like it paired with flank steak prepped in steak marinade or a grilled pork chop.

It also makes a lovely addition to a brunch spread, with or without the chicken. Round out your menu with a vegetarian quiche recipe and other selections from our brunch ideas post.