25 Potluck Salads Perfect For Summer Cookouts
We all remember those amazing salads that were the stars of every family gathering, the ones that felt like a warm embrace with every bite. Inspired by those memories, we have gathered a collection of potluck salads that are sure to bring back those cherished moments.
Creamy German Cucumber Salad
This Creamy German Cucumber Salad is based on a classic German recipe. It’s made with crispy cucumbers and a fresh herb dressing.
Get the Recipe: Creamy German Cucumber Salad
Vintage Pea Salad
This classic, creamy pea salad is both a perfect side dish during the week or a perfect party buffet table.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Pea Salad
The Ultimate Greek Pasta Salad
This Greek Pasta Salad recipe is a must-try! Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s loaded with colorful veggies and a delicious herb dressing.
Get the Recipe: The Ultimate Greek Pasta Salad
Oma’s “Viral” German Cucumber Salad
This cucumber salad is what my German Oma used to make. It’s a refreshing German classic with just four simple ingredients. I told my 96-year-old Oma that her recipe keeps going viral. Her reaction: “Wie bitte? Was ist das?” – Engish: Excuse me, what does that mean?
Get the Recipe: Oma’s German Cucumber Salad
The Best Egg Salad
This high protein, creamy egg salad combines perfectly hard-boiled eggs with crunchy bits of celery and onion in a zesty dressing.
Get the Recipe: The Best Egg Salad
Cilantro Lime Slaw
This Cilantro Lime Slaw is a fresh, flavorful addition to any meal. Its vibrant colors and tangy-sweet dressing make it a standout side dish that’s both easy to prepare and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Cilantro Lime Slaw
Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
This easy, creamy pasta salad combines two delicious flavors: crispy bacon and creamy ranch. Perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad
Waldorf Salad With Candied Walnuts
Waldorf Salad is a classic! Crisp apples, sweet grapes, and crunchy celery served in a creamy dressing and topped with candied walnuts.
Get the Recipe: Waldorf Salad With Candied Walnuts
Seafood Pasta Salad
Enjoy a crowd-pleasing Seafood Pasta Salad with crab, shrimp, veggies, pasta, and a tangy dressing – perfect for your next gathering.
Get the Recipe: Seafood Pasta Salad
The Best Creamy Shrimp Salad
Shrimp Salad is delightfully light and refreshing. It’s made with perfectly cooked shrimp, onion, celery, cucumber, dill, and mayonnaise.
Get the Recipe: The Best Creamy Shrimp Salad
Easy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad (With Egg)
Dill Pickle Pasta salad is made with tender pasta, dill pickles, sweet apples, and onions that are tossed in a creamy dill dressing.
Get the Recipe: Easy Dill Pickle Pasta Salad
Easy Watermelon Salad With Feta Cheese And Mint
Watermelon Salad is an easy and refreshing summer salad! Made with juicy watermelon, tomatoes, cucumber, salty feta, and a splash of lemon.
Get the Recipe: Watermelon Salad With Feta Cheese And Mint
Tuna Pasta Salad
This is the best Tuna Salad Recipe. My entire family is obsessed, and it takes less than 20 minutes to make.
Get the Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad
Chicken Salad
This Chicken Salad recipe will be your go-to side dish for something light yet deliciously creamy that can be done in a jiffy.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Salad
Sweet Amish Macaroni Salad
Our classic creamy Amish Macaroni Salad is great for picnics and potlucks. Sweet and tangy with lots of protein.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Amish Macaroni Salad
Italian Pasta Salad
This Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleaser. Juicy tomatoes, crunchy cucumbers, creamy mozzarella, olives, and salami in a creamy dressing.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pasta Salad
Blt Pasta Salad
BLT pasta salad is a clever twist on your classic BLT sandwich! We take bacon, lettuce, tomato, and add in some homemade dressing and rotini pasta to make this delicious pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Blt Pasta Salad
Pesto Pasta Salad
This Pesto Pasta salad is a great, easy-to-make summer pasta salad. This crowd-pleaser is perfect for parties, picnics, and potlucks.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Pasta Salad
Chopped German Tomato Salad
This refreshing German tomato salad is made with fresh tomatoes, bell peppers, and red onions and tossed in a sweet, tangy dressing.
Get the Recipe: Chopped German Tomato Salad
Broccoli Pasta Salad
This tasty Broccoli Pasta Salad is bursting with sweet and savory flavors. And you’ll find all of the ingredients in your fridge and pantry.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Pasta Salad
Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
This Broccoli Cauliflower Salad will get you excited to eat your vegetables! Add bacon and Cheddar cheese, and you have a filling salad.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Cauliflower Salad
Creamy Broccoli Slaw With Apples And Almonds
This easy Broccoli slaw is made with crispy broccoli, apples, and almonds and tossed in a deliciously creamy dressing. Perfect for summer.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Broccoli Slaw With Apples And Almonds
Cobb Salad With Cilantro Ranch Dressing
A good recipe for Cobb salad is always worth getting excited about. I love to make this recipe using leftover ham and serve it with a dairy-free ranch dressing. You will just love this homemade ranch dressing which is the perfect addition to this filling dinner salad.
Get the Recipe: Cobb Salad With Garlic Cilantro Dairy Free Ranch Dressing
Smoked Italian Pasta Salad
You must try this smoked Italian pasta salad. It takes everything that’s great about pasta salad and adds a wonderful smoky flavour to it. Pepperoni, salami and mozzarella cheese are included in this summer BBQ salad along with a pepperoncini dressing.
Get the Recipe: Smoked Italian Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Dressing
Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad
This Tex Mex chicken pasta salad is so delicious. It’s a southwest pasta salad with chicken and this is a flavourful dinner salad just bursting with colour and flavour! This is the perfect salad for a summer BBQ, so add this favourite summer salad recipe to the menu and you won’t be disappointed.
Get the Recipe: Zesty Tex Mex Chicken Pasta Salad
Maike Corbett grew up in German kitchens learning to cook and bake alongside her Omas before spending over a decade running full-service restaurants in the US. She founded Cheerful Cook in 2017 to share practical, tested comfort food recipes that actually work on busy weeknights, drawing on both her American restaurant experience and her German home-cooking roots. Her work has been featured on MSN, Yahoo, the Associated Press, and other major media outlets.