15 Salads You Can Make on the Grill

Grilled Peach, Rice & Arugula Salad

This hearty salad was created when I needed to clear out some leftovers from the fridge—and it became an instant hit! The grilled peaches are the ultimate "tastes like summer" salad booster. —Lauren Wyler, Dripping Springs, Texas

Grilled Romaine Salad

For a great-tasting salad, try this recipe on the grill! It's equally good with any dressing of your choice.—Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Summer Harvest Grilled Panzanella Salad

This colorful and healthy grilled panzanella salad is a delicious twist on the classic Italian dish that makes the most of simple, seasonal ingredients. It combines the smoky flavors of grilled summer vegetables- with juicy tomatoes, crusty bread and a zesty vinaigrette. Panzanella salad is best enjoyed after the bread has soaked up all the flavors and juices from the veggies and dressing. —Olga Kouloufakos, Lake Pleasant, Massachusetts

Grilled Zucchini Salad with Mediterranean Dressing

This zucchini salad with Mediterranean dressing is the best side dish. I also like to add summer squash for a variation, or crumbled goat cheese when I want some extra creaminess. —Rashanda Cobbins, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Grilled Peach Couscous Salad

You'll feel inspired at the farmers market with the recipe for this couscous salad in tow. Grilled peaches and limes, plus a subtly sweet dressing, bring pizazz. —Emily King, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Grilled Potato and Corn Salad

Corn salad and potato salad are two summer classics. I smashed them together for a crowd-pleasing side that we love with burgers. Locally sourced ingredients from the farmers market make it extra special. —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, Kentucky

Tomato, Avocado and Grilled Corn Salad

With ripe tomatoes, fresh basil and grilled corn, this bright salad tastes just like summertime! —Angela Spengler, Tampa, Florida

Grilled Jerk Shrimp Orzo Salad

The heat, seasonings and appearance of this colorful main-dish salad are perfect for summer—or any time of year that you want to summon memories of sunshine. —Eileen Budnyk, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

Grilled Apple Tossed Salad

The grilled apples in this salad combine so well with the blue cheese, walnuts and balsamic dressing. I like to serve it on pink Depression glass dessert plates from my great-grandmother. —Paul Soska, Toledo, Ohio

Grilled Stone Fruit Salad

Summer is the time we enjoy grilling and adding fresh fruit to our menu, and this smoky-sweet salad is the best of both worlds! I like to marinate the fruits for extra flavor before I grill them. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

Grilled Firecracker Potato Salad

I can eat potato salad like crazy. A little spice is nice, so I use cayenne and paprika in this grilled salad that comes with its own fireworks. —Ashley Armstrong, Kingsland, Georgia

Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette

We love adding grilled chicken to our salads in the summer, but the real star here is the vinaigrette made with blueberry preserves and maple syrup. This salad goes great with a fresh baguette and a frosty glass of minted lemonade. —Susan Gauthier, Falmouth, Maine

Grilled Lebanese Salad

Amazingly, even our kids eat their greens, herbs and garden veggies when they’re prepared this way. Fresh and healthy never tasted more delicious. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho

Grilled Southwestern Potato Salad

This salad is perfect with a grilled steak for a Tex-Mex meal, and most of it can even be prepared out in the backyard. Poblanos and cayenne make it pop. —Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

Grilled Mango & Avocado Salad

A big hit with my family, this light salad is so easy to make! The healthy option of mango and avocado is simply the best combination you could serve. —Amy Liesemeyer, Tucson, Arizona

Grilled Salad FAQ

Why should you grill lettuce?

I grill lettuce because it’s tasty! When lettuce is grilled at a high heat, it still retains its crunch while adopting a crisp texture at the edges where it’s been charred. The grill marks result in a smoky flavor, adding intrigue to romaine lettuce. Bibb and butterhead lettuce work well on the grill, too.

Is grilled salad healthy?

Yes, grilled salads are as healthy as non-grilled salads. This is thanks to the fact that fruits and vegetables are loaded with fiber and vitamins, minerals and plant compounds. Add protein-rich foods, like lean meats or tofu, and healthy fats, like avocado, olives or olive oil, to increase the healthfulness of your grilled salad.

What else can you put on a grilled salad?

The grilling process opens up a lot more vegetable and fruit options that aren’t considered for raw salads. Charring cooks the produce, softening ingredients up enough to meld nicely into a salad. It also enriches them with an irresistibly smoky flavor. Grilled veggies that make for a scrumptious salad include asparagus, carrots, corn, zucchini, artichokes, potatoes, tomatoes, onion, mushrooms, peppers, eggplant and even avocado. In terms of fruit, more robust options tend to fare best on the grill, like apples, mangoes, pineapple and stone fruit like peaches, nectarines and apricots.

Turn your grilled salad into a complete meal by topping it with protein. Fantastic options that stand up well on the grill include chicken, turkey, salmon, halibut, shrimp, tofu, steak, swordfish and pork tenderloin.

You can even grill up homemade croutons for your salad. Charred whole wheat or sourdough bread will boost the flavor and fiber content of your salad.