18 Salads You Can Make on the Grill
Updated: Jan. 05, 2022We'll take our salad with a side of grill marks, please!
Grilled Peach, Rice & Arugula Salad
When our tasting panel tried this salad for the first time, we started giggling because it was so good. You don’t see a recipe that combines wild rice, peaches, arugula, bacon and goat cheese every day, but we can guarantee you’re going to love this. We all make it at home.
Romaine Heart Salad
Fresh from the pages of Phoebe Lapine’s The Wellness Project, the star of this grilled romaine salad is definitely the zesty green goddess dressing. It’s made with kefir, avocado, lemon juice, basil and garlic. (By the way–everything can be made in advance except the romaine.)
Grilled Apple Tossed Salad
The classic combo of apples, walnuts, blue cheese and balsamic dressing gets a tasty twist–grill your fruit instead of slicing it raw. (We love grilled fruit!) The heat adds a comforting touch that’ll warm you up on a breezy summer evening.
Chili Lime & Sweet Corn Salad
Enjoy all your favorite Tex-Mex flavors in this spicy-and-sweet salad. From chipotle powder to piquillo peppers and cilantro to creamy queso fresco, it’ll be a fiesta in your mouth. It’s super simple to make, too. The hardest part is shucking the 10 ears of corn you’ll need!
Grilled Kale Avocado Salad
Kale is like lettuce’s cooler and healthier older cousin. The trendy green has all sorts of good-for-you vitamins and nutrients so it’s the perfect base for a scrumptious salad. Add chickpeas for protein, avocado for healthy fat and a sprinkle of bread crumbs, and you’ve got a balanced bowl of yumminess.
Grilled Chicken Salad with Blueberry Vinaigrette
Grilled chicken salad really says “summer” to us, but the real star here is blueberries, which appear in two ways on this beauty: in the form of preserves and sprinkled whole berries on top.
Vegan Caesar Salad
You can never go wrong with a classic Caesar salad. This vegan twist on the traditional salad includes smoky avocado slices, grilled romaine spears and a creamy dressing that’s made with hemp hearts and nutritional yeast, instead of dairy or cheese.
(Here are a couple ideas to whip up your own Caesar recipe.)
Fruit Kabob Salad
One of the most refreshing summer side dishes is a juicy fruit salad, which you can toss on the grill as long as you stick to heartier fruits like peaches, mango and pineapple. For any guests on a special diet (think paleo, Whole30, vegan, etc.), this recipe is a-OK.
Grilled Vegetable Orzo Salad
Gather all your vegetables from the farmers market (asparagus, zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms and onions) and mix with orzo. This colorful salad makes the perfect side dish for burgers and dogs you’re grilling up at your next cookout.
Watermelon, Feta and Basil Salad
Nothing says “summer” more than a thick slice of juicy watermelon in our hands. Slice up your next farmers market find for this savory salad. The sweetness of the fruit balances the tart feta cheese and the balsamic drizzle brings it all together for a to-die-for bite.
Potato Salad
What’s a cookout without potato salad? This version is a little different than what Grandma makes. Instead of making the dish with mayonnaise, the spuds are dressed with a light lemon and parsley vinaigrette. Toss in grilled peppers, onions, arugula and a handful of feta cheese and it’s everything you want in a summer salad.
Grilled Jerk Shrimp Orzo Salad
Fire up the grill for the shrimp and the veggies in this salad. It only serves two, but it’s really easy to multiply for bigger families and potlucks. You won’t want to miss this dressing!
Vegetable Salad with Giant Croutons
When it comes to crafting the perfect salad, the more veggies you can pack in, the better! While this one uses a huge variety of veg (bell peppers, zucchini, microgreens and more), the best thing on the plate might be the crusty croutons piled on top.
Avocado Caprese Salad
If the pretty presentation didn’t win you over (how cute are those avocado bowls?!), the secret ingredient in this caprese salad sure will: garlic-infused olive oil. Toss your grape tomatoes and mozzarella balls in it for extra flavor.
Eggplant and Spinach Salad
The next time you score a bunch of fresh spinach from the farmers market, use it to make this uber healthy dish (and keep some leftovers for one of these savory spinach recipes). Crispy grilled eggplant and a handful of fragrant sun-dried tomatoes make the perfect toppings.
Detox Salad
Bye-bye bloat, hello gorgeous glow! This detox salad, full of yellow bell pepper, cucumber, shrimp, lettuce and sweet corn, is tossed in an avocado cilantro dressing and it’s just what you need for a healthy reset. Pair it with this digital detox for a much-needed energy boost.
BLT Wedge Salad
A roasted remix on everyone’s favorite wedge salad? Yes, please! Cutting a head of iceberg into giant chunks makes it way easier to char on the grill grate. Plus, this recipe has everything you love about a BLT but in healthier, lower-carb salad form.
Peach, Corn and Zucchini Quinoa Salad
So. Much. Flavor. This colorful creation could be straight off of a gourmet cafe menu. Mix quinoa, baby arugula, caramelized grilled peaches, pepitas and zucchini, then dress with a fresh lemon-basil vinaigrette. Are you drooling yet?
