When the weather is warm and you need a lightweight meal, but still want to be excited about your food, how often do you turn to salad? Sometimes salads get a bad rap for being devoid of culinary joy, but summer salads can be lively, bursting with flavor and beautiful meal centerpieces!
Salad is a perfect potluck dish, too. You can double these recipes to provide a hearty meal for big parties or to meal prep for your family’s upcoming busy week.
From on-the-go dishes to deconstructed sandwiches, here are 12 summer salads that will change what salad means to you.

Harvest Plate
This garden salad is an eclectic mix of veggies from fresh from the vine. Crisp cucumber paired with salty olives and sweet tomatoes lays the ground for a flavor explosion this summer.