12 Chilled Side Salads That Are Cooler Than the Other Side of the Plate
When the weather heats up, nothing hits the spot quite like a crisp, refreshing salad straight from the fridge. These chilled creations aren’t just light and cooling—they’re packed with bold flavors, fresh textures, and vibrant ingredients that make every bite a delight. From zesty pasta salads to crisp veggie mixes, these recipes prove that “cool” isn’t just a temperature, it’s a whole vibe. Here are 12 chilled salads that are cooler than the other side of the plate.
Asian Cucumber Salad
My easy Asian cucumber salad is full of fresh flavors from garlic, ginger, onion, and a sesame soy sauce vinaigrette. This cool, chilled salad is a refreshing side dish during the summer months and pairs perfectly with any of your favorite Asian-inspired recipes.
Southwest Pasta Salad with Chicken
This cool Southwest Pasta Salad, with chicken, pasta, corn, and black beans, is covered in a creamy avocado dressing, and makes a perfect summer side dish.
Barbecue Chicken Pasta Salad
This easy Barbecue Chicken Pasta Salad is simple to make with just 10 ingredients and is perfect to make in advance for picnics and potlucks. We also love to make a big batch for eating throughout a busy week.
Moroccan Raw Carrot Salad
Sometimes you don’t have to work that hard to make something great. This Moroccan raw carrot salad is an easy recipe that can be thrown together in minutes, it goes with everything and it’s absolutely delicious. One of my all time favorite side dish recipes.
Seafood Pasta Salad
If you are looking for a comforting and filling salad, look no more. This Seafood Pasta Salad is exactly what you need right now. Featuring pasta, shrimp, imitation crabmeat, and veggies, it can be mixed with either a mayo or yogurt dressing for a healthier version!
Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
This 10-ingredient Cold Ramen Noodle Salad is colorful, crunchy and loaded with delicious fresh flavors. It’s a great salad to make in advance for weekly meal prep or as a side dish when entertaining.
Best Broccoli Cranberry Salad
The bestBroccoli Cranberry Salad is the perfect healthy side dish with bacon and sunflower seeds in a creamy dressing. Easy to assemble in under 15 minutes, it’s a delicious make ahead recipe!
Spaghetti Pasta Salad
This Spaghetti Pasta Salad is a fun twist on a classic side dish. It’s an easy make-ahead recipe to serve to a crowd that’s full of flavor! We love to customize it with our favorite veggies, proteins, cheeses, and dressings.
Creamy Italian Pasta Salad
This Creamy Italian Pasta Salad has all of the flavors we love with a classic recipe but with a creamy dressing that’s garlicky and so delicious. It’s a simple recipe that’s easy to make for a crowd in about 30 minutes and also works well to make in advance too.
Kidney Bean Salad
When it comes to non boring side dishes, I have a secret weapon: Kidney Bean Salad! Easy to make with pantry staples, and great for a weeknight dinner or potluck!
Red Potato Salad with Bacon
Red Potato Salad with Bacon is made with a cool and creamy mayo-sour cream mixture and tons of crumbled bacon. This simple side dish is perfect for barbecues, parties, and tailgating!
Dill Pickle Potato Salad
Creamy dill pickle potato salad with yellow potatoes, eggs, pickles and fresh dill. This easy picnic salad recipe comes together quickly.
