30 Salad Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes

Loaded Potato Salad

Get a load of this loaded potato salad with sour cream, bacon, shredded cheddar, green onions and more. The ingredients come together to give you all the richness of restaurant potato skins at your next picnic. —Monique Boulanger, Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Grape Salad

This grape salad has it all: juicy grapes, creamy dressing, crunchy pecans and a sweet brown sugar topping. It’s kid-friendly and perfect for potlucks.

Bacon Macaroni Salad

This pleasing pasta salad is like eating a BLT in a bowl. Filled with crispy bacon, chopped tomato, celery and green onion, the sensational salad is coated with a tangy mayonnaise and vinegar dressing. It’s a real crowd-pleaser! —Norene Wright, Manilla, Indiana

Broccoli Cranberry Salad

Elevate your side dish salad game with this recipe for broccoli cranberry salad. The combination of fresh broccoli florets, sweet chewy cranberries and tangy vinaigrette is a sure winner.

Creamy Coleslaw

This creamy coleslaw recipe is rich, tangy and sweet. It’s the perfect partner for barbecue, but it tastes just as good as a topping for tacos or a meaty sandwich.

Blueberry Romaine Salad

I love to bring this delicious salad to school gatherings. The homemade dressing couldn't be simpler, so I whip it up in advance and just give it a quick toss with the other ingredients when I get to any event. —Kris Bristol, Charlotte, Michigan

Pina Colada Fruit Salad

Give friends a taste of the tropics on warm summer days with this refreshing fruit blend. For a little extra punch, you might add a splash of coconut rum. —Carol Farnsworth, Greenwood, Indiana

Cucumber Salad with Sour Cream

Cucumber salad with sour cream is the side dish you need. It is cool and creamy—the perfect way to use all those cucumbers from your garden!

Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad

Sweet, tangy and bursting with the fresh flavors of summer, this easy strawberry poppy seed salad is a gorgeous, versatile side dish to serve the second warm weather arrives.

Snickers Salad

Snickers salad may not be a traditional green salad, but it is a midwestern specialty. Bring this easy one-bowl dessert to your next potluck and watch it disappear!

Green Bean Salad

This cold green bean salad makes the perfect side dish, starring green beans, a simple vinaigrette and feta cheese.

Classic Macaroni Salad

This classic macaroni salad recipe is a refreshingly light take on an all-time favorite. It’s perfect for a fast weeknight dinner or a festive weekend barbecue. —Dorothy Bayes, Sardis, Ohio

Crowd-Pleasing Taco Salad

While this recipe might sound involved, it can be fixed in just 30 minutes. It's a hit at the potluck table—and I don't have to bring any home after the shindig! —Ann Cahoon, Bradenton, Florida

Quick Bacon Potato Salad

My family was tired of the same old potato salad at family functions, so I created this potato salad with bacon. Now I'm always asked to bring it to potluck gatherings. —Tami Gallagher, Eagan, Minnesota

That Good Salad

Toss together this simple salad recipe whenever dinner needs a super quick side of greens. Bright, crunchy and refreshing, the simple green salad will complete any meal.

Almond Chicken Salad

My mother used to prepare this chicken salad with grapes and almonds for an evening meal during the hot summer months. It's my favorite of my mother's chicken salad recipes. You can also serve it as a delicious but quick luncheon or potluck dish. —Kathy Kittell, Lenexa, Kansas

BLT Bow Tie Pasta Salad

This is one of our favorite cold pasta salad recipes. I first tried it at a family reunion, and it's become one of my husband's favorite dinners. Sometimes, we leave out the chicken and serve it as a side dish instead. —Jennifer Madsen, Rexburg, Idaho

Pea ‘n’ Peanut Salad

Even people who don't like peas love this crunchy recipe, including my own children. I love the fact that it's so easy and makes a refreshing alternative to more traditional salads. A friend gave me the recipe years ago and I've been making it ever since. —Laurinda Nelson, Phoenix, Arizona

Potato Salad

Everyone needs a reliable potato salad recipe in their repertoire, and this one is classic in its simplicity. It's quick and versatile, and it will go with just about anything.

Cucumber Watermelon Salad

Refreshing cucumber watermelon salad combines crisp cucumbers, juicy watermelon, fresh herbs and a tangy vinaigrette for an unforgettable burst of summery flavor.

California Spaghetti Salad

California spaghetti salad is a fresh take on potluck salads. If you're tired of pasta salads with thick, creamy dressings, try this recipe that's packed with colorful, crunchy veggies and a zingy Italian-style vinaigrette.

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

A splash of lemon and a hint of refreshing mint brighten up the medley of red tomatoes, creamy mozzarella and ripe avocados in this sensational tomato mozzarella salad.

Tortellini Caesar Salad

This salad was served at a dear friend's baby shower by a health-conscious friend, who suggested the dressing be prepared with low-fat or fat-free ingredients. Either way, the creamy dressing has plenty of garlic flavor and coats the pasta, romaine and croutons nicely. —Tammy Steenbock, Sembach Air Base, Germany

Pizza Salad

A fun summer dish, this is a different salad that tastes as good as it looks. I love to take it to parties—the wonderful zesty flavor really complements a barbecue! —Debbie Terenzini-Wilkerson, Lusby, Maryland

Brunch Fruit Salad

This appealing fruit salad is a lovely addition to breakfast, lunch or even supper. Light and refreshing, it's perfect alongside egg bakes, sausages and other hearty staples you find on breakfast buffets. —Millie Vickery, Lena, Illinois

Asparagus-Spinach Pasta Salad

Fresh spinach, crunchy cashews and penne pasta are tossed with roasted asparagus to create this delightful spring salad. —Kathleen Lucas, Trumbull, Connecticut

Apple Salad with Maple-Mustard Vinaigrette

This seasonal salad will be a hit at any gathering. It’s also easy for weeknights; just halve the recipe. —Beth Dauenhauer, Pueblo, Colorado

Cherry Tomato Salad

In this cherry tomato salad, juicy, sun-ripened tomatoes are dressed lightly with a little oil, vinegar and herbs and given their moment to shine.

Tri-Color Pasta Salad

Our tri-color pasta salad is bursting with summer flavors and is easy to pull off for your next cookout. Grocery store pasta salad has nothing on this recipe.

Fresh Apple & Pear Salad

This fun combination of ingredients comes together beautifully in one flavor-packed dish. Crunchy apples and ripe, juicy pears are fantastic tossed with crisp, cool cucumbers and a spicy dressing. —Jean Ecos, Hartland, Wisconsin

Up Next: What’s the Difference Between Iceberg Lettuce and Romaine?