ComScore

40 Fruit Salad Recipes That Are Actually Exciting

Does the phrase “fruit salad” conjure up memories of underripe banana and overripe blueberries slip-sliding together in a bowl? Us too. But fruit salad doesn’t have to be a confused mélange of out-of-season ingredients or an afterthought to an otherwise delicious menu. Think more “cantaloupe caprese” and less “came from a plastic tub,” and you might never go back to lettuce again. We’re totally kidding, but these 40 fruit salad recipes aren’t messing around.

24 Summer Salads You Can Whip Up in 20 Minutes or Less


1. Watermelon Salad With Almonds And Dill

The cider vinegar and shallots add an acidic kick that’s welcome with all the sweet fruit.

2. 20-minute Burrata Salad With Stone Fruit And Asparagus

This one is almost no-cook and won’t wilt when you set it out in 90-degree weather.

3. Grilled Watermelon-feta Skewers

Skip the salad bowls in favor of skewers. No one will complain.

4. Corn Fritter Caprese With Peaches And Tomatoes

Ahem, tomatoes and corn are both technically fruits. Besides, this one is too delicious to omit.

5. End Of Summer Fruit Salad

Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because you’re digging into a plate of peaches, blueberries and watermelon.

6. Summertime Fruit Salad

Head to the farmers market in the a.m..; whip up this refreshing side dish come dinnertime. The exact fruits aren’t too important as long as they’re ripe. (The secret is the maple-lemon dressing.)

7. Strawberry Mango Mint Julep Fruit Salad With Whipped Marshmallow

We’ve had marshmallows in our salad before, but never like this. (Psst, it’s also spiked with bourbon simple syrup.)

8. Berry Fruit Salad

There’s nothing wrong with a classic, especially when the berries are impeccably in-season.

9. Peach And Tomato Caprese Salad

Sweet peaches give this popular dish a juicy twist, and the tangy white balsamic vinaigrette ties everything together.

10. The Best Winter Fruit Salad

Fruit salad doesn’t have to be reserved for summer alone. This one features cranberries, clementine, pomegranates and pears, all tossed in a honey-lime-poppyseed syrup.

11. Citrus Avocado Salad

We love the way the creamy avocado contrasts with the sharp raw onion and all that citrus.

12. Cantaloupe And Mozzarella Caprese Salad

The caprese strikes again, and we’re not mad about it. Creamy mozzarella just has a way of pairing with everything.

13. Blackberry Goat Cheese Salad

Make this one in late summer, when the blackberries are so plump and ripe, they’re practically bursting.

14. Summer Tomato Cantaloupe Salad

Tomato and cantaloupe are an unlikely pairing…until you taste them together. They’re both earthy, a little bit sweet and juicy enough to slurp off the plate.

15. Tropical Fruit Salad

Behold, vacation in a bowl.

16. Grapefruit Anise Salad

Grapefruit can be slightly bitter on its own, but that’s what the anise-scented simple syrup is for.

17. Berry Caprese Salad

This has “midsummer picnic” written all over it.

18. Berry Cantaloupe Salad

Cubed melon feels a little lazy, but balled melon makes this salad oh-so-fancy.

19. Tuscan Summer Stone Fruit, Tomato And Burrata Panzanella Salad

Spread all that sun-ripened fruit on your prettiest charcuterie board, add some gooey burrata and croutons, then watch it disappear.

20. Creamy Grape Salad

So you’ve never heard of grape salad? It’s about to become your new barbecue staple.

21. Fresh Cantaloupe And Cucumber Salad

Fun fact: Cucumber is also a fruit.

22. Peach Salad

Sweet peaches + peppery arugula + salty prosciutto = fruit salad magic.

23. Summer Peach Spinach Salad With Avocado, Toasted Almonds And Goat Cheese

It’s like the hip younger cousin of the strawberry salad that defined the ’90s.

24. Watermelon Peach Salad With Feta And Mint

Peak summer fruit meets briny feta and a simple garlicky vinaigrette. What more could you want?

25. Blood Orange And Avocado Salad

Blood orange is just the thing to brighten up a dreary winter dinner.

26. Cherry And Peach Panzanella

Trust us, this is worth all that slicing and pitting.

27. Melon Salad With Chili Powder, Mint, Lime And Flaky Sea Salt

It’s spicy, sweet, sour and salty in all the right ways (plus it takes minutes to make).


28. Summer Abundance Salad

This is what you make when your fridge is exploding with summer fruit.

29. Black Fig And Tomato Salad

You know when your ingredients are so fresh, they’re almost better left untouched? That’s when you should make this dish.

30. Melon Halloumi Salad

The halloumi cubes act like cheese croutons—crispy yet melty, salty, irresistible cheese croutons.

31. Peach And Pita Panzanella With Burrata And Dukkah

Dukkah is an Egyptian and Middle Eastern condiment made of herbs, nuts and spices. This one features pistachios, walnuts, sesame, coriander and cumin—yum.

32. Blueberry, Melon And Feta Fruit Salad Stacks

This is one ingenious way to get your kids to eat fruit.

33. Summer Stone Fruit Salad

For some, summer is about beach books and SPF. For us, it’s about peaches, plums and cherries galore.

34. Melon Basil Burrata Salad With Crispy Prosciutto

We can’t get enough of this sweet-salty flavor combination.

35. Mixed Citrus And Fennel Salad

If you’re not taking advantage of winter’s citrus bounty, you’re totally missing out. The fennel adds a subtle herby bite.

36. Watermelon, Blackberry And Mint Salad

Sure, you could just set out a bowl of watermelon. Or you could add lime juice, mint and blackberries and stun the crowd.

37. Mexican Papaya Salad

The toasted coconut garnish is optional, but the cilantro lime dressing is not.

38. Tropical Avocado Salad

Mango, avocado and Champagne vinaigrette walk into a bar…

39. Nectarine Salad With Cucumber, Basil And Goat Cheese

We have nothing against peach fuzz, but we like that you don’t need to peel the fruit for this salad. The urfa biber is a sophisticated touch.

40. Avocado Strawberry Caprese Salad


headshot

Senior Food Editor

Katherine Gillen is PureWow’s senior food editor. She’s a writer, recipe developer and food stylist with a degree in culinary arts and professional experience in New York City...