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A summer salad is the perfect meal, acceptable to serve to guests for a special evening or evenon a laid back night at home.These summer salad recipes are easy to prep, easy on the wallet, and absolutely delicious.
Choose from our favorite Classic Potato Salad, this Green Bean Salad with Pasta,or the fancier Greek salad served wedge-style. You’re bound to find some salads that make your taste buds sing.
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Jump to:
- Tips for Saving Money
- Ingredients to Keep on Hand
- Shortcuts for Summer Salads
- Kitchen Equipment
- Recommended Recipes
Salads make perfect summer meals. They’re cool, can easily be made ahead, and typically make good use of summer produce.Not only that, making homemade salads over the summer can save you money. Say what?
True story.
I know this, because I love salad. A salad girl I am. A must-have on my menu plan is one big meal-size salad every day.
So, as an established salad connoisseur, I can guarantee that you will save money making salads at home.
Tips for Saving Money
Let me count the ways:
The commercial alternatives are costly.
Restaurant summer salads range from $15to 25; cheap take-out salads are $10minimum. However, you can buy salad ingredients for a week for the same price as one restaurant salad.
Dial down the price of the classic caprese salad by making it yourself!
Summer salads generally don’t use a lot of one single ingredient.
As a result, you can use up little bits of veggies, cheese, meats — even bread for croutons! — that might otherwise go to waste. Using what you have will certainly save you money and taste amazing!
Use up last night’s leftover sweet corn on the cob in a tasty grilled corn salad. There are so many great salad toppings to embellish your salad with.
Summer is the time for salad.
During the summer months, fresh produce is abundant and favorably priced, therefore, the ingredients for summer salads are incredibly affordable. There is no better time to enjoy a watermelon salad dotted with freshly ground black pepper and feta cheese crumbles.
Vegetables get marked down.
Since veggies are a quick turn-over item, you will likely find sales when the produce needs to be sold quickly. Look for bargains at farm stands, markets, and the grocery store.
Snatch up berries so that you can enjoy a Strawberry Spinach Salad in the blink of an eye.
Veggies are easy to grow.
Yep, you can grow your own salad ingredients! Lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, and herbs are all easy to grow yourself. Imagine slicing your own cukes into a crisp and flavorful cucumber salad.
Ingredients to Keep on Hand
A Summer Salad has a lot going for it. For instance, consider these delicious components:
- crisp veggies, such as lettuce, spinach, carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and corn
- hearty proteins, such as chicken, ham, or hard-cooked eggs – Skillet Chicken Tenderloins are perfect for topping salads!
- filling carbs, like pasta, potatoes, and chickpeas
- tasty dressings, such asranch,Italian dressing,raspberry vinaigrette, or creamy avocado dressing
If you can find your veg fresh from the garden or farm stand, so much the better!
Shortcuts for Summer Salads
Salad ingredients are all things you can prep yourself, but you can also take some shortcuts to speed up your salad-making and still save money.
Consider some of these convenient salad ingredients:
- lettuce prepped in bags or pre-rinsed baby greens
- grape tomatoes, no need to chop!
- shredded carrots and purple cabbage – these add great color, nutrients, and texture
- rotisserie chicken
However, don’t skimp on the dressing. To really enjoy your summer salad recipes, it’s better tomake the dressing yourselfor invest in a good quality bottled variety.
Kitchen Equipment
Making summer salads will be quick and easy with the right kitchen tools:
Good knives– It’s imperative tohave a good set of knives for chopping, dicing, and slicing. You don’t have to buy a full set; you can do quite well with a chef’s knife, a serrated bread knife, and a paring knife.
Big cutting boards– Protect your blades as well as your counter tops by cutting on good counter tops. I have a variety of boards in different colors so I can prevent cross contamination between raw meats and vegetables.
A salad spinner– I prefer to cut my own saladgreens, so having a salad spinner really helps. It gets the excess water off the lettuce so they don’t get soggy. This is great, especially if you want to make several days of lunch salads in advance.
Plastic containers with lids– These are awesome for packing salads for lunch. I’ve bought several sets for my husband to take to work or for me to pack my own lunches in advance. Theyare asdurable as glass, but they’redisposable, so you don’t have to worry about them too much.
Recommended Recipes
There is no end to thecheap and easy Summer Salads you can prep at home. from hearty chicken salad as a main dish to filling pasta salad as a side, you’re bound to find some new favorites!
Main Dish Salads
Summer Salads that serve as the full meal are such time savers. Any of these are an excellent main dish idea, with a pitcher of lemonade or iced tea to go with.
Chicken & Raspberry Salad
Tender chicken, juicy raspberries, and tangy goat cheese get together to party in this simple yet flavorful Chicken & Raspberry Salad. No need for a cafe salad today when you've got this going on!
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Turkey Taco Salad
This easy Turkey Taco Salad is affordable as well as absolutely delicious. Customize it to suit your preferences or whatever you have on hand that needs using up. A taco in a bowl — it's a good cheap eat!
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Copycat Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad Recipe
You can take a break from take-out and still enjoy your favorite Chick-fil-A Cobb Salad. It's just as delicious, but cheaper to make at home.
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Cranberry Chicken Salad
With tenderchicken breast, celery, dried cranberries, and a tangy poppy seed dressing, this classic Cranberry Chicken Salad is a treat!
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Buffalo Chicken Salad
Salads never need be boring! Liven up your salad plate with spicy chicken bites and tangy Blue Cheese dressing in this Buffalo Chicken Salad.
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Antipasto Pasta Salad
Blend all your favorite antipasto flavors into a convenient pasta salad. This recipe blends spicy salami, tangy parmesan, hearty garbanzo beans, and the crunch of fresh vegetables.
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Pasta Salad with Tortellini
Enjoy a quick and delicious Tortellini Pasta Salad full of fresh veggies and a vibrant dressing. It’s perfect as a packable lunch, a fast main dish, or an easy side.
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Italian Chicken Pasta Salad
Busy night? Grab a bowl of this make-ahead Italian Chicken Pasta Salad. It’s easy to make and packed with flavor.
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Asian Cabbage Salad
Keep your cool with this easy Asian Cabbage Salad with Chicken and Mandarin Oranges. It’s delicious as well as very make-ahead!
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Tuna Macaroni Salad
Enjoy this Tuna Macaroni Salad as a cool main dish this summer or as a substantial side dish at your next barbecue. It packs super well for lunch on the go.
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Ham and Egg Salad Recipe
Ham and eggs are a natural pair, especially in a sandwich-style salad featuring green garlic, spicy brown mustard, and crunchy celery.
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Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
Enjoy a simple, delicious chicken salad loaded with apples and almonds in this easy recipe for Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps.
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Santa Fe Salad with Chicken and Corn
This Santa Fe Salad is super easy to pull together. Signature corn and black beans get added protein from shredded chicken and other tasty toppings.
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Poorman’s Chicken Caesar Salad
Entree salads are a great one to enjoy delicious flavors without spending a lot of money. This Chicken Caesar Salad is made from scratch quick and easily and tastes fantastic!
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Orchard Chicken Salad
Enjoy fresh fruits, spicy scallions, crunchy almonds, and tender chicken in this delicious and refreshing Orchard Chicken Salad. Perfect for sandwiches, salads, or lettuce wraps.
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Black Bean Taco Salad
Brown bagging it will taste amazing when you pack up a Black Bean Taco Salad. These stay good for several days in the fridge, so make a bulk batch!
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Asian Chicken Noodle Salad
Cool off with this super easy, super make-ahead Asian Chicken Noodle Salad. It’s full of crisp, crunchy veggies, hearty chicken, and a delectable dressing.
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Cannellini Bowtie Pasta Salad
Summer salads are a great way to eat well on these hot summer days. Try out this Cannellini Bowtie Pasta that comes together in a flash.
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Chef’s Salad with a Garlicky Anchovy Vinaigrette
A typical chef’s salad boasts hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese, and meat on a bed of dressed greens. This garlicky anchovy vinaigrette adds some punch to the melange.
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Quinoa Salad
Want a Quinoa Salad that will make you swoon? This would be it. It’s one of my favorites to make for a hearty, protein-packed lunch.
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Submarine Salad Recipe
The best part of a sub sandwich is the meat and veggies and abundant Italian dressing. You have all those in this tasty Submarine Salad, so good you won’t miss the bread!
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Italian Salad with Crispy Prosciutto
Freshen up this season with dinner salads. Try this Italian Salad loaded with vegetables and topped with crispy prosciutto.
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Cajun Chicken Salad
This creamy chicken salad gets a kick from a custom blend and crunch from crisp celery. It’s great in lettuce wraps or on rolls.
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Pesto Shrimp Linguine Salad
Pesto Shrimp Linguine Salad is super easy and quick to assemble. It’s packed with flavor thanks to pesto, sundried tomatoes, and black olives.
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Tuna Salade Nicoise Recipe
Tuna Salad Nicoise is one of the traditional French salads, composed rather than tossed, and featuring fresh vegetables, tiny salty black olives, and tuna.
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Curry Chicken Salad Lettuce Wraps
Enjoy a lunch or dinner packed with flavor with this Curry Chicken Salad served in Lettuce Wraps. It’s very make-ahead and super delicious.
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Black Bean and Rice Salad Recipe
Eat good and cheap with this easy, make ahead Black Bean and Rice Salad, packed full of fiber, protein, and great taste. It comes together in minutes in just one bowl!
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Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad
Enjoy a cool and easy lunch or dinner with this Chicken Bacon Ranch Salad. It’s full of chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, onions, and cucumbers.
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Turkey and Ham Cobb Salad
A Cobb Salad is full of flavor so it never need be boring. This one with ham and turkey gets dressed up with bacon and leeks.
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Ham and Cheese Salad
Ham and Gruyere cheese add rich flavor to this hearty salad that evokes tastes of France. This recipe takes less than 30 minutes to prepare and tastes great!
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Chicken and Prosciutto Salad
This Chicken and Prosciutto Salad is hearty without being heavy. Tender chicken, crispy prosciutto, and garlic aioli dress a simple yet tasty salad.
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Ginger-Sesame Turkey Salad
Dish up a delicious salad made with cooked turkey breast and tossed with a tangy ginger-sesame dressing.
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Side Salads
Summer salads that can be served on the side of grilled meat are easy and make-ahead. We’ve got your deli basics covered as well as some fun veggie salads, too.
Deli Potato Salad
This Deli Potato Salad is one of those summer dishes that is filling without heating you up. A traditional potato salad recipe that goes great with grilled meats, sandwiches, and salad buffet meals, it’s a great after-anything kind of snack.
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Loaded Potato Salad
With spring here and summer just around the corner, it’s time to dust off your repertoire of side salads for picnics and cookouts. Be sure to include this Loaded Potato Salad recipe with smoky bacon and sharp cheddar.
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Red Potato Salad with Whole Grain Mustard
Looking for good old fashioned comfort food in the middle of summer? Serve up this Red Potato Salad with Whole Grain Mustard at your next BBQ. It is full of flavor and oh so comforting.
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Dill Potato Salad
Want to make the perfect dill potato salad? This recipe is simple and quick and you can doctor it up however you like.
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Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Candied Almonds
Enjoy a simple but elegant starter with this Pear Salad. Mixed baby greens tossed with balsamic dressing are topped with sliced pears, blue cheese crumbles, and candied almonds.
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Coleslaw with Apples and Almonds
Want to add something crisp and fresh to the table tonight? Stir up a batch of this super yummy Coleslaw with Apples and Almonds.
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Mexican Coleslaw
Enjoy a simple, make-ahead side dish that mixes up in minutes with this Easy Mexican Coleslaw recipe that incorporates some of your favorite southwest flavors such as cilantro, lime, chile, and cumin.
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Simple Cole Slaw Recipe
Cabbage can make a tasty, affordable salad, especially when purchased on sale. This cole slaw recipe bursts with sunshine flavors of lemon, carrot, and chive. Add this Simpler Cole Slaw to your meal plan tonight!
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Creamy Coleslaw
Forget that stop at the deli salad counter! Mix up this easy and delicious creamy coleslaw from good cheap ingredients.
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White Bean Salad
Enjoy this filling, yet easy and refreshing white bean salad dotted with sweet peppers this summer. This bean salad recipe is a perfect side dish for all your grilling recipes.
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Lemon Orzo Salad
Dotted with sundried tomatoes, kalamata olives, marinated artichoke hearts, and tangy feta, this delicious Lemon Orzo Salad comes together quickly in less than 30 minutes!
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Corn Salad
Sweet juicy corn, crunchy pepper, and kicky green onion combine in a delicious corn salad you'll want to enjoy all year long. Serve it as a side salad or as a topping for tacos or nachos.
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Berry Salad Recipe
Enjoy in-season berries in this deliciously simple Berry Salad topped with nuts and coconut flakes. Made in just minutes, it's the perfect no-bake dessert to serve all spring and summer.
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Pesto Pasta Salad with Cranberries& Feta
Enjoy an easy supper or side dish with this make-ahead Pesto Pasta Salad with Cranberries & Feta Cheese. It’s packed with flavor and makes a colorful addition to your buffet.
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Southwest Pasta Salad
Liven up your next pasta dinner with this Southwest Pasta Salad. It’s got all the fun south-of-the-border flavors with the ease of a noodle salad.
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Spinach Pasta Salad with Roasted Mushrooms
A simple pasta salad gets enriched with roasted mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes for a delightful vegetarian dish.
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Old Fashioned Macaroni Salad with Cheese
Stir up this quick and easy, old fashioned macaroni salad recipe in minutes. Studded with celery, red onion, and cheddar cheese, wrapped in a creamy mayo dressing, this pasta's packed with flavor and perfect for picnicking.
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Carrot Salad with Cilantro and Pepitas
Shredded carrots get oomph from fresh cilantro, a simple dressing of orange juice and spices with pepitas adding some crunch.
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Spinach Salad with Oranges & Cranberries Recipe
Spinach Salad marinates in balsamic vinegar before being topped with orange slices, dried cranberries, and sunflower seeds, resulting in a flavorful and sunshiny fresh salad.
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Basic Meal Prep Salad
Prepare several basic meal prep salads for quick and easy lunches. Add whatever toppings suit your fancy on a given day and you're good to go!
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Couscous Salad
Couscous is an easy grain to prep quickly AND it makes a fantastic base to all kinds of cold salads. Make this super simple Couscous Salad this week!
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Grilled Vegetable Couscous Salad
Enjoy all the flavors of the season with this easy-to-prep, low-cook meal that’s perfect for those nights when you want something light yet nourishing. This Grilled Vegetable Couscous Salad is just the ticket.
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Vegetable Pasta Salad with Pesto
This meatless Vegetable Pesto Pasta is hearty without being heavy. Bonus: It comes together in minutes!
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Easy Caesar Salad Recipe
Caesar Salad can be simple, quick, delicious, and economical if you know how to make the right tweaks. I’ll show you how in this easy Caesar Salad recipe.
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Kale Salad with Red Grapes, Almonds, and Scallions
Celebrate the season with a festive Kale Salad with Red Grapes, Almonds, and Scallions. It’s quick and easy to pull together.
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Green Salad with Sundried Tomatoes and Almonds
A salad made on the spot can be tasty, using whatever you’ve got in the fridge. This unlikely combination of sun-dried tomatoes, shredded carrot, sliced cucumbers, sliced almonds, and black olives surely proved itself.
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Monkey Salad
A simple fruit salad of cashews, bananas, and coconut chips packs a sweet, yet filling punch. Monkey Salad is perfect for breakfast alonside to an egg or two.
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Orange and Avocado Salad with Pea Tendrils
Pea tendrils are a delightful taste of spring and a great way to use the thinnings from your pea patch. They make a great addition to this salad with oranges and avocado.
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Tossed Salad with Peperoncinis & Feta
A tossed salad is a fresh and flavorful way to get your veggies. This one is accented with peperoncini, feta, and tomatoes.
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Chopped Salad with Avocado and Radish
Celebrate the fresh flavors of fruits and veggies with this Chopped Salad featuring avocado, radish, cucumbers, and sunflower seeds. So delicious!
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Simple Romaine Salad with Cranberries and Feta
Enjoy a light lunch, side salad, or appetizer with this Simple Romaine Salad with Cranberries and Feta. It’s easy, make-ahead, and absolutely delicious.
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Italian Salad Recipe
A favorite at the Southern California ChiChi’s chain, this Italian family salad as its called at the restaurants is a fan favorite. And now you can make it at home!
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Salad Toppings
Don’t forget homemade toppings for your summer salads. Croutons and dressings come together quickly and easily with just a few pantry staples.
Homemade Croutons
Homemade croutons come from humble beginnings, but they can make your salad or soup shine with crunch and texture.
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Cheese and Garlic Croutons
Add flavor and crunch to soups and salads with these homemade cheese and garlic croutons that bake up quickly.
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Maple Balsamic Dressing
Mix up a little deliciousness in this Balsamic Vinaigrette. This Maple Balsamic Dressing is packed with flavor and couldn't be easier to prepare.
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Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing Recipe
Enjoy a bright and flavorful salad dressed with this homemade Lemon Vinaigrette. This Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing mixes up in minutes and packs a punch with lemon, garlic, and herbs.
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Cilantro Lime Dressing Recipe
A great salad dressing makes the salad. Try this homemadeCilantro Lime Dressing Recipe to add sparkling fresh flavor to a variety of salads.
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Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing
Forget the bottled dressings. You can make tasty Homemade Blue Cheese Dressing in just minutes with just a handful of ingredients.
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Creamy Garlic Dressing Recipe
This creamy garlic dressing is delicious on salads, pizza, veggies, and chicken strips. It mixes together in just minutes with only 6 ingredients!
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How to Make a Basic Marinade or Vinaigrette Dressing
Marinades and vinaigrette dressings can often be interchangeable. There are plenty of commercial options, but it's so easy to make them yourself with a few handy ingredients.
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Buttermilk Dressing with Dill
Buttermilk dressing with dill, garlic, and peppercorns mixes up quickly and is perfect for topping salads or dipping veggies and pizza. This classic salad dressing can be customized with different herbs and spices to suit all your flavor cravings.
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Italian Salad Dressing Recipe
Take your salads over the top with this Easy Homemade Italian Salad Dressing recipe. Flavored with basil and oregano, this simple dressing comes together in just minutes.
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This post was originally published on June 16, 2015. It has been updated for content and clarity.
