*This post may contain affiliate links. Please read the full disclosure here.
Summer salads don’t need fancy ingredients to taste great—honestly, the best ones are built from cheap, fresh stuff. Here are some easy, budget-friendly ideas you can throw together.
Pro-tip: If you want to keep these interesting: change the acid and seasoning to your salad for new flavors and variety. For the acid component, use either lemon, vinegar or yogurt. And for the seasoning, it’s totally up to you!
Classic Summer Salads that are Cheap
1. Tomato and cucumber salad
Chop tomatoes, cucumber and maybe a bit of red onion. Toss with olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. If you’ve got it, crumble in a little feta and it’s done in 5 minutes.
2. Pasta salad (great for leftovers)
Cook any cheap pasta and cool it down. Mix with whatever’s around—sweetcorn, peas, chopped peppers, a bit of mayo or vinaigrette. This keeps well for days.
3. Chickpea salad
Tin of chickpeas with some chopped cucumber, tomato, onion. Add lemon juice, olive oil, maybe some cumin or paprika. Filling and super cheap.
4. Easy Potato salad
Mix together boiled potatoes, mayo and a bit of onion or spring onion. You can lighten it with yogurt if you want.
5. Coleslaw Mix
To shredded cabbage add grated carrot mixed with mayonnaise, vinegar, and a pinch of sugar. Costs very little and lasts ages in the fridge.
6. Watermelon and mint (if watermelon’s on sale)
This cooling salad is great for the summer. To chunks of watermelon add fresh mint, squeeze of lime. Optional feta again if you want a salty contrast.
8. Bean salad
Mixed tinned beans, chopped onion, a bit of parsley if you have it, and a simple vinaigrette. Protein-packed and cheap.
Vegetarian Summer Salads
Let’s move on to some vegetarian salad ideas that are great for the summer weather.
Roasted veg salad
You can have this either warm or cold. Roast whatever’s cheap—courgette, carrots, onions, peppers. Toss with oil, salt, maybe garlic. Eat as-is or top up with some leaves or grains.
Carrot and orange salad
Grate carrots, add orange segments (or just juice + zest), a little oil, pinch of salt. Surprisingly fresh and sweet.
Courgette ribbon salad
Use a peeler to make thin strips of courgette. Add lemon juice, olive oil, salt, maybe parmesan or seeds. Super light and super tasty.
Spinach and apple
To a cheap bag of spinach or lettuce add some thin apple slices along with a simple dressing of oil, vinegar and mustard).
Grilled corn salad
If corn’s cheap: grill or pan-fry it, cut off the kernels, mix with lime juice, chilli flakes, and herbs if you’ve got them.
Pea and mint salad
Frozen peas (don’t forget to defrost them!), toss with chopped mint, lemon, and a bit of oil or butter. Super simple but really summery.
Cabbage and cucumber slaw
If you want a more refreshing alternative to the creamy slaw, try this. Shred some cabbage and add sliced cucumber, sliced onions, vinegar, a tiny bit of sugar and some salt.
Roasted cauliflower salad
Roast cauliflower with spices (curry powder or paprika), then add lemon and maybe a dollop of yogurt.
Green bean and mustard dressing
Boil green beans, cool them, then toss with a sharp mustard vinaigrette.
Meat and Seafood Cheap Summer Salad
1. Chicken thigh salad
Most chicken salads are made with chicken breast, but using the thighs can be a cheaper option. Roast or pan-fry chicken thighs with salt and spices, slice them up over salad or grains. Goes with anything—couscous, rice, or just salad leaves.
2. Tinned tuna salad
Classic yet cheap! To tinned tuna add some sweetcorn, cucumber and a bit of mayo or lemon. You can bulk it out with pasta or potatoes to stretch it further.
3. Sardine salad
Tinned sardines (in oil or tomato) along with chopped tomatoes, onion and lemon. Strong flavour but really nutritious and filling.
4. Chicken pasta salad
Use leftover roast chicken or cook some chicken and mix pasta, peas, and a light dressing.
5. Mackerel and potato salad
Smoked mackerel is often pretty affordable. Flake it into boiled potatoes with mustard and lemon. Feels fancy, costs less than you’d think.
6. Egg-based salads
Eggs are probbaly one of the cheapest proteins you can find. To boiled eggs add some potatoes or greens with your choice of dressing. Or chop eggs into a veg-heavy salad for extra substance.
7. Frozen prawns (when on sale)
Use a small handful in a rice or noodle salad with some soy. Don’t need loads—just enough for flavour.
8. Mince salad topper
Cook a small amount of minced beef or turkey with spices, then sprinkle it over a big veg/grain salad. Cheaper than using a whole portion per person.
9. Chicken and bean combo
Mix a bit of chicken with chickpeas or lentils—cuts cost but still feels like a proper protein-heavy meal.
Salads that Fill You Up
If you like some salad options that will fill you up, try these.
1. Sweet potato and black beans
Roast chunks of sweet potato, toss with black beans, a squeeze of lime, maybe a bit of chilli or cumin. Good warm or cold.
2. Mediterranean-style veg with couscous
This classic couscous recipe is cheap and quick. Add roasted peppers, courgette, chickpeas, and a lemony dressing. Feels fancy, costs very little.
3. Warm potato and green veg bowl
Boiled potatoes with green beans, peas and spinach. Toss with some salt and pepper and oil dressing. Add a soft-boiled egg if you want extra protein.
4. Chickpea and roasted cauliflower
Roast cauliflower with spices, mix with chickpeas, yogurt and lemon dressing. Properly filling and a bit different.
5. Deconstructed pepper salad
Cook rice or couscous, mix with chopped peppers, tomatoes, herbs, and maybe lentils. Basically stuffed peppers without the effort.
