Crunchy Summer Salads & Slaws Without Lettuce: Flavorful Recipes

Here’s a little secret: some of the best summer salads need no lettuce at all.

When the sun is high and the grill is hot, you want sides with enough character to stand up to smoky chicken, burgers, or sausages. This roundup delivers exactly that: bold, sturdy salads that keep their texture and flavor in the heat.

Inside you’ll find everything from a five-ingredient tomato and cucumber salad I could eat every day, to a smashed cucumber dressed in sesame-miso, to a rainbow slaw so vivid it brightens any spread. These are the recipes my family asks for again and again.

Vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, heirloom tomatoes, and sturdy root vegetables won’t wilt in the sun and they carry flavor better than limp greens. Whether you’re hosting a BBQ, packing a picnic, or elevating a weekday dinner, these lettuce-free salads are summer-ready. Let’s dig in.