July 4th is just around the corner and for us summer is in full swing! The temperatures here in Virginia have skyrocketed and I am in the mood for cool and refreshing salads! As things get hotter outside and backyard gatherings commence, I'm sharing 5 patriotic salads that are beautiful, festive, and refreshing! Any of these patriotic ideas would be wonderful salads to bring to any summer BBQ you may attend this season!

Nothing tastes more like summer than fresh picked berries. I recently visited a blueberry farm with my kids and we enjoyed filling our buckets with the delightful fruit and then completed our visit with a blueberry mint lemonade made right there on the farm. I'm sharing this summer berry salad because I believe it would be a festive and refreshing side to any summer meal you may be planning soon!

I love the combination of watermelon, cucumber, and feta. Nora, from Savory Nothings, pairs this salad with an easy to make 3 ingredient vinaigrette! To make this salad even more festive, she recommends cutting the cucumber slices into stars and arranging the watermelon, blueberries, and feta in a flag pattern. Click the link above to see all the variations she shares on this popular dish! The watermelon is cool and refreshing while the feta and basil give a salty, savory twist I think everyone will love!

As tomatoes grow and ripen throughout the season, we will be making this salad more and more. Have you ever considered adding blueberries to a traditional caprese salad? You may be surprised that they add a sweet, delicious flavor to the savory ingredients! To make cut out star shapes you can use any star cookie cutter you may have on hand, or purchase them here!

Fruit salads are refreshing and can also make a beautiful table display. I love using a clear bowl and assembling the fruit in layers for an eye-catching punch of color! There are layers of color with the blackberries, blueberries, watermelon, red grapes and white canary melon (or other white fleshed fruit of your choosing)!

Potato salad has been a side staple for outdoor gatherings for years. I love the spin on this traditional recipe by using red and blue potatoes! This recipe calls for greek yogurt in lieu of mayonnaise and adds flavor with dijon mustard and green onions! Scroll all the way to the bottom of the link shared above to find the recipe for this salad. Don't worry if you can't find blue potatoes, this salad is festive by itself even using traditional ingredients.

#1: This Chocolate Pudding Pie In A Jar is delicious and easy to transport, making it a perfect dessert to include with your next meal!

Don't have Instagram? Click here for the recipe!

#2: Transform a simple paper plate into a pastry basket, which is functional and cute! To make one, you only need paper plates and a few basic office supplies. This is a perfect idea if you're taking a meal and want to include cookies, muffins, or small pastries!

#3: Showing the people you work with daily that you appreciate all their hard work can go a long way! Show how grateful you are by creating a fun treat and attaching this free printable! These tags are perfect for coworkers, clients, employees, or anyone you do business with.

Don't have Instagram? Click here for the free printable!

#4: Who doesn't love chicken parmesan? It's one of those meals that's too good to turn down! This Dump and Bake Chicken Parmesan is an easy meal you can take! You only need to pour the ingredients into a dish, bake it, and voila!

Don't have Instagram? Click here for the recipe!

#5: Salads can be a meal by themselves or a wonderful side to another main dish. We've compiled some of the best salads and side dish recipes on our Pinterest!