Peach Salad Recipe
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Apr 28, 2026 
My peach salad recipe is one I love making on warm summer days when peaches are at their peak. I toss fresh peaches with basil, creamy goat cheese, and a drizzle of honey for a light, refreshing dish full of flavor. This easy salad is perfect as a side dish or a simple summer meal.
My love for peaches started when I moved to the South. They are sold everywhere, from the back end of pickup trucks to little country stores. From May through July, I’ve got a bushel of peaches on my counter at all times. There are so many dishes that I love to make using peaches, and this peach salad is definitely one of my favorites. It’s an easy-to-make side dish that is nutritious, refreshing, and packed with radiantly pump, fresh peaches, bright fresh basil, and a tangy goat cheese. The balance of flavors is truly delightful, and I love to serve this at backyard barbecues or dinner parties alongside other light summer dishes, like this pasta salad recipe.
Alyssa – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Peaches and goat cheese are a match made in heaven! One of my favorite summer combos :)
Table of Contents
Sommer’s Recipe Highlights
Fresh Flavors – I’m obsessed with this light, nutrient-packed salad, mainly because it’s filled with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Of course, the star of the show is those juicy peaches, and in combination with herby goodness from fresh basil leaves, the combination of flavors is farmstand-tastic!
Simple Ingredients – Made with just 5 ingredients, this salad is no-fuss, no stress, and requires zero-prep. Plus, it’s ready in just 10 minutes if you can believe that! I love to whip this up after I’ve been outside all day, and need to get a quick meal on the table.
Versatile – I usually enjoy this salad in the summertime, when peaches are in season. This can be a meal on its own, but it’s equally great served with other summer sides like my potato salad recipe, favorite bbq dishes like grilled steak, seafood, and a slice of toasted homemade bread.
Key Ingredients and Tips
- Peaches – Meet the star of the show! When shopping for this salad, I always make sure to pick out ripe peaches so that they’re extra sweet and juicy, but they need a little firmness to make them easy to chop. If they are too soft, they smash when you cut them. Make sure to pit and cut these up into bite-sized pieces.
- Honey – Just a drizzle of honey adds the right amount of sweetness to help balance out the tartness of the goat cheese. I love this addition, but you can omit it if your peaches are very sweet.
- Basil leaves – Bright and gorgeously green, fresh basil leaves add a sweet herby flavor to this dish and a pop of color.
- Lemon Chèvre – This creamy version of lemon-infused goat cheese adds richness and tanginess to every bite. If you can’t find lemon goat cheese, I suggest using plain goat cheese and a pinch of fresh lemon zest.
How to Make
Find the full recipe with ingredient proportions, detailed instructions, and a video tutorial in the printable form at the bottom of the post.
Build the base – The first step in this ridiculously easy dish, is to toss the pitted and chopped peaches into a bowl. Then, I drizzle them with some honey and toss in a dash of salt. I gently mix that altogether so that all the pieces get coated in the honey.
Add the cheese – Before I serve, I gently add in the cheese and thinly sliced fresh basil leaves. I mix that up once again!
If you prefer, you can use small whole basil leaves or tear the basil leaves instead of chopping them.
Recipe Variations
- Greens – Add a bed of greens underneath and a drizzle of olive oil for more veggies and a heartier salad!
- Melon – If you don’t have fresh peaches, you can replace them with any kind of melon, for a melon basil salad. I find cantaloupe and watermelon are both good choices.
- Cheese – Replace the chèvre with fresh mozzarella pearls or feta.
- Nuts – For some added texture and crunch, mix in some chopped pecans, almonds or pistachios.
- Smoked meat – Mix in some cooked and crumbled bacon or pancetta for a meaty twist. Or I find that small pieces of prosciutto are really nice here!
Serving Suggestions
This is a perfect summertime salad to cool you down while filling you up. Even though the ingredients are few and simple, in combination they create a sophisticated final result that always impresses my guests! You can serve this summer salad on its own, or as a light appetizer. Here are some of my personal favorites to go with it:
- Grilled blackened chicken
- Sautéed yellow squash with blistered tomatoes
- Chipotle bbq chicken skewers
- Habanero peach chicken wings
Storing
You can keep peach salad in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. However, if you plan to make it ahead, it’s best to add the basil right before serving.
Frequently Asked Questions
Peaches smell sweet and peachy, when they are ripe. They will be slightly soft to the touch, and will have a bright-colored skin. If the peaches are hard, or have no odor, they are not ripe. If the peaches are mushy and the color has faded, they are overly ripe. My trick is to look for the magic moment when they are slightly firm, but a little soft, and smell delicious!
You can prep this salad ahead of time, but it’s best served fresh. I find the basil wilts if you make this in advance.
Just a pinch of salt helps to balance out all the flavors!
More Salad Recipes
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Peach Salad Recipe
Ingredients
- 4-6 ripe peaches pitted and cut into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 6 basil leaves thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup lemon chevre or plain chevre with a little lemon zest
- Pinch of salt
Instructions
- Place the peaches in a bowl. Drizzle with honey and sprinkle with salt. Toss to coat.
- Gently fold in basil and chevre. Serve immediately.
Sommer…your friendly Peach man is lucky to have served up such nice peaches…because I personally don't know how kindly I would have accepted being called 'Baby' ;o)
I love the combo of ingredients you've used in your peach salad…basil…quite interesting ;o)
Flavourful wishes,
Claudia
oh peaches are at their best right now, and I lov eyour slad, truly refreshing…yum
sweetlife
LOL, love your southern accent ;) I grew up in NW Arkansas and visit often – can't beat the farm stands! This is such a simple and delightful way to highlight peaches!
This actually makes me want to like goat cheese, Sommer! Your peaches look perfect – love the story! ( :
I so wish we had roadside produce here. Your peaches look wonderful.
What an amazing salad. Up north here.. we don't get the peaches you do though… :(
Wow, that looks so amazing. I love our peaches too. The south is just such a wonderful place to live. :)
I feel the same way. I love stone fruit as is but some times they are great cooked too! I like the combo of ingredients. So simple, easy.
Hey Sommer, this salad sounds perfect. I love how you paired minty basil with the peaches and lemon goat cheese-that's nice. I think I'll try it with either peaches or nectarines (whichever looks best at the store). I'm going to add a hot red chili to the mix too, b/c I think that's very Sommeresque (smile)!
I love the combination of fruit and cheese. Great colors!
Excellent salad! I have to try this combination, new to me: basil/peach!
Thanks for the idea!!
how good does that look! I love goat cheese and fresh peaches must go so well with it! The basil adds a nice touch!