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.
So I stumbled on this recipe and decided to try it for a family celebration. I had to hunt a little for the lemon goat cheese, but it was well worth the effort. In season white peaches, basil from my garden, and some lemon goats cheese = absolute perfection. I wasn’t sure how I would like it so I made a small bowl the night before (one peach, one basil leaf, drizzle of honey, teaspoon cheese) and I think it’s my new favorite salad for one or for a crowd. Thanks for the recipe!
Fresh peaches and basil are two of my favorite things about summer. This salad looks and sounds fabulous! And so easy to put together. Just what I want.
This recipe was fantastic! Just brought it to a labor day party and it won everyone over.
Only one suggestion – my boyfriend recommended adding walnuts to the mix for an extra crunch, and it worked out great.
Thanks for the great recipe!
I cannot tell you how UTTERLY DELICIOUS this is!!! Just ate a whole bowl… so so SOOO GOOD!!!
Everything about it is just perfect. YUM!
Great salad combo…want some right now!
LOVE LOVE LOVE
Yum, this looks so fresh. So cooling!
I totally wouldn’t have thought to pair peach and basil together, looks yummy!
Mmmmm….I’ve never eaten peaches with basil but I have a feeling I’d love it!
A delightful summer salad – love the sweet/savory combo. xo
I remember the days when I brought peaches from the road side stands, too! Now, the best are from the farmer's market in NYC. And, NJ peaches are quite good, too. Regardless of where they're from, the fact they're in season… that's important.
Oooh! Those surely are purty little peaches LOL Such a simple and beautiful way to enjoy them. Love the idea of pairing them with basil, though I have't yet tried it.