Favorite Summer Recipes
If your family is like mine, you’ll be invited to picnics, holiday gatherings, and other pitch-ins throughout the summer. I’ve gathered some of my Favorite Summer Recipes to provide you with some delicious inspiration for family meals or entertaining!
From grilled summer dinner recipes to refreshing summer salad recipes to cool and irresistible summer desserts, this roundup of the Best Summer Recipes will help with your menu planning from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
From an unusual Corn Dip to a hot Cheesy Spinach Dip to a classic Guacamole, you’ll have a hit on your hands no matter which you make! Be prepared to give out the recipes.
Summer Appetizer Recipes
Hand selected appetizer recipes that are perfect for family gatherings or a summer dinner party!
Every gathering needs a spinach dip, especially a gooey cheesy one! With artichoke hearts, chopped spinach and TWO types of cheese, this is one outstanding party dip!
Add this fabulous Sour Cream Spinach Dip to a crudite platter. A copycat of Knorr’s Spinach Dip, it’s made of delicious, wholesome ingredients.
I serve this Sour Cream Corn Dip every single 4th of July. Bill requests it and the neighbors that come to our annual Independence Day bash rave over this unusual, creamy dip with a hit of spice! Give it a try! Get ready for all the recipe requests when you serve it!
Next up are salads. I love to load up my plate with these. There’s the classic KFC-style coleslaw, a chopped veggie salad, a Caprese with multi-colored tomatoes, and even a pesto pasta salad. Do you have a favorite summer salad recipe to make in the summer??? Let me know in the comments.
Summer Salad Recipes
Summer is the perfect time to load up your plate with salads! There’s the classic KFC-style coleslaw, a chopped veggie salad, a Caprese with multi-colored tomatoes, and even a pesto pasta salad.
This versatile Buttermilk Coleslaw is a wonderful picnic or potluck side dish, but it’s also a fabulous topping for pulled pork sandwiches. If you like KFC’s coleslaw, this recipe will be your new favorite!
A chopped salad filled with Mediterranean vegetables and tossed with a simple vinaigrette
A tasty spinach salad with strawberries, feta, pecans, apples and dried cranberries.
A simple salad found throughout France made of the freshest ripe tomatoes you can find and fresh mozzarella
A classic picnic salad made with broccoli, bacon and dried cherries. Easily adapted to make it your own!
The hubby is a grill-a-holic. If we entertain, the grill is always fired up. I’ve picked a few of my winning grilled main dishes that always get rave reviews. Whether you want to marinate your chicken with Thai flavors or a more classic mustard, lime, and garlic combo, you won’t be disappointed. Beef lovers will go nuts for my teriyaki kabobs, plus there are tons more summer dinner recipes in my Recipe Index under Entrees. And you’ll want to check out these 20 amazing summer recipes from some of my favorite bloggers, too.
Summer Dinner Ideas
I’ve selected a few of my winning grilled main dishes that always get rave reviews. Whether you want to marinate your chicken with Thai flavors or a more classic mustard, lime, and garlic combo, you won’t be disappointed.
Beef lovers will go nuts for my teriyaki kabobs, plus there are tons more summer dinner recipes in my Recipe Index under Entrees.
A lovely Thai-inspired marinade with coconut milk, fish sauce, garlic, lime, cilantro, and more makes for a most flavorful chicken dish. This Grilled Thai Chicken is a wonderful summer barbecue recipe!
These Mustard, Garlic, Lime Marinated Chicken Breasts will rock your world. Tender and flavorful, you’ll want to grill this spectacular chicken all summer long!
I’ve been making these beef teriyaki kabobs for years! The Asian-inspired marinade works perfectly with beef and adding vegetables practically makes a meal from these wonderful skewers!!
Succulent marinated broiled shrimp inspired by the margarita cocktail!
Summer desserts cannot be forgotten. When I volunteer to bring a dessert, I always end up making two! I can’t help myself!!! So this category is on overload with raspberry and apricot bars, scrumptious coconut cupcakes, two frozen desserts, a jazzed-up chocolate chip cookie, and even a strawberry mousse. Decisions, decisions. I might just have to remake these summer recipes before autumn arrives. Plus, here are more incredible Summer Desserts from some of my favorite bloggers.
Summer Dessert Recipes
Summer desserts cannot be forgotten. When I volunteer to bring a dessert, I always end up making two! I can’t help myself!!! So this list is on overload with raspberry and apricot bars, scrumptious coconut cupcakes, two frozen desserts, a jazzed-up chocolate chip cookie, and even a strawberry mousse.
An easy peasy ice cream pie with 3 layers of decadent chocolate deliciousness!
These terrific Streusel Topped Raspberry Squares have a buttery crust, raspberry filling and a yummy streusel topping!
Moist and tender coconut cupcakes topped with a decadent mound of cream cheese icing!
This frozen minty grasshopper pie will delight mint fans of all ages!
Fresh Strawberry Mousse, an elegant berry dessert! Recipe courtesy of Cook's Illustrated via Confessions of a Culinary Diva (slightly adapted)
3 delicious chocolate layers make every slice a party in your mouth!
Your favorite chocolate chip cookie baked in a skillet!
A terrific coconut apricot bar that can be customized using your favorite jam
You May Also Like:
With Memorial Day, Father’s Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day all falling in the summer season, you’ll need loads of delicious recipes for those special occasions and family meals. These are definitely some of our favorite summer recipes!!
- Best Peach Recipes
- 30+ Marinade Recipes
- 20+ Homemade Ice Cream Recipes
- Top 10 Summer Sweet Treats from TidyMom
- 20 Sensational Summer Cocktails from A Spicy Perspective
- More Than 20 Summer Grilling Recipes from Wine and Glue
Plus, I’ve shared these Best Summer Salad Recipes, Best Summer Dessert Recipes, and these Best Potluck Recipes for Summer!
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I hope some of these will become your new favorite summer recipes! If you make one of them, please share it on Instagram and tag @thatskinnychickcanbake ! I’d love to see your creation!!!
18 Comments on “Favorite Summer Recipes”
I’ve made the guacamole and cole slaw and that ice cream pie is next! All were delicious!
what an awesome collection of summer treats!
You left no stone unturned with this roundup and made summer recipe planning very easy!
My summer menu is set thanks to the Skinny Chick =) Your cole slaw and Mediterranean salad are calling my name for supper. And of course I want to dive into every single one of your desserts =)
What a great round up Liz, some great inspiration for my next Bar-B-Q.
I wish I could try everything 🙂
Amalia
xo
I love summer eats and I’m dying over your fudge-topped ice cream pie. What a treat!
Love this round-up, Liz!! Everything looks amazing and I can’t wait to add these to our summer menu!
Love this great roundup. LOVE that spinach dip!
Man, those salads are calling my name. Great round-up of summer recipes, Liz.
I love guacamole, yours looks so nice! All your recipes looks so delicious! I would like a slice of the chocolate fudge right now! Happy weekend!x
What a stunning and delicious collection of summer recipes, Liz. I am dying to have that chocolate ice-cream pie! 😀
Oh my gosh, so many great recipes Liz! I’m so glad summer is here! I’m really looking forward to trying your pesto pasta salad and those raspberry squares! : )
Wow I don’t know what take first I love,thus entire summer menu!!!
OMG Liz…how can someone resist all these recipes…they look so pretty, and sure perfect for summer. Thanks for the round-up…
Hope you are having a great week 🙂
Every one of these recipes look so delicious. I’m planning on trying a variation of your corn salad for our 4th of July BBQ, too.
This is a great round up and everything looks SO delicious!
I’ve saved the corn dip for dinner one day soon! But what I really want… Are those gorgeous heirloom tomatoes:@)