89 Easy Summer Recipes That Taste Like Pure Sunshine
If you’re the type to spend your weekends sniffing out juicy tomatoes and feeling for the perfect peach, these summer recipes are for you. Sure, we’ve got all the classic summer foods (burgers, hot dogs, grilled corn on the cob), but we’ve also got lots of cold salads, warm-weather weeknight dinners, and berry-licious desserts. So whether you’re trying to figure out what to do with that giant pile of summer squash (Creamy Lemon Zucchini Pasta is the answer) or looking for new grilling recipes for your next barbecue (try this grilled salmon), this list of our best summer recipes has you covered. Now all you need is a pitcher of perfect iced tea—or maybe something stronger.
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Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk1/89Grilled Chicken Breasts With Tadka-ish Sauce
A tadka-ish sauce provides supreme moisture insurance for these juicy, never-dry grilled chicken breasts, an easy summer recipe to keep on repeat for the season.
- Photo Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco, prop styling by Emily Eisen2/89
Easiest-Ever Grilled Veggie Burgers
The vegan patties in this burger recipe go straight from the mixing bowl to the grill without falling apart—all in about 20 minutes.
- Photographs by Mamadi Doumbouya, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Shannon Maldonado3/89
Classic Potato Salad
This easy-to-make potato salad gets its zing from sweet relish, plenty of mustard, and a dressing reminiscent of deviled eggs.
- Photograph by Scott Semler, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie Yeh4/89
Raspberry-Cardamom Yogurt Semifreddo
Semifreddo is like ice cream, but way, way easier to make. This one is made with a base of Greek yogurt and sweetened condensed milk; stash a batch in the freezer, and you might ditch the store-bought pints this summer.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde Eker5/89
Grilled Party Salmon With Green Romesco
What is the easiest way to impress at your next summer party? Grill a large-format fish, then smother it in herby green romesco.
- Alex Lau6/89
Gazpacho
Great gazpacho (one of our signature summer recipes) starts with epic tomatoes—because this preparation is raw, there’s no hiding a substandard specimen.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime7/89
Salted Strawberry Daiquiri
The secret to the best strawberry daiquiri? There are two: An easy berry-infused simple syrup and just a pinch of salt.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood8/89
Som Tum Thai (Green Papaya Salad)
If you find coleslaw lacking pizzazz, try this spicy green papaya salad seasoned with plenty of funky fish sauce, bright lime juice, and crunchy nuts.
- Laura Murray9/89
BA’s Best Caprese Salad
Make the most of tomato season with this classic Italian summer salad recipe. All you need is mozzarella, tomatoes (we like a mix of large heirlooms and tiny cherry tomatoes here), olive oil, and basil. Skip the balsamic vinegar here, which overpowers the delicate flavor of ripe tomatoes.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, Prop Styling by Emma Ringness, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi10/89
Classic Coleslaw
No cookout is complete without a big bowl of slaw. Pile it high on pulled pork sandwiches or serve it alongside burgers and hot dogs. This crunchy classic is welcome at any summer gathering.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Gerri Williams11/89
Summer Roll Rice Noodles
So you want summer rolls but don’t want to do any of the rolling. We understand. That’s why BA associate food editor Zaynab Issa made these undone summer roll noodles: All the flavor, none of the fuss. And they’re light enough to slurp all summer long.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk12/89
Strawberry-Halva Shortcakes
Chewy, flaky sesame halva takes this sensational riff on strawberry shortcakes out of the stratosphere.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova13/89
Healthyish Barbecued Chicken
Homemade BBQ sauce is an easy, but high-impact way to upgrade grilled chicken. If you’ve only messed around with the bottled stuff, start with this recipe, which makes the process as simple as can be.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich14/89
Halo-Halo
The Filipino dessert layers shaved ice and condensed milk on top of all sorts of texturally contrasting ingredients for a deliciously chewy, crunchy, creamy, sticky, and refreshing result.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood15/89
Ratatouille
If you’re looking for summer dinner recipes that make the most of farmers market produce, this classic French vegetable dish is just the thing.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Thu Buser, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood16/89
Fried Green Tomatoes
Fried green tomatoes are a Southern summer staple; these are crusted with panko instead of the usual cornmeal for an extra crunchy crust. Don’t forget the sidecar of ranch or spicy remoulade for dipping.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore17/89
Charred Asparagus and Dates With Goat Cheese
Sweet, chewy dates, crumbly, tangy goat cheese, and crisp shaved radishes bring new dimension to a platter of charred asparagus.
- Photograph by Yudi Ela, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk18/89
Saucy Grilled Summer Squash With Chickpeas
A little bit of strategizing can help you maximize the efficiency of your grill. Heat a cast-iron skillet on the hot zone to blister tomatoes (without losing any of their juices) while charring larger veggies on the grates. That’s what we call a grilling game-changer.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich19/89
Pollo Asado
Naranja agria (sour orange) gives this Nicaraguan grilled chicken recipe its signature tang, but you can replicate it with a combo of orange and lime juices.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, food styling by Micah Morton20/89
Tomato Salad With Blue Cheese and Crispy Shallots
With a four-ingredient dressing (olive oil, Dijon, sherry vinegar, and honey), this simple salad—jeweled with blue cheese crumbles and store-bought fried shallots—is the side you’ll keep on repeat all summer long.
- Photo by Julian Cousins, food styling by Adriana Paschen, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime21/89
Creamy Corn and Clam Chowder With Crispy Chorizo
Sweet corn and fresh clams come together in this luxuriously creamy yet entirely dairy-free summer soup.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich22/89
Cold Noodles With Sichuan Peppercorn Dressing
This cold noodle salad features a versatile Sichuan peppercorn dressing that will leave your tongue tingling.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova, Prop Styling by Gerri K. Williams23/89
Crunchy and Bright Greek Salad
You won’t find any lettuce in this traditional Mediterranean salad. But you will find a bright, tasty medley of tomatoes (spring for heirloom tomatoes if you can find them), crisp cucumber, and briny feta cheese. It’s one of our favorite summer dishes to bring to a potluck.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kat Boystova24/89
Peach Pie
When summer gives you perfect peaches, eat them out of hand and don’t look back. If faced with slightly-too-firm-to-eat fruit, turn it into this glorious peach pie.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime25/89
Skirt Steak With Grilled Pineapple Chow
Dial up the flavor of your summer steaks with chow, a sweet and spicy Trinidadian condiment.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Kat Boystova, prop styling by Allie Wist26/89
Summer Vegetable Cassoulet With Crispy Gruyère
This hearty cassoulet skips the meat altogether and gives summer produce its moment to shine.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, Prop Styling by Elizabeth Jaime27/89
Coconut Tofu Stir-Fry
Crispy, bite-sized green beans and coconutty tofu are a match made in heaven in this quick weeknight meal.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk28/89
Tomato-Watermelon Salad With Turmeric Oil
Red, juicy, and sweet, tomatoes and watermelon are soulmates. They both need salt, spice, and fat to reach their full potential—this recipe delivers on all fronts.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Kat Boytsova29/89
BA's Best Tabbouleh
The key to tabbouleh—a bright, herby salad from the Levant—is to use a very sharp knife. Slice through the parsley and mint just once to avoid bruising the herbs.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova30/89
Pollo al Carbon
These bright and succulent grilled chicken breasts are perfect for wrapping in warm tortillas with spoonfuls of fresh salsa verde.
- Photo by Emma Fishman31/89
Shrikhand
This impossibly smooth, thick, saffron-studded treat is yogurt in its dreamiest, creamiest dessert form.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Sophie Strangio32/89
Spiced-Tomato-Braised Fish
Store-bought tomato purée, cooked with lots of warm spice such as cumin and garam masala, packs tons of flavor into this simple fish curry.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco and Tom Cunanan, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime33/89
Grilled Shrimp With Palapa
Palapa is an exceptionally flavorful condiment made from toasted grated fresh coconut and tons of aromatics; it can be a topping for any grilled or roasted protein (in this case, grilled shrimp).
- Photographs by Mamadi Doumbouya, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Shannon Maldonado34/89
Picnic Tomatoes
Let the dressed tomatoes sit in their herby mayonnaise dressing for an hour or so before serving so they can soak up maximum flavor.
- Michael Graydon & Nikole Herriott35/89
Blueberry-Pecan Galette
The great thing about a blueberry galette recipe? The more rustic (read: messed up) it looks, the better. Novice bakers, this one’s for you.
- Photo by Alex Lau36/89
Basil Pesto
The key to homemade pesto is adding basil at the very end, which helps avoid bruising the leaves.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk37/89
Tomato Galette
A savory galette topped with peak-season tomatoes, cheese, and garlic. Does it get much better than that? We don’t think so.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk38/89
Hot Honey Wings
Hot honey is good on everything: pizza, biscuits, and these crispy, low-fuss grilled wings. Serve them as an appetizer or make them the main event.
- 39/89
Fig Caprese Salad
Our secret to summertime cooking? It’s not about the number of steps or ingredients in a dish. If you shop smart and buy peak-season produce, you don’t have to do much—like with this effortless salad recipe that highlights fresh figs.
- Photo by Alex Lau40/89
BA’s Best Piña Colada
Freezing fresh pineapple makes a big impact in this slushy, just-boozy-enough piña colada recipe. Head over here for more of our favorite frozen drinks.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson41/89
Grilled Crispy-Skinned Salmon With Whole Lemon-Sesame Sauce
For this lemony grilled salmon recipe, seek out fish that still has its skin on. The skin gets nice and crispy on the grill, protecting the flesh from intense heat.
- Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Anderson, Prop Styling by Beatrice Chastka42/89
Brothy Seafood Chowder
Using homemade fish stock makes all the difference in this flavorful, dairy-free chowder recipe.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Amy Wilson43/89
Romesco Pasta Salad With Basil and Parmesan
This pasta salad holds up well at room temperature and has a flavorful, punchy romesco sauce.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Chris Morocco and Tom Cunanan, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime44/89
Spicy Pork Skewers
Simmering the leftover marinade and using it as a basting sauce ensures none of its potent flavors go to waste.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson45/89
Grilled Scallops With Nori, Ginger, and Lime
Always seek out dry scallops, which sear and caramelize better than their “wet” counterparts. Ask your fishmonger before you buy—it really makes a difference.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Molly Baz, Prop Styling by Emily Eisen46/89
Salted Watermelon Margarita
It’s refreshing, naturally sweet without added sugar, and just look at that PINK! We’re calling it now: This salted watermelon margarita is the drink of the summer.
- Photo by Alex Lau, , Food Styling by Sue Li47/89
Shrimp and Basil Stir-Fry
There’s so much more you can do with that bushel of farmers market basil than making another round of pesto (though we support that too). For an herby weeknight dinner, try this shrimp and basil stir-fry.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, food styling by Anna Billingskog48/89
Pasta With No-Cook Tomato Sauce
When tomato season rolls around, this no-cook tomato sauce is our ace in the hole. Put it on pasta, pizza, or roasted vegetables.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Amy Wilson49/89
Clams With Spicy Tomato Broth and Garlic Mayo
If you don’t have a grill, don’t sweat it: Just heat the cast-iron skillet over medium on your stovetop. Inside or out, you’ll still have buttery clams to enjoy.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova50/89
Party Steak With Grilled Scallion Salsa Verde
Two reasons skirt steak is our favorite choice when grilling for a crowd: it feeds many and cooks in a jiffy.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou51/89
Sweet and Spicy Grilled Summer Squash
The crosshatch pattern isn’t just for show (even though it does look cool). It helps the salt penetrate deeper into the squash, drawing out the excess moisture.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime52/89
Chicken and Corn Stir-Fry
A summer weeknight dinner doesn’t get easier than this riff-able chicken and corn stir-fry.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Styling by Anna Billingskog53/89
BA’s Best Blueberry Pie
With its flaky lattice crust, this stunner of a fruit pie tastes just like summer, courtesy of 8 cups of fruit.
- Photo by Laura Murray, styling by Judy Mancini54/89
Tomato and Roasted Garlic Pie
Plenty of cheese, peak summer tomatoes, tons of garlic, and a cracker crust make for a showstopping savory pie.
- Photo by Alex Lau, Styling by Sue Li55/89
Salmon Burgers With Pickled Cucumbers
The food processor is your friend when making these salmon burgers. The key is to watch how smoothly you process the fish: leave it a little chunky for patties that hold their shape and have the most pleasing texture.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by D'mytrek Brown, Props by Meilen Ceramics56/89
Corn & Chickpea Bowl With Miso-Jalapeño Tahini
A quick sear gives corn kernels caramelized edges and concentrated flavor. Here, they’re cooked with crispy chickpeas, tossed with za’atar, and dressed with a mixture of ginger, jalapeños, miso, and tahini.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Judy Mancini57/89
Summer Squash and Basil Pasta
Sautéed squash gets jammy and saucy if cooked long enough, ideal for coating big pieces of pasta (or spreading on ricotta toast).
- Photo by Alex Lau58/89
BA's Best Guacamole
It takes a minute for avocado to absorb all the flavors you add to it. So if you ever find yourself wondering if your guac is spicy (or salty, or lime-y) enough, wait a bit before adding more so you don’t accidentally overseason it.
- Photo by Alex Lau, styling by Judy Mancini59/89
Fish Tacos al Pastor
Former BA staffer Rick Martinez loves tacos al pastor, but on a trip to Mexico City, he opted for fish tacos al pastor at Contramar. He did not think he could possibly like a fish taco more than a pork one until that moment, hence the origin story of this recipe.
- Photo by Stephen Kent Johnson, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich, prop styling by Kalen Kaminski60/89
Aperol Spritz
Here it is, the classic bittersweet and refreshing combo that started the whole spritz phenomenon in the United States.
- Photo by Caleb Adams61/89
Corn Salsa
This zippy charred corn salsa is the ultimate August condiment, whether scooped with tortilla chips or spooned over a simple fish fillet.
- Photo by Alex Lau62/89
Ramen Noodles With Miso Pesto
This cilantro-miso pesto is bright and delicious on springy ramen noodles. It can be served hot or cold, making it an ideal summer dish.
- Peden & Munk63/89
Falafel-Spiced Tomatoes and Chickpeas on Flatbread
To make this tomato-on-homemade-bread revelation right this minute, use a store-bought flatbread like naan or pocketless pita.
- Alex Lau64/89
Butterflied Chicken With Herbs and Cracked Olives
Butterflying the chicken transforms a hard-to-grill round bird into a compact, flat package that is easier to crisp and cook through.
- Photo by Alex Lau, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich65/89
Chimichurri
This colorful chimichurri recipe doubles as a marinade and can accompany almost any cut of beef—or whatever else you want to gussy up.
- Photo by Alex Lau66/89
Green Goddess Crunch Sandwich
Think of this as a summer salad sandwiched between two slices of bread. With creamy avocado, crunchy cucumber, and crisp sprouts, it shows off plenty of textures.
- Photo by Laura Murray, Food Styling by Kat Boystova67/89
BA's Best Linguine and Clams
Clams vary in brininess and the amount of liquid they release during cooking, so you might need to adjust the salt and add pasta water accordingly. If possible, look for artisanal dried pasta for this recipe—the rougher surface texture will catch the slippery sauce better.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Emilie Fosnocht, prop styling by Gerri Williams68/89
Halal Cart Chicken Salad
This halal cart chicken salad is the best thing to do with a rotisserie chicken, period. Keep this recipe around for quick weeknight dinners that taste just as good for lunch the next day.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich69/89
Creamy Lemon Zucchini Pasta
Two whole pounds of summer squash practically melt into this pasta dish, brightened with lemon and fresh basil.
- Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food Styling by Diana Yen, Prop Styling by Hannah Ferrara70/89
Tomatoes With Creamy Feta
This creamy feta sauce would be a great dip on its own, but it’s only improved by fresh, juicy heirloom tomatoes.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Summer Moore71/89
Whipped Ricotta Toast With Date and Rhubarb Compote
Use the last of your homemade rhubarb compote to make this fresh, fruity appetizer. It’s a great pairing for whatever’s coming off the grill (hopefully this BBQ chicken).
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime72/89
Crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad With Cabbage
If this salad looks familiar, that’s probably because it appears at cookouts across the country. Crisp, crunchy, and fresh, we consider it an ideal summer side dish.
- Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni73/89
Strawberry Galette
This free-form strawberry galette is our kind of summer dessert: Berry-forward, carefree (no crimping here), and very amenable to a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Judy Kim, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca74/89
Crunchy Coconut-Sesame Shrimp With Spicy Lime Mayo
Can’t swing a trip to the beach this summer? Crunchy coconut shrimp dipped in spicy, citrusy mayo is the next best thing. Kick up your feet, sip a piña colada, and pretend you’re lying in the sand.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Susan Ottaviano, Prop Styling by Stephanie De Luca75/89
Grilled Corn and Steak Fattoush
This colorful summer salad features grilled corn, cherry tomatoes, Persian cucumbers, spiced pita chips, and sliced strip steak.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, prop styling by Emma Ringness, food styling by Mieko Takahashi76/89
Easiest Grilled Salmon
Instead of fussing with individual fillets, grill a large cut of salmon this summer. As long as it’s the same thickness as small fillets, it doesn’t take much longer to cook—gauge the doneness with an instant-read thermometer—and score major presentation points.
- Photo by Emma Fishman, food styling by Rebecca Jurkevich77/89
Margherita Pizza Beans
Fresh summer tomatoes take center stage with these saucy, Margherita pizza–inspired beans, which you can spoon over bread, polenta, or pasta.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood78/89
BA’s Ultimate Lobster Rolls
Homemade lobster rolls have two things going for them over those fish shack darlings: they cost much less per roll, and you won’t have to wait in line to get ’em.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Caroline Hwang, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime.79/89
Grilled Corn With Chaat Masala
Upgrade your grilled corn on the cob game this summer with a punchy spice rub and a squeeze of fresh lime.
- Photo by Justin Bridges, Food Styling by Tyna Hoang80/89
Vietnamese Turmeric Fish Summer Rolls
This recipe is Tyna Hoang’s homage to Hanoi’s classic Chả Cá Lã Vọng, a dish of fried fish seasoned with turmeric, shrimp paste, and dill that’s served over vermicelli with lots of herbs and nước chấm.
- Photograph by David Cabrera, Prop Styling by Adriana Bonin, Food Styling by Adriana Paschen81/89
Citrusy Arugula Salad With Fennel and Parmesan
This light, bright, citrusy salad packs a peppery bite from the arugula and licorice-y snap from the shaved fennel.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Micah Morton, Prop Styling by Tim Ferro82/89
Migas With Green Salsa
An equally delicious brunch or dinner idea, migas only require a few household staples (eggs, tortillas, butter, cheese, and onion) to throw together. The vibrant green salsa is an optional embellishment for this easy summer meal.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata, food styling by Kendra Vaculin, prop styling by Gözde Eker83/89
Jamón and Nectarines With Blue Cheese
With ribbons of jamón, juicy sliced nectarines, and big wedges of blue cheese, this seasonal beauty will be the BBQ side dish to watch at your annual cookout.
- Photograph by Rana Düzyol, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Beth Pakradooni84/89
Diner-Style Strawberry Milkshakes
For the creamiest, dreamiest, fruit-forward milkshake with a lovely pink hue, use fresh and freeze-dried strawberries plus a pint of strawberry ice cream.
- Photograph by Emma Fishman, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime85/89
Seared Squash and Halloumi Burgers
This vegetarian recipe makes a strong case for replacing a veggie burger with a slab of melty, salty cheese.
- Photo by Chelsie Craig, Food Styling by Kat Boytsova86/89
Jammy Pepper Pasta Salad
This spicy, sweet, punchy pasta salad is ideal for a hot summer picnic when you need your dishes at room (ahem, outside) temperature.
- Photo by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kay Boytsova87/89
Summer Corn Rice
Cooking sushi rice in a savory-sweet bath of kombu, fresh corn, and soy sauce is a recipe for summer success.
- Photographs by Alex Lau, food styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Aneta Florczyk88/89
Korean-Style Hasselback Short Ribs
Featuring scored and marinated boneless short ribs cooked right on the grate, this version of bulgogi is ideal for home grilling.
- Photograph by Isa Zapata89/89
Peach and Prosciutto Sandwich
Headed to the beach? Pack up a few of these pea and prosciutto sandwiches, layered with cheddar, peaches, and chili crisp. It’s one unique summer recipe we love—and one of the most delicious.