All of these entrees, sides, salads, drinks, and desserts are some of our FAVORITE Summer Recipes! Fire up the grill, grab some fresh in-season produce, and make these tasty and refreshing dishes.
More Collections: Summer Salads, Summer Drinks, Summer Desserts, Summer Dinner Ideas, Summer Slow Cooker Recipes
No Time like Summertime!
When the weather warms up, pools open, and Summer holidays roll around, we find ourselves wanting to enjoy our meals outside! Especially when we have get togethers or potlucks with family or friends, we love to fire up the grill and make all kinds of BBQ dishes.
Not to mention all the fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season during the summer months! I love making side dishes, salads, and desserts that include all the veggies and berries that are perfectly ripe and delicious in the summer.
I’ve put together a collection of our favorite summer recipes. These recipes include a lot of fresh produce, dishes that utilize the grill, and cool desserts and drinks. Before we get into the list, I also have a few tips for making and serving summer recipes.
Tips for Summertime Cooking
Here are a few things to keep in mind when cooking in the hot summer months…
- Grill meats, fruits and veggies. I love the char marks and the unique grilled flavor.
- Utilize your crock pot! You can still get delicious main dishes and side dishes without spending time in an oven hot kitchen.
- Summer produce is in full swing. Watermelon, sweet corn, tomatoes, berries, zucchini are some of our favorites. Buying in season produce is not only cost effective, but also ensures the freshest most delicious produce.
- Take it outside: Eat out on the patio, go out for a picnic, head to the lake or the beach.
- Lighting: If you’re eating outdoors in the evening string up lights and use tiki torches
- Keeping food cool outside: put the food table in the shade, don’t put everything out at once, put dishes on ice, and keep food covered.
- See the individual recipe posts for more tips and tricks to cooking these summer recipes.
Summer Entrees
Summer Entrees
Hot dogs & burgers & pork, oh my! There are so many delicious summer dishes to serve. Here’s a list of our favorites. Best of all you don’t have to turn on the oven and heat up the kitchen. Be sure to check out our complete list of summer dinner ideas as well.
Easy Steak Marinade Recipe
This is Our All-Time Favorite Steak marinade! It requires only four ingredients, and makes our steak taste SO amazing! Everyone always asks for this Easy Steak Marinade recipe because it's just that good!!
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Chicken Marinade Recipe
This easy chicken marinade is the BEST way to marinate chicken breasts before grilling or cooking. It makes the meat juicy, tender, and so flavorful!
Total Time: 4 hours 20 minutes
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Ranch Burger Recipe
These Ranch Burgers make the BEST homemade hamburgers!! This easy burger recipe is complete with the most delicious secret sauce that compliments the ranch burger perfectly!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Sweet Pork Barbacoa Recipe
Sweet Pork Barbacoa is the best slow cooker pulled pork recipe you will ever try. Better than Cafe Rio—you better make a double batch!
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
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BBQ Pork Chops recipe
These baked pork chops are simple, delicious and smothered in a homemade BBQ sauce. They're the perfect easy meal for the pork loin lover.
Total Time: 45 minutes
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Huli Huli Chicken Recipe
This Grilled Huli Huli Chicken is the juiciest and most delicious Hawaiian chicken you'll ever try! Great alone or served on rice or noodles!!
Total Time: 21 minutes
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Crock Pot Brisket Recipe
Juicy and delicious meat, easily made in your slow cooker! This crock pot brisket is so tender it just falls apart.
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
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Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches Recipe
Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sandwiches - simple, delicious and perfect for your next BBQ!
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Easy Chicken Souvlaki Recipe
This Flavorful And Easy Chicken Souvlaki Is A Favorite Greek Kabob With Chicken And Veggies. It's Not Only Delicious But Simple And Perfect For Any Greek Meal.
Total Time: 41 minutes
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Dr. Pepper Ribs Recipe
Pork ribs cooked in Dr. Pepper, grilled to perfection, and smothered in BBQ Sauce. These Dr. Pepper ribs are fall off the bone delicious!
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
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Kalua Pork Recipe
This Slow Cooker Kalua Pork is a classic Hawaiian favorite made easily in your slow cooker with just a few ingredients. Eat it on it's own, or in tacos or sliders.
Total Time: 9 hours 5 minutes
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Summer Sides
Summer Sides
I get just as excited to try the side dishes as I am to eat the main dish. Try to offer a variety of choices both warm and cold, veggie and fruit to balance out the meal.
Fruit Kabobs Recipe
Colorful fruit kabobs are the best appetizer or side for any occasion! Load up your favorite fruits and get snacking.
Total Time: 20 minutes
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How to Boil Corn on the Cob
Boiling corn on the cob is a cinch! You will love this juicy corn on the cob to put on the side of any summer meal.
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Roasted Tomatoes Recipe
Juicy roasted tomatoes are the yummiest and easiest appetizer or side dish. Roasting them (with a little olive oil, basil and parmesan) brings out every delicious flavor!
Total Time: 22 minutes
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Grilled Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Recipe
This Recipe Is Inspired By One Of Our Favorite Disneyland Foods – Bacon Wrapped Asparagus Skewers From Bengal Barbecue! These Skewers Only Require 4 Ingredients And Take Less Than 10 Minutes On The Grill!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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How to Cut a Watermelon
Is there anything better than a ripe juicy watermelon? Learn how to cut a watermelon into cubes efficiently and easily with our tips!
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Squash Casserole Recipe
Hot and cheesy squash casserole makes for the best holiday side dish! You'll love this creamy vegetable casserole with a crunchy buttery topping.
Total Time: 35 minutes
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Zucchini Tots Recipe
Cheesy zucchini tots are a fun twist on tater tots, and are loaded with my favorite vegetable. They're super easy and quick to make.
Total Time: 25 minutes
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Zucchini Fries recipe
This favorite side dish is packed with flavor! Zucchini sticks crusted and baked in panko, parmesan cheese, oregano, and basil. These baked zucchini sticks are healthy AND delicious!
Total Time: 30 minutes
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Homemade Baked Beans Recipe
This Homemade Baked Beans recipe is a must-have at all of our BBQ's. It's such a simple and easy recipe, requires only FIVE ingredients, and cooks in the crock pot.
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
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Grilled Asparagus Recipe
Grilled asparagus is the best side dish alongside almost any dinner recipe! Sprinkled with salt, pepper, and a little parmesan cheese—this recipe is incredible!
Total Time: 8 minutes
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Summer Salads
Summer Salads
Both sweet and savory salads have a place at my table. Salads are great because they are typically quick to make, can be made ahead of time and give a nice cool balance to warmer grilled main dishes. Be sure to check out our complete list of summer salad recipes!
Corn Salad Recipe
This Summer Corn Salad is a light, flavorful salad filled with corn, tomatoes, feta, basil and cucumber. It's so simple and quick that it's perfect for get togethers and BBQs.
Total Time: 7 minutes
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Snicker Apple Salad Recipe
Delicious Apple Snickers Salad that is so good and so easy to make! Layers of apples, snickers, and caramel in a creamy topping made from cool whip, milk, and vanilla pudding mix.
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Strawberry Pretzel Salad Recipe
This classic treat is always a crowd pleaser with a pretzel crust, cream cheese layer and strawberry jello topping! Strawberry Jello Pretzel Salad is the ultimate combination of sweet and salty!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Broccoli Salad Recipe
This Sunny Broccoli Salad is a simple, tasty and hearty broccoli salad served with bacon, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and mixed with a delicious, homemade mayonnaise-vinegar based dressing that is perfect for BBQs and get togethers.
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Potato Salad Recipe
Our all-time favorite Potato Salad - it's simple, flavorful and filled with chunks of potatoes, eggs and olives! It's the perfect addition to any BBQ or picnic and is so creamy and tasty, it will wow everyone who tries it.
Total Time: 55 minutes
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Macaroni Salad Recipe
A simple, creamy macaroni salad loaded with pasta, peas and ham. It's perfect for parties, family dinners, and potlucks!
Total Time: 18 minutes
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Tortellini Salad Recipe
Super YUMMY and easy Tortellini Salad filled with tortellini, salad, ranch, tomatoes and bacon bits - perfect for summer time!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Cheesecake Fruit Salad Recipe
This Cheesecake Fruit Salad is the perfect combination of creamy, light, and fresh! Fresh berries tossed in a cream cheese pudding mixture—it's the perfect side, or crepe filling!
Total Time: 7 minutes
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Coleslaw Recipe
This quick and Easy Coleslaw makes the perfect side dish for any picnic or BBQ. It takes just minutes to put this classic coleslaw recipe together, and it can easily be customized with the spices and flavors you love most.
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Broccoli Cauliflower Salad Recipe
Flavorful and simple cauliflower salad with a creamy crunch! Filled with veggies, onions, bacon, sunflower seeds and cheese, this salad is sure to be a hit at any BBQ or get together.
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Fruit Salad Recipe
A fresh fruit salad that makes the perfect side dish to any meal! Colorful, healthy, delicious, and filled with all your favorite fruits!
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
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Summer Drinks
Summer Drinks
Summertime Drinks are so much fun to serve!
We have a DIY Beverage Station perfect for bottled water and cans of soda. For homemade drinks I like to use a beverage dispenser or regular juice pitchers. Adding a lemon wedge and a paper umbrella to drink cups is a fun easy way to spruce up any glass. Check out our complete list of summer drink recipes for more inspiration.
Pink Punch Recipe
All-time Favorite Party Drink - this Pink Drink recipe (aka Baby Shower Punch) takes a minute to make and is made with 3 ingredients including - pink lemonade dry mix, sprite, & pineapple juice!
Total Time: 3 minutes
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Sonic Ocean Water Recipe
Copycat Sonic Ocean Water - so easy to make and so refreshing! It's perfect for parties or a hot, summer day!
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Watermelon Juice Recipe
Delicious and Refreshing Watermelon Juice - a favorite drink in the summer time! Made with watermelon & strawberries!
Total Time: 8 minutes
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Orange Julius Recipe
Copycat Orange Julius recipe - takes just a minute to make and is a favorite family treat! Ingredients include frozen orange juice concentrate, milk, sugar, vanilla, water, and ice cubes to make this refreshing drink!
Total Time: 2 minutes
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Mint Julep Recipe (Non-Alcoholic)
Disneyland's Copycat Mint Julep recipe - a non-alcoholic drink that is refreshing and DELICIOUS!! Made with lemonade concentrate, creme de menthe syrup, lime juice, sugar, and club soda - topped with mint leaves and cherries!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Sonic Cherry Limeade Recipe
Delicious recipe for Sonic's Cherry Limeade - tastes just like it! Ingredients include 7-Up, cherries, a lime, and maraschino syrup!
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Frozen Strawberry Lemonade
Frozen Strawberry Lemonade - this takes minutes to make and is filled with lemonade, strawberries, ice and pineapple juice.
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Sparkling Peach Lemonade Recipe
The perfect cold drink for sipping on a hot summer day! This delicious Sparkling Peach Lemonade is made with just a few simple ingredients and comes together in just minutes. Fantastic for picnics, parties and showers, too!
Total Time: 5 minutes
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The Best Homemade Lemonade Recipe
Our favorite homemade lemonade recipe - so good! Ingredients include sprite, pineapple juice, and lemonade dry mix.
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Best Strawberry Lemonade
The BEST Strawberry Lemonade filled with chunks of your favorite fruit including strawberries, pineapple, mangos, cantaloupe and watermelon!
Total Time: 5 minutes
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Summer Desserts
Summer Desserts
Fruity desserts and frozen treats are classic to serve during the summer. No Bake desserts are also a welcome. Keep desserts in the fridge, freezer or cold cooler until you’re ready to serve them. For even more inspiration, check out our complete list of summer dessert recipes!
Fruit Pizza Recipe
The BEST Fruit Pizza recipe ever! A super soft cookie dough with a pineapple cream cheese frosting topped with your favorite fruit!
Total Time: 20 minutes
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Blueberry Delight Recipe
Blueberry Crumb Delight - a delicious layered dessert recipe with a cream middle and topped with blueberries and cool whip!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake Recipe
Prep this ice cream sandwich cake in 5 minutes! It's perfect for hot summer days and your kids will LOVE it. Chocolate ice cream sandwiches topped with whipped cream and crushed Oreos!
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
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Paradise Parfait Recipe
Paradise Parfaits - Fruit and a creamy, fluffy pudding mixture layered together to make a delicious cool dessert!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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Strawberry Pie Recipe
Strawberry Pie is the perfect springtime dessert! Fresh strawberries piled high, coated in strawberry jello, and placed in a buttery crust.
Total Time: 50 minutes
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No-Bake Snickers Cheesecake Recipe
No-Bake Snickers Cheesecake - this seriously looks like heaven!! If you love Snickers, you'll LOVE this recipe!
Total Time: 15 minutes
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Peach Dump Cake Recipe
Quick, simple and tasty Peach Dump Cake is always a hit. This cake mix based treat is filled with peaches and butter and is the perfect dessert to make when you don't have much time to prep but want a warm, delicious cake.
Total Time: 55 minutes
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No Bake Cheesecake Recipe
This NO BAKE cheesecake is the perfect recipe for summer. With a delicious graham cracker crust, and a creamy vanilla cream cheese mixture, you can top it with anything - like these sugared strawberries! Everyone goes crazy over this easy no bake cheesecake recipe!
Total Time: 6 hours 25 minutes
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Easy Berry Icebox Cake Recipe
This icebox cake will be the hit of your summer BBQs. It's simple, light and full of fresh summer berries. It'll disappear in seconds!
Total Time: 10 minutes
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