You need these summer recipes for those warm evenings when you want something quick and satisfying without breaking the bank. These recipes are great for anyone looking to make the most of the season’s bounty while keeping meals light, tasty, and easy on the wallet. With a focus on fresh ingredients and simple prep, these dishes make it easy to whip up something that feels special without spending hours in the kitchen or a fortune at the store. Let’s dive into these 35 recipes that are perfect for summer and way better than takeout.
Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
This refreshing roasted beet salad has goat cheese, arugula, pistachios, and grapefruits drizzled with a refreshing citrus vinaigrette. Perfect summertime salad!
Get the Recipe: Roasted Beet Salad with Goat Cheese
Eggplant Casserole
This eggplant casserole blends savory vegetables with herbs, layered cheese, and baked to perfection for a comforting, hearty meal.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Casserole
Corn in a Cup
This easy and delicious corn in a cup blends sweet corn with creamy mayonnaise, cheese, and Tajin for a 15 minute snack or side dish.
Get the Recipe: Corn in a Cup
Raw Carrot Salad
This raw carrot salad recipe is a fresh, crunchy, and zesty side dish, perfect for a light lunch or dinner side ready in 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Raw Carrot Salad
Mexican Street Corn Salad
This Mexican Street Corn Salad has charred corn, creamy dressing, and bold flavors! Perfect for any gathering or as a delicious side.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Salad
Corn Nuggets
These crispy corn nuggets are cheesy, perfectly golden and irresistibly tasty. Ready in just 20 minutes, with frying, air frying and baking instructions!
Get the Recipe: Corn Nuggets
Instant Pot Corn Chowder
This instant pot corn chowder is creamy, cozy and ready in 15 minutes. With sweet corn, potatoes, and cheddar, it’s perfect for any season
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Corn Chowder
Arepas Con Queso
These Arepas Con Queso are a delightful blend of masarepa, mozzarella, and butter, grilled to golden perfection. Ready in just 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Arepas Con Queso
Cream Cheese Corn Dip
This easy cream cheese corn dip has sweet corn, spicy peppers, and gooey cheeses, all baked to perfection. Perfect party appetizer ready in 35 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Cream Cheese Corn Dip
Jalapeno Corn
This jalapeno corn is the perfect blend of creamy, cheesy goodness with a spicy kick, and ready in just 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Jalapeno Corn
Panzanella Salad
This quick panzanella salad is ready in just 10 minutes! With crusty bread, fresh veggies and herbs, and a red wine vinaigrette, it’s perfect as a side or main dish.
Get the Recipe: Panzanella Salad
Veggie Taco Salad
This delicious and easy vegetarian taco salad is packed with all your favorite taco flavors, but without the meat! Perfect for a quick and easy weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Veggie Taco Salad
Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Whip up this delicious stuffed spaghetti squash recipe bursting with veggies, herbs, and gooey mozzarella in no time. It’s quick, flavorful and a perfect main for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Black Bean Quinoa Burger
These juicy black bean quinoa burgers are bursting with protein, fiber, and flavor! Guilt-free, effortless, and easily customizable, these are perfect for meal-prep too.
Get the Recipe: Black Bean Quinoa Burger
Pesto Tortellini Salad
This quick and easy tortellini pasta salad recipe is the perfect summertime side. Made with <10 simple ingredients, it comes together in just 20 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tortellini Salad
No Mayo Coleslaw
This delicious Asian summer slaw recipe with a creamy, nutty, homemade peanut dressing. This no-mayo coleslaw is the perfect vegan, gluten-free potluck side. Super refreshing and pairs well with most main dishes!
Get the Recipe: No Mayo Coleslaw
Mediterranean Black Bean Salad
This black bean salad has a cilantro lime dressing, and is a nutritious, vegan and gluten-free salad that’s ready in 10 minutes, making it a perfect lunch or side!
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Black Bean Salad
Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese
This easy and delicious corn casserole with cream cheese is the perfect side dish for any potluck. It can be made with fresh, frozen or canned corn, and is creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor!
Get the Recipe: Corn Casserole with Cream Cheese
Easy Microwave Corn on the Cob
Discover the easiest way to cook perfect corn on the cob in your microwave! This quick and convenient method delivers deliciously tender and sweet corn in mere minutes, with minimal effort and maximum flavor!
Get the Recipe: Easy Microwave Corn on the Cob
Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
This creamy sun dried tomato pasta is a delicious, one pot dish ready in just 30 minutes, loaded with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, ricotta cheese, and parmesan cheese.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Pasta
One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta
This classic, easy, one pot lemon ricotta pasta is ready in 15 minutes and is perfect for any occasion – whether a quick weeknight dinner or a dinner party!
Get the Recipe: One Pot Lemon Ricotta Pasta
Instant Pot Tomato Soup
This Instant Pot tomato soup is ready in 30 minutes, and can be made with fresh or canned tomatoes. It’s versatile, nutritious, vegan and gluten-free as written!
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Tomato Soup
Classic American Potato Salad
This classic American potato salad is the perfect side dish for summer BBQs! Made with boiled eggs, this creamy recipe can be made ahead and tastes even more delicious the next day!
Get the Recipe: Classic American Potato Salad
Avocado Deviled Eggs
These avocado deviled eggs are creamy, delicious, and an easy variation of a classic recipe!
Get the Recipe: Avocado Deviled Eggs
Korean Pickled Radish
This delicious Korean style pickled radish uses Korean radish or Daikon radish for quick pickling. It’s a great side to any taco, sandwich, or Korean main!
Get the Recipe: Korean Pickled Radish
Daikon Salad
This simple daikon and carrot salad has a refreshing sweet and sour dressing, and comes together in under 10 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Daikon Salad
Mango Avocado Salad
This simple mango avocado salad with a simple lemony vinaigrette screams summertime cookouts! Better yet, it comes together in just 15 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Mango Avocado Salad
Pea Shoot Pesto Pasta
This delicious, vegan spring pasta is made with a pea shoot pesto and has roasted oyster mushrooms for maximum flavor – better yet, it only takes 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Pea Shoot Pesto Pasta
Pickled Jalapeños
Easy, quick pickled jalapenos that come together in just 45 minutes! Great taco topper and snack, and a good way to use up all the excess jalapenos!
Get the Recipe: Pickled Jalapeños
Sweet and Spicy Pickled Onions
Easy quick pickled onion recipe that comes together in 15 minutes. Goes great on tacos, and keeps in the fridge for 2-3 weeks!
Get the Recipe: Sweet and Spicy Pickled Onions
Pickled Avocado
These pickled avocados, or avocado pickles are a great way to preserve avocados and a bit of zing to your life! Super easy, comes together with just 10 minutes of active work and 45 minutes total.
Get the Recipe: Pickled Avocado
Summer Gazpacho
Delicious summer gazpacho made with simple, fresh ingredients – perfect cold soup for the warm weather and ideal for your summer BBQ needs!
Get the Recipe: Summer Gazpacho
Easy Mango Salsa
Easy, homemade mango salsa is made with a few fresh ingredients – just chop them all up, mix in a bowl, and adjust seasoning to taste. Serve with any taco, meat or fish dish!
Get the Recipe: Easy Mango Salsa
Heirloom Caprese Salad
This delicious, authentic Caprese salad uses six simple, fresh ingredients and packs a burst of flavor. It’s the perfect summer salad recipe to use all those garden tomatoes.
Get the Recipe: Heirloom Caprese Salad
Spinach Avocado Salad
This light and refreshing spinach and avocado summer salad has cherry tomatoes, radishes, cotija cheese and is finished with a lemony vinaigrette. Perfect for summer cookouts!
Get the Recipe: Spinach Avocado Salad