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.
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 Eisen2/89Easiest-Ever Grilled Veggie Burgers
Photographs by Mamadi Doumbouya, food styling by Pearl Jones, prop styling by Shannon Maldonado3/89Classic 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 Yeh4/89Raspberry-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 Eker6/89Grilled Party Salmon With Green Romesco
Photo by Alex Lau7/89Classic Spanish 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. (Looking for more healthy summer dinner ideas? We have plenty.)
Photo by Emma Fishman, Food Styling by Susie Theodorou, prop styling by Elizabeth Jaime8/89Salted Strawberry Daiquiri
Photograph by Isa Zapata, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne, Prop Styling by Graylen Gatewood9/89Som 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 Murray10/89BA’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 Takahashi11/89Classic 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 Williams12/89Summer 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 Florczyk13/89Strawberry-Halva Shortcakes
Chewy, flaky sesame halva takes this sensational riff on strawberry shortcakes out of the stratosphere.
