More Than 30 Summer Recipes To Make The Most Of Seasonal Produce

We’ve been waiting all year for seaside picnics, campside S’mores, and the chance to swap our business suit for a bathing suit. And to cook some summer recipes.

The sun is out, and the sangria is sweeter, which can only mean it’s officially summer! And when it comes to summer food, we want it all: all watermelon, stone fruit, tomatoes, and corn a girl can buy, and we want to cook it all ASAP. But summer is about clocking in as much time as possible alfresco, so we want minimum time in the kitchen.

Summer Recipes To Cook All Season

Here are more than 30 no-fuss summer recipes that are fit for anything the seasons throws at you, from a last-minute Sunday brunch or easy picnic to a backyard BBQ or a cocktail party.

Breakfast and Brunch

Tropical Breakfast Bruschetta

vegetarian

When fruit salad and toasted bread meet, they produce this sweet summery toast inspired by our travels to Hawaii.

Whole Grain and Poppy French Toast with Stewed Sour Cherries

nut free, vegetarian

Pour the Champagne because brunch is about to get an elegant upgrade with this French toast.

Tropical Ginger Smoothie

dairy free, gluten free, vegan

From one of our favorite spots in Santa Barbara, this smoothie brings the sunshine with its tropical flavors and a refreshing ginger twist.

Appetizers

{Ajvar} Roasted Red Pepper and Eggplant Spread

dairy free, gluten free, vegan, vegetarian

In case you haven’t gotten the memo, we’re all about dips around here, and once we make nonstop this time of year is this charred red pepper and eggplant spread.

{Aguachile Verde} Chile Lime Marinated Shrimp

dairy free, gluten free, nut free

When it’s too hot to cook, we turn to aguachile, aka shrimp in a spicy herb marinade; this and a couple of cold beers instantly transport us to Mexico.

Zucchini and Ricotta Salata Bruschetta

vegetarian

Is it just us, or do the zucchini totally take over once they’re in season? When that happens, we make this sophisticated take on bruschetta with zucchini, Castelvetrano olives, Marcona almonds, and Ricotta Salata cheese.

Tostones with Chunky Avocado

gluten free, nut free, vegetarian

When you just can’t do avocado toast one second longer, turn to tostones topped with chunky avocado salsa. The smashed, fried plantains are crispy, creamy, and salty and give a new look to avo toast.

Salads & Sides

Grilled Mexican Corn Salad

nut free, vegetarian

One of the all-time classic street food snacks is hands-down Mexican corn (aka elote) so this salad—where all those flavors come together for a take on Panzanella—is a keeper.

Grilled Peach Panzanella Salad

dairy free, nut free, vegetarian

Okay, we are just slightly addicted to making Panzanella this time of year. But when peaches are in peak form, grilling them and tossing them with charred bread and this vinegar-y dressing is Panzanella perfection.

{Authentic Fattoush Salad} Tomato Avocado Fattoush Salad

dairy free, nut free, vegan, vegetarian

The traditional Lebanese dish that is fattoush, is pretty much salad perfection with its mix of crunchy, fresh flavors. When avocados are in season here in California, we add them in for an upgrade we adore.

Taco Salad

gluten free, nut free, vegetarian

Salad in a puffy, fried taco shell? That’s so expected! Here we wrap a summery salad in a tortilla for a welcome makeover.

Pistachio Feta Watermelon Salad

Some genius put salty feta with sweet watermelon; the rest is summer salad history. Well, it was until we upped the ante by adding in a pomegranate-balsamic dressing, tons of mint, and toasted pistachios.

Grilled Avocado Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

nut free, vegan, vegetarian

One of our favorite summer party tricks is throwing all sorts of unexpected stuff on the grill (oranges for your margaritas! pound cake for dessert!) and one that we have on repeat is grilled avocados served with a tangy Green Goddess Dressing.

Wild Rice, Mozzarella, and Tomato Salad

vegetarian

Possibly the tamest salad of the bunch, but that doesn’t mean it’s boring. The nutty wild rice, creamy mozzarella, and sweet tomatoes make for a delicious Caprese salad that we’re all about.

Mains

Green Falafel Wraps

gluten free, vegan, vegetarian

This is a choose-your-own-adventure situation when it comes to veggies. Add as many as you want so long as they don’t steal the spotlight from the star, these super herby, spiced falafel.

Grilled Tagliata Steak

dairy free, gluten free, nut free

Nothing transports us to Florence in the summertime faster than grilled tagliata steak.

{Kebab Chenjeh} Grilled Saffron Beef Skewers

nut free

The saffron-marinated beef is grilled and paired with tomatoes, yogurt, and flatbread in a classic Persian dish.

Exceptional Tomato Gazpacho

dairy free, nut free, vegetarian

When it is 90 degrees, and you just can’t even imagine turning on the stove, that’s when you should make vats and vats of this (our best ever) tomato gazpacho.

Zucchini Red Pepper Ricotta Lasagna

nut free, vegetarian

This no-cook zucchini lasagna is a totally different animal from the classic casserole—layers of fresh vegetables, creamy ricotta, and a rich red pepper tomato sauce make for a summer-y lasagna that we love.

{Pasta Alla Checca} Heirloom Tomato Sauce with Burrata

vegetarian

The Italians mastered how to make pasta in the summer when they came up with pasta alla Checca. Here the classic is made even more indulgent thanks to obscene amounts of burrata.

Maltagliati Pasta with Summer Vegetables and Ricotta Salata

vegetarian

Summer squash and sweet corn lighten up this pasta dish that is just as delicious as it is gorgeous.

Desserts

Creme Fraiche Peach Ice Cream

gluten free, vegetarian

Sure, there are other peach ice creams out there, but after you try this version—with macerated peaches and tangy creme fraiche—you’ll forget they exist.

Tin Roof Ice Cream Cake

gluten free, vegetarian

Ice cream cakes—especially ones with tons of chocolate and nuts—are one of those summer classics we will never tire of!

Upside-Down Peach-Rhubarb Polenta Cake

nut free, vegetarian

We nixed the canned cherries and pineapple and brought the upside-down cake to the 21st century with this summary version with rhubarb, peaches, and polenta.

Sweet and Spicy Nectarine Crisp

vegetarian

The addition of fiery chiles makes for a totally unexpected twist on this classic summer dessert.

Limoncello Creamsicle Popsicles

gluten free, nut free, vegetarian

One taste of these creamy, tart adult popsicles and you’ll almost swear you’re on the Amalfi Coast.

Painkiller Cocktail Popsicles

dairy free, vegetarian

Speaking of transporting adult popsicles, this frozen dessert version of the tropical drink—with toasted coconut, orange zest, and rum—is a total summertime winner.

Strawberry Pink Lemonade Bars

vegetarian

These pink lemonade bars will send you back to the days when lemonade stands were your “summer job” and nickels were your source of piggybank income.