28 Seasonal Recipes To Make This July Fourth (And All Summer Long)
From picnic-perfect sides to kebabs on the BBQ, these summertime recipes won't disappoint.
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Summer is officially in full swing, which means you should be taking advantage of fresh and seasonal ingredients. Here are a handful of must-try recipes from picnic-ready side dishes and crowd-pleasing apps to grilled main dishes.
Start with orzo or your favorite cooked pasta, then jazz it up with whatever Mediterranean veggies are in your fridge like cucumber, tomato, roasted peppers, olives, etc... Get the recipe for Mediterranean orzo salad here.
2. Caprese Grilled Balsamic Chicken
If you're planning ahead, marinate the chicken breasts overnight for maximum flavor, but even if you just have a few hours this dish still tastes delicious. Get the recipe for Caprese grilled balsamic chicken here.
3. Mexican Street Corn Salad
Corn salad just got a serious upgrade thanks to Cotjia cheese, cilantro, avocado, jalapeƱo, and a creamy dressing made with lime juice, cayenne pepper, and mayo. Get the recipe for Mexican street corn salad here.
This 30-minute pasta recipe is perfect for a weeknight dinner or picnic-ready side dish. Get the recipe for lemon pasta with ricotta and peas here.
5. Shrimp Boil Kabobs
Make your main dish and your side all on a single skewer with these shrimp, sausage, and grilled corn kabobs. Get the recipe for shrimp boil kabobs here.
6. Watermelon Salad With Cucumber and Feta
If you want to add a slightly smoky component to this sweet-meets-savory salad, cook the watermelon on the grill before preparing the salad. Get the recipe for watermelon salad with feta and cucumber here.
Need a break from your basic margherita pie? SautƩ shrimp in garlic, butter, and lemon juice, then add them to your pizza with some shredded mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Get the recipe for shrimp scampi pizza here.
The chicken gets poached in a mixture of coconut milk, soy sauce, and lime juice. Combine it with thinly sliced veggies, mango, and fresh herbs and roll it all up in rice paper rolls. If you'd rather use lettuce wraps, that works too! Get the recipe for coconut chicken and mango summer rolls here.
You can work with whatever cold cuts or cheese are in your kitchen. The real hero of this recipe is the pesto glaze, made with a mixture of melted butter, pesto, Dijon mustard, onion, and red pepper flakes. Get the recipe for Canadian bacon and havarti cheese sliders with pesto glaze here.
10. Grilled Asian Garlic Steak Skewers
Start with sirloin steak cut into one-inch cubes and marinate it in an Asian-inspired sauce made of soy sauce, sesame oil, vegetable oil, ginger, and garlic. You could also make these skewers with chicken, shrimp, or even salmon. Get the recipe for grilled Asian garlic steak skewers here.
This loaded seafood paella cooks in a cast-iron skillet on top of your grill. Fill it up with whatever seafood you can get your hands on like shrimp, calamari, mussels, and clams. If you have chicken or sausage on hand, toss that in too. Get the recipe for skillet seafood grilled paella here.
12. Whipped Feta With Roasted Tomatoes
A party dip fit for summer, serve this whipped feta appetizer with lots of grilled bread for dipping. Get the recipe for whipped feta with roasted tomatoes here.
Turn packaged ramen noodles into a sophisticated salad. If you want to add more protein or even serve it as a main dish, top this Asian-inspired salad with shredded chicken, shrimp, or tofu. Get the recipe for Asian ramen noodle salad here.
PSA: Brie never goes out of season. Try topping it with strawberries, which are roasted with honey and white balsamic. Get the recipe for baked brie with roasted strawberries here.
The key to this flavorful chicken is the rub, made with a medley from your spice drawer (think: paprika, cumin, brown sugar, cayenne, and more). Once it's cooked, brush it with your favorite store-bought barbecue sauce. Get the recipe for grilled BBQ chicken here.
Pepperoncini, black olives, salami, and sliced provolone make for a seriously satisfying salad perfect for your cookout. If you're low on time, opt for any store-bought Italian dressing. Get the recipe for Italian chopped salad here.
17. Sticky Oven Barbecue Ribs
For ribs that quite literally fall off the bone, look no further than this recipe. The marinade is made with just four ingredients: your favorite store bought BBQ sauce, garlic, olive oil, and Worcestershire sauce. Get the recipe for sticky oven barbecue ribs here.
18. Easy Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
In the world of pasta, cheese-filled tortellini reigns king. You can make an easy pasta salad by tossing store-bought tortellini with pretty much any veggies, but few things beat this tomato and mozzarella combo. Get the recipe for easy pesto tortellini salad here.
19. Pappardelle Pasta With Pancetta and Burrata
Save the heavy ragus and Bolognese sauces for the colder months. This summer, indulge in a light and fresh pasta recipe like this pappardelle tossed in creamy burrata with crispy pancetta. Get the recipe for pappardelle with pancetta and burrata here.
These vegetarian burgers can be made with mostly pantry staples including canned black beans, onion, garlic, bread crumbs, ketchup, and lots of spices. Get the recipe for black bean burgers here.
21. Grilled Salmon Tacos With Strawberry Avocado Salsa
Taco bout seasonal recipes. It doesn't get much more summery and fresh than these grilled salmon tacos. You can garnish them with whatever toppings you like best, but this fruit salsa is always a hit. Get the recipe for grilled salmon tacos with strawberry avocado salsa here.
This holiday weekend, spend your time in the sun and not in the kitchen. Put your slow cooker to work and let this tender, juicy pork cook itself. Get the recipe for slow cooker pulled pork here.
23. Spicy Hot Southern Potato Salad
Classic potato salad gets kicked up a notch with the help of bacon, dill pickles. hot sauce, jalapeƱo, and cayenne. Get the recipe for spicy hot southern potato salad here.
24. Grilled Bruschetta Portobello Mushrooms
Serve these mushroom caps, which are stuffed with chopped cherry tomatoes, red onion, basil, and spices as a vegetarian main or appetizer. Top them with some parmesan or mozzarella cheese for good measure.
25. Coconut Shrimp
Dip shrimp in eggs then in a mixture of coconut and breadcrumbs. Once they're breaded, pop them into the oven until they get golden and crispy. Get the recipe for coconut shrimp here.
26. Loaded Hummus
Turn everyday hummus into a stand-alone salad by jazzing it up with chopped tomato, cucumbers, olives, feta, and plenty of spices. You can make hummus from scratch or take the lazy route and start with a store-bought version.
The secret ingredient that makes this gazpacho so creamy is stale bread. Remove the crust and toss it into a blender with ripe tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and onion. Get the recipe for easy tomato gazpacho here.
28. Peach and Haloumi Skewers
You should really be grilling your fruit this summer, both for dessert and to make savory appetizers like these seriously umami peach and haloumi cheese skewers. The homemade lime, basil, and yogurt sauce is delicious, but you can also serve these with a simple drizzle of honey or balsamic vinegar. Get the recipe for peach and haloumi skewers here.