81 Cool And Easy Summer Recipes You Can Make

From pasta salads to peach-laden treats, we've got 'em all.

Summer is fast approaching, and that means it's time to whip out those grills and blenders, stir up those shakes, and assemble a task force of the best recipes to beat that sweltering summer heat.

1. Easiest Shortcut Sangria

dessertfortwo.com

Three steps: Muddle berries, add liquor and wine, top with club soda. (Since you make these by the glass, they’re perfect if you’re trying to use up the last of a bottle!)

Recipe: Easiest Shortcut Sangria

2. Heirloom Tomato Toast

Camille Styles / Via camillestyles.com

Heirloom tomatoes are in season, so you should be eating them every chance you get in every form, including these ripe and juicy open-faced toasts. Spice them up further with ricotta or goat cheese, a balsamic drizzle, or a pinch of sea salt.

Recipe: Heirloom Tomato Toast

3. Hawaiian Poke Bowl With Spicy Aioli

A Farm Girl's Dabbles / Via afarmgirlsdabbles.com

If you're not a fan of raw fish, use smoked salmon, frozen pre-cooked shrimp, beets, watermelon, canned tuna, or even rotisserie chicken. The options are endless.

Recipe: Hawaiian Poke Bowl With Spicy Aioli

4. Shrimp Louie Salad

Foodness Gracious / Via foodnessgracious.com

Make some hardboiled eggs in advance or grab a bag of store-bought boiled eggs. Then the only cooking required is five minutes of sautéing shrimp.

Recipe: Shrimp Louie Salad

5. Whipped Ricotta Toast with Lemon Thyme Honey

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

You don't need a ton of ingredients to whip up a seriously satisfying meal. Here, it really comes down to fresh bread, creamy ricotta, salty prosciutto, juicy grapefruit, and a little honey drizzle.

 Recipe: Whipped Ricotta Toast with Lemon Thyme Honey

6. Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad

Skinny Taste / Via skinnytaste.com

Grab some pre-cooked shrimp and your half way to this seriously refreshing summer salad. Pro tip: Serve it with tortilla chips ceviche style. 

Recipe: Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad

7. Orzo Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

Salt and Lavender / Via saltandlavender.com

Get creative and swap the orzo for any kind of pasta, grain, or (if you're really not in the mood to boil water) microwaveable rice.

Recipe: Orzo Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

8. Vegan Sushi Spring Rolls

Vibrant Plate / Via vibrantplate.com

This recipe happens to be totally vegan, but you can always add some protein like tofu or shrimp.

Recipe: Vegan Sushi Spring Rolls

9. Shrimp and Crab Seafood Rolls

What's Gabby Cooking / Via whatsgabycooking.com

It's officially seafood season. Celebrate in style. If you start with pre-cooked shrimp and lump crab meat, there's no cooking involved whatsoever. 

 Recipe: Shrimp and Crab Seafood Rolls

10. Watermelon Arugula Salad

Home and Plate / Via homeandplate.com

If you want to turn this into a more filling meal, add anything from avocado and hummus to smoked salmon and cucumber.

Recipe: Watermelon Arugula Salad

11. 10-Minute Blender Gazpacho Soup

Delicious Little Bites / Via deliciouslittlebites.com

Soup season can be all year long thanks to this chilled gazpacho, which comes together right in the blender.

Recipe: 10-Minute Blender Gazpacho Soup

12. Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados

Laylita / Via laylita.com

Pre-cooked crab meat, tomato, pepper, onion, olive oil, lime, and cilantro make a seriously delicious salad, perfect for serving in an avocado bowl, on cucumber slices, or on any old salad or sandwich.

Recipe: Crab Salad Stuffed Avocados

13. Cilantro Lime Crab Tacos

Simple Seasonal / Via simpleseasonal.com

Canned crab meat makes for a seriously sophisticated taco filling. It gets a kick from chili powder, cilantro, lime juice, tomato, and onion. Whip up a simple sauce of honey, sour cream, and cilantro for the finishing touch.

Recipe: Cilantro Lime Crab Tacos

14. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Sriracha Wings

The Recipe Critic / Via therecipecritic.com

If you're a sucker for sweet-meets-spicy flavors, these fall-off-the-bone chicken wings will be right up your alley.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Sriracha Wings

15. Slow Cooker BBQ Baked Beans

Your Cup of Cake / Via yourcupofcake.com

Let's make a deal and forget about the canned baked beans for good. This homemade recipe couldn't be easier. Just dump your ingredients into the slow cooker and wait for the best barbecue beans of your life to appear.

Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Baked Beans

16. Instant Pot Bruschetta Chicken

The Girl on Bloor / Via thegirlonbloor.com

Serve this 30-minute meal warm from the Instant Pot or let it chill and enjoy it pasta salad-style.

Recipe: Instant Pot Bruschetta Chicken

17. Instant Pot Mexican Street Corn

Kitchen Fun With My 3 Sons / Via kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com

This decadent side dish starts with a bag of frozen corn. Just add butter, cream cheese, lime juice, and some seasonings.

Recipe: Instant Pot Mexican Street Corn

18. Instant Pot Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce

Platings and Pairings / Via platingsandpairings.com

This foolproof salmon is flaky and tender, and best of all, it won't stink up your kitchen.

Recipe: Instant Pot Salmon with Lemon-Dill Sauce

19. Instant Pot Caesar Chicken Sandwiches

Six Sisters Stuff / Via sixsistersstuff.com

Salads are boring, but Caesar pulled chicken sandwiches? Now that's something to get excited about. Throw some romaine and grated Parmesan on there for good measure.

Recipe: Instant Pot Caesar Chicken Sandwiches

20. Caribbean Jerk Chicken With Pineapple Salsa

Le Creme de la Crumb / Via lecremedelacrumb.com

Say goodbye to the plain grilled chicken you've eaten 200 times this summer. This tangy Caribbean jerk dish is the perfect blend of savory, sweet, and spicy.

Recipe: Caribbean Jerk Chicken with Pineapple Salsa

21. Lemon Pasta With Shrimp, Corn, Peppers, Tomato, and Basil

Jeanette's Healthy Living / Via jeanetteshealthyliving.com

Take a trip to your local farmer's market, then whip up this zesty pasta dish. You can always toss in some additional veggies like peas, asparagus, spinach, or broccoli. 

Recipe: Lemon Pasta with Shrimp, Corn, Peppers, Tomato, and Basil

22. Crispy Baked Fish Tacos

Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

There's no deep frying required for these seriously decadent fish tacos. Just dredge the fish in egg and panko bread crumbs, then bake it and assemble them in tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Recipe: Crispy Baked Fish Tacos

23. Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sandwiches

Recipe Diaries / Via recipe-diaries.com

Start with any flaky white fish like cod, hake, or halibut. Dip the fish fillets in egg and bread crumbs, then cook in the air fryer until it turns golden brown and crispy.

Recipe: Air Fryer Crispy Fish Sandwiches

24. Pantry Pasta With Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Burrata

Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com

Summer is synonymous with burrata season, and you should be eating this indulgent cheese on everything from pizza to pasta, like this easy weeknight meal you can whip up in no time.

Recipe: Pantry Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Burrata

25. Grilled Moroccan Chicken Skewers

Killing Thyme / Via killingthyme.net

These chicken skewers are marinated in an extremely flavorful Moroccan spice blend of cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, and turmeric. Serve with over couscous for a fast and filling meal.

Recipe: Grilled Moroccan Chicken Skewers

26. Crunchy Thai Noodle Salad With Peanut Sauce

Flavour and Savour / Via flavourandsavour.com

This colorful and veggie-packed salad is almost too beautiful to eat. Don't skimp on the spicy peanut sauce, and go ahead and add some chicken, shrimp, tofu, or pork to make it more filling. 

Recipe: Crunchy Thai Noodle Salad with Peanut Sauce

27. BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

cookedbyjulie.com

Not that there's any wrong time for barbecue pulled chicken, this dish is particularly perfect for your end-of-summer cook-out. Serve it with tangy coleslaw on burger buns.

Recipe: BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

28. Baltimore-Style Crab Cakes

The Cookie Rookie / Via thecookierookie.com

The secret ingredient that makes these crab cakes absolutely irresistible: Ritz crackers. Mix the lump crab meat with crackers, mayonnaise, egg, Worcestershire Sauce, and Old Bay seasoning, then pan-fry the cakes until golden brown and crispy on the outside.

Recipe: Baltimore-Style Crab Cakes

29. Easy Steak Fajitas

Damn Delicious / Via damndelicious.net

Make this steak on the grill, slice it super thinly, then serve this meal family style with warm tortillas and your favorite toppings like guacamole, pico de gallo, and sour cream. 

Recipe: Easy Steak Fajitas

30. Chicken and Seafood Paella

Jo Cooks / Via jocooks.com

If you haven't made paella yet this summer, there's still time! This version is loaded with pretty much whatever protein you can get your hands on like chicken, clams, mussels, shrimp, and chorizo.

Recipe: Chicken and Seafood Paella

31. Skillet Balsamic Peach Pork Chops

lemonandmocha.com

Ripe peaches, tangy feta cheese, sweet balsamic, and fresh basil are the perfect complement to grilled pork chops. Everything cooks in a single skillet, so you don't have to worry about all the clean up.

Recipe: Skillet Balsamic Peach Pork Chops

32. Lemon Pepper Sheet Pan Salmon

Sweet Peas and Saffron / Via sweetpeasandsaffron.com

Cooking fish for a group shouldn't be intimidating, especially with this easy sheet pan recipe. Just toss your salmon and veggies into the oven and let it roast.

Recipe: Lemon Pepper Sheet Pan Salmon

33. Chicken Taco Pinwheel Sandwiches

The Chunky Chef / Via thechunkychef.com

The ultimate party finger food, you can fill your pinwheel sandwiches with whatever deli meats, veggies, and condiments you like best. 

Recipe: Chicken Taco Pinwheels

34. Fresh Summer Corn Salad

Fox and Briar / Via foxandbriar.com

Corn on the cob can get messy and annoying to eat. Instead, serve sweet summer corn in a colorful and fresh salad like this one.

Recipe: Fresh Corn Salad

35. Mediterranean Farro Salad

Gimme Some Oven / Via gimmesomeoven.com

This nutty and crunchy farro and veggie side dish will change all your preconceptions about the word salad. It's full of Greek veggies, sun dried tomato, parsley, and creamy feta, then topped with a tangy homemade red wine vinaigrette.

Recipe: Mediterranean Farro Salad

36. Kale Pesto Pasta Salad

Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

Sometimes the simplest combinations are the most satisfying. Take, for example, the basic caprese, made with mozzarella, tomato, and pesto.

Recipe: Kale Pesto Pasta Salad

37. Summer Rolls With Peanut Dipping Sauce

Sally's Baking Addiction / Via sallysbakingaddiction.com

You can make these light and fresh summer rolls with shrimp, chicken, or keep them totally vegetarian packed with crispy veggies.

Recipe: Summer Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce

38. Antipasto Skewers

Baker By Nature / Via bakerbynature.com

Use whichever antipasto ingredients you like best from cheese and charcuterie to marinated vegetables and olives.

Recipe: Antipasto Skewers

39. Strawberry Shortcake Ice Box Cake

Mariah's Pleasing Plates / Via mariahspleasingplates.com

Make this pound cake in the morning, then pop it in the freezer for at least four hours. When your guests arrive, it'll be ready to eat.

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Ice Box Cake

40. Lemon Cheesecake Mousse Parfaits

Nourish and Fete / Via nourish-and-fete.com

This light and zesty lemon mousse is the perfect treat for warm summer days.

Recipe: Lemon Cheesecake Mousse Parfaits

41. Coconut Cream Trifle

Delicious on a Dime / Via deliciousonadime.com

You don't need any baking skills to make a delicious trifle. In fact, you can start with store-bought, and this dessert will still be irresistible.

Recipe: Coconut Cream Trifle

42. No Bake Cheesecake

What The Fork Food Blog / Via whattheforkfoodblog.com

Topped with strawberries and blueberries, how perfectly festive and refreshing is this creamy cheesecake?

Recipe: No-Bake Cheesecake

43. Ramen Noodle Salad

Dinner At The Zoo / Via dinneratthezoo.com, Dinner at the Zoo / Via dinneratthezoo.com

Turn your dollar packets of instant ramen into a satisfying salad recipe by mixing it up with cabbage, scallions, carrots, and sliced almonds. You can always add shredded chicken, shrimp, or your favorite protein to make it more filling.

Recipe: Ramen Noodle Salad

44. BLT Pasta Salad With Avocado

Foodie Crush / Via foodiecrush.com

Instead of eating your bacon, lettuce, and tomato on sandwich bread, why not mix it all up with your favorite noodles into a big, summery pasta salad.

Recipe: BLT Pasta Salad with Avocado

45. Mexican Street Corn Off The Cob

Table For Two Blog / Via tablefortwoblog.com

Corn on the cob, mayo, green onion, Cotija cheese, and some spices are really all you need to whip up this spicy and creamy corn salad.

Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Off the Cob here.

46. Chicken Yakitori

Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com

This Japanese-inspired skewered, grilled chicken calls for chicken thighs, a notoriously affordable cut of chicken, which are marinated in soy sauce, rice wine, apple cider vinegar, and spices.

Recipe: Chicken Yakitori

47. Pesto Chicken Pull-Apart Sliders

Bake Eat Repeat / Via bake-eat-repeat.com

Pro tip: Start off with a rotisserie chicken and you'll have tons of tender, shredded meat to fill your sliders with.

Recipe: Chicken Pesto Pull-Apart Sliders

48. Grilled Pizza

Pizza dough cooking on a grill. / Via tastesbetterfromscratch.com, Tastes Better From Scratch / Via tastesbetterfromscratch.com

If you've never tried cooking pizza on the grill, now is the time. Just make sure your grill top is clean and well-oiled so the dough doesn't stick. Then, load it up with your favorite toppings!

Recipe: Grilled Pizza

49. Fish Tacos With Garlic Lime Crema

Natasha's Kitchen / Via natashaskitchen.com

Fish tacos may seem totally fancy, but they're actually surprisingly affordable. You can use any fresh or frozen white fish like cod, hake, or Mahi Mahi. Just coat the fish in olive oil, lime, and spices, then toss it into tortillas with your favorite toppings.

Recipe: Fish Tacos with Garlic Lime Crema

50. Peach, Corn, and Mozzarella Bruschetta

Spice Is In My DNA / Via spicesinmydna.com, Spice In Is My DNA / Via spicesinmydna.com

Grab a baguette and top it with a refreshing salad made of summer's best produce. A little drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper on top, and you've got a serious party app.

Recipe: Peach, Corn, and Mozzarella Bruschetta

51. Southwestern Black Bean Veggie Burgers

Delicious Little Bites / Via deliciouslittlebites.com

With very little prep and made of mostly cheap pantry ingredients, these vegetarian burgers are a no-brainer for your next barbecue.

Recipe: Southwestern Black Bean Veggie Burgers

52. Italian Pepperoni Roll-Ups

Tastes of Lizzy T / Via tastesoflizzyt.com

Start with flour tortillas and fill them with sliced pepperoni, mozzarella, sliced peppers, cream cheese, and whatever other veggies or deli meat your heart desires. Roll them up and cut them into little sandwiches.

Recipe: Italian Pepperoni Roll-Ups

53. Grilled Hawaiian-Inspired Pork Chops

The Life Jolie / Via thelifejolie.com

An easy and affordable way to feed a group, these sweet and tangy pork chops are marinated in soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, pineapple juice, and red pepper flakes, then grilled until golden brown.

Recipe: Hawaiian-Inspired Pork Chops

54. Shrimp Rolls

Julie Wampler

Lobster's more affordable cousin, the humble shrimp roll is equally as delicious. Cooked shrimp gets tossed with celery, chives, mayo, and lemon, and spooned into hotdog rolls.

Recipe: Shrimp Rolls

55. Black Bean Succotash

eatingbirdfood.com

With corn, red onion, bell pepper, parsley, and red wine vinegar, this flavorful succotash is a great recipe for a super simple Sunday meal prep.

Recipe:  Black Bean Succotash

56. Spicy White Bean & Sweet Corn Gazpacho

vegetarianventures.com

If elote was a soup, I imagine this is what it would taste like.

Recipe: Spicy White Bean & Sweet Corn Gazpacho 

57. Raw Carrot Pasta With Ginger-Lime Peanut Sauce

theroastedroot.net

The peanut butter and roasted cashews will make this sweet 'n' spicy recipe as filling as it is refreshing.

Recipe: Raw Carrot Pasta with Ginger-Lime Peanut Sauce

58. Southwest Vegan Pasta

blissfulbasil.com

The creamy chipotle dressing over all of those fresh vegetables and pasta will even keep the carnivores happy.

Recipe: Southwest Vegan Pasta

59. Vegan Sandwich

lindawagner.net

Nothing makes a sandwich quite as delicious as sun-dried tomatoes.

Recipe: Vegan Sandwich

60. Vegan Meatball Banh Mi

cilantroandcitronella.com

Make a big batch of the meatballs and freeze them for later.

Recipe: Vegan Meatball Banh Mi

61. Mango Salsa With Lemon-Lime Vinaigrette

cearaskitchen.com

No doubt you'll be nomming on this mango salsa every day for the rest of the summer.

Recipe: Mango Salsa with Lemon-Lime Vinaigrette

62. Lemon Garlic Pasta

budgetbytes.com

This version uses campanelle, but any short-shaped pasta — like orecchiette, cavatappi, or macaroni — would work.

Recipe: Lemon Garlic Pasta

63. Vegan Blueberry Muffins

ginabnutrition.com

These ditch the dairy but still bake up super fluffy and flavorful.

Recipe: Vegan Blueberry Muffins

64. Gem Wedge Salad With Homemade Herb Dressing

nomingthrulife.com

The dressing doubles as a great veggie dip for your next BBQ.

Recipe: Gem Wedge Salad with Homemade Herb Dressing

65. Goat Cheese Frittata With Fresh Arugula

naturallyella.com

Meet your new favorite Sunday breakfast.

Recipe: Goat Cheese Frittata with Fresh Arugula

66. No-Cook Caprese Pasta Salad

Via gimmesomeoven.com

Super easy to assemble — and travels well!

Recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad

67. 20-Minute Low Carb Cajun Shrimp & Veggie Skillet

therecipecritic.com

Ideal for make-ahead meal prep.

Recipe: 20-Minute Low Carb Cajun Shrimp & Veggie Skillet

68. Salty-Sweet Watermelon With Cotija, Chili Powder, and Lime

Joe Lingeman / Via thekitchn.com

Inspired by esquites — or Mexican street corn salad — this simple side is equal parts tangy, spicy, and sweet.

Recipe: Salty-Sweet Watermelon with Cotija, Chili Powder, and Lime

69. Family-Style Sheet Pan Taco Night

Taylor Miller / Via buzzfeed.com

Just pile chopped veggies and seasoned flank steak onto a sheet tray, then pop foil-wrapped tortillas in at the end to warm them through.

Recipe: Family-Style Sheet Pan Taco Night

70. Crispy Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan

Minimalist Baker / Via minimalistbaker.com

This recipe requires pan-frying slices of eggplant until they're perfectly battered and tender for a satisfying meal.

Recipe: Crispy Gluten-Free Eggplant Parmesan