Summer is the season of fresh food, cool beverages, and outdoor parties. Everyone prioritizes enjoying the nice weather, and what better way to do that than with delicious food. However, finding a new recipe to bring to a party can be tough, as summer picnics and barbeques have their classic staples. Next time you have a summer party to attend, cook one of the creative and inspiring recipes listed below to add something new to the picnic table.
Summer Grill-Time Favorites
Summertime almost always equals grill time. The grill is usually associated with large slabs of meat, such as cooking burgers, steak, brats and more. However, red meat isn’t the only food that can be cooked on the grill. Grilling vegetables and seafood can be better for you and just as delicious. Check out our heart healthy, nutritious recipes that will still allow you to break out the grill without harming your body.
Grilled Oysters with Lemon Garlic Butter
Grilled oysters make for an awesome appetizer especially as the evenings start to cool off, but you still want to enjoy fresh seafood outside!
Grilled Shrimp & Pineapple Skewers
Grilled shrimp and pineapple make a fun choice for a simple, summery meal. The pineapple gets caramelized and sweet, with a touch of savory from the marinade, while the shrimp gets charred and smoky.
Sweet Potato Burgers
These burgers are not only a fantastic way to enjoy sweet potatoes but also a deliciously healthy option for any meal. They are perfect for vegetarians and meat-lovers alike.
Perfect Grass-Fed Beef Burgers
Burgers have gained a bad reputation in recent years, as the people look for anti-inflammatory, lean meats to eat. These burgers are an exception to that reputation.
Pinchos de Pollo: Marinated Grilled Chicken Kebabs
Pinchos are traditional street food in Puerto Rico and can be made from pork or chicken that has been marinated in a tangy sauce and then grilled to perfection.
Summer Sides and Garden Recipes
Almost everyone partakes in the delicious, and colorful selection of produce that appears every summer. Some get their fruits and vegetables from the grocery store, others visit their local farmers market, some are members of a CSA program, and many decide to plant their own fruits and vegetables right in their own backyard. Specifically summer gardens and CSA programs can provide you with so much produce that it can be hard to find ways to use all your yummy, locally grown food. The list of recipes below includes delicious ways to prepare the perfect summer side dishes and use all those extra fruits and vegetables you have access to this summer.
Simple Grill Time Side Dishes
One great thing about grilling is that an outdoor grill is the perfect way to prepare summer vegetables Here are a few easy ways to add veggies to your grill time meal.
Simple, Skewered Summer Side Dishes
These Grilled Red Potato Skewers display the delicious, nutritious, versatile qualities of Wisconsin Potatoes.
Zesty Watermelon Tomato Salad
Hot days call for hot food, and this spicy watermelon tomato salad is the perfect grilling side! A punchy ginger dressing ties it all together.
Backyard Favorite Grilled Potatoes
If you’re already using the grill for burgers, you can’t go wrong with these grilled potatoes. Cooked until lightly charred, and drizzled with a bright green herb sauce, these simple spuds will make you wish every night was a cook-out.
Easy Creamy Potato Salad
This simple potato salad is the perfect side dish for entertaining or to make ahead for the week. It has a refreshing crunch and zing thanks to two types of onion, celery, herbs, and spicy mustard.
Easy Summer Desserts
Everyone loves a sweet treat in the summer. Baking and desserts can be tricky in the summer, as turning on the oven or stove can drastically heat up your kitchen, making your air conditioner work harder. However, not all the recipes below need an oven or a stove, and others embody the essence of summer. From delicious fruit salads to s’mores bars, our list of easy desserts will have something everyone will love.
4th of July Fruit Tart
Don’t be fooled by the name! The 4th of July Fruit Tart is delicious any time of year! It gets its name from the color of the summer fruits that decorate its top.
Patriotic Berry Trifle
This berry trifle is beautiful and would make a wonderful centerpiece for your dessert table. It tastes just as good as it looks.
Simple Nostalgic S’mores Bars
These gooey baked bars rely on the dream team of graham crackers, milk chocolate, and marshmallows.
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
Strawberry Shortcake Cookies made with cream and fresh diced strawberries are the perfect spring and summer dessert. End any picnic or barbeque with these cookies and you’ll be the hit of the party.
Rainbow Fruit Salad
This delicious fruit salad is perfect for any occasion. It’s always a hit at brunches, holiday gatherings, family dinners, or a summer BBQ.
Summer Drinks, Smoothies, and Cocktails
In the summer, water can start to taste old very quickly when we need to drink so much of it to compensate for the increased heat. Not wanting to constantly drink water can lead many to substitute their water consumption with over-sugared drinks like lemonade and soda. If you are on the hunt for delicious drinks that keep you hydrated but don’t contain obnoxious amounts of added sugar, then you are in the right place. Try out our list of delicious drink recipes that will ensure you stay hydrated, provide electrolytes, and keep you cool.
Refreshing Rainbow Smoothie
This refreshing and beautifully layered rainbow smoothie is the perfect way to combat the summer heat.
Refreshing Summer Watermelon Drinks
The weather is heating up, so cool down with one of these icy, refreshing watermelon drinks!
Fun and Flirty Summer Mocktails You’ll Love
Summer calls for poolside lounging, long beach days, and backyard hangouts, and these events call for cold, delicious beverages.
Quench Your Thirst with Watermelon
Watermelon is a sweet summertime favorite. But it contains natural sugars and depending on your overall diet and the amount of watermelon you consume, it may affect your blood sugar level.
Creamy Raspberry Cooler
Here’s a creamy raspberry cooler that’s sweet, just the right amount of tart, and filled with fresh juicy raspberries. For summertime kid drinks, just swap the Sparkling Moscato for lemon lime soda.