85 Cool And Easy Summer Recipes You Can Make

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

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

Recipe: Vegan Sushi Spring Rolls

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recipe: Lemon Cheesecake Mousse Parfaits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Recipe: Lemon Garlic Pasta

Super easy to assemble — and travels well!

Recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad

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

If you've never tried jackfruit as a meat substitute, this recipe will wow your taste buds and make you question whether or not you're actually eating the real deal.

Recipe: Jackfruit Pulled Pork Sliders

This salad recipe makes delicious meat-free replacements, like coconut bacon and a ranch dressing made from cashews.

Recipe: Vegan Cobb Salad

A healthy summer salad that is easy to make with just a handful of ingredients.

Recipe: Cucumber Avocado Salad

Stuffed peppers are a staple in my kitchen and can be filled with pretty much whatever you have on hand! If you've yet to try them, now's your shot.

Recipe: Vegan Stuffed Peppers

This recipe for zucchini boats fills them with asparagus and carrots, but you could substitute any of your favorite vegetables if you want to!

Recipe: Vegetable-Stuffed Zucchini

The cauliflower shows off its versatility in this sweet and sour recipe. Serve over grain of your choosing, or devour as-is.

Recipe: Sweet and Sour Cauliflower

Make use of strawberries while they're in season with an easy pie recipe that uses only six ingredients.

Recipe: Easy Vegan Strawberry Pie

This filling dish can be served hot right away or chilled for a pasta salad that you can imagine yourself eating outside in the summer breeze.

Recipe: Vegan Macaroni Salad

Turns out that the more attention you give to your mushrooms before you cook them, the better "burgers" they'll become.

Recipe: Bigger & Batter Portobello Burger

Blueberries, cream, and a biscuit crust make for a heavenly dessert recipe to round out any summer barbecue.

Recipe: Vegan Blueberry Cobbler