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Summer Recipes

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posted: 06/23/19

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy
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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

These are summer recipes are The Best Recipes of Summer! So many great recipes packed with delicious bright and summery flavors that you must make!

collage of photos of summer recipes

Summer recipes can mean so many different things to so many different people. Recipes that you can share at a pot luck or picnic. Perfect recipes to throw on the grill. Cocktail recipes that have summer flavors and are meant for sharing. Appetizers that you will bring out on the patio when you have guests over. Desserts that scream summer in the best way possible.

There are so many great summer flavors in this collection of recipes! Grab them all!

SUMMER PICNIC RECIPES

I love recipes that are perfect for brining to a summer potluck. Here are some of my favorites.

Spinach Bacon Salad

two hands holding a white salad bowl filled with the best spinach salad topped with sliced boiled eggs, bacon, and cheese.

This is an old family recipe and I am 99% sure that it made it’s first debut at a family picnic. It is great to bring to serve a crowd!

Greek Pasta Salad

overhead view of greek pasta salad in a bowl with wooden spoons

Can you even call it a summer picnic if you don’t have a pasta salad there?? Make sure you grab my recipe for Greek Pasta Salad! It comes with it’s own amazing homemade dressing, but if you go with store bought I promise not to tell anyone.

Healthy Potato Salad

big serving bowl full of healthy potato salad topped with dill

I will never make my potato salad a different way than this! The little potatoes in this are so buttery delicious, and the dressing on it is total perfection!

Strawberry Spinach Salad

overhead view of strawberry spinach salad in wooden bowl

It does not say summer more than my Strawberry Spinach Salad! This recipe has minimal fuss with big time flavor and the most delicious homemade dressing to go with it. I could make a dinner out of this summer recipe.

SUMMER RECIPES FOR THE GRILL

We love grilling in the summer because it is such a great way to simplify life. Make sure you grab these grilled summer recipes!

Fajita Steak Kabobs

steak kabobs, skewered with metal skewers and flavored with fajita seasoning, on a white plate

We make these all the time. They are easy to make, easy to throw on the grill and packed with the best flavor from my fajita seasoning.

Grilled Pineapple

grilled pineapple spears on a platter with a side of the Cinnamon Honey Drizzle

This is my absolute favorite way too eat pineapple. It is smoky, delicious, and perfection. I made a cinnamon honey drizzle that takes it over the top!

Grilled Chicken Sandwich

grilled chicken sandwich recipe on a bun with an olive and toothpick and fries around it

This recipe puts fast food restaurants to shame! You will love this grilled chicken sandwich so much!

Chicken Rub

On a white plater, chicken wings have the Chicken Rub creating a crisp brown skin and juicy inside.

Grab my recipe for chicken rub and then make these amazing chicken drumsticks on the grill. You will be amazing by how such a simple recipe can add so much flavor!

SUMMER APPETIZERS

Can you have a summer party without some great appetizers? Yeah. That’s what I thought.

Corn Salsa

overhead view of a bowl of fresh corn salsa mixed together

Dear Corn Salsa, I will never stop loving you. The end.

Not really. You should definitely make this. It calls for canned corn, but how much better would it be with fresh corn that you throw on your grill??

Italian Pinwheels

On their sides, the Italian Pinwheels shows the deli meats, the sliced pepperoncini, and the cream cheese spread.

These are so simple to make but absolutely delicious. Your guests will devour these guys!

Honey BBQ Instant Pot Cocktail Meatballs

On a white plate, a pile of meatballs is glazed with some honey BBQ galze.

Cocktail Meatballs are the perfect appetizer for a party! And this one could not be more simple! You can even get away with using frozen meatballs in this recipe!

Spinach Dip

woman dipping a bagel chip into a white bowl full of spinach dip

Do not throw a summer party without my spinach dip recipe! It is easy to make and absolutely THE BEST!

SUMMER DESSERT RECIPES

There are some dessert recipes that just yell summer at the top of their lungs. These are some of those great recipes!

S’mores Magic Bars

stack of s'mores magic cookie bars

If you are having dessert in summer, you need to be having s’mores. But if you don’t have a camp fire, don’t worry! You can still have a great summer recipe with these S’mores Magic Bars!

Cherry Cheesecake Fluff

a bowl of cherry cheesecake fruit fluff

Fluff recipes scream summer to me. Full of cool whip, marshmallows and pudding mix, they are not for the for scratch baker. But! They are absolutely perfect for summer get togethers and we love them!

Zucchini Cupcakes

The Zucchini Cupcake has little shreds of zucchini in it and topped with a vanilla frosting.

If you are looking for from scratch baking, make sure you try my zucchini cupcakes. They are the perfect way to use up the zucchini growing in your garden and topped with my amazing cream cheese frosting!

Strawberry Banana Fluff Salad

strawberry banana fluff recipe in a bowl with fresh strawberries and bananas

Another great fluff salad that makes for a perfect summer recipe.

No Bake Pina Colada Lush

The No Bake Pina Colada Lush has a fluffy creamy inside with a pineapple layer and topped with toasted coconut flakes and a cherry.

When it comes to summer recipes,  you can’t be no bakes! This Pina Colada lush is the answer to not wanting to turn on your oven!

No Churn Strawberries and Cream Ice Cream

On it's side, the No Churn Strawberry and Cream Ice Cream is in an ice cream cone.

I love how simple this recipe is. If you go strawberry picking this summer, this is a great way to use up your haul!

SUMMER COCKTAIL RECIPES

You can’t do a round up of summer recipes without including delicious summer drinks! And OMG, do I have so many to share with you!

Frosé

frosted glass of rose with two straws garnished with a strawberry

Know a Rosé lover in your life? Make them this incredible Frosè. It is the perfect poolside sip!

Easy Piña Colada

hurricane glass filled with an easy pina colada garnished with a pineapple

If we are going to talk about frozen drinks that make us swoon, we have to talk about this three ingredient Piña Colada!

White Sangria

pitcher of white sangria with triple sec

This White Sangria was really made for summer. It is so easy to make this. Throw together a big batch the next time you have friends over!

Watermelon Vodka Tonic

front view of watermelon vodka tonic in a tumbler and garn

Have you ever met a drink that belonged in summer time more??

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

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  1. Richard says

    When I see a picture of a recipe and don’t identify it how the hell do you think it interest me. I really don’t understand your weite!

    • Lisa Longley says

      Richard, I’m really not sure what is upsetting you . . . all of the photos in this post if you click on them you will be taken directly to the blog that created the recipe and be able to see the recipe.

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