After splashing around at a mermaid pool party and sunning ourselves at the beach, all a gal wants is a goodsummer recipe. There's something about light, sweet summer cuisine that's just plain refreshing, especially when it uses in-season produce like watermelon, tomatoes, peaches, and corn. Whether you're prepping for a date night in or brunch, there's a memorable something for everyone here.
Protein Shake Popsicles
Why drink your shake when you can freeze it in an easy-to-reach frozen popsicle? It sounds like a win-win to us.
Paleo Pasta Salad
Pasta salad screams summer, but this lightened-up version is even better. Loaded with delicious fruit and veg (not to mention salami), it's equal parts delicious and healthy.
Frozen Watermelon Margarita Push Pops
Relive your childhood with these frosty watermelon push pops, putting an adult spin on things with a generous pour of tequila and Cointreau for extra merriment.
Baked French Toast
Summer brunch tastes better when you can make it ahead and then actually enjoy spending time with your guests instead of cooking in a hot kitchen.
Copycat Trader Joe's Healthy 8-Veggie Mix
Crunchy, colorful veggies are a hallmark of our warm-weather cuisine. Toss with vinaigrette for a quick salad, or sauté and serve with grilled chicken for a light yet filling meal.
Pamplemousse La Croix and Lavender Mocktail
Don't force your sober guests to sip on lame beverages. Instead, stir up a few glasses of this lavender and grapefruit mocktail, so they'll feel just as appreciated as the rest of the group.
Simple Fattoush Salad
Make the most of late-summer produce with this easy salad that incorporates pita chips.
Blue Cheese Chicken Salad Keto Lettuce Wraps
It's never a good idea to go without snacking, especially when you're on a new diet. Keto snacks can be hard to come by, so this protein-packed lettuce wrap recipe will help keep your hunger at bay.
Sea Bean and Soba Salad
If you can't venture to the beach this summer, the next best thing is eating veg that grows seaside. This salad stars briny sea beans and slurpable soba noodles.
The Best Potato Salad
There's no official recipe for making this potato salad. Master the basic method, then add your own special touches.
Heirloom Tomato Cheddar Tart With Everything Spice
If you have ripe tomatoes and fresh herbs, whip up this delicious tart that's pure summer comfort.
Mexican-Style Hot Dogs in Lettuce Wraps
Lighten up your summer hot dogs by serving them on a lettuce "bun" with heaps of in-season veggies.
Simple Trail Mix Recipe
Refuel any time, any place with a handful of customizable trail mix.
Pressure-Cooker Chili
Feed a crowd at your next get-together with a batch of pressure cooker chili. It cooks up in a jiffy, though it tastes like it's been simmered for hours.
Tomato Peach Crostini With Hot Bacon Dressing
Layer ripe peaches and tomatoes onto garlic bread topped with goat cheese and finished off with a drizzle of hot bacon dressing.
Image via Two Spoons Cookbook
Vegan Ratatouille
Ratatouille is all the things we love about summer cuisine: It's light, it's colorful, and it's packed with seasonal flavor.
Copycat Umami Burgers
Even if you don't have an outdoor grill, you can barbecue in style using this flavor-packed recipe and a grill pan.
Mango Curry Shrimp
Sweet mango chutney helps balance the spices in this curry, making it a favorite of adults and kids alike. Pretend you're on vacation even if you're just dining porch-side.
Sheet-Pan Lemon Chicken, Squash, and Green Beans
Fresh summer produce joins lemon chicken in this easy sheet-pan recipe. Whip it up in 30 minutes, then jump back in the pool.
Vegan BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches
When it comes to vegan meat substitutes, nothing is simpler or more effective than using canned unripe jackfruit to mimic the texture of pulled pork. Prepare your own tangy barbecue sauce to make the meal even tastier.
Thai Basil Stir Fry
Spicy, herby Thai food's on our menu whenever we don't feel like spending too much time in the kitchen.
Kombucha Mojitos
As we get older, alcohol definitely contributes to tummy discomfort. Try to negate that by adding probiotic-rich kombucha to your next co*cktail.
Grilled Jalapeño Peach Quinoa Salad
Savory, sweet, and a little spicy, this quinoa salad gets a healthy dose of summer produce with corn, peaches, and cherry tomatoes as well as herbs like basil, cilantro, and chives.
Easy Cold-Brew Iced Tea
Keep a cold pitcher of this iced tea in your fridge so you have something refreshing to sip on whenever you start sweating. You don't even have to heat up a kettle of water to make it.
Spicy Paloma co*cktail
Master this spicy Paloma recipe, and your friends will come running to your next get-together. A blend of fragrant grapefruit cordial, tequila, and jalapeño juice will cool you down while simultaneously lighting a fire on your tongue.
DIY Low-Cal Vodka Popsicles
You'll be the most popular person at any party when you show up with a batch of low-cal vodka popsicles.
Watermelon Jerky
Get a taste of watermelon without the juicy mess by dehydrating it into jerky.
Deep-Fried Pineapple Rings
You'll need something to eat with your piña coladas, and there's no pairing quite like these coconut-covered, deep-fried pineapple rings.
S'mores Pie
No campfire? No problem! You can indulge in this s'mores pie any time of year, and all you need is your kitchen.
Lebanese Mint Lemonade
Known as limonana, this mint lemonadeis made using a traditional Lebanese method of macerating lemons and adding mint for the most refreshing summer drink.
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(Photos via Brit + Co, unless noted.)
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Justina Huddleston
Justina Huddleston is a food writer living in Los Angeles. When she's not busy writing, she spends her time in the kitchen creating both virtuous and decidedly junky vegan food. Buffalo chickpea pizza, anyone? She's also been known to eat a plain block of tofu or beans straight out of the can for lunch, but somehow those culinary adventures don't make it to her Instagram. You can follow Justina on Twitter or see what's cooking in her kitchen on her blog, A Life of Little Pleasures.
