39 Fun Family Recipes for Warm Summer Days
Updated: Jan. 30, 2024
Beat the heat and hunger with these family recipes using the season's freshest produce for everything from brunch to burgers to blueberry pie.
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Summer Carbonara
Basil and bacon make best summer buds in this smoky-sweet pasta. I pair it with a simple spring mix salad with balsamic dressing and a glass of good Chardonnay or cold iced tea. —Cathy Dudderar, Lexington, Kentucky
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Mixed Fruit Shortcakes
This delightful downsized recipe makes just two biscuitlike shortcakes. Fill them with fresh fruit of your choice and top with whipped cream for an impressive dinner finale. —Sue Ross, Casa Grande, Arizona
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Bacon Cheeseburgers
Where can you get a juicy burger that is so superior to drive-thru fare? Right in your backyard with this delicious bacon cheeseburger recipe. —Jackie Burns, Silverdale, Washington
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Full Garden Frittata
I was cooking for a health-conscious friend and wanted to serve a frittata. To brighten it up, I added leftover bruschetta topping and fresh mozzarella. Now that's breakfast. It's become a favorite among my friends and family, and a staple in my recipe book. —Melissa Rosenthal, Vista, California
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Salmon and Spud Salad
I headed straight for the kitchen when I decided to pick up a healthier lifestyle. This salmon with veggies proves that smart choices can be simple and satisfying. —Matthew Teixeira, Milton, Ontario
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Grilled Sweet Corn
Since we have plenty of fresh sweet corn available in our area, we use this recipe often in summer. Parsley, chili powder and cumin accent the corn's just-picked flavor. —Connie Lou Hollister, Lake Odessa, Michigan
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Raspberry Peach Tart
There’s no shortage of fresh peaches and raspberries where I live. I use the fruit I grow to bake up this sweet and special fruit tart.— Mary Ann Rempel, Southold, New York
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Pork Tenderloin with Three-Berry Salsa
My husband came home from a work meeting that had served pork with a spicy blueberry salsa. He was amazed at how tasty it was, so I came up with my own rendition without seeing or tasting what he had. It took several tries, but this is the delicious result. —Angie Phillips, Tarzana, California
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Creamy Grilled Potato Salad
To avoid turning my oven on in the summer, I grill just about everything—including this creamy grilled potato salad. My friends have dubbed this ‘The Best Potato Salad You’ll Ever Put in Your Mouth!—and I love that! —Gayle Robinson, Carrolton, Georgia
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Avocado Salsa
I was planning a party and thought it might be fun to try a different kind of avocado salsa. This recipe was an absolute success. Scoop it up with chips, spoon it over chicken or steak, or eat it on its own! —Susan Vandermeer, Ogden, Utah
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Cajun Boil on the Grill
I came up with these everything-in-one seafood packets for a family reunion, since the recipe can be increased to feed a bunch. The foil steams up inside, so open carefully. —Allison Brooks, Fort Collins, Colorado
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Chicken, Nectarine and Avocado Salad
This salad is really summery and comes together very quickly. Using granola adds crunch and makes it different. I've tried using a various types of granola, and our favorites have been those that aren't overly sweet but have lots of nuts. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah
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Grilled Bean Burgers
These juicy veggie patties have major flavor with cumin, garlic and a little chili powder. They hold their own against any veggie burger you‘d buy at the supermarket. —Marguerite Shaeffer, Sewell, New Jersey
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Homemade Strawberry Ice Cream
This creamy, luscious ice cream will remind you of the signature treat served at church ice cream socials. What dessert could be better? —Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin—Esther Johnson, Merrill, Wisconsin
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Breakfast Skewers
These kabobs are fun, different and delicious, plus they go well with any egg dish. —Bobi Raab, St. Paul, Minnesota
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Fruity Baked Oatmeal
This is my husband’s favorite breakfast treat and the ultimate comfort food. It’s warm, filling and always a hit when I serve it to guests. —Karen Schroeder, Kankakee, Illinois.
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Caesar Chicken Wraps
When we have chicken for dinner, I cook extra for these full-flavored roll-ups. Featuring Caesar salad dressing, cream cheese, red pepper, black olives and a hint of garlic, the wraps are perfect alongside corn on the cob and a green vegetable. —Christi Martin, Elko, Nevada
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Crispy Almond Tilapia
Since changing to a healthier style of cooking, I’ve come up with new coatings for baked fish. I use almonds, panko bread crumbs and a smidge of hot sauce to add crunchy texture with nice heat. —Amanda Flinner, Beaver, Pennsylvania
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Barbecue Chicken Quesadillas
When my kids were small, I'd stuff leftover chicken into these oven-baked quesadillas. I often grab rotisserie chicken instead. —Pam Martin, Canandaigua, New York
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PB&J French Toast
My grandpa made an awesome breakfast for us grandkids: French toast that started on the griddle as peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. —Lindsey Folsom, Dorsey, Illinois
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Lime-Rosemary Shrimp Skewers
I had a big bunch of rosemary, so I turned the stems into skewers for grilling shrimp. Serve with rice or couscous and lime wedges. —Leah Lenz, Los Angeles, California
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Aunt Frances' Lemonade
My sister and I spent a week each summer with our Aunt Frances, who always had this thirst-quenching lemonade in a stoneware crock in her refrigerator. It makes a refreshing drink after a hot day of running around. —Debbie Reinhart, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
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Rosemary-Lemon Grilled Chicken
Here's a simple dish with big bold lemon and rosemary flavors that's made with very few ingredients. It's great by itself but can also be used on top of salad greens as another creative dinner option. —Debbie Carter, Kingsburg, California
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Berry White Ice Pops
Nothing says summer like an ice pop. Kids and adults alike love this fruit-filled version. —Sharon Guinta, Stamford, Connecticut
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Cream Cheese & Chive Omelet
The first bite of creamy filling lets you know this isn’t any old omelet. Make it once, and we suspect you’ll be fixing it often. —Anne Troise, Manalapan, New Jersey
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Raspberry Refresher
This recipe explodes with raspberry flavor! It's a wonderful summertime treat.—Doreen Patterson, Qualicum Beach, British Columbia
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Salmon with Mango-Citrus Salsa
My mother would make this for us on weeknights in summer—this was the only way we would eat fish. You can make the salsa a day ahead of time. Just keep it in the refrigerator in a covered container until ready to use. —Najmussahar Ahmed, Canton, Michigan
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Red and Blue Berry Lemonade Slush
This delightfully sweet-tart beverage showcases fresh raspberries and blueberries. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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Zucchini Boats
After working hard all our lives and raising a family, we're now enjoying a simpler life. Getting back to the basics means enjoying old-fashioned comfort foods like these stuffed zucchini boats. —Mrs. C. Thon, Atlin, British Columbia
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Beef & Veggie Sloppy Joes
I’m always looking for ways to serve my family healthy and delicious food, so after I started experimenting with my favorite veggies and ground beef. I came up with this favorite that my three kids actually request! This healthy take on sloppy joes reminds me of my own childhood. —Megan Niebuhr, Yakima Washington
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Star-Spangled Parfaits
The best time for this dessert is midsummer, when blueberries are thick in our northern woods. Red raspberries can be added to the mixed berries, too, to brighten the patriotic colors.—Anne Theriault, Wellesley, Massachusetts
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Chicken with Peach-Cucumber Salsa
To keep our kitchen cool, we grill chicken outdoors and serve it with a minty peach salsa that can easily be made ahead. —Janie Colle, Hutchinson, Kansas
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Quick Icebox Sandwiches
My mother liked making these cool, creamy treats when I was growing up in the States because they're so quick to fix. Then I made them for my three kids.—Sandy Armijo, Naples, Italy
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Zucchini Egg Skillet
My neighbor shared more zucchini from his garden than I knew what to do with. He loved this recipe—it's great for brunch or a special breakfast. —Darcy Kennedy, Hendersonvlle, North Carolina
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Pizza on a Stick
My daughter and her friends had fun turning sausage, pepperoni, veggies and pizza dough into these cute kabobs. —Charlene Woods, Norfolk, Virginia
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Contest-Winning Fresh Blueberry Pie
I've been making this blueberry pie recipe for decades since the ingredients for the filling are readily available in Michigan. Nothing says summer like a piece of fresh blueberry pie! —Linda Kernan, Mason, Michigan
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Hot Dog Sliders with Mango-Pineapple Salsa
For parties, we shrink down lots of foods, including these quick hot dogs, to slider size. Pile on the easy but irresistible fruit salsa for a burst of fresh flavor. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio
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Mini S'mores
Want to sink your teeth into s’mores all year long? Here’s the answer! Just combine marshmallow creme, chocolate and graham crackers for an awesome bite.—Stephanie Tewell, Elizabeth, IllinoisOriginally Published: June 26, 2019
