31 Very Summery (And Very Delicious) Recipes For Every Single Day Of July
Heat waves? Check. Sweating through our clothes whenever we step outside? Also check. Bounties of summer's best produce and ingredients on display everywhere we look? Check, check, check. All this can only mean one thing: It's July, and we can finally make the summery, fresh meals we've been waiting to whip up since last year. These are the very best summer-ready recipes to cook every day of this glorious month, straight from the people who already have them on our "to-cook" lists.
Fresh tomatoes and basil are the stars of the show in this dish that's perfect for bringing to a barbecue or making ahead for dinner on those hot nights when it seems impossible to cook. A little bit of fresh garlic and a drizzle of balsamic glaze bring out the simple yet absolutely crave-worthy flavors.
Recipe: Caprese Pasta Salad
You can serve this Korean-inspired beef in tacos, rice bowls, or any other application you'd like...but lettuce wraps are a refreshing and crispy vessel ideal for warm summer nights.
Recipe: Beef Bulgogi Lettuce Wraps
There's nothing like a cool and refreshing glass of lemonade on a hot summer day, and this elevated version will surely be a hit either on its own or as a mixer (did someone say French 75 with a floral twist???). To make this lemonade, you'll whip up some homemade lavender syrup, and you might want to make extra for homemade lavender iced coffees.
Recipe: Lavender Lemonade
This sweet and smoky eggplant dip is unmatched in the summertime, and it couldn't be easier to make. Just char some eggplant on the grill until it becomes supple and soft, peel off the skin, and blitz it with a handful of bright, punchy ingredients, like garlic and tahini. It's the perfect low-effort meal for easy, breezy summer entertaining.
Recipe: Baba Ganoush
5.Red White and Blueberry Cheesecake Bars
Blueberry cheesecake bliss, coming right up. For a 4th of July celebration, there's nothing more festive (or crowd-pleasing) to make ahead and "wow" all your guests with.
6.Grilled Cod With Pistachio-Herb Salsa
This easy homemade pistachio herb salsa is the best way to upgrade any ordinary-tasting protein into a standout main. Try it on any fish, grilled chicken, or steak.
Carlsbad Cravings / Via carlsbadcravings.com
Between the spicy charred shrimp, crunchy slaw, and whipped avocado crema, these tacos are simple perfection.
Recipe: Spicy Shrimp Tacos
8.Easy Homemade Blueberry Clafoutis
This traditional custardy French dessert gets a twist with juicy in-season blueberries. The batter gets combined in a blender (which also ensures it's lump-free), making it as stress-free as desserts can be.
9.Pineapple Adobo Chicken Skewers
Half Baked Harvest / Via halfbakedharvest.com
You can never have enough skewer recipes in your arsenal for summer cookouts — and this one is a serious crowd-pleaser.
Recipe: Pineapple Adobo Chicken Skewers
10.Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Crispy Tofu
Vibrant, crunchy, and picnic-ready, these vegetarian summer rolls are a godsend when the weather gets hot and it's impossible to fathom eating a hot dinner. As a bonus, they keep well in the fridge for easy grab-and-go lunches.
Love and Lemons / Via loveandlemons.com
Any gazpacho recipe will offer cool refreshment on a hot and sticky day, but cucumber gazpacho, in particular, perfectly straddles the line between refreshing and savory. Once you've blended the ingredients, the gazpacho will keep in your fridge for a few days. To serve, just pour into bowls and garnish to your heart's content.
Recipe: Cucumber Gazpacho
12.Frozen Aperol Peach Margarita
This spicy-sweet cocktail will cool anyone off on the hottest July days. The popsicle topper is optional but only takes two ingredients and a bit of freeze time if you're really trying to impress.
Recipe: Frozen Aperol Peach Margarita
13.Garlic Basil Barramundi Skillet with Tomato Butter Sauce
Try using any medium-firm white fish for this recipe, like sea bass or grouper. The fish gets simmered in a sweet and tangy sauce made with tomatoes and white beans.
Recipe: Garlic Basil Barramundi Skillet with Tomato Butter Sauce
Fresh (or frozen!) cherries and almonds come together to make a breakfast that might actually turn you into a morning person. Just make sure you're reaching for almond paste and not marzipan for that sweet filling!
Recipe: Cherry Almond Sweet Rolls
15.Scallops With Corn and Tomatoes
Does anything scream summer like a simple corn and tomato salad? Add some seared scallops into the mix, and you've got a restaurant-quality meal at home.
Recipe: Scallops With Corn and Tomatoes
16.Curry-Roasted Fennel Salad With Tahini Dressing
Though raw fennel has a divisive licorice flavor, it roasts to caramelly sweet perfection. Curry spices, crispy chickpeas, and tahini dressing add an extra dimension to this gorgeous salad that's anything but boring.
Recipe: Curry-Roasted Fennel Salad With Rosemary Tahini Dressing
17.Strawberries and Cream Buttermilk Waffles
Combining fresh strawberries with a spoonful of sugar and a splash of orange juice brings out all their natural sweetness with just a hint of juicy, citrusy goodness. If you don't own a waffle maker, this topping works just as nicely with your favorite pancake recipe or even toasted, store-bought croissants.
18.Grilled Chicken Thighs With Sumac, Pickled Onions, And Charred Lemon
The Mediterranean Dish / Via themediterraneandish.com
These juicy and citrusy chicken thighs will give burgers some serious competition at your next BBQ. Sumac is the star of the show in this recipe, but lemon zest can work in a pinch if you're having trouble finding it (just keep in mind that zest will be more sour!).
Recipe: Grilled Chicken Thighs With Sumac, Pickled Onions, And Charred Lemon
Copycat Shake Shack sauce and a crispy Impossible patty make this a veggie burger you'll want to make and eat over and over again.
Recipe: Impossible Smash Burgers
Elote, aka Mexican street corn, is a cheesy, creamy summertime treat. These bowls with black beans, pico de gallo, avocado, and rice make for a hearty dinner that's surprisingly easy to throw together on a weeknight.
Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Bowls
21.One-Pot Lemon Butter Ricotta and Zucchini Pasta
For those nights when you can't stand the thought of dirtying another dish or piece of cookware, this one-pot pasta dish will save your sanity while feeding the whole family. Kids and picky eaters love it, too; since the zucchini is finely grated, it packs in plenty of veggie goodness as a nearly secret ingredient.
Deviled eggs are one of my favorite foods to eat but are among my least favorite foods to make. Recently, I came across this recipe for deviled egg salad sandwiches, and it's been part of my rotation ever since because it's all the flavor I love without as much work. This sandwich is perfect for a weekend lunch or brunch at home — or if you're a gremlin, like me, you might just eat the egg salad with a spoon.
Recipe: Deviled Egg Salad Sandwich
23.Panzanella Salad with Peaches and Corn
With ingredients like peaches, corn, basil, and tomatoes, this panzanella utilizes four summer produce staples and turns them into an approachable, elegant centerpiece.
24.Almond Flour Lemon Raspberry Bars
Joy the Baker / Via joythebaker.com
If you don't want to go through all the effort of making a pie but still want a fresh dessert with a buttery crust, these easy gluten-free bars might just be your new go-to for summer.
Recipe: Almond Flour Lemon Raspberry Bars
With 20 ounces of cherry tomatoes — aka a lot — this particular preparation of eggs in purgatory is the perfect summertime brunch. Or lunch. Or dinner! Basically, it's the ideal low-effort recipe for any meal or occasion.
Recipe: Eggs in Purgatory
26.Strawberry Thyme Lillet Spritzers
If Lillet isn't on your radar for summer cocktails yet, it definitely should be. This floral aperitif works wonderfully in this refreshing spritz (especially if you've never been able to jump on the Aperol bandwagon) but can also be enjoyed by itself over ice if you want to keep things super simple.
Fresh ginger and dark soy sauce bring the flavors of a Japanese steak house home to your kitchen. This tender zucchini dish is a perfect summer side dish along with rice, whether you're grilling some steaks or marinating chilled tofu in tangy Japanese barbecue sauce.
Recipe: Hibachi Zucchini
28.Sweet Corn Polenta with Shrimp
The View from Great Island / Via theviewfromgreatisland.com
Utilizing quick-cooking ingredients like shrimp and instant polenta, this impressive meal only takes about 15 minutes to cook. Summer corn adds pops of texture and sweetness to each and every bite.
Recipe: Sweet Corn Polenta with Shrimp
Nutty, sweet, buttery — this show-stopper of a tart will definitely be the talk of your next summer gathering. Pistachios come together in a food processor to make a frangipane-style filling that pairs perfectly with sweet, slightly tart apricots.
Recipe: Apricot Pistachio Tart
A word to the wise: The more petite zucchini of early summer are the zucchini to buy, and their less watery and seedy interiors make them the perfect base for this savory zucchini bread. Serve it at dinner, then slice up and pan-fry thick slices the next morning for breakfast, topped with a runny egg.
Recipe: Savory Zucchini Bread
Minimalist Baker / Via minimalistbaker.com
Nothing screams summer cooking like firing up the grill, but grilling fish can be an uphill battle. In this minimal-ingredient recipe, your oven (and a quick spice rub) will turn any white fish into flaky, spicy goodness, ready to be piled high with your favorite taco toppings.
Recipe: Spicy Baked Fish Tacos
Which recipes are you most excited to cook this month? Or, do you have a favorite July recipe that we missed? Tell us in the comments below, and happy cooking!
