You are currently viewing Our Favorite Recipes for Summer You Need to Try

Are you looking for some easy recipes for summer? Wondering what to make for dinner when the weather is so hot? We know when it’s hot outside, we don’t want to cook!

With this in mind, we’d like to share a few of our favorite family recipes for summer.

Now, we know we aren’t food bloggers, but with the holiday weekend and grilling season, we thought we’d share four of our family favorite recipes. Maybe they will even become prized recipes for summer in your family too.

These are tried and true recipes that always get rave reviews. Perfect for an easy dinner with the family, or they are special enough for a party or barbecue with friends! They are light, healthy and make the ideal summer meal.

Recipes for Summer - Main Course

Recipes for Summer

In the summer, I can’t think of anything better than a savory, juicy burger. Over the years we have played with a few recipes and have come up with our own favorite, the Chipotle Spiced Burger. 

We like our burgers to be hot, juicy and full of flavor. This Chipotle Spiced burger has that for sure! It has a hint of smoke from the chipotle peppers that adds a unique flavor to the burger. Yet, it’s not too hot for even the little ones to eat. In fact, a regular burger to them is just boring!

Even though we like to use a leaner healthier ground beef, these burgers are juicy with our special ingredients. Take a look.

And if you like a little spice in your food, you need to try my deviled egg recipe with my secret ingredient.

Recipes for Summer

Chipotle Spiced Burger

This juicy burger is full of flavor with a hint of smoke from the chipotle peppers. A favorite in our family and yours as well.
Prep Time 3 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 13 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 people
Calories 272 kcal

Equipment

  • Barbecue grill

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb. Extra Lean Ground Beef (90%)
  • 1 Egg
  • 1 tsp. Basil
  • 2 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 Chipotle pepper in adobo sauce minced
  • 1 tbls. Green chilies, canned chopped
  • 3 tbls. Bread crumbs, seasoned or substitute 3 tbls. ground pork rind for Keto friendly burger.
  • 1/2 tsp. Salt
  • 4 Hamburger Buns
  • 4 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 slices Pepper Jack cheese optional
  • 4 tbls. Guacamole optional
  • 4 slices Tomato
  • 4 Lettuce leaves

Instructions
 

  • Beat egg. Combine with ground beef, basil, garlic, chipotle pepper, green chilies, salt and bread crumbs (or crushed pork rinds) in a medium bowl. Form into 4 patties.
  • Heat barbecue grill to a medium-high heat. Add patties and cook for about 5 minutes on each side. Until a thermometer inserted in the side registers 160º.
  • Place burgers in the buns with the onion, tomato, lettuce and guacamole.
Keyword barbecue, burger, grilled, quick, summer

Recipes for Summer - Salads

Recipes for Summer

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad. Doesn’t this salad just look and sound delicious?!  Roasted sweet potatoes combined in a jalapeño lime dressing, tossed with black beans, red onion, sweet red bell peppers, and fresh cilantro…who can resist?!

This salad can be served warm or cold. In the summer I definitely prefer it cold. It’s so refreshing!

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad served chilled or warm.

Roasted Sweet Potato Salad with Jalapeño Lime Dressing

Stephanie
This healthy salad with roasted sweet potatoes and a jalapeño lime dressing is packed with flavor. It's easy to prepare and can be served warm or cold. It's delicious either way!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American, southwest
Servings 6 people
Calories 179 kcal

Equipment

  • Blender is required to liquify the dressing.

Ingredients
  

  • 3 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 1 medium red onion coarsely chopped
  • 2 tbsp. olive oil
  • 1 (15 oz) can black beans rinsed and drained
  • 1 red bell pepper chopped
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1/3 cup cilantro chopped

Dressing

  • 2 medium jalapeños seeded, membrane removed and roughly chopped (wear gloves when working with jalapeños)
  • 1 garlic clove
  • juice of 2 limes

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400º. Coat a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Toss sweet potatoes and onion with olive oil in a large bowl. Spread out sweet potatoes and onions on the baking sheet. Roast 30-35 minutes.
  • In a large bowl toss warm sweet potatoes and onions with rinsed black beans, red bell pepper and cilantro. Add the jalapeño dressing, salt and pepper. Toss well.

Dressing

  • Place jalapeños, garlic and lime juice in blender and process until liquified.

Notes

Keep cubed sweet potatoes uniform in size so they will cook evenly.
When working with jalapeños, always wear gloves.
This flavorful salad can be served warm or cold.
It can be served as a meal by itself and is delicious also served over a bed of lettuce.
It's the perfect side for any grilled meats.
Keyword black beans, healthy recipe, refreshing salad, serve warm or cold, Southwest Flavor, summer salad, Sweet & Savory, sweet potato salad, vegan
Recipes for Summer

This yummy corn salad has evolved over the years. Adding more and more veggies and making the dressing a little more healthy. It’s packed with so many delicious flavors, it’s a party in your mouth!

There is also a lot of flexibility. You can use fresh corn off the cob, frozen corn or canned corn. Just use what you have readily available.

Crisp English cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, tasty cherry tomatoes fresh from the garden and crunchy jicama create the perfect summer salad.

It’s quick and easy to prepare, in fact it can be made in a matter of minutes. Just chill and serve.

Easy corn salad recipe on a white plate with a roll.

Easy Corn Salad with a Zesty Lime Vinaigrette

Michelle
Sweet corn, crisp cucumbers, sweet bell peppers, crunchy jicama, red onion, cilantro and ripe juicy garden tomatoes tossed with a zesty lime vinaigrette.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Chill 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Mexican, southwest
Servings 6 people
Calories 68 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 1/2 cups corn fresh off the cob, canned or frozen
  • 1/2 orange bell pepper diced
  • 1/2 red bell pepper diced
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 cup jicama diced
  • 1/4 cup red onion diced
  • 1 cup cucumber diced
  • 1/3 cup cilantro chopped

Lime Vinaigrette

  • 2 limes zest and juice
  • 1/4 tsp. salt or to taste
  • 1/8 tsp chipotle chili powder
  • 1 tsp. chili powder
  • 1 tbls. olive oil

Instructions
 

  • Combine in a large bowl corn, cucumber, peppers, tomatoes, jicama, red onion and cilantro.
  • For the dressing, combine lime juice ,zest, salt, chipotle chili powder, chili powder.
    Slowly whisk in olive oil.
    Pour over corn salad mixture. Chill and serve.

Notes

Fresh, canned or frozen corn may be used.
Fresh corn may be steamed or used raw. I prefer it raw, I love the sweet texture of the raw corn.
If using canned corn, I prefer the white shoepeg corn. Once again for the sweet texture.
For frozen corn, I prefer Birds Eye frozen gold and white corn.
Make this salad a complete meal by adding protein like black beans and/or bacon. Sliced grilled chicken would also be a nice addition to this easy corn salad recipe.
Other optional add-ins: diced avocado, sliced radish, diced celery, snow peas, black beans, bacon, grilled  chicken.
Keyword corn salad, fresh, fresh garden vegetables, healthy, quick and easy, refreshing salad, spice lime vinaigrette, summer salad

Dessert

Recipes for Summer

All of the credit for this recipe goes to my dad! He loves to experiment and make different flavors of ice cream. This recipe has been a favorite in our family for years.

It’s a wonderful combination, peanut butter and banana. And if you’re in a chocolate mood, just add some chocolate syrup into the mix. That’s delicious too.

Without a doubt the banana make this ice cream extra creamy and you just can’t go wrong with peanut butter.

You’ll notice in this recipe that you can substitute powdered monk fruit for the sugar. If you are watching carbs. this is a great way to lower the carbs, yet keep the yummy sweetness. I would way that 99% of the time I use monk fruit and no one can tell the difference. We’ll just keep that as our little secret. 😉

Peanut Butter Banana homemade ice cream topped with chopped nuts and sliced bananas in a blue and white bowl.

Dad's Homemade Peanut Butter Banana Ice Cream

Michelle
A creamy decadent peanut butter banana ice cream that surprisingly easy to make. This summer treat is oh so good!
Prep Time 5 minutes
Churning 20 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 10 people
Calories 268 kcal

Equipment

  • Ice Cream Maker I use the Kitchenaid Ice Cream Maker Attachment
  • Blender

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup sugar can substitute 1/3 cup powdered monk fruit
  • pinch salt
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • 1 banana
  • 1/4-1/3 cup natural peanut butter

Instructions
 

  • Place all ingredients except cream in a blender, whirl until smooth and sugar dissolves, about 1-2 minutes. Then add the cream and blend for 5-10 seconds until combined. Chill for at least 30 minutes.
  • Pour cream mixture into an ice cream maker and churn to desired consistency, following the manufacturers directions. Your ice cream will be ready in about about 15-20 minutes. Immediately transfer ice cream into serving dishes or freeze in an airtight container.
    Garnish with peanuts, banana slices, chocolate chips, hot fudge or Reeses Peanut Butter Cup.

Notes

This recipe is easily adapted to your taste. For a more creamy ice cream add another banana to the ice cream mixture.
If you love peanut butter, double the amount of peanut butter. Creamy or chunk peanut butter can be used. I prefer natural peanut butter, it has a more peanuty flavor.
Add-ins may also be added when the ice cream is just about finished. Add a few spoonfuls of chopped nuts, diced bananas, chocolate chips or chopped Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.
Its' also delicious drizzled with hot fudge!
Keyword banana, cold treat, creamy, decadent, homemade, ice cream, peanut butter, summer treat

Now as you’re wondering what to fix for dinner or planning the menu for a summer party, we hope you’ll try 1, 2 or all of these recipes for summer. 

Thanks for spending some time with us! Enjoy the upcoming summer holidays with family, friends and good food!

Please PIN and share with your friends! Sharing is caring.

If you’re new here, WELCOME! We love having new friends! We hope you’ll join us again for more ideas for home decor. If you’d like to learn more about us you can do that here. 

And as always here at Sunny Side Design

BRINGING YOUR HOME TO THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET!

Recipes for Summer

More from our site

Be sure to follow us on Pinterest for even more home decor and DIY ideas.

To see what we are working on before it’s on our blog, follow us on Instagram.

You can also find our video tutorials on our YouTube channel.

Leave a Reply

Recipe Rating