Summer is in full swing here at the Davis home and it looks like back porch picnics for every meal of the day, waiting for the chicks (who definitely aren’t chicks anymore!) to lay their first eggs, buying cherries at every opportunity, slow walks in the sunshine, garden-fresh strawberries, and paddle boarding on our lake any chance we get.
Want to know what makes these magical summer days even better? Meals that match the season’s easy, breezy vibe.
I don’t know what it is, but cooking in the summer just feels…mmmmmmmm…different. Maybe it’s the fresh farmer’s market finds or the pure, unadulterated joy of walking out to my little garden for an ingredient or two. Perhaps it’s that food just tastes better during a back porch picnic or when enjoyed around a fire with friends. And maybe, just maybe, it’s simply the boost of good ol’ vitamin D that this Washingtonian girl needed all along.
Honestly, I don’t care what voodoo-mama-juju is a play to make this season’s recipes farrrrrrrr more superior, but I will take advantage as soon as our weather creeps its way into the 60’s every. single. time.
What makes a recipe “summer-worthy”
Ya girl *loves* to eat and would never ever pigeonhole a recipe to only one season. However, there are some meals I find myself gravitating to more this time of year…not because they’re trending on Tiktok, but because they celebrate what makes this season so amazing and genuinely make mealtime infinitely better. If it checks most of the boxes below, it’s earning a place in my summer rotation (& in this blog post ;)).
Minimal effort, extra ease. Summer recipes understand the same “less is more” assignment that I apply to pelvic health. When tomatoes are at their peak & fresh herbs are growing like weeds, you don’t need complicated techniques or crazy ingredients to create something special. Give me simple enough to make without breaking a sweat and easy enough to eat off a paper plate on my lap…please and thank you.
Lots of fresh ingredients. From farmer’s markets to backyard gardens, roadside stands, and even the good ol’ grocery stores, some of the most beautiful, flavorful ingredients can be found local & fresh this time of year. Nothing tastes quite as good as the clean & crisp & colorful foods of this season, and bonus if it has that “just been picked” flavor you can’t get at any other time of year.
Packed with hearty protein & healthy fats. Protein and fat play a crucial role in the body’s chemical reactions, hormone production & signaling, immune function, cell structure, and energy creation. They also regulate blood sugar, help with satiety & appetite control, and improve cognitive function & focus. Because summer is full of busy days, longer nights, and allllllll the outdoor activities, you better believe every recipe I share here is gonna be full of these vital macronutrients.
Can feed a crowd (or not). I love a recipe that can be easily doubled or tripled…whether I’m meal-prepping and making a week’s worth of lunches or feeding a crowd filled with friends and family around a late-night fire. If I’m spending time in the kitchen during this season, I want it to count, and creating leftovers or connecting at a potluck are the most satisfying ways to make that happen.
The summertime recipes I can’t help but share
I will never claim to be an amazing cook, but I do have a knack for finding amazing recipes on Pinterest, aaaaaand I’ve put all my summertime faves right here. These aren’t your typical “I’m too hot & busy & tired to cook” meals (although trust me – I find myself there too in this season and am not above throwing hotdogs in the air fryer and calling it good). But if you also like no-cook meals that taste like you’ve spent hours in the kitchen and using your grill for more than just burgers, you’re gonna want to save every single recipe on this list…pronto.
THIS PERFECTLY SEASONED SALMON
Seafood is its own food group here in the PNW, and in the summer I find myself craving salmon at least once a week. As soon as I can get my hands on some fresh fish, this is the recipe I make every single time. It’s good served over rice and/or a fresh salad, stuffed into street tacos, or eaten cold on crackers. With a five minute prep time and twenty minute bake time, only one ingredient substitute (coconut sugar for brown sugar), and allllll the versatility, it’s no wonder this recipe has been saved over 70,000 times on Pinterest – it’s amazing from start to finish.
THE BEST CHICKEN MARINADE
One of my girlfriends and her new baby stopped by last night and I needed a quick & yummy & healthy dinner to make at the last minute. I threw two packages of chicken thighs in this marinade for an hour, grilled them on our smoker at 350℉ for 40 minutes (turning once halfway through), and served them with my go-to salad recipe. The ingredients are easy, the flavors are perfection, and I will now be enjoying these grilled chicken leftovers chopped up over baked sweet potatoes, in salads, and dipped in BBQ sauce for the next week.
ITALIAN GRINDER CHICKEN SALAD
When I first found this recipe, I probably sent it to ten people before even making it because I knew it would be good. Then I was *so confident* it would be good that I doubled it the first time I made it, and let me tell you…I was right on all accounts! I substituted avocado mayo for regular mayonnaise, used shallots instead of red onion, and cooked chicken breasts in the instantpot rather than rotisserie chicken, but followed the rest of the recipe to a “T”. As we start to kick off summer activities, this combination of two classics has been my first pick for potlucks, picnic lunches, and camping.
STREET CORN CHICKEN SALAD
I’ve never liked mayonnaise and have therefore steered clear of chicken salads my entire life. However, ever since the invention of avocado mayo (this one is my favorite) you can see I’ve actually become quite the fan and this street corn chicken salad also does not disappoint. While you could totally use the canned corn called for in this recipe, nothing says summer like fresh, bright cobs of corn – and if you have time to grill it before adding it to the recipe (I used three cobs), I highly recommend taking the extra step. We ate this as a side with tortilla chips when I first made it, then rolled it in tortillas for lunch the following days. *Chef’s kiss*.
“I CAN’T BELIEVE THIS IS HOMEMADE” CAESAR DRESSING
I loooooooove me a good caesar salad, but it’s so hard to find healthy dressings without seed oils. Then my sister made this caesar dressing for a family gathering and I wouldn’t let her leave until she shared it with me. Other than subbing regular mayonnaise for avocado mayo, this recipe is perfect as is and I’m now enjoying caesar salads on the regular. Pro tip: make chicken with the marinade recipe above, chop it into your lettuce, top it with as much caesar dressing as you like (it’s healthy, remember!?), and add anything else your heart desires (my favorites are parmesan cheese, olives, bacon, and homemade sourdough croutons)…YUM!
THE ONLY CHILI RECIPE YOU’LL EVER NEED
I’ve been making this chili recipe for years and have shared it here on the blog more than once because it’s just that good. And while chili might not be the first thing you think of when of when it comes to summertime recipes, this one uses up a bunch of my fresh garden tomatoes and peppers, can easily feed (& fill) a crowd, and makes the best leftover chili dogs (a food I totally associate with this season). Our favorite is the ^^recipe without beans^^ but I’ve had many people tell me the version with beans is even better. If you have any chili cook-offs coming up, this one just might win it all.
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CUSTOMIZABLE SWEET POTATO TACO BOWLS
Every family has that go-to meal, the one they make when they’re short on time, don’t know what to have for dinner, and/or the fridge is almost bare…and this recipe is ours. If you like tacos, then you’ll love these air-fried sweet potatoes topped with your meat of choice, whatever fixin’s you have on hand, and a cottage cheese queso if you’re feelin’ feisty. While this nachos meets taco salad mash-up is nothing fancy, it’s proof that whole foods can be tasty, simple can be healthy, and homemade can be quick & convenient, even in the hot & hectic summer.
PORK GINGER MEATBALLS WITH A CITRUS SLAW
Salads are definitely a staple this time of year, but I can only eat grilled chicken over greens so many days of the week. Then I stumbled on this recipe when I was following the Auto-Immune Protocol while trying to conceive Sloan, and even though it’s super clean and ridiculously healthy, I’m still making it on repeat to this day because it’s so dang good. This time of year you can throw the meatballs on the grill, go to your garden or local market for half the ingredients, and enjoy this light but delicious meal when you’re craving the freshness of a salad but want to kick it up a notch.
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FOR MY FELLOW DIP GIRLIES
IMO, nothing elevates an average summertime meal (think hotdogs, burgers, BBQ, etc.) like a good dipping sauce. And when there’s one on the table, just about every bite will be dunked/drenched/slathered in the stuff. While I’ve tried MANY homemade dips & dressings, the three I find myself making again and again are this super easy ranch, this hot honey ranch, and this Chick-Fil-A sauce dupe. Once I substitute avocado mayo for regular mayonnaise (PS – I’m not sponsored by avocado mayo, I just believe so strongly in avoiding seed oils and feel like this is such a simple swap to make ;)), we will plan daysssss worth of meals around things we can dip in a doubled sauce recipe.
ICE CREAM THAT WILL MAKE YOU NEVER WANT STORE-BOUGHT AGAIN
There’s no way I’m writing a blog post about my favorite summertime recipes without adding a cool, sweet treat at the end. This homemade ice cream, filled with only whole-food ingredients, is one we find ourselves indulging in all year long, but especially as the weather warms up. If you don’t have an ice cream maker, add it to the sunscreen & swimsuits & other essentials on your list this season because there’s nothing like enjoying a cold dessert after a hot day without guilt or rushing to the grocery store.
Wrapping up summer’s best
As I sit here thinking about all these recipes, I can’t help but smile at how many of them have shaped some of my favorite summer memories. From dinner with friends to double batches for leftovers (#bless), these really aren’t just recipes – they’re the building blocks of a summer well-lived, the kind of meals that make ordinary moments feel special without sweating or spending hours in the kitchen.
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What I love most about this collection of summertime recipes is how it proves that eating well doesn’t have to be expensive, complicated, or time-consuming. When you combine quality ingredients with minimal fuss, you create space for what really matters…loving your body and nourishing it in a way that allows you to enjoy everything that makes summer so celebratory.
I can’t wait to hear if recipes find their way into your rotation this season, and I hope they create as many amazing memories for you as they have for me. Whether you’re meal-prepping for busy weekdays, hosting friends for a backyard gathering, or just trying to make the most of the incredible produce that’s finally starting to pop up, these dishes are ready to make your summer a little more delicious. Here’s to simple ingredients, satisfying meals, and a summer filled with good food shared with good people!
– Amanda
Disclaimer: The content provided here does not constitute medical advice, nor is it a substitute for personalized healthcare. I’m a doctor, but I’m not your doctor. If you have concerns about a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment, you should consult with a licensed healthcare professional.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. No pressure, but I have a feeling you’re gonna like what I’ve taken the time to put my recommendation behind.
