- Recipes
summer
Sheela Prakash
Sheela PrakashSenior Contributing Food Editor
Sheela is the Senior Contributing Food Editor at Kitchn and the author of Mediterranean Every Day: Simple, Inspired Recipes for Feel-Good Food. She received her master's degree from the University of Gastronomic Sciences in Italy and is also a Registered Dietitian.
updated Nov 28, 2023
comments
We independently select these products—if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. All prices were accurate at the time of publishing.
More often than not, summer recipes mean no-cook meals, crunchy salads, and other dishes that deserve the label refreshing. That’s all well and good, but after a long, hard day at work, sometimes you need to tuck into something a little more comforting. These are the times when it’s OK to turn on the oven and add something creamy or cheesy to your summer produce, or bake a juicy fruit cobbler that’s begging for a big scoop of ice cream.
Here are the 50 best summer comfort food recipes to relish, no matter what the temperature is outside.
Summer Comfort Food
1
/
50
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
What’s more comforting than a bowl full of pasta? This one needs only four ingredients and is covered in homemade pesto with cherry tomatoes.
Go to Recipe
2
/
50
Blueberry Pancake Casserole
This casserole for a crowd is everything you love about fluffy buttermilk pancakes loaded with blueberries the added bonus of a streusel topping.
Go to Recipe
3
/
50
Easy Slow-Cooker Ratatouille
Ratatouille, the classic French vegetable stew, is a perfect candidate for this hands-off cooking method.
Go to Recipe
4
/
50
Watermelon Curry
This watermelon curry is incredible because it’s both light and comforting at the same time. You can feel great about going back for seconds.
Go to Recipe
5
/
50
Tomato Cobbler with Cornmeal-Cheddar Biscuits
Your cast iron skillet needs some love right about now, and this tomato cobbler is the ticket. Just look at all those juicy tomatoes!
Go to Recipe
6
/
50
Vegan Stir-Fried Garlic Tofu and Eggplant
This recipe comes together so fast once you have all the ingredients prepped. Eggplant is the star of the show here, but you could also sub it out for zucchini or yellow squash.
Go to Recipe
7
/
50
Truffled Corn Soup
This corn soup looks like it would have ton of cream in it, right? But it has none! Treat yourself with a sprinkle of truffle salt to finish.
Go to Recipe
8
/
50
Heidi Swanson's Summer Squash Soup
Got an abundance of summer squash to use up? Throw it in this delicious soup.
Go to Recipe
9
/
50
Tomato and Squash Gratin
Summer vegetables and fruits are the best because you can basically throw some breadcrumbs, fat, and cheese on ’em and you get something delicious. The proof is in this recipe.
Go to Recipe
10
/
50
Grilled Zucchini Roll-Ups with Ricotta and Herbs
Eat these with a glass of wine for dinner and you can’t not have a good night.
Go to Recipe
11
/
50
Farro Salad with Roasted Eggplant, Caramelized Onion, and Pine Nuts
I dare you to add a dollop of fresh ricotta to the top of this bowl.
Go to Recipe
12
/
50
Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
Here's a slow cooker version for this much-loved party dish. Throw everything in the Crock-pot for a few hours, then take it directly to the buffet table.
Go to Recipe
13
/
50
Creamy Zucchini Fettuccine
Take a classic dish like fettuccine Alfredo and just add a ton of vegetables to the mix.
Go to Recipe
14
/
50
Crustless Vegetable Quiche
When in doubt, throw leftover summer vegetables together with some eggs and you’ll never go wrong. You can enjoy this one hot or cold.
Go to Recipe
15
/
50
Sautéed Zucchini and Squash with Thyme and Feta
Feta basically makes everything better in the summertime. I love that this recipe includes some savory herbs, too.
Go to Recipe
16
/
50
Savory Tomato Peach and Tarragon Pot Pie
This recipe hits that sweet and savory note with the peaches and tomatoes. It’s like a pie, but for dinner!
Go to Recipe
17
/
50
Creamy Corn Mac and Cheese
A mix of basil and corn turn mac and cheese into a summer mainstay.
Go to Recipe
18
/
50
Eggplant Fries
How to make crispy, oven-baked eggplant fries with a super-simple breading and a creamy interior.
Go to Recipe
19
/
50
Bacon and Basil Wrapped Corn
Do yourself a favor and wrap your corn on the cob in bacon this summer.
Go to Recipe
20
/
50
Vegetable Jambalaya
Letting something simmer on the stove for 20 minutes might remind you of fall, but this vegetable jambalaya is intended for right now.
Go to Recipe
21
/
50
Fresh Corn Galette with Zucchini, Thyme, and Goat Cheese
Wrap some fresh zucchini, thyme, corn, and goat cheese in a blanket of pastry dough. Your friends will love you forever and ever.
Go to Recipe
22
/
50
Sausage and Zucchini Soup
This soup is a great way to use up all that zucchini you might have purchased or discovered in your CSA box.
Go to Recipe
23
/
50
Creamy Polenta Bowl with Oven-Roasted Tomatoes and Zucchini
Top a creamy bed of polenta with all the oven-roasted vegetables your heart can handle.
Go to Recipe
24
/
50
Grilled Pesto Chicken Flatbreads
Harness the flavorful power of pesto in these easy grilled chicken and cheese flatbreads.
Go to Recipe
25
/
50
Strawberry Honey Butter
A recipe for sweet fresh strawberry butter flavored with honey and orange zest.
Go to Recipe
26
/
50
The Ultimate Fresh Blueberry Cobbler
A recipe for a classic blueberry cobbler that feeds a crowd.
Go to Recipe
27
/
50
One-Skillet Salsa Pork Chops
Pork chops are simmered in chunky salsa that's punched up with a splash of balsamic, so each bite is just the right balance of sweet, spicy, and tangy.
Go to Recipe
28
/
50
Skillet Ratatouille Cobbler
Throw that perfect trifecta of summer vegetables into a hot skillet, then scoop a thyme-scented drop biscuit dough right on top.
Go to Recipe
29
/
50
Sausage and Greens Breakfast Casserole
Casserole for breakfast is something look forward to when it has sausage, spinach, potatoes, and plenty of cheese.
Go to Recipe
30
/
50
Easy Rainbow Icebox Cake
How to make a rainbow cake without turning on the oven and using just four ingredients with a classic back-of-the box recipe.
Go to Recipe
31
/
50
Smoky Portobello Mushroom Cheeseburgers
An easy grilling recipe for vegetarian portobello mushroom burgers topped with smoked Gouda, tangy peppers, and arugula.
Go to Recipe
32
/
50
Trail Mix Cookies
Trailblazing oatmeal cookies chock-full of sweet, savory, crunchy, and chewy ingredients.
Go to Recipe
33
/
50
Potsticker Stir-Fry
How to turn frozen dumplings into a one-pan meal.
Go to Recipe
34
/
50
Tomato and Feta Galette
Pair sweet tomatoes with thyme and feta, then wrap it up with a buttery crust for a free-form pie that's easy enough to make on busy weeknights.
Go to Recipe
35
/
50
3-Ingredient Pesto Zoodle Bowl
A simple recipe for sautéed zucchini noodles tossed with pesto, and topped with a fried egg.
Go to Recipe
36
/
50
Naan Wraps with Homemade Cucumber Raita
These easy wraps are proof that it’s always more fun to eat with your hands — we think your whole family will agree.
Go to Recipe
37
/
50
Strawberry Blondies
An easy recipe for white chocolate brown butter blondies studded with fresh strawberries.
Go to Recipe
38
/
50
Cold Sesame Chicken and Noodle Salad
This crowd-pleasing chilled noodle salad brings bright and savory flavors to the potluck along with chicken and a rich sesame ginger dressing.
Go to Recipe
39
/
50
Classic Orange Sherbet
Here I'll share my favorite secret ingredients for smooth and tangy orange sherbet that will make you feel like a kid again.
Go to Recipe
40
/
50
Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable Grain Bowls
Think of grilled grain bowls as the grown-up version of the hobo packets you might have made at sleep-away camp.
Go to Recipe
41
/
50
Grilled BBQ Chicken Wings
These tender wings are prepared in the slow cooker before being tossed quickly on the grill to get them smoky and caramelized.
Go to Recipe
42
/
50
Cherry Pie Bars
Sweet cherries are unmistakably the star of this easy summer dessert, although I have no doubt you'll love the almond-scented, buttery crust just as much.
Go to Recipe
43
/
50
Fast and Fancy Pork and Beans
With your favorite cut of cured pork, molasses, canned beans, and a secret ingredient, you can be eating creamy beans in a velvety sauce in 30 minutes.
Go to Recipe
44
/
50
Grilled Potato, Onion, and Bacon Skewers
It doesn’t get much simpler than these potato and bacon kebabs, but when both are on a stick you can guarantee you’ve got comfort food in your hands.
Go to Recipe
45
/
50
Summer Squash Risotto
Grated zucchini and fresh basil partner up in this creamy Parmesan risotto.
Go to Recipe
46
/
50
Smoky Trout Macaroni Salad
Smoked trout is an easy addition to next-level classic macaroni salad.
Go to Recipe
47
/
50
Strawberry Cream Cheese Swirly Buns
Think of them as a cross between a cheese danish, strawberries and cream, and the dough from your favorite cinnamon roll, all in one irresistible package.
Go to Recipe
48
/
50
Crispy, Juicy Fried Chicken (That's Better than KFC)
Using the recently leaked secret spice blend from KFC and best frying practices, we make finger-licking chicken that tastes better than the Colonel.
Go to Recipe
49
/
50
Peanut Butter Chocolate Icebox Cake
The most over-the-top ode to peanut butter & chocolate comes to life in this stunning no-bake cake. If you love Reese's cups or buckeyes, this is for you.
Go to Recipe
50
/
50
This comforting pasta is salty, sweet, and extra savory all at the same time. Plus it calls for store-bought ravioli, so it comes together in no time.
Go to Recipe
Filed in:
Recipe Roundup
video
