31 Summer Recipes You *Must* Try Before The Seasons Change

After splashing around at a mermaid pool party and sunning ourselves at the beach, all a gal wants is a goodsummer recipe. There's something about light, sweet summer cuisine that's just plain refreshing, especially when it uses in-season produce like watermelon, tomatoes, peaches, and corn. Whether you're prepping for a date night in or brunch, there's a memorable something for everyone here.

Protein Shake Popsicles

Why drink your shake when you can freeze it in an easy-to-reach frozen popsicle? It sounds like a win-win to us.

Paleo Pasta Salad

Pasta salad screams summer, but this lightened-up version is even better. Loaded with delicious fruit and veg (not to mention salami), it's equal parts delicious and healthy.

Frozen Watermelon Margarita Push Pops

Relive your childhood with these frosty watermelon push pops, putting an adult spin on things with a generous pour of tequila and Cointreau for extra merriment.

Baked French Toast

Summer brunch tastes better when you can make it ahead and then actually enjoy spending time with your guests instead of cooking in a hot kitchen.

Copycat Trader Joe's Healthy 8-Veggie Mix

Crunchy, colorful veggies are a hallmark of our warm-weather cuisine. Toss with vinaigrette for a quick salad, or sauté and serve with grilled chicken for a light yet filling meal.

Pamplemousse La Croix and Lavender Mocktail

Don't force your sober guests to sip on lame beverages. Instead, stir up a few glasses of this lavender and grapefruit mocktail, so they'll feel just as appreciated as the rest of the group.

Simple Fattoush Salad

Make the most of late-summer produce with this easy salad that incorporates pita chips.

Blue Cheese Chicken Salad Keto Lettuce Wraps

It's never a good idea to go without snacking, especially when you're on a new diet. Keto snacks can be hard to come by, so this protein-packed lettuce wrap recipe will help keep your hunger at bay.

Sea Bean and Soba Salad

If you can't venture to the beach this summer, the next best thing is eating veg that grows seaside. This salad stars briny sea beans and slurpable soba noodles.

The Best Potato Salad

There's no official recipe for making this potato salad. Master the basic method, then add your own special touches.

Heirloom Tomato Cheddar Tart With Everything Spice

If you have ripe tomatoes and fresh herbs, whip up this delicious tart that's pure summer comfort.

Mexican-Style Hot Dogs in Lettuce Wraps

Lighten up your summer hot dogs by serving them on a lettuce "bun" with heaps of in-season veggies.

Simple Trail Mix Recipe

Refuel any time, any place with a handful of customizable trail mix.

Pressure-Cooker Chili

Feed a crowd at your next get-together with a batch of pressure cooker chili. It cooks up in a jiffy, though it tastes like it's been simmered for hours.

Tomato Peach Crostini With Hot Bacon Dressing

Layer ripe peaches and tomatoes onto garlic bread topped with goat cheese and finished off with a drizzle of hot bacon dressing.

Vegan Ratatouille

Ratatouille is all the things we love about summer cuisine: It's light, it's colorful, and it's packed with seasonal flavor.

Copycat Umami Burgers

Even if you don't have an outdoor grill, you can barbecue in style using this flavor-packed recipe and a grill pan.

Mango Curry Shrimp

Sweet mango chutney helps balance the spices in this curry, making it a favorite of adults and kids alike. Pretend you're on vacation even if you're just dining porch-side.

Sheet-Pan Lemon Chicken, Squash, and Green Beans

Fresh summer produce joins lemon chicken in this easy sheet-pan recipe. Whip it up in 30 minutes, then jump back in the pool.

Vegan BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

When it comes to vegan meat substitutes, nothing is simpler or more effective than using canned unripe jackfruit to mimic the texture of pulled pork. Prepare your own tangy barbecue sauce to make the meal even tastier.

Thai Basil Stir Fry

Spicy, herby Thai food's on our menu whenever we don't feel like spending too much time in the kitchen.

Kombucha Mojitos

As we get older, alcohol definitely contributes to tummy discomfort. Try to negate that by adding probiotic-rich kombucha to your next cocktail.

Grilled Jalapeño Peach Quinoa Salad

Savory, sweet, and a little spicy, this quinoa salad gets a healthy dose of summer produce with corn, peaches, and cherry tomatoes as well as herbs like basil, cilantro, and chives.

Easy Cold-Brew Iced Tea

Keep a cold pitcher of this iced tea in your fridge so you have something refreshing to sip on whenever you start sweating. You don't even have to heat up a kettle of water to make it.

Spicy Paloma Cocktail

Master this spicy Paloma recipe, and your friends will come running to your next get-together. A blend of fragrant grapefruit cordial, tequila, and jalapeño juice will cool you down while simultaneously lighting a fire on your tongue.

DIY Low-Cal Vodka Popsicles

You'll be the most popular person at any party when you show up with a batch of low-cal vodka popsicles.

Watermelon Jerky

Get a taste of watermelon without the juicy mess by dehydrating it into jerky.

Deep-Fried Pineapple Rings

You'll need something to eat with your piña coladas, and there's no pairing quite like these coconut-covered, deep-fried pineapple rings.

S'mores Pie

No campfire? No problem! You can indulge in this s'mores pie any time of year, and all you need is your kitchen.

Lebanese Mint Lemonade

Known as limonana, this mint lemonadeis made using a traditional Lebanese method of macerating lemons and adding mint for the most refreshing summer drink.