45 Summer Dinners to Make Before the Season Ends
Though in a few months we must bid adieu to daylight savings, warm weather, vacation, and all the other amazing things about Summer, there's still time to snatch up the season's best — think tomatoes, basil, eggplant, corn, peppers, and the like — before it's all gone. Don't know what to do with your bounty? Plan out the following weeks ahead with a few of these recipes that highlight Summer produce in a variety of dishes.
Cucumber Avocado Caprese Salad
Make the most of your garden-fresh vegetables by throwing together this avocado- and cucumber-enhanced take on caprese salad.
Creamy Chicken and Corn Soup
This creamy chicken and corn chowder melds the sweet taste of Summer with the hearty flavors of chicken, potato, and bacon.
Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad
Full of tomato flavor thanks to slivers of sun-dried tomatoes, a dressing made from the candy-sweet dried fruit, and halved cherry tomatoes, this pasta salad is destined to become a potluck and backyard BBQ staple.
Grilled Corn Salad With Cornbread Croutons
Thanks to ingredients like lime juice, red pepper flakes, and rosemary, this grilled corn salad with cornbread croutons packs a huge flavor punch.
Burst Cherry Tomato Angel Hair With Lemon and Ricotta
This angel hair pasta with burst cherry tomatoes showcases just how tasty a simple tomato sauce can be.
Stuffed Squash Blossoms
Stuff delicate squash blossoms with burrata and serve them with olive tapenade for a fabulous warm-weather appetizer or picnic snack. The ridiculously creamy cheese and briny tapenade bring boldness to these beautiful blooms.
Chicken Thighs With Rhubarb-Cucumber Salsa
If you thought rhubarb was just meant for pie, it's time to think again. Brighten up chicken with a salsa made of the bracingly tart vegetable and cool cucumber.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Fajitas
Use up fresh peppers, onions, and jalapeños for these healthy slow-cooker chicken fajitas.
Green Goddess Summer Quinoa Salad
Keep things light and fresh with a green goddess quinoa Summer salad with a delicious avocado-cilantro dressing.
Zucchini and Corn With Parmesan
It doesn't get much simpler than this zucchini, corn, and parmesan side.The herb-dusted recipe takes only 10 minutes to prepare and is an effortless way to use up your farmers-market haul.
Pasta With Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes
Sometimes the best expressions of seasonal produce are silly simple, and this pesto and roasted tomato pasta is no exception. It may easily become your new favorite thing to whip together.
Zucchini Ratatouille With Sun-Dried Tomatoes and White Beans
On a night when you're craving a hearty meal that's simple and healthy, whip up a batch of zucchini ratatouille. This vegan recipe combines robust tomatoes and garlic with milder flavors like zucchini and cannellini beans.
Watermelon Caprese Salad
Tangy tomatoes meet sweet melon in this colorful salad, proving a delicious match for both your sweet tooth and your savory cravings.
Corn and Zucchini Pie
When you think of pie, your mind may go to cherry or berry varieties, but don't write off a veggie version. This seasonal, savory pie packs a generous dose of corn kernels, zucchini coins, and umami-rich mushrooms inside a buttery crust.
Baked Eggs With Tomato, Cheese, and Fire-Roasted Eggplant
Tomatoes, cheese, roasted eggplant, and eggs might sound like an odd pairing, but the flavors meld together seamlessly for a vibrant brunch-friendly egg recipe.
Hatch Chile, Corn, and Quinoa Casserole
Packed with hatch chilies, corn, quinoa, and chicken this filling casserole is bursting with Southwestern flavor.
Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas
Break out your favorite sheet pan for this easy, breezy, weeknight dinner: one-pan chicken fajitas.
Summer Chicken Pot Pie Galette With Herbed Crust
This rustic Summer chicken pot pie galette is a cross between pie and flatbread. Its buttery crust is balanced by a generous helping of fresh veggies, chicken, and heavy cream.
Spicy Tomato Soup With Grilled Cheese Croutons
Rather than pairing tomato soup with a grilled cheese, upgrade the classic soup and sandwich by employing crusty cubes of grilled cheese croutons as a garnish. In the off-season, the soup base is best made from canned tomatoes, but while tomatoes are at their peak, sub in four pounds of peeled farmers-market-fresh fruit.
Cheesy Wild-Rice-Stuffed Peppers
wild-rice-stuffed peppers are stuffed to the gills with late Summer produce.
Feta and Cherry Quinoa Salad
Make the most of cherry season with a cherry, quinoa, and feta salad that's fast and easy to make and nearly as good as leftovers (a boon for brown-bag lunches).
Caprese Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is a widely adored staple, but sometimes it's nice to mix it up! This caprese version includes all the classic flavors of the salad (tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil) but folded into mac and cheese.
Turkey Enchilada Soup
Turn a classic comfort food into a lighter, fresher version with this slow-cooker turkey enchilada soup.
Pasta With Avocado Sauce
Use up ripe avocados for this vegan avocado pasta with a smooth and creamy sauce. Add chicken or shrimp for more protein.
Creamy Caprese Quinoa Bake
Perfect as a main dish or a side, this scrumptious bake is filled with fluffy grains and succulent tomatoes, then topped with basil and mozzarella.
Southeast Asian Gazpacho
When it's too hot to cook over the stove, keep things cool with this Southeast Asian gazpacho soup.
Squash Casserole
This cheesy squash casserole perfectly bridges the seasonal shift into Fall.
Greek Tzatziki Chicken Salad
For a lighter dinner, assemble a Greek tzatziki chicken salad. Layered with Mediterranean-inspired ingredients, this sandwich tastes amazing inside toasted pita instead of bread.
Zucchini Noodle Egg Drop Soup
For a summery take on egg drop soup, add zoodles, aka zucchini noodles.
Guacamole Mason Jar Salad
If you love the taste of chips and guac, then you must try this mason jar guacamole salad. It's a lightened-up take on your go-to snack.
Bacon and Tomato Pasta
A riff on pasta all'amatriciana, this bacon and tomato pasta is ripe with flavor thanks to a generous helping of tomatoes, diced red onion, bacon, and red chili flakes.
Pesto Pasta Salad
This stunning dish includes both fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, laying the groundwork to win the heart (and stomach) of any tomato-lover. Plus, it's durable enough to pack in the fridge for lunches throughout the week!
Zucchini Pesto
This versatile zucchini pesto can be used as a topping for pasta or crostini or simply devoured by the spoonful when no one else is watching.
Grilled Peach Salad With Goat Cheese
This grilled peach salad has the right balance of creamy cheese and juicy fruit. It's extremely easy to make and pairs well with barbecued chicken or ribs.
Breakfast Tacos With Zucchini and Squash
Start your morning on a high note with a plateful of zucchini and squash breakfast tacos. These bites of egg and veggies will help you feel energized all day long.
Mediterranean Quiche
Quiche isn't just for brunch; this Mediterranean stunner stuffed with onions, zucchini, red peppers, and sun-dried tomatoes is appropriate anytime.
Summer Socca With Squash Blossoms
Bursting with the bright flavor of the season's finest, this Summer socca is a unique way to combine the fresh produce you have on hand. The light and savory chickpea crepes, stuffed with blistered tomatoes and roasted zucchini, will leave you feeling refreshed.
Chicken Parmesan Sub
There's nothing more satisfying than this chicken parmesan sub. Slathered with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and herbs, this mouthwatering creation is one to add to your sandwich rotation.
Southwestern Breakfast Cornbread
Spice things up with a Southwestern breakfast cornbread, a combo of cornbread, eggs, sausage, and whatever seasonal peppers and tomatoes you can find.
Three-Ingredient Tomato Sauce
Once you try Marcella Hazan's iconic three-ingredient tomato sauce, you're bound to fall in love. Full of buttery flavor, it's all spaghetti needs to be taken from workaday to weeknight masterpiece (though a few leaves of basil can't hurt!).
Greek Salad
You can't enjoy a proper Greek salad without fresh tomatoes! Add crumbly feta cheese, cool cucumbers, and savory onions to create a perfect Isles-inspired dish.
Strawberry Caprese Pasta Salad
Give caprese a sweeter spin with this strawberry caprese pasta salad.
Grilled Pound Cake
Grilled pound cake with pitted cherries is the ultimate Summer dessert.
Sun-dried Tomato, Spinach and Quinoa Salad
Lunch is served with this sun-dried tomato, spinach and quinoa salad. It's vegan and gluten free, too, so all can enjoy!
Chilled Avocado and Corn Soup
Rather than making little shooters, serve full soup bowls of this creamy, thick raw avocado and corn soup, topped with diced tomatoes, spicy jalapeño, and lump crab meat.