The Best of Summer Recipes Menu (From the Girls Who Know Fresh)

Summer recipes aren’t just about what’s trending on your feed—they’re about what actually hits the spot when it’s 90 degrees out and your fridge is stuffed with produce that’s practically begging to be used. We’re talking crisp salads, grill-kissed bites, and dishes you can toss together barefoot with a cold drink in hand.

We love a seasonal menu that takes full advantage of the vibrant veggies and fruits overflowing at our local markets this time of year. And let’s be honest: there’s something extra satisfying about making a dish so pretty, so bright, you could eat it straight off a picnic table or your bestie’s backyard deck.

The best summer recipes don’t need to be fussy. In fact, the simpler, the better—as long as the flavors pop and the textures are on point. So if you’re in your summer era of breezy meals and edible color palettes, you’re in good company.

Here’s our go-to Best of Summer Recipes Menu, featuring three absolute standouts. These are the dishes we keep coming back to, whether we’re hosting a lowkey lunch, adding flair to a weeknight dinner, or just trying to keep things cool (culinarily and temperature-wise).

1. Chayote & Blistered Tomato Salad

This salad is that girl—refreshing, juicy, and just a little unexpected. Chayote is a crisp Latin American squash that doesn’t get nearly enough love in summer recipes, and here it shines alongside tomatoes that are slightly charred for extra flavor.

Ingredients:

• 1 chayote squash, peeled, pitted and thinly sliced
  
  
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  
  
• 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  
  
• 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  
  
• ½ tsp sea salt
  
  
• Black pepper to taste
  
  

Trust us, this is the kind of salad that can stand alone or steal the spotlight next to grilled anything.

👉 Full recipe: Chayote & Blistered Tomato Salad

2. Shrimp Anticuchos Criolla Style

Summer recipes with seafood? Always a yes. These anticuchos (Peruvian-style skewers) are smoky, citrusy, and quick to grill—perfect for when your friends roll through with zero warning.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb shrimp, peeled and deveined
  
  
• 2 tbsp aji panca paste
  
  
• 1 tbsp soy sauce
  
  
• 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
  
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
  
  
• 1 tsp ground cumin
  
  
• Salt and pepper to taste
  
  
• Wooden or metal skewers
  
  

Pro tip: Soak your wooden skewers in water beforehand unless you’re trying to set the grill on fire like we accidentally did once.

👉 Full recipe: Shrimp Anticuchos Criolla Style

3. Paprika Butter Grilled Corn

No summer recipes menu is complete without corn. It’s the side that always delivers—sweet, smoky, and slathered in butter that’s been leveled up with paprika.

Ingredients:

• 4 ears of corn, husked
  
  
• 4 tbsp butter, softened
  
  
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
  
  
• Salt to taste
  
  

We like to char the corn just enough so the kernels get that golden brown blister. That butter? It's like a smoky hug. Add some lime on the side and you’re golden.

👉 Full recipe: Paprika Butter Grilled Corn

Summer Recipes: Serve Them Up, Sun or Shade

At the end of the day, summer recipes are about keeping things light, flavorful, and fun. Whether you’re hosting a Sunday backyard hang or throwing together a quick lunch for one, these dishes bring the sunshine to your plate. Try mixing and matching, doubling up for a group, or pairing any of these with an agua fresca (or... something a little stronger).

From one kitchen to another—happy summer cooking, chicas. Keep it fresh, keep it tasty, and don’t forget to save room for seconds.