Perfect Summer Recipes

We’re officially in that season where I don’t want to turn on the oven. I want less time in the kitchen and more time soaking up memories. I want simple recipes that my kids can help prepare. And yet, I still want to feed my family delicious, healthy foods.

Summer requires a different type of recipe. When looking for the perfect summer recipes, I keep three things in mind. Read on for my current approach to cooking and my favorite summer recipes!

My favorite summer recipes are easy.
I often have kiddos helping in the kitchen or I need to make something on the fly after we’ve been at the pool all day. I love cooking but lean on my tried and true recipes that are easy to remember during the summer months. I can get creative with easy recipes, adding and substituting when needed, but they give my brain a break too.

Time spent in the kitchen with an easy, delicious recipe is good for the soul. Here are two of my favorite super easy recipes for summer:

• Pico de gallo
• A (store-bought!) unicorn birthday cake

My favorite summer recipes use up what you’ve got!
I love getting creative in the kitchen. We don’t have an ingredient? No problem, let’s find a substitute! Do we have bananas that are about to go bad? Did we over Instacart on strawberries? Let’s use up what we have!

Our household goes through a lot of groceries and we’re mindful of stretching our hauls between grocery trips. It’s one of the reasons I created the Weekly Meal Planner Notepad. Writing it all out helps our family save money by meal planning and prepping.

For recipe inspiration, my absolute favorite, use-up-what-you’ve-got-recipe is:

• The best muffins ever!

My favorite summer recipes don’t require an oven.
It’s already over 100 degrees most days in Oklahoma. There is no need to add a stove or an oven to the mix. Summer is the perfect time to lean into prepared foods and healthy snacks like fruits and vegetables.

Our general summer menu consists of smoothies, yogurt and cereal, cheese boards, chicken salad, and pimento cheese. So good, right? If you’re looking for no-bake desserts, these are two of our family’s favorites:

• Homemade popsicles
• Easy berry trifle

Need more summer cooking inspiration? Check out my favorite cookbooks and these picnic essentials to make the most of your summer recipes.