As the days grow shorter, we find ourselves at a bittersweet moment. We need to say goodbye to summer. Before we fall into the season of apples and pumpkin spice, it’s time to celebrate the summer recipes we love. From grilled meat and shrimp to side salads and recipes filled with summer vegetables and produce, we can’t think of a tastier way to end summer. They are dishes that have synonymous with backyard barbecues and summertime meals. These are last-chance summer recipes you can’t miss.
Donna’s Macaroni Salad
“Everyone always asks me to make double so they will have some to take home in the to-go containers. I like the fact that it doesn’t have any mayonnaise in it.” – Elaine
Bountiful Summer Squash Bread
“This is a great quick bread that utilizes the bounty of summer squash that accumulates in the garden! These leaves freeze well and are great for snacking.” – Liz
Bacon Onion Tomato Pie
“It may sound strange, but believe me, it is to die for!” – Lolly
Summertime Corn Salad
“This is a quick and easy summertime recipe I have been making for years, and not only in the summer! It is very light and healthy, especially if you use low-fat yogurt and mayonnaise. My husband and kids love this salad, and it is great for picnics and family get-togethers. Enjoy!” – Mary Ann
EZ Grilled Strawberry Cheesecake Dessert
“Needed a quick dessert to serve to friends who dropped by during a cookout, so I came up with this!” – Maeda
Southern Potato Salad
“This is a recipe I have been making for my family for as long as I can remember. Every time we have family gatherings they always request it.” – Pam
Zucchini Banana Bread
“A moist and delicious way to use excess over-ripe bananas and an abundance of garden zucchini.” – Ronda
Fruit Salsa
“The fresh fruit salsa is made with ripe sweet summer fruit balanced with the heat of jalapenos and tangy lime juice balances the flavors.” – Debbie
One of the Greatest Grilled Burger Recipes
“This is one grill out recipe that my husband, kids, and friends have declared a must-have. It is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser every time and you’ll never have a dried out burger again!” – Brooke
Chopped Caprese Salad With Cucumbers
“This is a light and delicious salad. Perfect for warm summer days.” – Carol
Chicken and Pasta With Summer Vegetables
“I had a recipe similar to this and lost it. So, I created this one which I think is even better! My husband and friends love it.” – Marcia
Summer Squash & Rice Boat
“My mom made this recipe for summer dinners when we had guests and they were amazed. The flavor was great with the rice, bacon, onion, and squash; nothing goes to waste because you eat the boat. A great meal!” – Becky
Asparagus Salad
“This is a good summer recipe. It’s one of my own, and everyone in the family and my friends love this recipe. You can add grilled chicken from the store if you want this as a main dish.” – Karol
Bold Tastin’ Grilled Steak
“This was a favorite when I was growing up!! We rarely had meat but when we did, we sure loved the bold flavors this marinade brought out!!” – Ashley
Blueberry Lemon Trifle
“This is delish. It is easy to make. All my family and friends love this.” – Patsy
Sausage Zucchini Casserole
“Got this from a very dear friend… she served it to her family as a family favorite and it has become one of mine as well!” – Dawn
Balsamic Grilled Chicken with Avocado
“A simple grilled chicken that’s marinated in balsamic vinaigrette, topped with melted cheese, avocado, tomato, and basil!” – Kevin
Herbalicious Grilled Corn
“We love grilled corn at our house. This is a great accompaniment to grilled ribs, burgers, and chicken.” – Jane
Wild Black Raspberry Pie
“We lived in the country when we were first married. One spring, I found the biggest black raspberries ever seen. So I picked them, cleaned them, and decided to make a pie out of them for a family picnic. On the day of the picnic, we loaded the pie and everything in the car. When we got there, my hubby and my brother-in-law were unloading the car. My brother-in-law looked at the pie and said he didn’t think we should take it out of the car because it really didn’t look very good. Being young I believed him. When we got home they took the pie out and ate the whole thing.” – Linda
Squash Patties
“These fried squash patties are a nice summer side dish and very similar to potato patties.” – Donna
Grilled Garlic Shrimp in Foil
“Grilling shrimp in foil is easy and fit for a king (or queen).” – Daune
Apricot Barbecue Sauce for Grilling
“My husband requested barbecued chicken on the grill for dinner. Since I didn’t have any store-bought barbecue sauce, we played around with some ingredients and came up with this delicious sauce that was perfect for the chicken.” – Amy
Zucchini Fries
“This recipe is a great way to get the kids to eat their vegetables because you dip them in ranch dressing or pizza sauce. It’s healthy because it’s baked not fried. It just looks fried. Tastes great, and my family loves these zucchini fries.” – Josphine
Grandmama Watson’s Fresh Blueberry Cobbler
“I posted the recipe all written out in longhand by Grandmama herself.” – Bobbi Jo
Summer Fruit Salad With Mint & Limoncello
“This is my all-time favorite fruit salad. the fresh mint and the Limoncello add a wonderful addition to your summer fruits. I promise you will love it.” – Nadine
Grilled Vegetables with Goat Cheese and Balsamic Glaze
“My mom and grandmother would make this when they had leftover veggies that they couldn’t use, or it wasn’t enough to make a complete dish. It never really makes it to the dinner table! You can swap out the goat cheese for any cheese you prefer and use any vegetables you like.” – Denise
Corn, Avocado, and Tomato Salad
“A quick and easy salad to whip up on a busy day. A refreshing accompaniment to spicy main dishes.” – Karen
Lemon Vegetable Pasta Salad
“This salad goes a long way. Great for large gatherings. This pasta salad is easy and takes no time to throw together.” – Meryl
Basil Tomatoes
“If at all possible, use fresh, homegrown tomatoes – you’ll be in heaven!” – Judy
Dog Days Watermelon Salad
“Now’s the time to take advantage of the great supply of cucumbers and watermelon this time of year, the dog days of August! This salad is cool and refreshing – even your kids will love it – but it’s best eaten the same day.” – Connie