48 Summer Recipes Everyone Should Know How to Make

Read Time: 23 mins

48 Summer Recipes Everyone Should Know How to Make1/48 Cola Burgers 20 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Cola Burgers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A friend who’s an excellent cook shared this hamburger recipe with me, and it has since become a family favorite. The unusual combination of cola and French salad dressing added to the ground beef gives it fabulous flavor. The mixture is also used as a basting sauce on the moist burgers. -Melva Baumer, Millmont, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 1 burger: 461

Try it and see if it isn’t one of the

calories, 24g fat (8g saturated fat), 112mg cholesterol, 714mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 29g protein. 2/48 Potato Salad 89 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Homemade Potato Salad Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This homemade potato salad recipe doesn’t have many ingredients, so it isn’t as colorful as many that you find nowadays. But Mama made it the way her mother did, and that’s the way I still make it today. Try it and see if it isn’t one of the

best-tasting potato salads you have ever eaten!

best-tasting potato salads you have ever eaten! —Sandra Anderson, New York, New York Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 231 calories, 11g fat (2g saturated fat), 113mg cholesterol, 323mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. 3/48 Chipotle Chili Dogs 7 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Chipotle Chili Dogs Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Long live childhood favorites! I created this recipe for the 125th anniversary of a small town in Minnesota. The medium spice level means that people of all ages love the flavors. —Barb

This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877!

Templin, Norwood, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 420 calories, 25g fat (12g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 1096mg sodium, 27g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 2g fiber), 20g protein. 4/48 Sugar Cookies 156 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved JIM WIELAND FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 40 min Servings 5 dozen Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This sugar cookie dates back to a Swedish woman born in 1877! Her daughter, Esther Davis, shared the recipe with me and she came up with all the exact measurements, since the original cookies were mixed by feel and taste. These are my favorite cookies and

I hope they’ll become yours as well

I hope they’ll become yours as well. —Helen Wallis, Vancouver, Washington Nutrition Facts: 1 cookie: 60 calories, 3g fat (1g saturated fat), 7mg cholesterol, 28mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. 5/48 Teriyaki Shish Kabobs 22 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved JIM WIELAND FOR TASTE OF HOME Total Time 35 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When I was a teenager, my father worked for an airline, and my family lived on the island of Guam in the South Pacific. A friend of my mother gave her this tangy-sweet recipe, and

we enjoyed it often

we enjoyed it often. Now I make it for my family, and they’re big fans as well. —Suzanne Pelegrin, Ocala, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 306 calories, 5g fat (2g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 1203mg sodium, 38g carbohydrate (32g sugars, 2g fiber), 27g protein. 6/48 Creamy Macaroni Salad 30 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Lauren Habermehl For Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: When we grill, my mother asks me to make this creamy macaroni salad. To make it extra creamy, I like to keep a small amount of dressing

separate and stir it in just before serving

separate and stir it in just before serving. —Carly Curtin, Ellicott City, Maryland Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 160 calories, 6g fat (1g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 320mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1 fat. 7/48 Baked Beans with Bacon 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Baked Beans with Bacon Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 30 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family enjoys eating these baked beans with cornbread, but they also round out any meal. Canned pork and

beans make preparation easy

beans make preparation easy. —Phyllis Schmalz, Kansas City, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 293 calories, 5g fat (1g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 793mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (42g sugars, 7g fiber), 9g protein. 8/48 Green Tomato BLT Test Kitchen Approved Green Tomato BLT Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 2 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I absolutely love tomatoes, any kind, any size. Being from the South, that includes fried green tomatoes. I created a special summer sandwich to show them off. —Hillian Holmgren, Del Rio, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 623 calories,

This is his recipe, inspired by his Colombian roots and our visits to Key West

37g fat (7g saturated fat), 26mg cholesterol, 1329mg sodium, 52g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 18g protein. 9/48 Key West Flank Steak 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Key West Flank Steak Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband, Jason, is the cook in our family. This is his recipe, inspired by his Colombian roots and our visits to Key West. Sometimes we grill extra lime and onion slices alongside. Serve with sides of rice and fried plantains. —Gretchen Ospina, Columbia Heights, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 3

Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat

ounces cooked steak: 271 calories, 16g fat (5g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 23g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 1-1/2 fat. 10/48 Caprese Salad 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Caprese Salad Recipe photo by Kayla Widmer for Taste of Home Total Time 15 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband and I love Caprese salad, but not the high prices we pay for it in restaurants. Here, we created our own version which tastes incredibly close, if not better, than any restaurant version we’ve tried. —Melissa

Pearson, Sandy, Utah Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 256 calories, 19g fat (9g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 161mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein. 11/48 Applesauce Barbecue Chicken 63 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: You only need a few ingredients to create this sweet and peppery chicken. The subtle flavor of apple makes this tender barbecue dish stand out from the rest. —Darla Andrews, Farmers Branch, Texas Nutrition Facts: 1 chicken breast half: 308 calories, 8g fat (2g saturated fat), 94mg cholesterol,

473mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 1g fiber), 35g protein

473mg sodium, 22g carbohydrate (19g sugars, 1g fiber), 35g protein. 12/48 Grilled Corn in Husks 2 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grilled Corn in Husks Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: If you’re new to grilled corn in the husk, season the ears with butter, Parmesan cheese and parsley. It’s especially good! Be sure to give the corn a long soak before putting it on the grill. Hot off the grate, the kernels are moist and tender with a wonderful, sweet flavor. —Nancy Zimmerman, Cape May Court

Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat

House, New Jersey Nutrition Facts: 1 ear grilled corn: 196 calories, 9g fat (5g saturated fat), 24mg cholesterol, 186mg sodium, 28g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 4g fiber), 8g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1 fat. 13/48 Strawberry Ice Cream Cake 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Strawberry Crunch Ice Cream Cake Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: While growing up, I loved treats from the ice cream truck that rolled through my neighborhood. This ice cream cake is inspired by one of those crunchy, strawberry novelties. —Lisa Kaminski,

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 584 calories, 30g fat (16g saturated fat), 54mg cholesterol, 280mg sodium, 72g carbohydrate (33g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. 14/48 Grilled Potato Fans with Onions 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grilled Potato Fans with Onions Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 55 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Looking for the ultimate grilled potato? These seasoned potato fans are filled with tender onions, roasted garlic cloves and savory Parmesan cheese. —Sharon Crabtree, Graham, Washington Nutrition Facts: 1 potato: 302 calories, 13g fat (8g saturated fat), 35mg cholesterol,

195mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 7g protein

195mg sodium, 41g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 4g fiber), 7g protein. 15/48 Brats and Sauerkraut 13 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Brats with Sauerkraut Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve made many variations of this excellent main dish. It would be popular at a party or potluck. The bratwurst can be plain, smoked or cheese-flavored and served whole or cut in slices, with a bun or without. —Darlene Dixon, Hanover, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 brat: 534 calories, 28g fat (11g

💡 Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Expert Tips

• Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.

• Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.

• Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.

✅ Key Takeaways

• These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.

• Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.

• Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.

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