It’s summertime and it’s hot out, which means you’re looking for new, tasty recipes to make with your family. At home, we like to turn to cooler meals and spend more time on the patio and in the pool. Here are 12 cool recipes for hot summer days that are perfect for your next family dinner or potluck.
We all know that summer is the best time for easy summer dinners, entertaining friends, enjoying picnics by the lake, and late-night barbecues!
Many of these recipes are centered around the best of summer produce paired with proteins. Refreshing summer salads, chilled soups, and seafood recipes, and a handful of our favorite grilling recipes.
From easy-to-make dips and refreshing salads, these recipes will have everyone begging for seconds! There’s a little something for everyone even the pickiest eaters (like the one I have at home!)
What Should I Make for Dinner on a Hot Summer Night?
12 Cool recipes for Hot Summer days
Not many people know that summer is not my favorite season of the year. But I do like that everyone is in a good mood, nature is at its peak, many are happy you don’t have to dress up to go out… I’m the opposite.
What I do like about summer are the lazy summer dinner ideas, light meals hot weather, and the no-cook dinner ideas for hot days!
The best part of summer cooking is all the fresh ingredients you can find at the farmer’s market! We will be sharing a few of our favorite recipes perfect for a hot summer night or day.
These are great dishes to serve up on a picnic blanket under a shady tree or in front of an air conditioner (my favorite!). Either way, they’re guaranteed to satisfy. I really hope you enjoy them!
What are good summer foods?
Strawberry Mint Cucumber
For me, it’s the summer salads! If you’re looking for an easy way to stay cool in the summer heat, look no further! we got some delicious options for you.
It’s time to ditch the heavy salads for lighter, fresher fare. This strawberry mint cucumber salad is a perfect meal or side dish that will quench your thirst while also satisfying your hunger. It has all the flavors of a traditional Caprese salad but with no cheese and less oil.
I particularly like that this delicious cucumber mint salad is made with 5 fresh ingredients perfect for summer dinner ideas. A big plus also is, that this strawberry cucumber salad recipe is so easy and healthy at the same time! It’s a win-win for any barbecue too!
Easy Fruit Salad
Talk about deliciousness at its best! If you are looking for an alternative to sweets and desserts, this easy fruit salad is for you! Its color and texture are enough to make anyone happy. Plus visiting the farmers market is a nice way to way to put some of that local produce to good.
The variety of fruits that are in this dish allows for each person to have their own personal favorite, whether it be apples, strawberries, or grapes. Fruit salads are healthy and can range from healthy to decadent depending on what you add into the mix. What do you like more: honey or chocolate?
I am a big fan of (fruit) salads in summer. Fruit salads make the perfect pairings for a backyard barbecue or any occasion. There are never leftovers!
BBQ / Cookout – Bang Bang Chicken
Summer is the season of taking things easy, so why stress over food prep? Free yourself and enjoy summertime with this no-stress air fryer summer recipe!
Oh my goodness gracious! This bang bang chicken made in the Air Fryer is making my mouth water! It would be the perfect dish to bring to a potluck. Pretty easy to transport if you put the chicken in a pyrex dish with a lid.
This Air Fryer Bang Bang Chicken recipe is a great option when you don’t want to deal with the mess and grease that comes with deep frying, air frying is the way to go baby! The results are crispy and tender chicken pieces.
If you haven’t jumped onto the air fryer bandwagon yet, now is the time. I use my air fryer at least 4 times per week.
What are Cold Meals?
For me, summer ushers in a new style of cooking that are easy, effortless, and fresh meals that require little to no heat. These easy cold dinner recipes will cool you off and keep you fueled for the summer. You’ll have no problem eating well all summer long.
Turning to simple, cold dinners that are light but satisfying, you most certainly won’t burn your tongue on.
One-Pot Broccoli and Rice
We love rice and cook it at least twice a week! These One-pot dishes are so easy because it means less clean-up. This one-pot broccoli and rice would be a tasty addition to any cookout. Even though it has broccoli, the flavors seem like they’d be kid-friendly.
This recipe tastes like risotto, but much faster to make and very low maintenance. A very healthy recipe loaded with tons of broccoli makes a fantastic quick dinner idea you can get on the table in less than 30 minutes. That’s my type of recipe!
How do you make chicken buffalo chicken dip?
Buffalo Chicken Dip
What’s a cookout with a flavorful buffalo chicken dip? I can promise you, one batch of chicken dip isn’t enough!
Not only is this dip perfect for a tailgate party but also for pool parties or anytime! Shredded chicken, cream cheese, hot sauce, and lots of melted cheese create a wonderful buffalo wing flavor on a chip or with veggie sticks.
It’s quick, (because who wants to be cooking so much during the summer?) spicy and luscious from sour cream and cream cheese, and a little funky from the blue cheese. This Buffalo Chicken Dip plays very well with beer, but you already know and will keep people coming back for more.
Desserts
When I think of summer desserts, my mind goes to bright, fruity, and light recipes. I’m all about whipping up the most impressive desserts, with minimal work. What about you?
Did you know you can make a cake in your electric pressure cooker? If you haven’t jumped into the instant pot train, I highly recommend you do! One of my favorite things about cooking in the instant pot is that it is easy, quick, simple, and doesn’t heat up the house. You will thank me later.
Have you tried Instant Pot Pound Cake?
Who would have thought that you could bake on an instant pot! This Instant Pot pound cake will knock your socks right off! You will love how easy this instant pot pound cake is to make.
Moist and fluffy with a rich buttery flavor, this pound cake recipe is always a big hit with everyone! The best part is that it is quick, easy, and doesn’t heat up the house especially now in the summer.
Peach Dump Cake
Looking for something a little fruitier? This peach dump cake is on my “must make in the Air Fryer” list.
Making dump cake reminds me so much of a cobbler, and it’s become one of my favorite air fryer desserts. Dump cakes are usually made with a base of cake mix plus your favorite fruit filling and are usually dumped into a pan, stirred, and baked.
Cheesecake Cups
If you’re looking for an easy dessert idea, these cheesecake cups are perfect! Your kids will love them and they can be made in a jiffy. The recipe is easy to follow and budget-friendly. What more could you ask for?
Two things I particularly like about this recipe, it’s a no-bake recipe and using Biscoff cookies for the base! Genius because the other recipes I’ve seen are made with a graham cracker crust.
Melting Ice Cream Cone Cupcake
Did I get your attention? This melting ice cream cone cupcake recipe is a fun (and messy) way to make ice cream in cupcake form. You can use any flavor of cake mix and frosting you want, so these are perfect for any occasion.
These cupcakes take only 30 minutes to make and they only need a few ingredients. This recipe is a fun way to serve up ice cream especially to kids! No dripping!
What Are Good Non-Alcoholic Drinks?
Blueberry Pomegranate Lemonade Iced Tea
A refreshing twist on the traditional iced tea, this blueberry pomegranate lemonade iced tea has whole, fresh ingredients that pop with flavor. It’s perfect for those hot summer days when you want something cold.
And since it has no added sugar or artificial sweeteners, this drink can also be enjoyed by anyone with dietary restrictions or preferences. The best part? You’ll have plenty of time left over to play outside with your family.
I make a big batch up and fill a pitcher and sit on the patio and wait for hubby to get home from work. After a long day, a nice glass of iced tea helps you to relax.
Cherry Lemonade
When it’s hot outside, nothing beats a cold glass of cherry lemonade. It has the sweetness you need to offset the heat and thirst that comes from being outdoors in the summer. I love how tart and tangy this drink is!
Alcoholic Drinks
Not just alcoholic, but also super refreshing, Prosecco Pops are sure to quench your thirst while cooling you down.
If you’re looking for a delicious drink that won’t break the calorie bank, this huge list of low-calorie alcoholic drinks is just for you. These low-calorie alcoholic drinks are perfect for those trying to watch their weight or who want an occasional drink without going overboard. This list includes wine, beer, and more!
There you have it! We hope you enjoyed reading our blog post and found some of these 12 cool recipes for hot summer days delicious! They will definitely make your summer even more enjoyable. Remember to check out all of the great blogs we linked to throughout this article for more delicious ideas.
Looking for more instant pot recipes? This garlic butter dill carrots recipe is loaded with flavor but it’s perfectly paired with butter and dill. Or let’s try to stay healthy with these 11 healthy instant pot recipes!
How about you? Have you prepared any of the recipes I mentioned in this blog post? Which ones? Let’s talk about it in the comments.
