57 Summer Party Recipes That Couldn't Be Simpler
Updated on August 28, 2025
Hosting a summer get-together is a breeze when you’ve got the right recipes. From gazpachos and salads to grilled chicken and mixed drinks, these warm-weather dishes are sure to impress.
Photo: Stacy Howell
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Fresh Peach Salad
Fresh, juicy peaches are a highlight of summer. Make the fruit sing by pairing the peaches with arugula, gouda, candied pecans and a red wine vinaigrette.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Delicioso Adobo Grilled Chicken
Season juicy chicken breasts with homemade adobo, made using lemon pepper, ground cumin, achiote powder and a few other ingredients. If you're making a large batch, store it in an airtight container to use later as a flavor enhancer in your favorite dishes.
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Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher
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Pink Lemonade Moscato Punch
Grown-ups, this one’s for you. Combine homemade lemonade with sparkling wine and garnish with fresh mint, lemon slices and raspberry-filled ice cubes.
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Lobster Rolls
These classic lobster rolls are sure to be a hit on any summer party menu.
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Photo: Chantell Quernemoen | Brett Quernemoen
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Grilled Corn on Cob with Kimchi Mayo and Scallions
A kimchi mayonnaise and a sprinkle of scallions elevate Molly’s grilled corn from a summertime staple to a flavorful side you’ll want to cook again and again.
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Gazpacho
Ina's chilled no-cook soup is the ultimate way to beat the heat this sunny season.
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Sticky Honey-Soy Chicken Wings
These honey-and-soy-glazed chicken wings are the perfect hand-held treat for an outdoor party. The nutty flavor of the sesame seeds complements the sweet glaze.
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Crab Cake Sandwiches for a Crowd
Treat your guests to these decadent crab cake sandwiches, piled high with fresh crab meat and served on warm buttery brioche buns. There’s no need to form or fry individual patties in this streamlined recipe – simply spread the crab cake mixture onto the rolls and bake them until the crab develops a golden-brown crust and the brioche toasts to a light crunch. To make things even easier, the sauce that coats the crab does double duty as a tangy spread for the sandwich.
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Photo: Renee Comet ©
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Couscous Salad with Tomatoes and Mint
Melissa combines fluffy couscous with scallions, parsley, mint and a lemony tomato-cucumber mixture. Toss in some pinenuts for a nutty crunch.
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Photo: Renee Comet ©
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Perfect Homemade Lemonade
Nothing beats homemade lemonade on a hot summer's day. Ree's recipe is sweet and straightforward: simply combine water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup prepared on the stovetop.
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Photo: Brian Kennedy ©
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Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad
Ina loves this summer salad, with its surprising flavors of salty feta, peppery arugula and sweet watermelon.
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Olive-and-Spice-Rubbed Leg of Lamb
Take a break from steaks with our buttery, juicy leg of lamb.
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Asparagus Crostini
Kick off the party with these easy toasts topped with fresh ricotta and sliced asparagus.
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Photo: Renee Comet ©
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Farro Salad with Tomatoes and Herbs
Toss together an easy salad of chopped tomatoes, hearty farro, snipped fresh chives and Italian parsley for a satisfying lunch or first course for a summer party.
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Photo: Alice Gao ©
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Spaghetti with Pinot Grigio and Seafood
Giada's simple seafood and spaghetti toss gets vibrant color from sun-dried tomatoes, fresh arugula and pink, tender shrimp. There isn't a ton of sauce in this dish, but the flavor of the wine is present.
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Photo: Tara Donne
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Raspberry Lime Punch
A refreshing rum punch makes the perfect summer party drink.
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Photo: Renee Comet ©
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Roasted Shrimp Salad
To coat her roasted shrimp, Ina prepares a fragrant sauce combining mayonnaise with orange juice and zest. Toss in some capers for a briny pop in every bite.
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Zucchini Caprese Sliders
Make the most of summer produce with Ree’s veggie sliders. Be sure to grill the zucchini for just a few minutes — long enough to have grill marks, but not so long that they lose their firm texture.
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Photo: JOSEPH STANFORD PHOTOGRAPHY
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Grilled Yellow Gazpacho
With a bounty of summer veggies and fresh basil for garnish, Trisha’s beautiful gazpacho is like sunshine in a bowl. Pro tip: make the gazpacho the day before you plan to serve and let it chill overnight — the soup will only improve as it sits!
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Photo: Stacy Howell
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Low Country Boil
Nothing says “summer” quite like a low country boil. For a classic country feel (and easy cleanup!), spread the meal over newspaper and have your guests help themselves.
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Charred Sweetcorn Salsa
Combine charred corn with tomatoes, jalapeno and lime to make a simple salsa that’s bursting with fresh flavor.
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Roasted Salmon Tacos
Ina tops easy fish tacos with a crunchy fresh slaw and simplified guacamole. If you are hesitant about cooking fish, this is the recipe for you. No flipping required and the roasted salmon is broken up into chunks for the tacos, so you don’t have to worry about getting it onto the spatula in one piece. Bring on (Fish) Taco Tuesday.
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Photo: Ray Kachatorian
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Jicama and Red Cabbage Slaw
Trisha’s tangy slaw makes a beautiful accompaniment to grilled chicken or barbecued pork.
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Nick's Favorite Grilled Orange Soda
Yes, you can use your grill to make drinks. Molly grills oranges until they’re extra sweet and slightly smoky, then combines the juice with soda water and a pinch of turmeric.
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Chicken Fajita Salad
Ree puts a fresh twist on the charcuterie board with her fun and festive salad, which is cooked from start to finish on the grill.
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Pesto
Ina prepares a traditional pesto to satisfy a crowd in just 15 minutes. Because air is pesto's worst enemy, she recommends using the sauce right away, or storing it in the refrigerator or freezer with a thin film of olive oil on top.
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Tuna Poke Bowls
This Hawaiian staple is trending all over the U.S. Buy the tuna for this recipe the day you want to make it for a super-fresh dish.
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Photo: Tara Donne ©
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Macaroni Salad with Dill and Ham
Preparing homemade macaroni salad is just as quick (and twice as tasty) as the store-bought version. The secret to old-fashioned quality? Toss the cooked macaroni with milk, then let it cool before mixing in the homemade dressing, dill and ham.
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Photo: Kana Okada ©
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Brown Butter Scallop Rolls
Make these savory scallop rolls the centerpiece of your next backyard feast. Allowing the butter to brown gives the scallops a juicy texture and subtle nutty flavor.
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Herby Ranch Dressing
This buttermilk dressing is filled with summer's bounty of fresh herbs like basil, parsley and chives.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Fried Chicken Salad
You'll make it your business to have leftover fried chicken, just so you can make this creamy and tangy salad the next day.
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Photo: KATE MATHIS
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Fried Rice Pineapple Boat
Sweet-and-salty fans, rejoice. This fried rice in a pineapple boat is the best of both worlds. And who can resist a pineapple boat?
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Grilled Shrimp with Peach Cocktail Sauce
Looking for an elegant summer appetizer? Giada’s easy grilled shrimp has you covered. Hold onto the extra peach sauce — the sweet and spicy condiment makes an excellent addition to a cheese board or sandwich.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Warm Picnic Burritos ("Burritos De Machaca")
To prepare this popular Mexican dish, marinate beef in a piquant chile-lime sauce before shredding and cooking in its juices for a melt-in-your-mouth consistency.
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Blackberry-Bourbon Iced Tea
Bobby turns iced tea into an adults-only cocktail by adding good-quality bourbon like his favorite, Woodford Reserve.
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Grilled Lamb Meatball Flatbread
Summer entertaining is all about budgeting your prep time so you don't miss the party. Valerie starts out with store-bought naan as the base for her grilled flatbread to save some time, but goes the extra mile to make delicious Mediterranean-spiced lamb meatballs from scratch. The result is a fun new take on grilled pizza.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Grilled Lemonade Chicken
The secret ingredient in this sweet and tangy grilled chicken is a refreshing summer staple — lemonade! Serve it with grilled corn or a classic potato salad for a simple seasonal dinner.
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Chilled Cucumber Soup
Beat the heat with our chilled soup topped with fresh tomatoes and crunchy homemade croutons.
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Photo: Anna Williams
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Lettuce Wedges with Blue Cheese Dressing
Trisha's easy wedge salad is perfect for a casual summer cookout. Core and quarter each head of lettuce and top with crumbled bacon, diced tomato and a generous dollop of homemade blue cheese dressing.
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Pappardelle with Lobster and Corn
Toss pappardelle in a creamy tomato sauce with corn and sweet chunks of lobster meat for a decadent pasta dish worthy of a special occasion.
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Crab Cake Sandwiches with Oyster Cracker Breading
Impress your guests with these summery sandwiches. The recipe makes 8 servings, enough for a dinner party on the patio.
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Photo: Yunhee Kim
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Creamy Coleslaw With Grapes and Walnuts
Grapes add sweet bursts of flavor to this classic picnic side dish.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz ©
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Goat Cheese and Sun Dried Tomato Profiteroles with Herb Oil
Giada's savory profiteroles are filled with goat cheese and sun dried tomatoes then topped with a mint and basil oil.
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Chicken And Spinach Waldorf Salad
Ina’s take on a Waldorf salad is filling enough to be a full meal, thanks to roasted chicken, bacon and a mix of nuts, but light enough to keep you feeling good about swimsuit season.
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Photo: Matt Armendariz
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Fried Pickle Po' Boy
Don't love seafood? Don't worry. This fried pickle sandwich is a fun twist on a po' boy, and it features all the crunchy goodness of the original. It's also a great pick for when you're entertaining and you've got vegetarians on the guest list.
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Cauliflower Tabouli
This crunchy side dish is ready in just 10 minutes.
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Photo: Brian Kennedy ©
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Stuffed Zucchini and Red Bell Peppers
Make the most of in-season zucchini plus colorful bell peppers by stuffing them with turkey and smothering them in marinara sauce.
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Summer Squash Carpaccio
You don't need a lot of ingredients to make yellow squash and zucchini shine while they're in season.
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Crabmeat Cakes with Mustard Sauce
This recipe comes straight from New York's legendary Four Seasons restaurant. Crispy on the outside and moist in the middle, these crabmeat cakes make a great appetizer or main dish.
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Asian Watermelon Salad
Prepare this simple, sweet-salty salad by tossing cubed watermelon with shallots, lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger and jalapeno. Allow the watermelon to marinate in the sauce for a few minutes before adding fresh herbs, like mint and basil, plus chopped peanuts for crunch.
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Photo: David Katz
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Grilled Seafood with Linguine
Shrimp, scallops, clams — the gang's all here. Now you just need to gather yours to enjoy this simple and summery pasta.
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Photo: Con Poulos ©
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Spinach and Cheese Flatbread
Top homemade dough with greens, peppers and fontina, and serve it hot or at room temperature. No time to make your own dough? Pick up a ball of pre-made pizza dough for extra-simple party prep.
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Photo: Brian Kennedy ©
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Key Lime Cake
Lime-flavored gelatin gives the tangy taste to this for-a-crowd cake. It's soaked in a Key lime juice glaze and topped with cream cheese frosting.
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Photo: Yunhee Kim ©
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Watermelon and Haloumi Salad
This savory-sweet salad makes a refreshing summer side.
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Seafood Salad
Combine shrimp, sea scallops, calamari and mussels for a summer-ready party salad.
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Photo: Christopher Testani
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Spanish Potato Salad
Pimientos, celery and green olives plus a hint of smoked paprika, give this potato salad a Spanish flair.
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Photo: Teri Lyn Fisher
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Cumin-Seared Halibut with Sweet Corn Sauce
Northern Pacific halibut is a flat fish and deserves special care when handling. Since it can be a little more expensive, I save it for special occasions. The sauce relies on corn, which is very important to Native American culture and recipes. Use blue corn if you can get ahold of it. Otherwise, sweet corn is a great go-to.
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