All-Star Summer Ingredients : Food Network

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Summer Standbys

What do you really need on hand for quick, easy summer dinners? Here's our go-to list — it's a combo of veggies that turn into meals in a snap, seasonings that make everything a little more summery, and starches that help round out whatever you've got on hand (ideally without heating up the house too much).

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Corn

It's the perfect hit of sweet crunch to round out any meal.

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Corn Salsa

Grill it, steam it or cut it off the cob and fold it (raw or cooked) into a salsa or salad.

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Pizza Dough

Keep pizza dough in your freezer for quick, easy flatbreads, cooked either on the grill or in the oven.

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Grilled Pizza

Add your favorite sauce-and-cheese combo, or top it off with cooked vegetables.

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Summer Squash

It wouldn't be summer without a ridiculous oversupply of summer squash.

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Pasta with Summer Squash

Shred it into noodles and add to pasta, grate it into quick breads, slice it thin and serve as a light appetizer with a dressing or on top of a flatbread, or layer in a skillet with thinly sliced potatoes and bake as a gratin.

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Baking Ingredients

Baking? In summer?

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Zucchini Bread

Quick breads, cobblers and crumbles are some of the best (and tastiest) ways we know of to dispatch any of summer's more-bountiful ingredients.

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Chili Powder

Pick your favorite chile, or the best blend you can find.

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Chili-Grilled Corn

Stir it into mayo for a speedy dipping sauce, add it to dry rubs, or dust it over grilled corn — we think it's summer's indispensable seasoning.

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Arugula and Other Lettuces

You're never more than a few minutes away from dinner with something leafy, green and deliciously raw in your fridge.

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Winning Chicken Dinner

Grill up something hearty to top it off, add your favorite dressing and you're done.

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Short Pasta

Orzo, fusilli or elbow macaroni — anything short and easily forkable — is an easy, quick shortcut to turning a couple of disparate ingredients into a full-on meal.

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Pasta Salad

Dress the pasta while it's still warm, then chill. It's good in the fridge for up to 3 days, and is the perfect base for veggies and cold cuts.

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Citrus

Limes are in short stock this year due to drought and supply issues ...

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Margarita

But they (along with lemons) play a critical part in many of our favorite summer classics, from marinades to margaritas. In a pinch, you can swap lemons for limes in pretty much any recipe.

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All-Star Ingredients for Easy Summer Meals