Simple Summer Party Recipes

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.

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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.

Get the Recipe: Fresh Peach Salad

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.

Get the Recipe: Delicioso Adobo Grilled Chicken

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.

Get the Recipe: Pink Lemonade Moscato Punch

Lobster Rolls

These classic lobster rolls are sure to be a hit on any summer party menu.

Get the Recipe: Lobster Rolls

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.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Corn on Cob with Kimchi Mayo and Scallions

Gazpacho

Ina's chilled no-cook soup is the ultimate way to beat the heat this sunny season.

Get the Recipe: Gazpacho

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.

Get the Recipe: Sticky Honey-Soy Chicken Wings

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.

Get the Recipe: Couscous Salad with Tomatoes and Mint

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.

Get the Recipe: Perfect Homemade Lemonade

Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad

Ina loves this summer salad, with its surprising flavors of salty feta, peppery arugula and sweet watermelon.

Get the Recipe: Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad

Olive-and-Spice-Rubbed Leg of Lamb

Take a break from steaks with our buttery, juicy leg of lamb.

Get the Recipe: Olive-and-Spice-Rubbed Leg of Lamb

Asparagus Crostini

Kick off the party with these easy toasts topped with fresh ricotta and sliced asparagus.

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Crostini

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.

Get the Recipe: Farro Salad with Tomatoes and Herbs

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.

Get the Recipe: Spaghetti with Pinot Grigio and Seafood

Raspberry Lime Punch

A refreshing rum punch makes the perfect summer party drink.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry Lime Punch

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.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Shrimp Salad

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.

Get the Recipe: Zucchini Caprese Sliders

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!

Get the Recipe: Grilled Yellow Gazpacho

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.

Get the Recipe: Low Country Boil

Charred Sweetcorn Salsa

Combine charred corn with tomatoes, jalapeno and lime to make a simple salsa that’s bursting with fresh flavor.

Get the Recipe: Charred Sweetcorn Salsa

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.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Salmon Tacos

Jicama and Red Cabbage Slaw

Trisha’s tangy slaw makes a beautiful accompaniment to grilled chicken or barbecued pork.

Get the Recipe: Jicama and Red Cabbage Slaw

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.

Get the Recipe: Nick's Favorite Grilled Orange Soda

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.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Fajita Salad

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.

Get the Recipe: Pesto

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.

Get the Recipe: Tuna Poke Bowls

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.

Get the Recipe: Macaroni Salad with Dill and Ham

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.

Get the Recipe: Brown Butter Scallop Rolls

Herby Ranch Dressing

This buttermilk dressing is filled with summer's bounty of fresh herbs like basil, parsley and chives.

Get the Recipe: Herby Ranch Dressing

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.

Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken Salad

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?

Get the Recipe: Fried Rice Pineapple Boat

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.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Shrimp with Peach Cocktail Sauce

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.

Get the Recipe: Warm Picnic Burritos ("Burritos De Machaca")

Blackberry-Bourbon Iced Tea

Bobby turns iced tea into an adults-only cocktail by adding good-quality bourbon like his favorite, Woodford Reserve.

Get the Recipe: Blackberry-Bourbon Iced Tea

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.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Lamb Meatball Flatbread with Grilled Tomato Sauce

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.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Lemonade Chicken

Chilled Cucumber Soup

Beat the heat with our chilled soup topped with fresh tomatoes and crunchy homemade croutons.

Get the Recipe: Chilled Cucumber Soup

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.

Get the Recipe: Lettuce Wedges With Blue Cheese Dressing

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.

Get the Recipe: Pappardelle With Lobster and Corn

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.

Get the Recipe: Crab Cake Sandwiches with Oyster-Cracker Breading

Creamy Coleslaw With Grapes and Walnuts

Grapes add sweet bursts of flavor to this classic picnic side dish.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Coleslaw With Grapes and Walnuts

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.

Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese and Sun Dried Tomato Profiteroles with Herb Oil

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.

Get the Recipe: Chicken And Spinach Waldorf Salad

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.

Get the Recipe: Fried Pickle Po' Boy

Cauliflower Tabouli

This crunchy side dish is ready in just 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Herb Salad

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.

Get the Recipe: Stuffed Zucchini and Red Bell Peppers

Summer Squash Carpaccio

You don't need a lot of ingredients to make yellow squash and zucchini shine while they're in season.

Get the Recipe: Summer Squash Carpaccio

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.

Get the Recipe: Crabmeat Cakes with Mustard Sauce

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.

Get the Recipe: Asian Watermelon Salad

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.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Seafood with Linguine

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.

Get the Recipe: Spinach and Cheese Flatbread

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.

Get the Recipe: Key Lime Cake

Watermelon and Haloumi Salad

This savory-sweet salad makes a refreshing summer side.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon and Haloumi Salad

Seafood Salad

Combine shrimp, sea scallops, calamari and mussels for a summer-ready party salad.

Get the Recipe: Seafood Salad

Spanish Potato Salad

Pimientos, celery and green olives plus a hint of smoked paprika, give this potato salad a Spanish flair.

Get the Recipe: Spanish Potato Salad

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.

Get the Recipe: Cumin-Seared Halibut with Sweet Corn Sauce

On Tonight

Summer Entertaining Guide

Simple Summer Party Recipes

Related To:

Fresh Peach Salad

Delicioso Adobo Grilled Chicken

Pink Lemonade Moscato Punch

Lobster Rolls

Grilled Corn on Cob with Kimchi Mayo and Scallions

Gazpacho

Sticky Honey-Soy Chicken Wings

Couscous Salad with Tomatoes and Mint

Perfect Homemade Lemonade

Arugula, Watermelon and Feta Salad

Olive-and-Spice-Rubbed Leg of Lamb

Asparagus Crostini

Farro Salad with Tomatoes and Herbs

Spaghetti with Pinot Grigio and Seafood

Raspberry Lime Punch

Roasted Shrimp Salad

Zucchini Caprese Sliders

Grilled Yellow Gazpacho

Low Country Boil

Charred Sweetcorn Salsa

Roasted Salmon Tacos

Jicama and Red Cabbage Slaw

Nick's Favorite Grilled Orange Soda

Chicken Fajita Salad

Pesto

Tuna Poke Bowls

Macaroni Salad with Dill and Ham

Brown Butter Scallop Rolls

Herby Ranch Dressing

Fried Chicken Salad

Fried Rice Pineapple Boat

Grilled Shrimp with Peach Cocktail Sauce

Warm Picnic Burritos ("Burritos De Machaca")

Blackberry-Bourbon Iced Tea

Grilled Lamb Meatball Flatbread

Grilled Lemonade Chicken

Chilled Cucumber Soup

Lettuce Wedges with Blue Cheese Dressing

Pappardelle with Lobster and Corn

Crab Cake Sandwiches with Oyster Cracker Breading

Creamy Coleslaw With Grapes and Walnuts

Goat Cheese and Sun Dried Tomato Profiteroles with Herb Oil

Chicken And Spinach Waldorf Salad

Fried Pickle Po' Boy

Cauliflower Tabouli

Stuffed Zucchini and Red Bell Peppers

Summer Squash Carpaccio

Crabmeat Cakes with Mustard Sauce

Asian Watermelon Salad

Grilled Seafood with Linguine

Spinach and Cheese Flatbread

Key Lime Cake

Watermelon and Haloumi Salad

Seafood Salad

Spanish Potato Salad

Cumin-Seared Halibut with Sweet Corn Sauce

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