Simple Summer Party Recipes

Find the best recipes for summer parties and get-togethers from Food Network.

Related To:

Photo By: Tara Donne ©Food Network

Photo By: Anna Williams

Photo By: Yunhee Kim

Photo By: Tara Donne

Photo By: Con Poulos

Photo By: Matt Armendariz

Photo By: Con Poulos ©Con Poulos

Photo By: Christopher Testani

Photo By: The Youngrens ©Copyright: 2011 The Youngrens, Inc

Photo By: Con Poulos

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

New York-Style Chopped Salad

Ree's salad is made to feed a large group. Lay out the greens and all the fixings in small dishes and then have everyone build their own salad by throwing what they want into their own bowl.

Get the Recipe: New York-Style Chopped 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

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

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

Gazpacho

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

Get the Recipe: Gazpacho

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

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

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

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

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

Raspberry Lime Punch

A refreshing rum punch makes the perfect summer party drink.

Get the Recipe: Raspberry Lime Punch

Lobster Rolls

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

Get the Recipe: Lobster 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

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

Pulled-Pork Sandwiches

Marinating the meat overnight for these sandwiches means more flavor, and less prep time, on the day of your summer bash.

Get the Recipe: Pulled-Pork Sandwiches

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

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

Pasta Salad With Roast Beef

Hit the deli and the antipasto bar at your grocery store to pull together this impressive, flavorful salad in a flash.

Get the Recipe: Orecchiette Salad with Roast Beef

Watermelon and Haloumi Salad

This savory-sweet salad makes a refreshing summer side.

Get the Recipe: Watermelon and Haloumi Salad

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

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

Asparagus Crostini

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

Get the Recipe: Asparagus Crostini

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

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

Chilled Cucumber Soup

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

Get the Recipe: Chilled Cucumber Soup

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

Cauliflower Tabouli

This crunchy side dish is ready in just 10 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Tabouli

Warm Spinach Salad

Cook red onions with mushrooms before stiring in parsley, spinach and lemon for a warm side salad. Sprinkle with feta cheese.

Get the Recipe: Warm Spinach Salad

Seafood Salad

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

Get the Recipe: Seafood Salad

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

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

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

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

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

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

Marcela's Zucchini-Tortilla Casserole (Pastel Azteca)

Pastel Azteca is like the Mexican cousin of Italian lasagna, bringing zucchini, tomato, corn, Oaxaca cheese and Mexican crema together in layered deliciousness.

Get the Recipe: Zucchini-Tortilla Casserole (Pastel Azteca)

Tapenade and Artichoke Pizzette

Cut biscuit-sized rounds out of homemade or store-bought pizza dough, then top them with tapenade, artichoke hearts and a little Parmesan cheese.

Get the Recipe: Tapenade and Artichoke Pizzette

Grilled Pork Lettuce Wraps

Prep the ingredients for these Thai-inspired pork wraps and let guests do the assembling.

Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Lettuce Wraps

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

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

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

Summer Entertaining Guide