Now That It’s July, These Are The Super-Seasonal (And Wildly Delicious) Recipes I’ll Be Making All Month Long (2024)

With its sweet and smoky bite, baba ganoush is surely the most crowd-pleasing way to enjoy eggplant this summer, along with plenty of toasted pita bread for dipping, of course. This recipe calls for grilling your eggplant or toasting it on the grates of a gas range, but if you have a firepit or charcoal grill, I highly recommend tossing 'em directly into the hot coals for maximum flavor.

Recipe: Baba Ganoush

When you find yourself with a surplus of zucchini or summer squash — and if you're anything like me, it's only a matter of time — turn to this savory, cheesy variation of classic zucchini bread. It's the ideal accompaniment to a casual summer dinner, and even better the next day once it's toasted and slathered with melty butter.

Recipe: Savory Zucchini Bread

When July 4th rolls around, do yourself a massive favor and plan to serve this festive salad that's as delicious as it is aesthetically pleasing. Pops of salty feta complement the sweetness of summer watermelon and blueberries, and while you don't haveto cut the watermelon into stars if you don't want to, it's undeniably adorable.

Recipe: Red White and Blueberry Salad

Like pineapple, summer melons like watermelon and cantaloupe truly become the tastiest versions of themselves after a brief char on the grill. The star of the show, however, is the honey-lime glaze. If you're wise, you'll make a double batch for everything from marinating meats to drizzling over ice cream.

Recipe:Halloumi & Melon Skewers with Honey-Lime Glaze

For an equally-delicious non-alcoholic version, you can easily omit the rosé from the slush itself. The slushy will still be cool, refreshing, and full of flavor, and anyone who chooses to imbibe can top theirs with a splash of rosé (or even Prosecco) for an extra kick.

Recipe:Frozen Peach Rosé Slushy

Combining fresh strawberries with a spoonful of sugar and a splash of orange juice brings out all their natural sweetness with a hint of something extra. If you don't own a waffle maker, this topping works just as nicely with your favorite pancake recipe.

Recipe: Strawberries and Cream Buttermilk Waffles

If you've never cooked pulled pork in a slow cooker or Instant Pot, this is your sign from the universe to give it a try. With six to eight hours and a bit of BBQ sauce, you'll secure Future You the easiest, most succulent dinner ever, which is made even better with a super summery, fruit-forward slaw.

Recipe:BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Pineapple Mango Slaw

Slice these cucumbers thin for maximum surface area, but not toothin. The goal for these cukes is to retain maximum crunch after marinating in dressing, so aim for a 1/8"-cut instead of going totally paper-thin.

Recipe:Cucumber Salad with Herb Garlic Vinaigrette

For homemade pizza without turning on your oven in the already-sweltering weather, fire up your grill. Slices of heirloom tomato, gooey mozzarella, and torn basil make an ideal summery pie, but you can customize ingredients according to your own tastes and preferences as you wish; thin ribbons of zucchini and a smear of fresh pesto would also do the trick.

Recipe: Grilled Caprese Pizza

For those nights when you can't stand even the thought of dirtying another dish or piece of cookware, this one-pot pasta dish will save your sanity while feeding the whole family. Kids and picky eaters love it, too; since the zucchini is finely grated, it packs in plenty of veggie goodness as a nearly-secret ingredient.

Recipe:One-Pot Lemon Butter Ricotta and Zucchini Pasta

This fresh but hearty salad with creamy avocado and sweet dried apricots is a delectable side dish, but it's easy to turn into the main attraction. Top with sliced grilled chicken or even flaky roasted salmon for a full, nutritious meal.

Recipe:Arugula Salad with Quinoa, Apricot, and Avocado

Punchy salsa verde takes this steak from "delicious" to "lick-the-plate-worthy." Though the recipe calls for parsley, you can add as many fresh green herbs as you can get your hands on, from basil to oregano.

Recipe:Grilled Ribeye Steak with Italian Salsa Verde

Muddling fresh blackberries releases their sweet juices, making these margaritas the most perfectly balanced co*cktail for a variety of scenarios. Even better, they're super easy to batch out; mix in a pitcher in advance, stash in the fridge, and you can enjoy a summery beverage at your leisure.

Recipe: Blackberry Margaritas

If you feel "meh" about beets, this recipe was made for you. With a less earthy flavor profile than standard red beets, thinly-sliced golden beets become crunchy after roasting in the oven, and they're the perfect vehicle for a smooth and tangy herbed goat cheese dip.

Recipe: Golden Beet Chips with Spicy Goat Cheese Dip

With 20 ounces of cherry tomatoes — aka a lot — this particular preparation of eggs in purgatory is the perfect summertime brunch. Or lunch. Or dinner! Basically, it's the ideal low-effort recipe for any meal or occasion.

Recipe: Eggs in Purgatory

With ingredients like peaches, corn, basil, and tomatoes, this Panzanella utilizes four summer produce staples and turns them into an approachable, elegant centerpiece.

Recipe:Panzanella Salad with Peaches and Corn

Vibrant, crunchy, and picnic-ready, these vegetarian summer rolls are a weekly staple in my house when the weather gets hot and I can't even fathom eating a warm dinner.

Recipe:Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Crispy Tofu

Classic lemonade might be the ultimate summer beverage, but it's even better with plenty of fresh basil, honey for depth of flavor, and a touch of dried lavender. The results are luscious and floral without being perfumey, and the recipe is easily doubled (or tripled) so you can make a big batch all at once.

Recipe: Lavender Basil Lemonade

Cobbler is the ultimate hands-off summer dessert for a crowd, and this cherry version might be the best variation of all. Serve it on the hot side of warm with a scoop (or two) of ice cream, and watch it disappear before your very eyes.

Recipe: Cherry Cobbler

Searing thinly-sliced eggplant and then marinating it in a puckery, vinegar-based dressing is the easiest way to turn eggplant into a starry main event. Don't skimp on the pickled onions for crunch, either; as a bonus, you can use the extras to spice up just about anything you cook, from salads to grilled proteins.

Recipe: Open-Face Eggplant Sandwiches

A variation on Filipino crema de fruta, this "cake" comes together with just four ingredients and doesn't even require an oven. So, if you, like me, love dessert but don't want to spend too much time putting something together, this recipe was practically made for you to enjoy all summer long. For maximum flavor, be sure to use the juiciest, softest mangoes you can get your hands on.

Recipe: Mango Royale