Summer is the season of barbecues and pool parties. We’ve picked out 10 delicious summer recipes for you to make for your next get together. Bon apetit!
Main Dishes
1. Hamburgers
Nothing screams summer barbecue quite like a grilled hamburger. You can make this summer dish any number of ways, from plain ground beef to stacked high with toppings and sauces. We suggest you try this simple but tasty recipe from Food.com. It includes chopped onions, green bell peppers, ketchup, mustard, and horseradish in the ground beef patty. Then, you can top it off with your favorites, such as cheese, lettuce, tomato, and pickles.
2. Coconut Pineapple Shrimp Skewers
Bring some island flavor to your barbecue with coconut pineapple shrimp skewers. The marinade consists of citrus juices, coconut milk, Tabasco, and soy sauce for a powerful flavor. Mix it with some fresh pineapple and your guests will be begging for more. Get the whole recipe at Well Plated.
3. Portobello Burgers
Don’t forget to make something for the vegetarians in your life. Instead of sticking them with a bunch of sides or simple grilled vegetables, let them in on the burger scene with delicious veggie burgers. Slice portobello mushrooms, eggplant, squash, and zucchini on a brioche bun with swiss cheese. Yum!
Sides
4. Grilled Avocado Caprese Crostini
If you’re bringing a side dish to a friend’s cookout, you can’t go wrong with a twist on a summer favorite. Drizzle olive oil on a thick slice of bread and toast it to a golden brown. Then, top it off with basil, mozzarella, tomato, and avocado slices. Place it in the oven for a few minutes to heat everything up, and then pour a sweet balsamic glaze on top.
5. Grilled Veggie Skewers
This side dish is pretty simple. Chop up the freshest summer vegetables into bite-sized pieces, and stick them on a skewer. Place them right on the grill or in an aluminum foil package until they are cooked through. We suggest trying tomatoes, squash, zucchini, eggplant, onion, and bell peppers.
6. Grilled Corn
Add some spice to your plain corn on the cob this summer. Bobby Flay has a spicy recipe on Food.com that includes garlic, onion, paprika, cumin, cayenne, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, and, of course, butter. Simply grill the corn and pour this delicious butter on top.
7. Sweet Potato Fries
Instead of going with regular baked potatoes or fries, mix it up with sweet potato fries at your next barbecue. Slice your sweet potatoes into fry shapes, add some butter, and throw them on the grill or into a pan to cook until they’re nice and crispy. Serve with ketchup or thousand island dressing.
Drinks
8. Sangria
You can’t forget about refreshing drinks at your pool party. Sangria is easy to make in large quantities and can be made ahead of time. Get a couple bottles of red wine, the best seasonal fruit, and a little sugar, and let the mixture marinate overnight. We suggest using lemons, oranges, limes, and peaches for your fruit.
9. Punch
Make something delicious for the kids and your guests to drink with a non-alcoholic punch (of course you can always add alcohol if you like). Take frozen lemonade and juice concentrates with a little bit of sherbet, fresh fruit, and ginger ale to make something bubbly and refreshing. Find the step-by-step directions on Allrecipes.
10. Mint Julep
Go for a southern twist at your next barbecue with a delectable mint julep. All you need is to muddle a few mint leaves with simple syrup and add it to your favorite bourbon with ice. Easy and tasty.
Wow your guests at your next summer barbecue with your creative and delicious entrees, sides, and drinks.
