Easy Summer Party Recipes

Fresh Peach Salad

Fresh, juicy peaches are the best part of summer. Highlight their beauty by pairing them with arugula, Gouda cheese, candied pecans, and a red wine vinaigrette.

Recipe: Fresh Peach Salad

Grilled chicken in adobo spices

Season succulent chicken breasts with a homemade adobo spice blend made with lemon pepper, ground cumin, annatto powder, and other ingredients. If you're making a large batch, store the seasoning in an airtight container and add it to your favorite dishes for extra flavor.

Recipe: Grilled chicken

Sparkling punch with Moscato and pink lemonade

This is a drink for adults. Combine homemade lemonade with sparkling wine and garnish with fresh mint, lemon slices, and raspberry ice cubes.

Recipe: Sparkling punch with Moscato and pink lemonade

Hot dogs with lobster

Classic lobster sandwiches are sure to be a hit at any summer party.

Recipe: Lobster hot dog

Grilled corn with kimchi mayo and green onions

Kimchi mayo and a touch of green onion transform Molly's roasted corn from a simple summer treat into a flavorful side dish you'll want to make again and again.

Recipe: Grilled corn with kimchi mayo and green onions

Gazpacho soup

Aina's cold, uncooked soup is a great way to beat the heat during the sunny season.

Recipe: Cold vegetable soup Gazpacho

Fried wings in a sticky honey glaze

Honey-soy glazed chicken wings are the perfect finger food for an outdoor party. The nutty flavor of sesame seeds complements the sweet glaze.

Recipe: Fried wings in a sticky honey glaze

Salad with couscous, tomatoes and mint

Melissa combines fluffy couscous with green onions, parsley, mint, and a lemon-infused tomato-cucumber mixture. Stir in a few pine nuts for a crispy touch.

Recipe: Salad with couscous, tomatoes and mint

Perfect Homemade Lemonade

Nothing beats homemade lemonade on a hot summer day. Ree's recipe is sweet and simple: simply combine water with freshly squeezed lemon juice and simple syrup made on the stovetop.

Recipe: Quick Homemade Lemonade

Arugula, Watermelon, and Feta Salad

Ina loves this summer salad with its amazing combination of salty feta, bitter arugula and sweet watermelon.

Recipe: Arugula, Watermelon, and Feta Salad

Roasted leg of lamb with spices and butter

Take a break from steaks with this succulent leg of lamb with butter.

Recipe: Roasted leg of lamb with spices and butter

Asparagus Crostini

Get the party started with these simple toasts topped with fresh ricotta and asparagus slices.

Recipe: Asparagus Crostini

Spelt salad with tomatoes and herbs

Make a simple salad with sliced ​​tomatoes, hearty spelt, fresh chives, and Italian parsley for a filling lunch or a summer party starter.

Recipe: Spelt salad with tomatoes and herbs

Spaghetti with shrimp in wine

Giada's seafood pasta gets its vibrant color from sun-dried tomatoes, fresh arugula, and tender pink shrimp. While not overly sauced, the wine flavor is evident.

Recipe: Spaghetti with shrimp in wine

Refreshing raspberry and lime punch

This refreshing rum punch is the perfect drink for a summer party.

Recipe: Refreshing raspberry and lime punch

Baked Shrimp Salad

To coat the baked shrimp, Ina makes a flavorful sauce using mayonnaise, orange juice, and zest. Add a few capers for a savory flavor.

Recipe: Baked Shrimp Salad

Caprese Sliders with Zucchini

Ree's vegetable sliders are a true celebration of summer's harvest. Grill the zucchini for just a couple of minutes—just wait for it to develop grill marks, but don't let it lose its firm texture.

Recipe: Fried zucchini with tomatoes and pesto sauce

Gazpacho Soup Appetizer with Grilled Vegetables

With a bounty of summer vegetables and fresh basil for garnish, Trisha's beautiful soup is like sunshine in a bowl. Tip: Make the gazpacho a day ahead and refrigerate it overnight. The soup will only get better as it sits!

Recipe: Gazpacho Soup Appetizer with Grilled Vegetables

Lowcountry shrimp and crab boilie

Nothing says summer like this dish. For a classic rustic touch (and quick cleanup!), serve the boilie spread on newspaper.

Recipe: Lowcountry shrimp and crab boilie

Mexican Vegetable Salsa with Roasted Corn

Pair grilled corn with tomatoes, jalapeños, and lime for a simple salsa that's packed with fresh flavors.

Recipe: Mexican Vegetable Salsa with Roasted Corn

Baked Salmon Tacos

Ina fills her fish tacos with crisp, fresh coleslaw and a simple guacamole. If you're not confident in your fish-cooking skills, this recipe is for you. No flipping is required, and the baked salmon for the tacos is shredded, so you don't have to try to scoop it out with a spatula in one piece. Make it Taco Tuesday!

Recipe: Tacos with red fish

Red Cabbage and Jicama Salad

Trisha's savory salad makes a delicious complement to grilled chicken or barbecue pork.

Recipe: Crispy Jicama and Red Cabbage Salad

Grilled Orange Soda

Yes, the grill can be used for making drinks, too. Molly grills oranges until they're richly sweet and slightly smoky, then combines the juice with sparkling water and a dash of turmeric.

Recipe: Grilled Orange Soda

Chicken Fajita Salad

Ree makes a fresh take on the meaty appetizer: this elegant and unusual salad is cooked entirely on the grill.

Recipe: Chicken Fajita Salad

Pesto sauce

Aina makes traditional pesto for a group of guests in just 15 minutes. Since air is pesto's worst enemy, she recommends using the sauce immediately or storing it in the refrigerator or freezer, covered with a thin film of olive oil.

Recipe: Homemade pesto sauce

Poke Salad with Tuna

This Hawaiian dish is very popular in the United States. To ensure it's fresh, buy the tuna the same day you'll be making it.

Recipe: Poke Salad with Tuna

Pasta salad with ham and dill

Homemade pasta salad is quick to make and much tastier than store-bought versions. The secret? Toss the cooked pasta with milk, then let it cool before adding the homemade dressing, dill, and ham.

Recipe: Salad with pasta, ham and dill

Scallop sandwiches

Make these scallop sandwiches the centerpiece of your backyard table. Brown the butter to impart a juicy texture and subtle nutty flavor to the scallops.

Recipe: Butter-Fried Scallop Sandwiches

Ranch dressing with herbs

This buttermilk-based dressing is loaded with fresh summer herbs like basil, parsley, and chives.

Recipe: Ranch dressing with herbs

Fried chicken salad

You'll probably make it a point to save some of the roast chicken to make this savory, tender salad the next day.

Recipe: Appetizer salad with fried chicken

Pineapple boats with fried rice

Sweet and savory lovers, this recipe is for you. Fried rice served in a pineapple is the perfect combination of both flavors. And who can resist a pineapple boat?

Recipe: Pineapple boats with fried rice

Fried shrimp with peach dipping sauce

Looking for an elegant summer appetizer? Try Giada's simple fried shrimp. Make plenty of peach sauce: this sweet and tangy condiment is perfect for a cheese plate or sandwiches.

Recipe: Fried shrimp with peach dipping sauce

Warm picnic burritos: burritos de machaca

To make this popular Mexican dish, marinate beef in a zesty lime-chili sauce, then shred and cook in its own juices until tender and melt-in-your-mouth.

Recipe: Warm picnic burritos: burritos de machaca

Blackberry Bourbon Iced Tea

Bobby transforms iced tea into an adult cocktail by adding quality bourbon, like his favorite, Woodford Reserve.

Recipe: Blackberry Iced Tea with Bourbon

Grilled flatbread with lamb meatballs

When hosting in the summer, it's important to save time on cooking so you don't miss the party. Valerie uses store-bought naan bread as a base for her flatbread and makes delicious lamb meatballs with Mediterranean spices from scratch. The result is an exciting new take on grilled pizza.

Recipe: Flatbreads with tomato sauce and grilled lamb meatballs

Grilled chicken in lemonade sauce

The secret ingredient in this sweet and savory fried chicken is refreshing summer lemonade! Serve with grilled corn or classic potato salad for a simple seasonal lunch.

Recipe: Grilled Lemonade-Marinated Chicken

Cold cucumber soup

Beat the heat with this cold soup, topped with fresh tomatoes and crispy homemade croutons.

Recipe: Cold cucumber soup

Lettuce salad with blue cheese dressing

Trisha's simple salad is perfect for a casual summer picnic. Core and quarter each head of lettuce, then top with crumbled bacon, sliced ​​tomato, and a dollop of homemade blue cheese dressing.

Recipe: Iceberg lettuce with blue cheese dressing

Pappardelle with lobster and corn

A refined pasta perfect for special occasions, this dish features pappardelle in a creamy tomato sauce with corn and sweet lobster.

Recipe: Pappardelle noodles with lobster and corn

Cracker-crusted crab burgers

Impress your guests with these summer sandwiches. This recipe makes 8 servings, enough for a dinner party on the patio.

Recipe: Cracker-crusted crab burgers

Cabbage salad with grapes and walnuts

Grapes add a sweet flavor to this classic picnic side dish.

Recipe: Cabbage salad with grapes and walnuts

Profiteroles with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes

Giada's savory profiteroles are filled with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes, then topped with mint-basil butter.

Recipe: Profiteroles filled with goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes in herb olive oil

Waldorf Salad with Chicken and Spinach

Ina's version of the Waldorf salad is hearty enough to be a full meal, thanks to baked chicken, bacon, and mixed nuts. Yet, it's light enough to keep you in shape during beach season.

Recipe: Waldorf Salad with Chicken and Spinach

Po-Boy Sandwich with Fried Pickles

Not a fan of seafood? Don't worry. This fried pickle sandwich is a fun twist on the po'boy that retains the crispy flavor of the original recipe. Plus, it's a great choice for entertaining guests, even those with vegetarian tastes.

Recipe: Fried Pickle Sandwich

Tabbouleh salad with cauliflower

This crispy side dish takes just 10 minutes to make.

Recipe: Cauliflower Tabbouleh

Stuffed Zucchini and Bell Peppers

Enjoy seasonal zucchini and colorful bell peppers by stuffing the vegetables with turkey and covering them with marinara sauce.

Recipe: Turkey-Stuffed Peppers and Zucchini Baked with Marinara Sauce

Zucchini carpaccio

A great dish using seasonal zucchini and yellow squash requires very few ingredients.

Recipe: Vegetable carpaccio of zucchini and yellow squash

Crab cakes with mustard sauce

This recipe comes straight from the legendary Four Seasons restaurant in New York City. Crispy on the outside and moist in the center, these crab cakes make a great appetizer or main course.

Recipe: Crab cakes with mustard sauce

Asian Watermelon Salad

Make a simple sweet and savory salad by tossing diced watermelon with shallots, lime juice, fish sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and jalapeño. Let the watermelon sit in the mixture for a couple of minutes, then add fresh herbs like mint and basil, plus chopped peanuts for a crunchy touch.

Recipe: Asian Watermelon Salad

Grilled seafood linguine

Shrimp, scallops, and clams—the whole team is ready. Now all you have to do is gather your loved ones together to enjoy this summer pasta.

Recipe: Linguine Pasta with Shrimp and Grilled Lemons

Flatbread with cheese and spinach

Top homemade dough with green vegetables, peppers, and fontina cheese and serve hot or at room temperature. No time to make the dough? To make things easier, use a ball of ready-made pizza dough.

Recipe: Flatbread with cheese and spinach

Key lime cake

Lime-flavored gelatin adds a tart touch to this crowd-pleasing cake. The dessert is soaked in lime juice glaze and topped with cream cheese frosting.

Recipe: Crumbly Key Lime Pie

Salad with watermelon and halloumi cheese

This sweet and savory salad is a refreshing summer side dish.

Recipe: Watermelon salad with halloumi cheese

Seafood salad

Combine shrimp, scallops, squid, and mussels for a summer holiday salad.

Recipe: Seafood Salad "Gifts of the Sea"

Spanish potato salad

Pimento peppers, celery, and green olives, plus a touch of smoked paprika, give this potato salad a Spanish flair.

Recipe: Spanish potato salad

Fried halibut with cumin and corn sauce

"North Pacific halibut is my favorite fish during the warmer months," shares Chef Freddy Bitsui, who specializes in Native American cuisine. "It's a flat fish and requires special care when cooking. Because halibut is expensive, I save it for special occasions. I make the sauce with corn, an important grain in Native American culture and cuisine."

Recipe: Fried halibut with cumin and corn sauce