Beat the Heat with Must-Make Summer Eats

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Sun-drenched evenings deserve a roster of really good foods that steal the spotlight. Start the spread with gooey-good Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions, then stack high those Eggplant Napoleons with Whipped Ricotta beside a crispy-hot Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich ready for a slather of Sweet and Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce (Mustard-Based Classic). A mound of Fresh Corn & Tomato Salad keeps things garden-bright, while Cast Iron Peach and Blueberry Cobbler with Ginger Biscuits sends everyone home grinning. Scroll on for the recipes that make any porch supper feel downright legendary!

Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions

A cheeseburger topped with caramelized onions is placed on a patterned plate. Next to it is a tray containing roasted onions. The wooden table also holds fresh thyme sprigs and scattered onion peels.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

Sweet Vidalia onions crackle under a molten quilt of cheese and spice, bubbling until blister-gold. Serve next to ribs, crown a burger, or next to your fave barbecue—Tennessee onions bring hero-size flavor for almost zero elbow grease.

Get the Recipe: Easy Cheesy Tennessee Onions

Eggplant Napoleons with Whipped Ricotta

The image features a stack of eggplant napoleon with layers of cheese and roasted tomatoes, garnished with herbs, on a decorative plate. A fork and knife are positioned next to the plate.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

These Eggplant Napoleons are a delightful vegetarian appetizer or light dinner. Layers of crispy eggplant, creamy ricotta, and slow-roasted tomatoes create a dish that’s both elegant and flavorful. Perfect for impressing guests or enjoying a sophisticated meal.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Napoleons with Whipped Ricotta

How to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Close-up of a basket filled with crispy fried chicken topped with a white sauce and garnished with fresh herbs, served alongside golden French fries on paper liners.
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This buttermilk fried chicken recipe is crispy, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. It’s easier than you think to make this classic comfort food at home. Enjoy!
Get the Recipe: How to Make Buttermilk Fried Chicken

Baked Figs with Roquefort and Honey – A Seasonal Treat

Ingredients required to make baked figs stuffed with blue cheese and honey on a rattan tray.
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These Baked Figs with Roquefort and Honey are the perfect blend of sweet and savory. The juicy figs pair perfectly with tangy Roquefort cheese and a drizzle of honey, creating an appetizer that’s both easy to make and sure to impress your guests. This seasonal treat is perfect for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Baked Figs with Roquefort and Honey – A Seasonal Treat

Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

A close up image of a fruit and tomato salad with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
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This Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette is a fresh and flavorful dish that’s perfect for spring and summer. Crisp greens, juicy berries, and creamy mozzarella come together in this easy-to-make salad, all tossed in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette. It’s a delightful combination of sweet and savory that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Blueberry Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich

A fried chicken sandwich with lettuce and mayonnaise in a bun, served with potato chips on a patterned plate.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

A tangy buttermilk soak keeps the bird outrageously juicy, while a golden, seasoned crust delivers crunch that practically echoes—meet your new favorite crispy chicken sandwich.

Get the Recipe: Buttermilk Crispy Chicken Sandwich

Sweet and Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce (Mustard-Based Classic)

Pulled pork sits on a toasted bun, topped with mustard barbecue sauce. The sandwich is placed on a white plate with a green rim.
Image Credit: Not Entirely Average

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Get the Recipe: Sweet and Tangy Carolina BBQ Sauce

All American OREO Coconut Cream Pie

Close-up of a dessert topped with fresh raspberries, blueberries, shredded coconut, and a chocolate sandwich cookie.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

This Oreo Coconut Cream Pie combines the best of both worlds: a rich Oreo crust and a creamy coconut filling. Top it off with whipped cream, toasted coconut, and fresh berries for a show-stopping dessert. It’s easy to make and perfect for any occasion!
Get the Recipe: All American OREO Coconut Cream Pie

Strawberry Poke Cake with Fresh Strawberries (No Jello)

A Bundt cake glazed and topped with sliced strawberries, surrounded by bowls of whole strawberries on a white surface with a patterned cloth.
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This Strawberry Poke Cake is bursting with fresh strawberry flavor in every bite! This recipe uses a homemade strawberry sauce instead of gelatin to poke into the cake, making it extra delicious. Topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting, this cake is perfect for Easter or any spring celebration.
Get the Recipe: Strawberry Poke Cake with Fresh Strawberries (No Jello)

County Fair Lemon Pie

a slice of pie, with whipped cream
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This no-bake County Fair Lemon Pie is an irresistible dessert perfect for special occasions or anytime you crave an easy lemon treat. With a simple biscotti crust and a creamy lemon filling, it’s a refreshing and delightful dessert that’s sure to impress. Top with whipped cream and fresh lemon for the perfect finishing touch!
Get the Recipe: County Fair Lemon Pie

Cast Iron Peach And Blueberry Cobbler With Ginger Biscuits

Peach And Blueberry Cobbler With Ginger Biscuits in a bowl
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This Cast Iron Peach and Blueberry Cobbler with Ginger Biscuits recipe uses pantry staples to make a sweet and delicious dessert. The crystallized ginger adds a unique twist to the classic cobbler, making it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for the perfect treat.
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Peach And Blueberry Cobbler With Ginger Biscuits

Fresh Corn & Tomato Salad

corn and tomato salad
Photo credit: Not Entirely Average

This fresh corn and tomato salad is the perfect side dish for any summer meal! It’s made with just four ingredients and a lively vinaigrette. You can use grilled or raw corn, cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, and red onion.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Corn & Tomato Salad

Creamy Southern Coleslaw

close up of creamy southern coleslaw
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This Creamy Southern Coleslaw recipe adds a zing with horseradish, setting it apart from the rest. Perfect for make-ahead convenience, this coleslaw is an ideal side dish for barbecues, potlucks, and holiday gatherings, melding classic Southern flavors with a creamy texture. Prep it the night before to allow the flavors to meld!
Get the Recipe: Creamy Southern Coleslaw

Best Southern Corn Pudding

A baked casserole dish filled with a golden-brown mixture of diced vegetables, corn, and herbs, topped with fresh thyme and green onions, on a wooden surface.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

This Southern corn-pudding casserole bakes peak-summer kernels into a creamy dish that cozies up to everything from backyard steaks to sloppy Joes.

Get the Recipe: Best Southern Corn Pudding

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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