Fresh Summer Recipes to Make Right Now

Jenny deRemer

Jul 14, 2025

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Whether you’re craving something warm and cheesy or cool and garden-fresh, these Fresh Summer Recipes check every box. Fresh Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad and Bruschetta al Pomodoro lean into peak produce, while Rodney Scott’s BBQ Ribs Recipe and Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll Ups bring the main event. Casserole lovers can dig into Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole, Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake, or a nostalgic Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe. This lineup has a little Southern, a little veggie-forward, and a whole lot of what tastes right in the summer!

Table of Contents

Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole

A close-up of a spatula lifting a serving of baked pasta with tomato sauce and melted cheese from a casserole dish.
Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole Retro in the best way. Think creamy noodles, seasoned beef, and a golden, cheesy top.
Get the Recipe: Beef and Sour Cream Noodle Casserole

Burrata Caprese: Heirloom Tomatoes

Slices of yellow tomato, fresh mozzarella, basil leaves, drizzled with balsamic glaze on a white plate.
Photo Credit: Powell Family Cooking.

Burrata Caprese: Heirloom Tomatoes Juicy heirlooms meet buttery burrata in this laid-back summer salad. A drizzle of balsamic pulls it all together.
Get the Recipe: Burrata Caprese: Heirloom Tomatoes

Rodney Scott’s BBQ Ribs Recipe

A stack of barbecued ribs with a caramelized exterior, visible seasoning, and grill marks, glazed with a sauce.
Photo Credit: Destination BBQ.

Rodney Scott’s BBQ Ribs Recipe Low and slow wins again. These ribs are smoky, saucy, and practically fall off the bone.
Get the Recipe: Rodney Scott’s BBQ Ribs Recipe

Vegan Stuffed Tomatoes

A stuffed tomato filled with quinoa and chopped vegetables sits on a white plate next to a fork.
Photo Credit: Debra Klein.

Vegan Stuffed Tomatoes A hearty veggie stuffing gives these tomatoes their moment. Proof that plant-based can still be bold.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Stuffed Tomatoes

Pasta al Forno with Roasted Vegetables

The image features a baked pasta dish with penne, cheese, mushrooms, vegetables, and diced tomatoes on top. A spoon is scooping out a portion.
Photo Credit: Mission Food Adventure.

Pasta al Forno with Roasted Vegetables Cheesy, bubbly, and loaded with roasted veg. This baked pasta dish brings serious comfort without feeling too heavy.

Get the Recipe: Pasta al Forno with Roasted Vegetables

Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll Ups

A sliced breaded chicken dish with layers of ham and melted cheese inside. Garnished with herbs on a white plate.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll Ups. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll Ups Baked until crisp with ham and cheese tucked inside. All the elegance of the classic but made weeknight-friendly.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cordon Bleu Roll Ups

Classic Roasted Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta

Bread with ricotta cheese, roasted tomatoes, and fresh thyme sprigs.
Photo Credit: Not Entirely Average.

Classic Roasted Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta Toasty bread, caramelized tomatoes, and tangy whipped feta? Yes, please. A perfect starter that tastes like you tried harder than you did.
Get the Recipe: Classic Roasted Tomato Crostini with Whipped Feta

Super Green Pasta

A plate of spaghetti with green pesto sauce, garnished with fresh basil leaves and a lemon wedge, and a fork resting on the side.
Photo Credit: Occasionally Eggs.

Super Green Pasta Bright, clean, and full of greens, this is the pasta to reach for when you want light but still satisfying.

Get the Recipe: Super Green Pasta

Fresh Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad

A platter arranged with sliced tomatoes, peaches, and mozzarella is garnished with basil leaves and drizzled with balsamic glaze. Olives are served on the side. Peaches, whole tomatoes, and utensils are placed around the plate.
Fresh Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad. Photo credit: Not Entirely Average.

Fresh Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad Sweet peaches tag in for tomatoes in this sunny spin on a Caprese. Serve chilled, nap optional.
Get the Recipe: Fresh Peach and Tomato Caprese Salad

30-Minute Pan Seared Cod Recipe with Tomato Garlic Sauce

A piece of white fish topped with tomato-based sauce, garnished with fresh dill, served on a white plate with a lemon wedge and a fork.
Photo Credit: An Edible Mosaic.

30-Minute Pan Seared Cod Recipe with Tomato Garlic Sauce A speedy, skillet-friendly dinner that still delivers. Tender cod gets smothered in garlicky tomato sauce.
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Pan Seared Cod Recipe with Tomato Garlic Sauce

Peach Crumble with Oats

A white bowl contains peach cobbler with a crumbly topping and two scoops of vanilla ice cream.
Photo Credit: Two Kooks in the Kitchen.

Peach Crumble with Oats Peak summer peaches and a buttery oat topping? A dessert that asks for a scoop of vanilla and nothing more.
Get the Recipe: Peach Crumble with Oats

Easy 30 Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

A plate of spaghetti topped with red and yellow cherry tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, grated parmesan cheese, and a sprinkling of black pepper.
Easy 30 Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta. Photo credit: Salted Mint.

Easy 30 Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta Fresh cherry tomatoes burst into sauce right in the skillet. Just add pasta and a little cheese and call it dinner.
Get the Recipe: Easy 30 Minute Burst Cherry Tomato Pasta

Easy Vegan Maine Lobster Rolls (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free)

A sandwich roll filled with diced apples and celery in a creamy dressing, with potato chips partially visible in the background.
Photo Credit: Strength and Sunshine.

Easy Vegan Maine Lobster Rolls (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free) Hearts of palm stand in for lobster in these clever rolls. Creamy, tangy, and seafood-free.
Get the Recipe: Easy Vegan Maine Lobster Rolls (Gluten-Free, Allergy-Free)

Bruschetta al Pomodoro (Tomato Bruschetta)

Diced tomatoes, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil on bruschetta.
Photo Credit: M.A. Kitchen.

Bruschetta al Pomodoro (Tomato Bruschetta) Crispy bread, ripe tomatoes, and a slick of olive oil. Simple, summery, and endlessly snackable.
Get the Recipe: Bruschetta al Pomodoro (Tomato Bruschetta)

A Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

A rectangular baking dish filled with cooked spaghetti, ground meat, diced tomatoes, and bell peppers, sprinkled with grated cheese. A fork and a drinking glass are partially visible nearby.
Image Credit: Jenny DeRemer for Not Entirely Average.

A Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe A bubbly baked spaghetti casserole that doesn’t skimp on flavor. Customize with meat or keep it classic.

GET THE RECIPE: A Baked Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake

A portion of chicken pasta bake.
Image Credit: Daniela Apostol for My Gorgeous Recipes

Creamy Chicken Pasta Bake Juicy chicken, creamy sauce, and tender noodles all cozied up in one pan. Leftovers not guaranteed.

GET THE RECIPE: Chicken Pasta Bake

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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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