40 Creative Recipes That Highlight Our Fave Summer Veggies
Perfect for every cookout, summer dinner, potluck...
No matter how much we dream about summer the rest of the year, we somehow still find ourselves bowled over at the bountiful variety of delicious produce available once it arrives. Our CSA produce boxes runneth over, our farmers' market bags get heavy, and we’ll admit, sometimes we end up with more veggies than we know what to do with. If you’ve found yourself in the same boat, this list is for you. We’ve got 40 creative recipes highlighting all our favorite summer vegetables, everything from simple tips for grilling to elaborate, show-stopping mains. Pull out the grill and light those citronella candles, these recipes were made for enjoying al fresco, summer cocktail in hand.
Did you know you can shop for all the ingredients for these recipes with the click of a button? Look for the Shop With Instacart button and simply click, shop, and wait for your delivery to arrive. Dinner truly made easier.
Let’s start simple—you can throw pretty much every vegetable on the grill and transform it into something incredible, from zucchini to green beans to tomatoes. You can eat them on their own or add your grilled veg to other recipes for a little charred intrigue. Corn is the best example—check out our elote, our grilled corn salad, or our black bean & corn salad to see how to take it to the next level—but it goes for all of them, so get creative.
No grill? No stress (though we definitely recommend checking out our favorite gas grills or grill pans so you can get in on the action). We’ve also included a number of recipes here that are perfect for dinners indoors, enjoying the air conditioning. Craving a summery pasta? Try our creamy corn pasta, our mac & cheese stuffed zucchini, our cherry tomato pasta, or our zucchini bolognese. Looking for easy and casual? Our Mexican street corn flatbread, our ultimate veggie sandwiches, or our ratatouille casserole fit the bill. Want a little more protein with your veggies? Our walnut broccoli stir fry, our creamy basil chicken skillet, or our Caprese chicken stuffed peppers are full of it, while still highlighting the best the season has to offer.
Want even more summertime recipe inspiration? Check out our favorite grilled fruits, our top summer dinners, and our best summer salads too.
Bruschetta
Easy to throw together and made up of simple, classic ingredients, bruschetta was made for chill warm weather snacking. While you can make it all year round, the best time to enjoy this appetizer is summer, when fresh tomatoes are at their peak.
Get the Bruschetta recipe.
Greek Salad
When you’re looking for simple, refreshing, and reliable, you’d be hard pressed to find a dish better than classic Greek salad. Filled with fresh veggies, tangy feta, and a simple dressing made of ingredients you might already have in your fridge, this bright salad only takes 15 minutes to prepare, making it a perfect last-minute addition to any summer celebration.
Get the Greek Salad recipe.
Elote (Mexican Street Corn)
Also known as Mexican street corn, elote is an unbelievably popular antojito (little craving or street food) that you can find all over Mexico and the U.S. This dish can vary, but in our recipe, grilled corn is covered in a creamy mayo and sour cream mixture before being topped with chili powder, cotija cheese, and plenty of lime juice.
Get the Elote (Mexican Street Corn) recipe.
Garlicky Feta Eggplant Pasta
This simple summery pasta has it all: tender, garlicky morsels of eggplant, a cheesy panko topping, and lots of fresh basil. Just add your favorite pasta, and you've got dinner!
Get the Garlicky Feta Eggplant Pasta recipe.
Ratatouille Casserole
Ratatouille, a classic end of summer dish from the South of France that features our favorite late-season produce, takes on a new form in this beautiful spiraled casserole. Instead of cooking the ratatouille on the stovetop, enjoy it right out of the oven, or you can bake the dish ahead of time and let the ingredients mingle in the refrigerator overnight for even more flavor.
Get the Ratatouille Casserole recipe.
Thai-Inspired Grilled Cauliflower Steaks
We found the perfect funky balance of sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in this Thai-inspired sauce to blanket your cauliflower steaks. Try the sauce and if needed, balance it out to your taste with brown sugar for more sweetness, red pepper flakes for more heat, lime juice for more pucker, and salt.
Creamy Corn Pasta
Don’t be fooled by the name—this pasta has no cream. Instead, you’ll puree fresh corn, sautéed garlic, and scallions into a luscious sauce that’s topped with Parmesan, basil, and even more corn. With just these few ingredients, you can have a crowd-pleasing summer pasta on the table in only about 30 minutes.
Get the Creamy Corn Pasta recipe.
Grilled Zucchini
Zucchini is one of our favorite vegetables to grill in the summer. Why? It's healthy, it's easy, and it cooks SO FAST. This recipe takes just 10 to 15 minutes from start to finish!
Get the Grilled Zucchini recipe.
Creamy Basil Chicken Skillet With Corn & Tomato
This dish is like summer in a skillet, thanks to just-burst cherry tomatoes, kernels of sweet summer corn, and basil-topped chicken breasts. Definitely make sure to drizzle every last drop of the garlicky cream sauce over your plate—it picks up all the flavors of the dish and is one of the best parts.
Get the Creamy Basil Chicken Skillet With Corn & Tomato recipe.
Cucumber Salad
Cucumber salad is a summer picnic staple, and for good reason: When tossed in a bright vinegar-based dressing and packed with thinly sliced onions, cukes can withstand warm temperatures and sit out at a sunny outdoor gathering for hours.
Get the Cucumber Salad recipe.
Balsamic Grilled Mushrooms
Mushrooms can get sidelined at a BBQ as a lame side dish, but when tossed in a balsamic-soy glaze, they'll get ALL the attention.
Get the Balsamic Grilled Mushrooms recipe.
Mexican Street Corn Flatbread
Here, we’re taking the creamy tangy sauce that usually goes on Mexican street corn (or elote), spreading it over pre-made pizza dough instead, and loading it up with corn, more chili, and lots of cheese. Twenty minutes later, it’s crispy, corny perfection.
Get the Mexican Street Corn Flatbread recipe.
Zucchini Casserole With Garlicky Bread Crumbs
This summery vegetarian side may be quick and easy, but the colorful shingled veggies make for an impressive presentation. Even the most reluctant vegetable-eaters won't be able to resist that cheesy herbed bread crumb topping. 😋
Get the Zucchini Casserole With Garlicky Bread Crumbs recipe.
Green Bean Salad
Fresh garden green beans are one of summer’s most perfect gifts, so if your family cookout doesn’t feature a big bowl of this salad, you’re seriously missing out. Fresh green beans are tossed with cherry tomatoes, olives, and feta in a simple red wine vinaigrette for a Greek-inspired side that’s as light and fresh as it is seasonal.
Get the Green Bean Salad recipe.
Nashville Hot Cauliflower
Nashville hot chicken may be king in the land of regional American food, but Nashville hot cauliflower is coming to steal the crown. Coated in hot sauce-spiked buttermilk batter, fried to golden brown perfection, and drizzled with the iconic spicy oil, this vegetarian dinner is crispy, flavorful, and SO delicious.
Get the Nashville Hot Cauliflower recipe.
Broccoli Slaw
Nothing says summertime like a good cruciferous slaw, and this tangy, crunchy broccoli slaw will make you the star of your next summer cookout. It’s got the classic slaw veggies—shredded cabbage and carrots—with the addition of raw broccoli, toasted walnuts, and sweet craisins tossed in a maple and lemon dressing. We think it's perfect, but feel free to switch it up a bit too (pecans, raisins, or honey/agave would all be good subs).
Get the Broccoli Slaw recipe.
Grilled Corn Salad
This versatile, flavorful corn salad is the perfect thing to do with leftover grilled corn (besides eat it straight off the cob, ofc!). Mix and match your favorite cheeses, herbs, and nuts, but keep the citrus for brightness and oil for a little richness. And if you like a little *kick*, add some sliced jalapeños or a big pinch of red pepper flakes too.
Get the Grilled Corn Salad recipe.
Grilled Bell Peppers
Move over, meat: It’s the humble bell pepper’s time to shine. Grilling bell peppers is a quick and easy way to pack in a ton of flavor, and this recipe is so easy that it’ll make you think twice before buying your next jar of roasted ones.
Get the Grilled Bell Peppers recipe.
Black Bean & Corn Salad
This easy summer salad comes together quickly and works as a side dish, a great topping for tacos, or as an appetizer with tortilla chips. Think of this as a medley of the most exciting parts of a vegetarian burrito bowl, unadulterated by rice, and hyped up by a little honey-lime action.
Get the Black Bean & Corn Salad recipe.
Grilled Corn
This is our simplest, easiest corn recipe, but the flavor combo options are endless—check out the rest of our grilled corn ideas too.
Get the Grilled Corn On The Cob recipe.
Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
