Summer Recipes

The smell of ripe peaches tells you it's summer. Buy them by the basketful, breathe in the peachy air as they ripen in your kitchen, then share them in these mouthwatering recipes. From peach pavlova and peach pops to peach slab pie and sweet and savory salads and salsas, here are the best ways to put the seasonal fruit to good use.

You love a burger, but you're not always in the mood to enjoy one with a pile of fries. Are they your only side option? We think the simplicity of a classic burger makes it an ideal canvas for pairing with all manner of easy dishes. These are our favorite ideas.

Bell peppers are available year-round, but they're at their best in late summer, when they're more likely to come from a farm closer to home. Try them in everything from dips and salads to soups and stews.

Few foods are as refreshing or adaptable as cucumbers. Their subtle flavor and high-water content make them a welcome addition to a range of dishes, from salads and soups to pickles and cocktails.

There are certain days during the summer when the last place anyone wants to be is in a hot kitchen. But that's when kids can come to the rescue, making a delicious dessert for the whole family without ever having to ask their parents to turn on the oven. This no-bake cheesecake is sure to please with its creamy center. 

It's one of our most popular recipes and for good reason. This is our original one-pot pasta recipe, inspired by a dish one of our food editors ate in Puglia, Italy. All the ingredients cook together in a straight-sided skillet, you don’t even need to boil water first—and it's on the table in just 20 minutes.

Prep now and enjoy wonderful pies all summer by making this topping ahead and keeping it in the freezer.

For an even sweeter summer, take advantage of the season's perfectly ripe peaches.

This easy mousse-like treat blends the tartness of Key lime pie with the richness of cheesecake. Its graham-cracker crust sets in the freezer rather than the oven, and the traditional whipped-cream topping is folded right into the filling, along with fresh citrus juice and zest, cream cheese, and sweetened condensed milk. Chill it overnight, and wake up to a world of bliss.

To determine whether or not the jelly is done cooking, use a candy thermometer and the "sheeting method," described below. Don't use overripe fruit for jelly, as it may not set up well.

Capture the pure taste of summer with this pasta. The secret: using raw, fresh tomatoes that have never seen the inside of a refrigerator for the tomato sauce. Recipe copyright 2012 by Eugenia Bone.

You don't need to travel to the southernmost point of Florida to enjoy a slice of this tart pie. Learn how to make your own key lime pie at home, complete with a graham cracker crust, with this master recipe.