45 Classic Summer Recipes To Make All Season Long

Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

Ask anyone: These crispy 'maters are a treat come summertime when tomatoes are at their best.

Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole

This casserole is go-back-for-seconds good, and it's practically a sin not to have squash casserole in the summer.

Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Nothing says summertime like a nectarine-speckled pasta salad. It's the perfect side for pulled pork or barbecue chicken.

Recipe: Banana Pudding

We do love a warm, gooey cobbler even on the hottest day, but this layered pudding might be the ultimate summer treat.

Recipe: Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

The upside-down cake is something delicious to behold, with its gooey, caramelized topping and all.

Recipe: Tomato, Cheddar, and Bacon Pie

Here's one genius way to use a pie crust this summer. A classic tomato pie is hard to beat.

Recipe: Basic Deviled Eggs

A platter of deviled eggs makes a worthy addition to every summer meal in our not-so-humble opinion.

Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad

This classic Southern salad hails from Mobile, Alabama, and is made with fresh crabmeat and a citrusy vinaigrette.

Recipe: Classic Fresh Field Peas

Southern field peas and smoky ham hocks go together like Johnny and June in the summertime.

Recipe: Whipped-Cream Corn Salad

Imagine a cold salad version of creamed corn, but it's enveloped in a light and fluffy cloud of whipped cream. That's how this fresh corn salad rolls.

Recipe: Peanut Butter-Banana Icebox Pie

This treat would leave Elvis singing some praises. The no-bake pie recipe gets some lovin' with peanut butter, bananas, and chocolate.

Recipe: Easy Peach Cobbler

For Southerners, making peach cobbler in the summer is just the right thing to do.

Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches

This nostalgic spread is always there to feed a hungry group of Southerners.

Recipe: Best-Ever Crab Cakes with Green Tomato Slaw

Summer calls us with the promise of fresh, crispy crab cakes. And these cakes really are the "best-ever."

Recipe: Best-Ever Succotash

What should you serve with your crispy crab cakes? The ultimate summer side: succotash.

Recipe: Memphis Dry-Rubbed Baby Back Ribs

We make sure to get plenty of at-home barbecue action during the summer, and this dry-rubbed recipe will wow the crowd.

Recipe: Tomato Tea Sandwiches

On a hot summer's day, a simple tomato sandwich with an ice-cold glass of lemonade is all we need.

Recipe: Strawberry-Pretzel Salad

This vintage gelatin recipe will make more than one appearance at your Southern potlucks this summer, trust us on that.

Recipe: Berry Sonker with Dip

We came for the berry-filled cobbler-like dessert, and then we came back for seconds because of the creamy vanilla sauce (or "dip").

Recipe: Basic Pimiento Cheese​​​​​​​

This is the ultimate Southern spread, no matter the season.

Recipe: Fried Pickle Chips

Pickle chips, battered and fried, make a snack fit for the beach, especially when dipped in buttermilk ranch.

Recipe: Shout Hallelujah Potato Salad

When in doubt, bring a bowl of potato salad—every summer occasion would do well with it.

Recipe: Fried Delacata Catfish

To us, crispy fried catfish on a lazy summer evening sounds just like heaven. Bonus points if you're fresh off the lake.

Recipe: Field Pea, Corn and Bacon Salad

Nothing displays your fresh summer produce like a simple salad—with bacon, of course.

Recipe: Classic Southern Buttermilk Pie

This is what Mama makes when it's too hot to think. The ingredients are sitting right in the kitchen already.

Recipe: Peach Fried Pies

You can take these hand-held fried pies on the go, making them all the more appealing.

Recipe: Muffin Pan Tomato Tarts

And what a tasty little tart it is. These tomato bites can be made right in your muffin pan.

Recipe: Crab Boil with Beer and Old Bay

Nothing screams summer on the Southern coast like a classic, family-style crab boil. Bring plenty of Old Bay.

Recipe: Lady Pea-and-Corn Patties

Here's another tasty way to make use of your summer veggies. These perfectly browned, crispy patties are a fun side dish to keep around.

Recipe: Ham Salad

This old-school spread is the perfect make-ahead dish for every summer trip.

Recipe: Creamy Overnight Fruit Salad

Sometimes we need to dress up a bowl full of fruit salad, and this recipe helps out any hostess in a pinch.

Recipe: Cherry Flag Pie

It's the All-American dessert for the ages: Cherry pie.

Recipe: Strawberry Lemonade Pie

This fresh pie is like spring in a slice.

Recipe: Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham

This old-school cold salad pairs well with any backyard barbecue main or lake day sack lunch.

Recipe: Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder

This versatile BBQ dish has been feeding Southerners during the summer for decades.

Recipe: Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

It's not summer without pasta salad, and this classic recipe is full of tasty ingredients.

Recipe: Baked Beans

We can't think of any summer occasion where this crowd-favorite side wouldn't get along. Any backyard barbecue, cookout, or picnic is fair game.

Recipe: Millionaire Pie

If you haven't heard of this slightly gelatinous Southern pie, it's time to get acquainted. It's cool and creamy for summer.

Recipe: Key Lime Pound Cake

This heavenly recipe gives you the best of both dessert worlds: pound cake and Key lime pie.

Recipe: Oven-Baked Barbecue Chicken

Nothing says summer like barbecue chicken, and these sweet and sticky chicken drumsticks can be made in the oven.

Recipe: Fresh Corn Spoonbread

A spoonful of spoonbread is always a treat when made with fresh corn.

Recipe: Bacon-Wrapped Asparagus

In our mind, bacon-wrapped is the only way to eat asparagus during the summer.

Recipe: Dainty Cucumber Sandwiches

These cucumber sandwiches make the prettiest tea party snack.

Recipe: Crab Pie

Instead of your usual Quiche Lorraine, try this coast-inspired crab version for summer.