Sensational Summer Recipes That'll Make Feeding a Crowd a Breeze

Recipe: Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Baked ziti is made even better by being packed with loads of in-season squash and tomatoes, then topped with fresh mozzarella and basil. It offers amazing freshness to a classic comfort dish.

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa

It's hard to beat the easy entertaining of a build-your-own taco night—cooked in a slow cooker, no less! For a truly festive affair, make sure you have a pitcher of margaritas, a vase of fresh flowers, and colorful linens ready to go. 

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Macaroni and Cheese

Fresh plum tomatoes give the classic side a summer makeover. Plus, it comes together in just 30 minutes.

Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Buttery jumbo lump crab and savory thick-cut bacon already make a powerhouse duo, but paired with a delicious pan sauce of white wine, heavy cream, garlic, and red Fresno chile? Game-changer. Serve up this fresh summer pasta dinner for a crowd—because it's as pretty as a picture. 

Recipe: Okra and Rice Casserole

Corn, okra, and tomatoes are the perfect summer trio to accompany microwaveable rice in this hearty side dish casserole.

Recipe: Marinated Field Pea Relish

This field pea relish serves 6, but if you present it as a dip (with chips on the side) instead of served over chicken or pasta, it'll serve many more.

Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna

We use woven strips of zucchini to make this deliciously fresh summer take on classic lasagna. This one-pan crowd-pleaser uses three cheeses for a perfectly creamy finish. 

Recipe: Best-Ever Succotash

This colorful summer side comes together in just 30 minutes. One reviewer shared, "Best-Ever is accurate, and I don't use that expression often."

Recipe: Fish Tacos and Topping Bar

You'll be able to whip up this bright and zingy fish taco bar in no time, using pre-shredded cabbage for the Asian slaw. Any firm white fish such as cod, founder, or grouper will work great for this recipe. 

Recipe: Spicy Pineapple Slaw

This sweet and spicy slaw pairs amazingly with a slew of summertime mains, like barbecue chicken or pulled pork. It makes a fresh, flavorful option for any picnic or potluck. 

Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Boil Pasta

Short cook time and an even shorter ingredient list makes this pasta a winner for both the cook and the crowd.

Recipe: Rum Babas with Fresh Blackberries 

These petite yeasted cakes are a festive and adorable—and a beautiful way to present summer-perfect produce like fresh blackberries. This recipe will serve 12.

Recipe: Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob

Lime juice, cilantro, and jalapeño peppers infuse savory charred corn with plenty flavor. If you're in the market for a bold barbecue side dish, these are the way to go. 

Recipe: Oven-Baked Baby Back Ribs

Serve up ribs for a crowd on hot summer days without having to stand by the grill with this oven-ready recipe.

Recipe: Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers

An Italian classic gets a Southern spin with spiced, smoky Andouille sausage. This wow-worthy skillet-cooked pasta dish makes summer weeknight dinners a whole lot tastier.  

Recipe: Old-School Squash Casserole

Plenty of butter, cheese, and a cracker topping makes this summer vegetable suitable for even picky eaters to enjoy.

Recipe: Roasted Tomato Quiche

For a summer brunch, there's no beating this classic tomato quiche. But to amp up the peak tomato flavor, roast them to concentrate the flavor and keep them from turning watery. Serve with a fruit salad for a more breakfast twist, or add a green salad for a true brunch.

Recipe: Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa

This duo strikes the perfect sweet and savory balance with its slow-cooker beef brisket and crunchy fruit salsa. Double the recipe to make sure there are plenty of leftovers.

Recipe: Tomato Carbonara

Cherry tomatoes add welcome pops of summery brightness and color to this carbonara recipe, while fragrant herbs—chives, parsley, and garlic—add major Italian flavor to your dinner table. 

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

This recipe is here to prove that your slow cooker is also great to use during the summer months by making use of 14 ears of fresh corn.

Recipe: Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

A fresh trio of zucchini, squash, and corn makes for an all-star summer side dish. Bound together with a creamy filling and topped with breadcrumbs and Asiago cheese, this recipe gives enough deliciousness to go around.

Recipe: Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

This hearty recipe uses budget-friendly chicken thighs and smoked sausage, seasoned and flavored with Creole seasonings and aromatics, for an easy homemade supper that'll easily feed a crowd.

Recipe: Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage

Sweet peppers and hot Italian sausage perfectly complement each other in this easy pasta recipe. The fresh, light pan sauce makes it perfect for spring and summer suppers. 

Recipe: Big Daddy's Grilled Blue Cheese-and-Bacon Potato Salad

Potato salad is always the perfect big-batch side dish to have on hand for any summer occasion; and if you love the combination of bacon and blue cheese, this tasty potato salad recipe will definitely rise above your basic version. 

Recipe: Rum Baked Beans 

We won't even make you guess: Rum is the secret to this delicious baked bean medley. You'll definitely want to have this make-ahead dish on deck all season long. 

Recipe: Texas Caviar

As is, this no-cook dip recipe serves 8, but can easily be doubled if you're expecting even larger crowd.

Recipe: Shrimp Perloo

There's already a lot to love about one-pot rice dinners—they're quick and easy to make—but this seafood version gives fresh flavor for summer from shrimp, fire-roasted tomatoes, and bell pepper. 

Recipe: Sheet Pan Nachos

Using just one skillet and one baking sheet, these nachos are set to be a season-long favorite of your family. Any night can come together in just a few minutes with these loaded, flavorful nachos.