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

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

Kaitlyn Yarborough, Assistant Editor and Writer for Southern Living
By Kaitlyn Yarborough
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Tomato Carbonara
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Summertime never fails to bring along a fresh batch of reasons you need delicious seasonal recipes that are guaranteed to feed and please the whole crowd. At any given moment, you could be juggling a calendar packed with outdoor cookouts, pool parties, neighborhood potlucks, and family celebrations—each just waiting to be paired with its perfect summer casserole or side dish. From hearty casserole mains to big-batch barbecue sides, we have the easy summer food for a crowd that'll get you through the busy, hot summer season without breaking a sweat. (Well, in the kitchen at least.) Many of these, like our Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos and Zucchini Lasagna, make easy summer dinner recipes for the family; while others, like our Crab-and-Bacon Linguine and Spicy Pineapple Slaw, are begging you to branch out a little bit. We've rounded up 24 spectacular summer recipes that'll make this season your most delicious yet.
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Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables

Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
Credit: Alison Miksch

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 mozzerella and basil. It offers amazing freshness to a classic comfort dish.

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Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

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.

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Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Crab-and-Bacon Linguine
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine

Buttery jumbo lump crab and savory thick-cut bacon already make a powerhouse duo, but paired with an 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.

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Zucchini Lasagna

Zucchini Lasagna
Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Zucchini Lasagna

This summer take on a classic lasagna uses thin, woven strips of zucchini to make it deliciously fresh—and pretty to boot! This one-pan crowd-pleaser uses three cheeses for a perfectly creamy finish.

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Fish Tacos and Topping Bar

Fish Tacos and Topping Bar
Credit: Greg DuPree

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.

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Spicy Pineapple Slaw

Spicy Pineapple Slaw
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Kellie Kelley; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

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.

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Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob

Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob

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

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Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers

Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

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.

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Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa

Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa
Credit: Alison Miksch

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. It's a summery, barbecue-inspired meal you'll want to make again and again. (Double the recipe to make sure there are plenty of leftovers!)

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West Texas Chili

West Texas Chili
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: West Texas Chili

Make a batch of this Texas-style red chili to be used in our made-from-scratch Frito Pie. Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the flavor bursting from this hearty chili recipe.

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Tomato Carbonara

Tomato Carbonara
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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.

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Creamy Chicken and Collard Green Enchiladas

Creamy Chicken and Collard Green Enchiladas
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Chicken and Collard Green Enchiladas

This summertime take on a quick-fix enchilada bake uses fresh collards, shredded chicken, and Monterey Jack cheese. You can switch out the kale for whichever hearty green you picked up at the farmers' market.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers

Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers

When you have a crowd coming, sliders are always a good idea to make sure everyone gets just the amount they're craving. These slow-cooked beef sandwiches will lead to summer cookout success every time.

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Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole

Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole
Credit: Hector Sanchez

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!

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Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya

Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
Credit: Greg DuPree

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. Serve with some warm crusty bread, and you're set.

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Sheet Pan White Pizza with Salami and Peppers

Peppers
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Sheet Pan White Pizza with Salami and Peppers

Preheat the baking sheet in the oven while you get the toppings ready—it'll cut your baking time in half and give you an extra crispy crust. Using fresh toppings and skipping the red sauce make for a delightful summer meal.

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Carolina Chicken Burgers with Ancho Slaw

Carolina Chicken Burgers with Ancho Slaw
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Carolina Chicken Burgers with Ancho Slaw

This summer, go beyond your basic beef burger with this fresh recipe that uses course-grained Dijon mustard and creamy Ancho Slaw to make it anything but boring. Our special sauce really tops off the already-killer burger!

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Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage

Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage
Credit: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

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.

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Big Daddy’s Grilled Blue Cheese-and-Bacon Potato Salad

Big Daddy’s Grilled Blue Cheese and Bacon Potato Salad
Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

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.

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Rum Baked Beans

Rum Baked Beans
Credit: Hector Sanchez

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.

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Shrimp Perloo

Shrimp Perloo
Credit: Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

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.

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Sheet Pan Nachos

Sheet Pan Nachos
Credit: Greg DuPree

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.

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Savory Tomato Cobbler

Savory Tomato Cobbler
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Savory Tomato Cobbler

Got fresh summer tomatoes? Celebrate tomato season with this comforting favorite. A cornmeal-based topping finishes off this savory cobbler perfectly.

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The Ultimate Classic Collards

The Ultimate Classic Collards
Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: The Ultimate Classic Collards

What summer potluck or family cookout wouldn't be made better with a big pot of classic bacon-flavored, ham hock-essenced collard greens? You can't go wrong with this comfort side dish.

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    1 of 24 Baked Ziti with Summer Vegetables
    2 of 24 Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa
    3 of 24 Crab-and-Bacon Linguine
    4 of 24 Zucchini Lasagna
    5 of 24 Fish Tacos and Topping Bar
    6 of 24 Spicy Pineapple Slaw
    7 of 24 Grilled Jalapeño-Lime Corn on the Cob
    8 of 24 Skillet-Baked Ziti with Andouille, Tomatoes, and Peppers
    9 of 24 Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa
    10 of 24 West Texas Chili
    11 of 24 Tomato Carbonara
    12 of 24 Creamy Chicken and Collard Green Enchiladas
    13 of 24 Slow-Cooker Beef Sliders with Pickled Peppers
    14 of 24 Zucchini, Squash, and Corn Casserole
    15 of 24 Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
    16 of 24 Sheet Pan White Pizza with Salami and Peppers
    17 of 24 Carolina Chicken Burgers with Ancho Slaw
    18 of 24 Sweet Pepper Pasta with Sausage
    19 of 24 Big Daddy’s Grilled Blue Cheese-and-Bacon Potato Salad
    20 of 24 Rum Baked Beans
    21 of 24 Shrimp Perloo
    22 of 24 Sheet Pan Nachos
    23 of 24 Savory Tomato Cobbler
    24 of 24 The Ultimate Classic Collards

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