Our 29 Best July Recipes
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Deciding what to cook in July is tricky. The best July recipes are worth their time in the oven—and some require no oven time at all. We’ve scoured the data to see what Epi readers cooked most in Julys past, plus pulled a few easy staff favorites to round out your month. This list showcases some farmers market heavy hitters like tomatoes, summer squash, sweet corn, and peaches—making sure you get your fill of these limited-time ingredients, while spending minimal effort getting them to the table.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Michelle Gatton1/29Chickpea-Potato Chaat
We gravitate toward July recipes that offer smart planning for hot days. Boil your potatoes for this dish in the morning when the kitchen’s still cool, prep your chutneys in advance, and then this meal is a simple assembly situation. Every bite has the ideal combo of crunchy and creamy, sweet and spicy.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Yekaterina Boystova2/29Caprese Salad
Yes, we know there are other tomato recipes out there. Even other tomato salads. But it doesn’t really feel like summer until you’ve scored the freshest mozzarella around and devoured a platter of this classic summer dish.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell3/2915-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta
There’s a reason this weeknight recipe is so popular among our readers. With just a few simple, high-quality ingredients, you can make a dish that wows in just 15 minutes.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton4/29Ratatouille
If a trip to Provence isn’t on your calendar this summer, make this easy ratatouille instead. While you’re at it, pour yourself a glass of rosé and set up a fan to keep the mosquitoes at bay.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton5/29Easy Pasta Salad
A pasta salad fit for a picnic. Or any outdoor gathering for that matter. Make the pasta salad ahead of time and add Parmesan, fresh basil, and oregano on top when you’re ready to serve.
Photo by Faith Mason7/29Speedy Summer Gazpacho
This chilled soup, made with tomato and cucumber, is about as refreshing as a summer dinner—or summer appetizer—can be. It’s ideal during the intense heat of July when tomatoes are also at their best.
Photo by Caleb Adams, Food Styling by Anna Stockwell9/29Cedar-Plank Salmon
Invite some people over for next weekend. There is simply no more impressive summer dinner party main dish. The salmon is seasoned with mustard, rosemary, and lemon zest, then grilling it on the plank adds a whisper of smoky flavor.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, food styling by Rhoda Boone10/29Our Favorite Key Lime Pie
Skip the meringue and top this tangy pie with whipped cream instead for an easy dessert that everyone will love.
Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Olivia Mack Anderson11/29Classic Seafood Boil With Lemon-Butter
Seafood for a crowd is easier than you may think. Lay out lots of newspaper and bring out your favorite seafood seasoning for this iconic summer outdoor feast.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich12/29Philly Fluff Cake
This cake’s texture falls somewhere between angel food cake and pound cake—it’s somehow both ethereally light and deeply rich.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Prop Styling by Gerri Williams, Food Styling by Judy Haubert13/29Homemade Maraschino Cherries
Making these DIY preserved cherries isn’t tricky at all, and your summer banana splits and cherry lime rickeys will thank you.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich14/29Gin Rickey
Put this simple classic first on your list of must-make summer cocktails. It’s tart, cool, and completely unsweetened.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Lillian Chou15/29Zucchini Risotto
Stop fighting against zucchini’s moisture. Let this risotto happily drink it up instead.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne16/29Honey-Mustard Pork Tenderloin
A simple formula for juicy pork tenderloin with tons of flavor. One reviewer reports: “Our new favorite recipe!”
Photo by James Barker17/29Tomatoes With Brown Butter
Flavors From the Farm is one of our favorite new cookbooks. In this recipe from the book, author Emma Hearst pairs juicy summer tomatoes with toasty brown butter and a dash of sherry vinegar. It’s a brilliant combination.
Photograph by Peden + Munk, Food styling by Adriana Paschen, Prop styling by Ceci Garcia19/29Pasta With No-Cook Cherry Tomato Sauce
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich21/29Texas Sheet Cake
Dessert for a crowd, solved. Bake this for July Fourth, for summer birthday parties, or for the block party.
Photo by Mark Diacono22/29Tomato and Cherry Quinoa With Pistachios
Mark Diacono’s new cookbook, Vegetables: Easy and Inventive Vegetarian Suppers, offers lots of summer inspiration. Even if you don’t weigh out exact quantities here, you’ll find that the combination of lemon-soaked shallots, juicy cherries, tomatoes, quinoa, and pistachios is a keeper.
Photo by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Stevie Stewart23/29Mascarpone-Filled Cake With Sherried Berries
This tender buttermilk cake and mascarpone whipped cream are something special, but the real star of the show? The sherried berries. This Gourmet showstopper is a staff favorite—and you shouldn’t let summer go by without making it.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich25/29Panzanella
Make this Tuscan summer salad as a side dish alongside grilled fish or Italian sausage.
Photo by Max Milla26/29Butter Toffee Bars
These gooey, blondie-like English toffee squares are Grandma-approved.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Rebecca Jurkevich28/29Grilled Chicken Salad With Creamy Any-Pickle Dressing
Ranch lovers, this one is for you. It’s also a great way to make use of whatever random jars of pickles are haunting your fridge.
Photo by Joseph De Leo, Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne29/29Old-Fashioned Raspberry Jam
The intense raspberry flavor of this small-batch jam makes it a hit with Epi readers every summer, so it’s a great way to wrap up this list of our best July recipes. Smear the jam on biscuits or dollop onto yogurt for a satisfying breakfast.
