35 Fourth of July Summer Recipes!
Last Updated June 26, 2023
Burgers, vegetables, steak, seafood, chicken, even dessert. Don't leave your grill.
Here's a round-up of our favorite summer dishes, perfect for feeding a gang, hot days, busy weekends and adventuruous and unadventurous palates. Some are meant for hanging out around the grill with a cold one, others, a slow smoke while you make dessert in the kitchen...or cut the grass. These all use Tennessee's local bounty: okra, blueberries, cucumber, pork, corn, tomatoes.....need we go on? It's summer. Enjoy!
Peach Caprese Salad and Balsamic Reduction
Fresh Georgia peaches sub for vine-ripened tomatoes in this classic salad. I like to reduce some good-quality balsamic vinegar to add gooey, tart, sweet flavor. One caveat, open a window or prepare...
Chile-Rubbed Skirt Steak With Rustic Chimichurri
Steak with chimichurri is a classic combo. The bright, fresh herb topping contrasts beautifully with the smoky, spicy steak.
7 Party Dips
Keep your party guests happily munching with this selection of tasty dips.
Farro Mango Salad and White Balsamic Vinaigrette
This recipe is courtesy of Chef Maneet Chauhan of Chauhan Ale & Masala House.
Summer White Bean Salad
We like to cook a bag of dried white beans to have on hand for lots of recipes, but you can use 2 (15-ounce) cans drained white beans in this recipe also.
Elote Style Corn
This recipe was served at our 2018 Summer Farm Dinner at Turnbull Creek Farm, courtesy of Chef Travis Sparks previously of Deacon's New South. It was an absolute hit and we've been craving...
Sausage Stuffed Peppers
Sweet and spicy peppers are in abundance at farmers markets and CSA's in the fall. This simple recipe from Marti Emch of MEEL uses them to good effect with delicious local sausage from Wedge Oak Farm...
Turkey Burgers
When the weather starts getting warmer, I get the itch to crank up the grill. These turkey burgers are easy enough for weeknight family meals and are a healthy option for neighborhood get-togethers.
Lamb Burgers with Feta and Mint
Elaine likes to mix ground sausage with the ground lamb for flavor and ease.
Honey Blueberry Popsicles
We love this 4-ingredient recipe during the summer months. You can use any kind of berries--blackberries, raspberries, strawberries or blueberries. Use local berries from The Wild Berry Farm and local...
Butterflied Shrimp with Spicy Miso Glaze from How to Grill Everything by Mark Bittman
Why bother to butterfly when shrimp already cook so fast? More surface area. And that means more of what you love about grilled shrimp. The quick searing time gives you an opportunity to use more...
Bourbon Marinated Steak, Grilled Patty Pan Squash & Fresh Herb Pesto
A tamari-bourbon-miso marinade for the beef coupled with a fresh herb pesto makes a spectaucular summer dish.
Athenian Chicken
Courtesy of Greko Greek Street Food in Nashville.
"One of the first things you notice when walking into Greko in East Nashville is the slew of whole chickens, slowly roasting, rotisserie-style...
Grilled Shrimp with Cilantro-Lime Marinade
You can use Jason’s recipe for shrimp on chicken too. Add some red pepper flakes if you like a little fiery bite.
The Party Line's Grilled Vegetable Caesar
Courtesy of The Party Line's Julia Sullivan of Henrietta Red.
Grilled Pork Chops with Peach Agrodolce
An agrodolce is an Italian sweet and sour condiment made with fruit, vinegar and sugar.
Oven-Roasted Porchetta (Pork with Herbs and Garlic)
This Italian roast pork takes full advantage of Spring’s fresh green herbs, which are whirled up into a paste then slathered over the pork. It’s great hot, but even better cold, sliced for...
BBQ Pork Tacos on Skillet Cornbread
Keep a pound or two of pulled pork on hand to make this quick and easy dish at home.
Simple Roast Salmon Dinner
This recipe comes to us from Lee Ann Merrick of Tinwings in The Nations.
Margo's Crispy Corn Salad
Crushed corn chips, corn, cucumber, bell pepper and a splash of lime juice come together this refreshing corn salad perfect on a hot summer day. This recipe is from Edible Kitchen chef Margo McCormack...
DIY Charcuterie Board
There is no one magic formula for a great charcuterie board. In general it should have a mix of sweet, salty, crunchy, fruity and rich...
Peach Sangria
Sangria is the perfect party punch. Made in advance, it’s the perfect balance of refreshment and booze. This recipe differs from many, as it is essentially a sangria concentrate that is blended with...
Tomato Pie
"I have seen—and loved—tomato pies made with spoonfuls of mayonnaise, cheddar cheese, and Ritz crackers crumbled on top. Still, I’ d rather crackers not cover up the wrinkled, roasted beauty of...
Summer Lasagna with Four Cheeses
I threw this lasagna together as a way to use my fresh tomato sauce because frankly, I ran out of jars. Using what I had on hand, I layered the sauce with the no-boil noodles, which I think make a...
Cucumber, Peanut and Mint Salad
This refreshing salad by Chef Brandon Frohn features in season cucumbers, a hint of mint, crushed peanuts, rice vinegar and a drizzle of honey“Cucumbers are a garden staple...
Best Blueberry Pie
While you can use a prepared crust to make this pie quicker, we think fresh picked blueberries deserve a "from-scratch" crust, which is super easy anyway. We actually used White Lily's new Wheat and...
Yay Yay's Blackberry Pound Cake
Chef and owner, Charlotte Miller dredges the blackberries in flour before folding them into the cake batter. That way they don't "bleed" into the cake. Charlotte prefers a pound cake pan, rather than...
Skillet Sauteed Okra
Forget messy breading and frying, THIS is the perfect okra--as addictive as popcorn. The little pods get flash sauteed with kosher salt and are cooked enough to give them a browned exterior, a crunch...
Baked Cheese Grits
These creamy grits are the perfect comfort food to add to your breakfast. Just make sure you don't fill up on them before you get to the rest of your meal.
Blueberry Buttermilk Swirl Ice Cream
Fresh picked blueberries are boiled down to a sweet jam, then swirled into a buttermilk enhanced vanilla custard for a tart, sweet, fruity ice cream. For a video how-to check out our instagram reels...
Puckett's Blueberry Swirl Cheesecake
Fourth of July in a cheesecake.
Thai Watermelon Salad
While it’s easy for burgers and hot dogs to take center stage on Fourth of July, no cookout is complete without a spread of delicious sides. And this Thai Watermelon Salad from Juniper Green might...
Fresh Summer Peach Asian Salad
1. Whisk together the chile, garlic, lime juice, fish sauce, vegetable oil, brown sugar, and shallot in a large bowl. Set aside ½ cup.
2. Add the watermelon, mango, peaches, cucumber, basil, and...
Your Lil' Summer Cookbook
While we hunkered down in isolation living small, our fields and gardens were living large. A glorious spring with cool weather and an abundance of rain and sun brought seeds to life. The Bradleys...
Thai Duck Burger
We love duck in almost any form. We paired this ground duck from Tennessee Grass Fed Farm with the bright fresh flavors of Thailand—always welcome in summer—for an inspired burger that...
Whiskey Jam Blackberry Bread Pudding
Ward Guenther and Pal Patrick Davis give “Mama’s” Bread Puddin' a kick with their new Blackberry Whiskey. Ward Guenther and Patrick Davis are stumbling around the kitchen trying to make Ward’s...
