The Pioneer Woman's Top 10 Summer Recipes Are Perfect for Warm Weather
These summer staples are a must-have this season!
If there’s one thing Ree Drummond knows, it’s summer cooking!
Actually, she knows a lot of things: ranch life, feeding hungry kids, feeding hungry cowboys, feeding hungry kids who become hungry adults, the emotional importance of butter, and why iced coffee should always be waiting in the fridge. But summer cooking is definitely high on the list. Once the weather warms up, Ree’s recipes shift into all the good stuff: juicy tomatoes, grilled corn, barbecue chicken, fresh zucchini, watermelon, and desserts that don’t require anyone to turn on the oven. Amen.
That’s what makes these Pioneer Woman summer recipes so handy! Some are big cookout classics, others make the most of summer produce, and some are the sort of summery dishes that just make the whole table look happier. The then there are the recipes that solve very specific warm-weather problems, such as needing pie when it’s too hot to bake or needing coffee when it’s too hot to think. (This is a real condition. Probably.)
Ree has written about all of these recipes with the same enthusiasm she brings to tomatoes, cold brew, grilled peaches, and summer get-togethers. So whether you’re planning a backyard dinner, heading to a potluck, or just trying to make lunch before the kitchen turns into a sauna, these are some of The Pioneer Woman’s best summer recipes to make all season long.
Caprese Salad
“Caprese salad is just about my favorite thing on earth,” Ree says. With thick tomato slices, fresh mozzarella, basil, olive oil, and balsamic reduction, it’s summer on a platter.
Get Ree’s Caprese Salad recipe.
BBQ Chicken Drumsticks
“Summertime in Oklahoma is hot... excruciatingly hot,” Ree says, which is why these barbecue chicken drumsticks are cooked in the comfort of your air-conditioned home.
Watermelon with Lime Sugar
“Watermelon is already one of my favorite summer treats,” Ree says, but lime sugar makes it even better. It takes five minutes, looks festive, and doubles as a refreshing dessert when the day is just too hot for anything heavy.
Get Ree’s Watermelon with Lime Sugar recipe.
Perfect Potato Salad
Ree says she makes potato salad “exactly the way I like it: fluffy, light, flavorful, and packed with crunchy, tangy, delicious mix-ins.” Translation: russet potatoes, pickles, eggs, green onions, bacon, and all the best cookout fixin’s.
State Fair Grilled Corn on the Cob
This grilled corn “captures everything I love about those giant ears of corn you’d find at a county fair or summer festival,” Ree says. The ears cook in their husks, then get brushed with butter and finished with a smoky spice rub.
Sweet Tea
“If you’re from the South, you already know that sweet tea is more than just a drink—it’s a tradition!” Ree says. Her smart little trick is a pinch of baking soda, which keeps the pitcher smooth, clear, and ready for hot afternoons.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Pie
“If there’s one thing I love when the weather gets hot, it’s a no-bake dessert,” Ree says. This one has a Ritz cracker crust, fluffy peanut butter filling, and raspberry preserves swirled in like a little PB&J surprise.
Pork Burgers with Grilled Peaches and Feta
“The combination might sound unexpected at first, but one bite and it all makes sense,” Ree says of these pork burgers. Grilled peaches, feta, pickled onions, basil, and Dijon-mayo make burger night feel a little more special and summery without causing a whole production.
Get Ree’s Pork Burgers with Grilled Peaches and Feta recipe.
Corn and Zucchini Pasta
Ree admits there’s usually “nothing I love more than a hearty, meaty pasta sauce,” but summer changes things. This cheesy pasta uses fresh corn and zucchini for a bright dinner that won’t leave you sweating!
Perfect Iced Coffee
“Iced coffee is my life,” Ree says, and really, what else needs to be said? Her cold brew concentrate waits in the fridge until you’re ready for a tall glass with half-and-half and sweetened condensed milk.
Peach and Burrata Salad
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