July is THE month summer starts to feel real. With June’s summer solstice behind us, the clock 'til Labor Day’s ticking, so soak it all up now. Join us as we BBQ up a storm, take all our meals outdoors (picnics! beach days! camping!), and eat as much summer produce as we can. We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this July—one for every day of the month, and then some.
We’ve included a good mix of entirely new recipes here, like our Mexican carne asada, our , and our hot dog tacos, as well as some old favorites, like our chicken fajitas, our peach burrata Caprese, and our creamy corn pasta. Craving something extra fresh? Try our bruschetta grilled chicken, our watermelon gazpacho, or our chicken Caesar pasta salad. Want an easy summer comfort food meal? Our sloppy Joes, our classic stuffed peppers, and our new and improved pulled pork are always winners. Feeling overwhelmed by all the grilled meats this time of year and want more meatless options? Our eggplant rollatini, our caramelized tofu lettuce cups, and our vegetarian Italian subs will hit the spot.
We’re also taking inspiration from the BIG holiday in July—Independence Day. There’s no better time to throw a big party, whether you’re celebrating this country or are just in it for the fireworks. Check out our firecracker salmon, our vegan chili dogs, our spicy chipotle chicken burgers, and our watermelon quinoa salad for twists on classics that’ll make your BBQ stand out from the rest. Want even more inspiration? Peruse our galleries of our best 4th of July appetizers, side dishes, and too.
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Baked Eggplant Parm
Classic eggplant Parm is one of our favorites dishes in the world, but it's definitely a labor of love. When you're not in the mood, try this healthier, easier bake. Instead of frying each individual piece of eggplant, you bake them all at once until they're nice and crispy. 😍
Get the Baked Eggplant Parm recipe.
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Creamy Chicken & Corn Skillet
With toasty corn kernels, crisp, smoky bacon, and a creamy, herby sauce, this simple skillet dinner proves that there's nothing this duo can’t do.
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Watermelon Quinoa Salad
One of our favorite ways to enjoy juicy, sweet watermelon is in a refreshing salad. With mint, feta, red onion, cucumber, and a balsamic glaze, this one's got everything you love about traditional watermelon salad, but with an additional protein boost from one of our favorite grains, quinoa.
Get the Watermelon Quinoa Salad recipe.
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Pulled Pork
Extremely tender with a sweet yet tangy homemade barbecue sauce, this oven-baked pulled pork is our go-to. Whether you sandwich it between a soft potato bun, pile it on top of a baked potato, or even eat it on its own, pulled pork is the perfect summertime meal.
Get the Pulled Pork recipe.
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Caramelized Tofu Lettuce Wraps
Inspired by our caramelized beef with rice, this simple tofu recipe is big on flavor and perfect for even the most reluctant of tofu eaters. Sweet, sour, and salty, these lettuce wraps are ripe for improvisation too, so get creative with your add-ons.
Get the Caramelized Tofu Lettuce Wraps recipe.
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One-Pan Greek Chicken Drumsticks
For this one-pan, Greek-inspired chicken meal, a creamy, lemon-y orzo finishes off in the oven with the drumsticks, then gets topped with a tasty sprinkle of tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and dill to give the whole dish a fresh finish—think main and salad all in one!
Get the One-Pan Greek Chicken Drumsticks recipe.
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Tacos De Soto (Hot Dog Tacos)
The types of hot dog franks change the flavor profile, but the classic beef hot dog works fine. The sliced cheese should be the same as one would consider going on a sandwich, since what we have here is a hot dog and cheese sandwich gone taco—bread to the wind.
Get the Tacos De Soto (Hot Dog Tacos) recipe.
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Stuffed Peppers
Strong enough to hold their shape, peppers are large enough to hold a decent amount of filling while taking to a variety of flavors—they're the perfect vessel for countless combinations and ingredients. While we love to experiment with countless variations, this classic stuffed peppers recipe is hard to beat.
Get the Stuffed Peppers recipe.
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Mexican Street Corn Flatbread
Here, we’re taking the creamy tangy sauce that usually goes on Mexican street corn, spreading it over pre-made pizza dough instead, and loading it up with corn, more chili, and lots of cheese. Twenty minutes later, it’s crispy, corny perfection.
Get the Mexican Street Corn Flatbread recipe.
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Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls
The pineapple in this recipe doesn't just serve as a pretty serving vessel (although wow!), it also adds a fresh and vibrant sweetness to the teriyaki sauce. Use the juice that pools at the bottom of your pineapple when scooping out the chunks.
Get the Chicken Teriyaki Pineapple Bowls recipe.
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Tomato Galette
This tomato galette uses an herb-speckled, savory pie crust and is topped with ripe heirloom tomatoes and fresh ricotta for an extremely easy yet impressive-looking dish. Serve it for a light summer dinner or as an appetizer at your next outdoor party this July.
Get the Tomato Galette recipe.
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Creamy Basil Chicken Skillet With Corn & Tomato
This dish is like summer in a skillet, thanks to just-burst cherry tomatoes, kernels of sweet summer corn, and basil-topped chicken breasts. Definitely make sure to drizzle every last drop of the garlicky cream sauce over your plate, it's one of the best parts.
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Pad Thai
Pad Thai is one of our favorite dishes, which is why it’s especially disappointing to get a lackluster one. Your days of too-sweet sauce, gummy noodles, or overcooked protein are over! With just a few special ingredients, you can make this subtly sweet, tangy, nutty, and salty Thai dish, right at home.
Get the Pad Thai recipe.
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Bruschetta Grilled Chicken
While we've got plenty of weeknight chicken dinners in our arsenal, this bruschetta-inspired grilled chicken is one of our favorite ways to celebrate fresh summer flavors all season long.
Get the Bruschetta Grilled Chicken recipe.
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Peach & Burrata Caprese
We changed up the classic Caprese salad by switching out juicy tomatoes for plump summer peaches and replacing sliced fresh mozzarella with its creamier cousin, burrata. Surrounded by fragrant basil then topped with candied pecans and a drizzle of spicy honey, this sweet & savory salad is a STUNNER.
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Chicken Fajitas
As iconic as this Tex-Mex dish is when ordered out, fajitas are ridiculously easy to make at home, just how you like them. Focusing on only 3 key ingredients, our chicken fajita recipe requires minimal prep and cook time, meaning dinner on the table FAST.
Get the Chicken Fajitas recipe.
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Vegan Chili Dogs
Sure, it's hard to replicate the snap of a true hot dog with plant-based ingredients, but this complex chili is world-changing. You're going to want to put it on way more than just veggie dogs. We see chili mac, tamale pie, and plenty of chili fries in your future.
Get the Vegan Chili Dogs recipe.
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Jennifer Zyman's Carne Asada
You haven’t truly lived until you’ve tried contributor Jennifer Zyman’s traditional carne asada. Inspired by her father’s method, her recipe yields tender, cilantro and citrus-marinated beef with the essential charred crispy crust. It'll blow you and your BBQ guests away.
Get Jennifer Zyman's Carne Asada recipe.
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Honey-Glazed Pork Chops With Mango Salsa
Perhaps pork chops are part of your regular rotation, but you're sick of pairing them with apples or potatoes. Fear not: This sticky-sweet, mango salsa-topped recipe is here to shake things up with a flavor explosion that's perfect for summer.
Get the Honey-Glazed Pork Chops With Mango Salsa recipe.
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Sweet Corn Shrimp & Rice Skillet
This light but satisfying dinner starts with a vibrant sauce made with some of our favorite sunny, bright flavors: sweet bell pepper, nutty white miso, and earthy turmeric. Topped with garlicky sautéed shrimp, this meal is complete with protein, carb, and plenty of veg.
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