The Ultimate Summer Countdown: Our 29 Hottest Recipes

Searching for that perfect, crowd-pleasing appetizer for you next get-together? Look no further than these stuffed jalapeño poppers. The rich and creamy combination of bacon, cream cheese, and cheddar nicely contrasts the muted spice of grilled jalapeño peppers. This grilled appetizer recipe is a healthy, fresh alternative to the popular breaded and fried version. If you're looking to keep your stuffed jalapeño poppers vegetarian-friendly, you can eliminate the bacon or replace it with coarsely chopped nuts, like smoked almonds or toasted pecans. 

Panera Bread's delightful seasonal chowder features sweet corn kernels that are balanced with a creamy base and spicy accents. Its popularity grows every year, and fans can't wait to indulge in one of the few warm soups that you'd actually want to eat on a summer day. The vegetarian-friendly chowder pairs perfectly with a vibrant green salad or a thick slice of crusty bread. It is loaded with a handful of vegetables to give you a wonderfully chunky bite with each spoonful. The smoked paprika adds a subtle smokiness that enhances the kick from the jalapeño and cayenne peppers. Finish the soup with freshly chopped cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice for brightness. 

The secret to this dish, a chargrilled homage to Gulf oyster houses, is a knockout garlic-herb butter.

A blend of fruit liqueurs and rum create this delicious, tropical cocktail. Garnish with a pineapple wedge and cherry.

These top-rated cast-iron burgers prove that you don't have to own a grill to enjoy juicy, amazingly flavorful hamburgers.

Some barbecue purists will shudder at the thought of cooking ribs wrapped in foil, but if you want to make them in about one hour and fifteen minutes, as opposed to the usual three to four hours (or more), this is how.

Light, crisp, and just as good as their junk-food counterparts, these veggie chips are a revelation. Malt vinegar is made from fermented ale and is mildly sweet. If you prefer a sharper flavor, substitute cider vinegar or white vinegar. The best way to get uniform slices? Use a mandoline.

The key to making big, thick bakery-style chocolate chip cookies isn't in secret ingredients or tricky techniques—it's actually just a matter of shifting the ratios of your ingredients a bit. These dense, thick, decadent cookies have less sugar and more baking powder than your standard chocolate chip cookies, which helps inhibit the cookies' spreading during baking. While we think that preparing this recipe as six gigantic cookies is sort of an essential part of the experience, you could make twelve smaller cookies if you prefer; you will simply need to adjust your bake times accordingly. For more helpful cookie baking tips, check out our guide to making the perfect batch. 

If you like fried pickles, you'll love fried pickled jalapeños. These jalapeños have a light kick without being overly spicy. Plus, they're tangy from the brine and packed with flavor thanks to taco seasoning. They're delicious on their own, but dipping them in the sauce takes things up a notch. Deli-sliced jalapeños, like Marzetti brand, work best here since they're bigger. For a stronger kick, get the hot version. For the crispiest golden jalapeños, let the heat come back to 375 for each batch. Serve immediately for best taste and texture.

This quick and easy shrimp and grits recipe will wow your family as a weeknight meal or impress guests at a dinner party. The vein of the shrimp runs along the back of the shrimp, just below the surface, and is actually the digestive tract. It won't cause you harm to eat, but can taste gritty (and you definitely don't want that), so it's best to remove it. To see how to do so, click here. 

If you're a broccoli salad fan, you'll love the combination of these colorful ingredients. Cook the pasta al dente so it's firm enough to hold its own when tossed with the tangy-sweet salad dressing.  Use these video tips for getting pasta just right every time.

If a nice, even crispiness is your priority when it comes to grilled cheese, skip the stove and try the air fryer. You'll get a uniform texture and lovely melt without having to worry about burning your sandwich or any flipping mishaps. 

Hot, homemade boiled peanuts are truly delicious, but you can order them already prepared online if you're short on time.  

Cool, herbaceous, and refreshing, this creamy cucumber salad is the perfect accompaniment to any number of summer entrees, including barbecue pulled pork, grilled chicken, smoked brisket, and more. If you can't find English cucumbers, simply use regular cukes, but peel them first. 

Dinner and tacos under 20 minutes? Cumin, coriander, and paprika lend these fish tacos a delightfully warm, smoky flavor. They're the perfect pairing for the tangy sour cream sauce. The spice on the fish can be used on other taco variations such as chicken, shrimp, or ground beef, or even on fajita vegetables. You can also substitute romaine in place of cabbage or add a coleslaw to pair with the spice and heat of the taco filling, such as our Mango Jalapeno Slaw. For a full meal, serve tacos alongside Mexican Broiled Corn Salad and create a taco bar to let everyone assemble their own meal.

When you're in the mood to grill ribs, you're most likely looking for a magically meaty experience—and trust us, there's a reason we call these the best. The texture of these smokey beauties is everything you want. Grilling your ribs over indirect heat gives them a crispy exterior bark, while the meat stays tender (but not completely falling-off-the-bone tender), so you're left with the perfect amount of chew. Baby back ribs are readily available at most supermarkets; when shopping, look for the smaller racks, as these tend to have more tender meat.

How can such a simple recipe for grilled chicken thighs taste so flavorful and satisfying? Once you sink your teeth into the super-crispy skin and find rich, tasty dark meat waiting underneath, you'll understand. This low and slow cooking method yields tender, succulent meat with carefully developed flavors. Make grilled chicken thighs the simple way, because juicy, decadent chicken doesn't have to be so complicated.

Prepare this simple, but outstanding seared beef tenderloin recipe for guests.

These easy, personal-sized peach pies allow you to skip the peeling, slicing, measuring, rolling, and crimping involved with making a whole pie, but deliver everything you crave about the sweet summer dessert. They're incredibly doable, even for the least experienced baker, and happen to be pretty adorable too. 

This 20-minute chicken salad recipe is creamy, flavorful, and packed full of healthy veggies and protein-rich meat. To make this dish, we lightened up the typical mayonnaise base by adding in 1/2 cup of low-fat, plain Greek yogurt, but you can use one full cup of mayonnaise if you'd like. Use store-bought Rotisserie chicken to save even more time on busy evenings. Serve with crunchy, buttery crackers or on whole grain bread with lettuce and tomato.

Don't let your cucumbers go bad or freeze in the fridge. Refrigerator pickles are easy to make, and there's no need for kettle steamers, special jars, and vacuum-tight lids. Make an extra batch to top off grilled burgers, diced for fresh tartar sauce, as the perfect side to a simple sandwich or just a quick, tangy snack. The pickling liquid can be used with other vegetables as well such as beets, onions and carrots depending on the season. Plus, unlike store-bought pickles, these scrumptious homemade pickles are low in sodium.

A fragrant herbed butter and roasted lemon slices complement the sweet, nutty flavor of red snapper for a super-fresh dish. Complete the meal with colorful Sautéed Zucchini and Bell Peppers.

"I created this recipe after tasting the bourbon salmon from my local grocery seafood counter. Mine has received rave reviews, even from picky eaters who don't normally try salmon." --Esther Maples, Harlem, GA

The story goes that this Key West cocktail was created in the 1950s at the Holiday Isle Tiki Bar in Islamorada, Florida. It was named for the bootleggers who smuggled in the liquor during Prohibition and later to avoid taxes. There's nothing taxing about this decidedly tropical rum-and-liqueur–packed libation.

Soft, white breadcrumbs double as a feather-light binder and golden crumb topping. To make them, pulse torn slices of day-old sandwich bread in the food processor.

The cornmeal and flour crust is what sets this recipe apart from others. In only a matter of minutes, your tomatoes will be battered, fried and perfectly crispy. Not only can you enjoy these as a perfect summer appetizer paired with Buttermilk Herb Ranch Sauce, but you can also try sandwiching them with lettuce and bacon for an elevated BLT, or scattering them in between fresh tomatoes and mozzarella for crunch and flavor in a caprese salad.

This easy cucumber and tomato salad tastes like summertime in a bowl. The dressing is light and zingy from the vinegar, the cucumbers and onion are so pleasantly crunchy you can't stop eating them, and the tomatoes are so juicy and sweet they burst in your mouth. It's perfect as a light summer snack, but would also be a great side dish at any barbecue or cookout, or even an addition to other salads. Go ahead and make a big batch of this salad and keep it in the fridge. It'll disappear in no time. 

Rather than breaking a sweat over the perfect pie crust and lattice top for your farmers' market blackberries, use them up in a hassle-free cobbler. All you need are fresh berries plus five more ingredients to whip up this Easy Blackberry Cobbler recipe. To make it special, top with freshly whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, and a mint garnish. If you are not serving the cobbler immediately, keep it and any desired toppings separate as to avoid getting them soggy. Simple as it may be, this quick and easy recipe is an exceptional entertaining dessert, especially for your next summer cookout.

What could be a more perfect ending to a summertime meal than easy peach cobbler? Savor the flavors of summer with sliced fresh peaches cooking away with butter and spices. The topping can made from pantry ingredients you have on hand and peaches can easily be substituted with any fruit you have depending on the time of year. The tang of the lemon juice paired with the sweetness of the peaches is perfectly balanced with the crisp topping. Want to make dessert even better? A dollop of fresh whipped cream or cold vanilla ice cream truly makes it the perfect way to end a summer night.