Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 20 Summer Vegetable Recipe Ideas That Make Your Produce Shine These veggie dishes make the most of your farmer's market haul. By Ariel Klein Ariel Klein Ariel Klein is a freelance writer specializing in lifestyle, fashion, beauty, technology, home, cooking, and gardening topics. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Well+Good, Travel+Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Food & Wine magazine. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 24, 2024 Close Photo: GREG DUPREE Warm weather means prime season for shopping at farmer's markets, offering an array of summer produce to add freshness to your meals. Thanks to international commerce, it's easy to get most vegetables (and fruits) year-round, yet there's nothing like biting into a just-harvested ear of corn or whipping up a salad packed with juicy, locally grown tomatoes. Once you're loaded up with fresh summer produce—cucumbers, eggplant, zucchini, bell peppers, kale, green beans, and the rest—then what? Scroll down for a myriad of summer vegetable recipes that give your produce their place in the sun. 01 of 20 Tomatoes With Ricotta and Herbs Greg Dupree There are many ways to use up fresh summer tomatoes, but the simpler the recipe, the more that just-picked tomato flavor shines. This dish combines juicy tomatoes with creamy ricotta and fresh herbs, making it perfect for a backyard barbecue or a late afternoon lunch. GET THE RECIPE 02 of 20 Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree This room-temperature side dish is made with raw, thinly sliced yellow squash and zucchini tossed with scallions, parsley, vinegar, and chilies. It pairs perfectly with steak or chicken right off the grill. GET THE RECIPE 03 of 20 Summer's End Ratatouille Jen Causey Ratatouille is how the French celebrate summer's bounty, and what a delicious way to do it! This recipe uses classic garden veggies—bell pepper, eggplant, zucchini, and tomato—for a colorful, one-pot wonder that's a welcome addition to any meal. GET THE RECIPE 04 of 20 Caramelized Shallot Dip Greg DuPree Dips are a must at casual summer parties, and this recipe is the perfect vehicle for highlighting in-season shallots. It caramelizes those shallots before blending them with classic onion dip components—sour cream, mayo, onion powder, and garlic powder—for a richer, more flavorful dip. GET THE RECIPE 05 of 20 Green Bean Salad with Crispy Bread Crumbs Greg DuPree This make-ahead recipe elevates the flavor of summer-fresh green beans with a lemon-garlic-Worcestershire sauce dressing. The dish's finale is an anchovy-flavored bread crumb topping that lends crunch and color contrast for a sensational side. GET THE RECIPE 06 of 20 Broccoli Soup With Cheddar Croutons Caitlin Bensel This recipe credits broccoli as its star, but supporting veggies—leeks, potatoes, and fresh spinach—add to its luscious texture and depth of flavor. Toasted cheesy baguette slices lend a delightful crunch to each veggie-packed, comforting bowl. GET THE RECIPE 07 of 20 Southwestern Stuffed Peppers David Prince Looking for a healthy, filling weeknight meal this summer? These colorful stuffed peppers are perfect for the whole family. Their zesty filling includes cumin-spiced ground beef, rice, corn, and cheese to give them an undeniable Tex-Mex vibe. GET THE RECIPE 08 of 20 Quinoa With Sweet Potatoes, Kale, and Pesto Anna Williams If you're growing kale in your garden, chances are you have more of it than you know what to do with. After exhausting your interest in kale salad and kale chips, try sautéing some in this quinoa dish, where it joins sweet potatoes, pesto, and crunchy walnuts. GET THE RECIPE 09 of 20 Swiss Chard With Chickpeas and Couscous John Kernick Chickpeas and sweet raisins balance the flavors of slightly bitter chard in this quick, healthy weeknight meal. Top it off with pine nuts for extra flavor, a little crunch, and a bit more protein. GET THE RECIPE 10 of 20 Smashed Cucumber Salad With Spicy Feta and Olives Jennifer Causey Crisp cucumbers epitomize summer freshness, and here they're smashed to serve as the foundation of a refreshing salad. The addition of briny olives and salty feta gives it an unmistakable Mediterranean flare. GET THE RECIPE 11 of 20 Roasted Summer Vegetable Pasta Marcus Nilsson This versatile summer pasta dish gives you choices: Serve it warm for a light, nourishing dinner or at room temperature as take-along picnic fare. Either way, summer vegetables reign. Eggplant, onion, and bell pepper roast together on a single baking sheet before mixing with pasta, while fresh cherry tomatoes stand by as a last-minute addition. GET THE RECIPE 12 of 20 No-Bake Summer Veggie Lasagna Fred Hardy. Give your oven the night off! You need just two burners to prepare this lasagna: one to boil the noodles and the other to sauté tomatoes, zucchini, and onion. And yes, there's still that creamy ricotta layer, but instead of a casserole dish, arrange layers on each plate individually for a light, fresh take on the Italian classic. GET THE RECIPE 13 of 20 Mexican Grilled Corn With Cilantro Sang An Upgrade traditional grilled corn by making this tangy Mexican version that features perfectly charred sweet corn with lime juice and cilantro. It's a delicious summer side dish for meat, fish, or pasta. GET THE RECIPE 14 of 20 Pasta With Zucchini and Goat Cheese John Kernick There's nothing quite as delicious as a light pasta dish in the summer, and while this recipe is simple, it doesn't lack flavor. It pairs garlicky, lemony linguine with fresh zucchini and creamy goat cheese. Trust us, you'll want this dish on rotation all summer long. GET THE RECIPE 15 of 20 Deep-Dish Eggplant Parmesan Paul Sirisalee If you find yourself with a bounty of eggplant at the end of the season, this savory, hearty dish is the best way to use it up. Serve with a simple side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal. GET THE RECIPE 16 of 20 Rosemary-Roasted Golden Beets and Carrots Con Poulos Color-contrasting beets and carrots shine when roasted together, highlighting their complementary sweet flavors and tender texture. The key to success in this dish is to slice the veggies into comparable sizes for even roasting. Also, the smaller the pieces, the faster the cooking time. GET THE RECIPE 17 of 20 Black-Eyed Pea Ribollita Caitlin Bensel A classic Italian dish visits the Deep South via two favorite staples of soul food and summer: black-eyed peas (which are actually legumes) and collard greens. Top off this hearty soup with crispy bread crumbs and Parmesan. GET THE RECIPE 18 of 20 Cauliflower Piccata Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen This classic Italian dish subs the usual chicken or veal with cauliflower steaks for a delightful side or flavorful vegan main dish. The giant slices are pan-seared and then simmered in a lemony broth with capers until tender. Serve with creamy polenta, mashed potatoes, rice, orzo, or farro for a complete meal. GET THE RECIPE 19 of 20 Grilled Hanger Steak with Green Bean and Sweet Pepper Slaw Jen Causey Slaw is typical summer fare, but this one is anything but usual. It combines thin slices of onion, French green beans, and orange or red bell peppers with a lime-cilantro-olive oil mixture for a vibrant, colorful side. Besides this hanger steak, it goes with just about anything off the grill. GET THE RECIPE 20 of 20 Shaved Carrot Salad Jennifer Causey To make this fresh, vibrant, versatile salad, grab a mandolin or veggie peeler to turn carrots into ribbons and then coat them in a tahini-based dressing. You can make it up to a day ahead and serve right out of the fridge or at room temp. Look for a bunch of rainbow carrots at the farmer's market for a kaleidoscope of color. GET THE RECIPE Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit