The summer combination of heat and humidity has made me want to decommission my oven indefinitely.
Without good recipes, though, that’s a pipe dream. I started the summer baking muffins after the sun went down and the nights cooled off a little bit, but then the nights suddenly stopped cooling down. Naturally, I spent some time stalking one of my favorite cooking gurus I knew I could count on: The Pioneer Woman.
She didn’t disappoint.
I’m excited to share some of my *new* summer favorites with you to round out the hot summer season! I hope you enjoy them as much as we have.
Strawberry spinach salad
There’s no better time to buy strawberries than the summer, and this lemon poppyseed dressing is addicting. Even though the recipe calls for regular pecans, I prefer to add a little “extra” with some candied pecans!
Best air fryer chicken wings
The best part about using an air fryer in the summer is that you can plug it in outside where it doesn’t heat up your house! Plus, who doesn’t love chicken wings? Add a fun sauce and pair the dish with a salad — no need to turn on the oven or the grill!
Grilled chicken marinade
Level with me on this: The most important part of grilling is the marinade or seasoning. This marinade definitely makes your chicken extra juicy, even as leftovers. I usually throw my meat in the marinade when I get up in the morning so it has plenty of time to sit (and so I don’t forget!).
Watermelon salad with feta and mint
I’m not kidding when I tell you this is my absolute favorite summer recipe. It’s the perfect “it’s 90 degrees outside and I don’t feel like cooking” summer side. Add some grilled chicken and you’ve got a whole meal for very little effort!
Blackberry icebox cake
I admit, I saved the best for last. This recipe requires you to make or buy pound cake ahead of time, but thankfully it’s usually a grocery store bakery staple or is fairly simple to make and freeze. While it takes a little more time than the other recipes, it’s not one to miss. One might even call it life changing — it’s THAT good.
