5-Ingredient Summer Recipes

Beef tenderloin fillets make this quick summer dish a little special. You can also use 2 (8-ounce) sirloin steaks, grilled for 4 minutes on each side.

Pantry Checklist

• Beef Tenderloin
• Summer Squash
• Potatoes
• Garlic
• Cilantro

Hands-On: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

If we could make a crisp, fresh salad a mandatory pizza topper, we would. Use a vegetable peeler to ribbon zucchini. Ground coriander adds lemony flavor.

Pantry Checklist

• Rotisserie Chicken
• Pizza Crust
• Zucchini
• Coriander
• Feta Cheese

Hands-On: 10 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

If you haven't tried halibut yet, this simple recipe is a great place to splurge. The fish is mild with a texture that's just firm enough to do well on the grill. If you can't find it, try sustainably caught flounder or snapper.

Pantry Checklist

• Halibut
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Corn
• Balsamic Glaze
• Shallots

Hands-On: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

Look for shishito peppers at Asian markets and gourmet grocers. They're mostly mild, but bear in mind that roughly 1 in 10 is about as hot as a jalapeño.

Pantry Checklist

• Shrimp
• Shiitake Mushrooms
• Brown Rice
• Shishito Peppers
• Sriracha

Hands-On: 20 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

Sweet peaches and tart green tomatoes gain depth from a bit of char on the grill. Look for peaches that are still slightly firm so they hold up to the heat.

Pantry Checklist

• Chicken Thighs
• Peaches
• Green Tomatoes
• Couscous
• Sour Cream

Hands-On: 15 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

This one-skillet meal can work on a busy weeknight or for casual weekend entertaining. Butter deglazes the pan, melding flavors.

Pantry Checklist

• Pork Chops
• Green Beans
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Basil
• Butter

Hands-On: 18 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

Eggplant is the real star here, with its meaty texture and savory notes that match those of the tuna. Soy sauce and sesame oil deepen the effect, and edamame offers delightful chew.

Simple cooking brings real pleasure from a few good things. These summer-inspired recipes use only five fresh ingredients and a couple of pantry staples to create fantastically simple and simply fantastic entreés.

This is how the simple cook rolls: store-made dough, thin, with sweet tomatoes and chewy-melty mozzarella. Allow the dough to rest at room temperature before rolling it out. If it still shrinks back when you start to work with the dough, let it rest for another 10 minutes, and then try again. For a pretty finishing touch, save a few small basil leaves to sprinkle over the top after it cooks.

Pantry Checklist:

• Refrigerated fresh pizza dough
• Fresh basil leaves
• Garlic cloves
• Fresh mozzarella cheese
• Heirloom tomatoes

Hands-on: 22 minutes
Total: 55 minutes

White miso is the umami-bomb base of the dressing that will have you licking the bowl. It's potato salad like you've never had before, guaranteed to steal the show at your next barbecue.

Pantry Checklist

• New Potatoes
• Low-Fat Yogurt
• Exotic Mushroom Blend
• Red Onion
• White Miso

Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 45 minutes

Be sure to buy fresh, never-frozen fish, summer corn on the cob and in the husks, and your favorite bacon. Applewood-smoked bacon is more subtle than hickory or mesquite and won't clobber all of the other ingredients. Just a spritz of fresh lime juice brings the flavors into perfect balance.

Pantry Checklist

• Skinless halibut fillets
• Center-cut, applewood-smoked bacon
• Fresh corn kernels
• Green onions
• Lime wedges

Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

Seaweed goes well beyond sushi; here it gives a punch of savory crunch that balances that bright twang of lime and herbal fragrance of cilantro.

Pantry Checklist

• Lime
• Nori Seaweed
• Halibut
• Yellow Bell Pepper
• Cilantro

Hands-on: 15 minutes
Total: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Take plain cheese ravioli from boring to beautiful with a mix of cherry tomatoes, shallots, and basil.

Pantry Checklist:

• Cheese ravioli
• Chopped fresh basil
• Cherry tomatoes
• Shallots
• Balsamic vinegar

Prep: 15 minutes
Total: 55 minutes

Shiitake mushrooms have a bolder flavor than most mushrooms, with an almost smoky quality that amplifies the flavor of the bacon.

Pantry Checklist

• Shiitake Mushrooms
• Arugula
• Cod
• Garlic
• Bacon

Hands-on: 30 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

Red Bell Pepper gets used two tasty ways: as a vegetable in the corn sauté and as a pureed sauce for the plate. Fresh corn is not just sweet; it has a surprising hit of umami intensity.

Pantry Checklist

• Fish Sauce
• Red Bell Pepper
• Green Onions
• Skirt Steak
• Corn Kernels

Hands-on: 30 minutes
Total: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Summer tomatoes have a beefiness and richness unlike those harvested any other time of year. They stand up well to robust chicken thighs and salty prosciutto.

Pantry Checklist

• Prosciutto
• Tomatoes
• Shallots
• Basil
• Chicken Thighs

Hands on: 30 minutes
Total: 2 hours

Asparagus is like a poster child for umami, high in the glutamates that create savory satisfaction. Ditto for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, which also delights with its signature crunchy salt crystals.

Pantry Checklist

• Asparagus
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Walnut Halves
• Anchovy Fillet
• ​Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese

Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
 

Scallions are used three ways: in a sauce, as a vegetable, and as a garnish. The sauce can be made a day ahead and magically transforms the simplest food into something spectacular. Try it on chicken or steak, too, or as a spread in a sandwich.

Pantry Checklist

• Capers
• Cilantro
• Green Onions
• Pork Chops
• Heirloom Cherry Tomatoes

Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 20 minutes

There is very little hands-on prep here; your oven does most of the work. The combination of flavors is exuberant, and the texture of the chicken is as succulent as can be.

Pantry Checklist

• Chicken Thighs
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Carrots
• White Miso

​​Hands-on: 12 minutes
Total: 2 hours, 10 minutes

The marinade of fish sauce and grated red onion gives intense flavor to the steak, tenderizes the meat, and results in a slightly caramelized crust. Use your largest sauté pan (preferably 14-inch so that the vegetables and steak have room to caramelize and cook quickly) or a large wok.

Pantry Checklist

• Skirt Steak
• Fish Sauce
• Red Onions
• Asparagus
• Red Bell Pepper

Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 40 minutes

This dish is spectacular, as wasabi peas make a delicious breading for tofu. Surprisingly, they lose their bite when cooked but provide intriguing flavor and crunch in the slightly sweet, salty crust. Look for cans of the peas in the Asian food section of your supermarket or in the bulk bin of some large grocery stores. A few crushed peas get sprinkled on top of the finished dish for added crunch and a pop of pungency.

Pantry Checklist

• Tofu
• Cabbage
• Leeks
• Wasabi Peas
• Egg

Hands-on: 35 minutes
Time: 35 minutes

This dish is simplicity itself: Everything cooks on a roasting pan in a very hot oven in stages for just 12 minutes, and the foaming chive butter sauce takes only 2 minutes on the stovetop. Be sure to add the minced chives at the last moment after the pot comes off the heat; cooking will turn the chives bitter.

Pantry Checklist:

• Broccolini
• Shiitake Mushroom Caps
• Shrimp
• Chives
• Unsalted Butter

Hands-on: 20 minutes
Total: 30 minutes

A sprinkling of crumbled spicy sausage makes a salty-savory finishing touch to herb-drenched pasta. Some pestos tend to go drab, but this one stays a brilliant emerald green.

Pantry Checklist:

• Spaghetti
• Spicy pork Italian sausage, casings removed
• Garlic cloves
• Fresh Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
• Fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

Hands-on: 25 minutes
Total: 25 minutes

As many Southerners know, hickory wood chips offer an almost magical alchemy, yielding sublime flavor when combined with four simple ingredients. Serve with potato salad, coleslaw, and iced tea for a delicious summer supper.

Pantry Checklist:

• Hickory wood chips
• Dark brown sugar
• Garlic powder
• Chili powder
• Bone-in pork shoulder

Hands-on: 3 hours
Total: 10 hours, 30 minutes

Mild Muenster cheese is too often overlooked; it’s great for sandwiches, burgers, omelets, or just plain snacking. It matches well with thinly sliced ham, fresh spinach, and sweet-and-tangy chowchow in these crusty-breaded sandwiches.

Pantry Checklist:

• Chicago-style Italian bread
• Deli ham
• Muenster cheese
• Baby spinach
• Mild chowchow

Prep: 7 minutes
Cook: 4 minutes

This classic American-Chinese dish is just incredibly easy. A dip in flour is the secret to nicely browned and crisp beef, and if you have fresh veggies on hand, you can use whatever you like in place of the frozen stir-fry mix.

Pantry Checklist:

• Ground sirloin patties (4 – 4-oz)
• All-purpose flour
• Frozen bell pepper stir-fry (16-oz)
• Diced tomatoes (14.5-oz)
• Low-sodium soy sauce

Prep: 4 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes

Barbecue shrimp is usually prepared in the oven, but this recipe speeds things up with a stovetop approach. Serve with a citrusy salad and finish with a tropical sorbet.

Pantry Checklist:

• Shrimp (2 lbs)
• Fat-free Italian dressing
• Butter
• Lemons
• Dried rosemary

Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes

Our hands-free oven method helps prevent the sugary fruit butter from scorching.

Pantry Checklist: 

• Peaches
• Lemon Juice
• Bourbon
• Brown Sugar
• Chicken Breast Halves

Hands-on: 15 minutes
Total: 3 hours, 12 minutes

There's no reason lamb shouldn't be a regular part of your menu planning with a dish as simple and delicious as this. It matches well with any sort of prepared grain: barley, couscous, quinoa, or even grits.

Pantry Checklist:

• Lamb loin chops (8-4 oz)
• Ground cinnamon
• Ground allspice
• Ground cumin
• Ground red pepper

Prep: 2 minutes
Cook: 6 minutes

Summer-sweet heirloom tomatoes are the star of this recipe, complemented by mild and tangy goat cheese atop a crispy char-grilled pizza crust. If heirlooms are out of season, substitute just about any tomato.

Pantry Checklist:

• Refrigerated pizza crust dough (1 can)
• Garlic
• Heirloom tomato
• Mozzarella cheese
• Herbed goat cheese

Prep: 11 minutes
Cook: 4 minutes

A thick and glossy sauce makes any dish feel elegant, but this one takes all of five minutes to make. The Red Cabbage and Carrot Slaw shown is a great side, or try a carrot salad.

Pantry Checklist:

• Pork tenderloin (1 lb)
• Pineapple juice
• Sugar
• Dried sherry
• Low-sodium soy sauce

Prep: 1 minute
Cook: 29 minutes
Other: 3 minutes

This unusual yet delicious combination of flavors makes a good substitute for traditional pasta salad at your next cookout.

Pantry Checklist:

• Watermelon
• Farro
• Parsley
• Green Peas
• Pecorino Romano Cheese

Hands-on: 9 minutes
Total: 32 minutes

Honey and rum intensify the complex sweetness of bottled barbecue sauce for an easy, filling, and delicious sandwich. Top with pickles, chowchow, or coleslaw for a more authentic barbecue experience.

Pantry Checklist:

• Barbecue sauce
• Dark rum
• Honey
• Pork tenderloin
• Hamburger buns

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 24 minutes
Other: 5 minutes

While the halibut cooks on the grill (about 8 minutes), prepare the pesto sauce. Serve with grilled zucchini and red peppers (or whatever fresh veggies you have on hand).

Pantry Checklist:

• Halibut fillets (4 6-oz.)
• Basil leaves
• Fresh parmesan cheese
• Garlic cloves
• Lemon

Prep: 3 minutes
Cook: 8 minutes

This light but substantial vegetarian soup features a basil-infused broth that begs for dipping. Serve with your favorite crusty bread or with our Black Pepper-Garlic Flatbread, made from refrigerated pizza crust dough.

Pantry Checklist:

• Fresh three-cheese tortellini
• Vegetable broth (fat-free, less-sodium―use in place of chicken broth)
• Plum tomatoes
• Fresh basil
• Asiago cheese

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 13 minutes

Cooked quickly in the microwave, this is a hearty one-dish meal that will satisfy a craving for comfort food. Follow with a classic comfort-food dessert (with a twist): Strawberry-Banana Pudding.

Pantry Checklist:

• Baking potatoes (6)
• Sour cream
• Green onions
• Shredded barbecue chicken
• Cheddar cheese

Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 12 minutes

The tart-and-sweet flavor combination in grapefruit matches the tender salmon's sweetness and elevates its flavor. Blood orange juice gives the dressing intense orange flavor, but any citrusy vinaigrette will do.

Pantry Checklist:

• Salmon fillets
• Vidalia or other sweet onion
• Mixed baby salad greens
• Jarred red grapefruit sections
• Blood Orange Vinaigrette

Prep: 11 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes