Yesterday, June 20th, was the first official day of summer! In celebration, we’re writing this “ode to summer” in the form of mouthwateringly delicious recipes—one for each letter of the alphabet! As you read, keep your eye out for your favorite summer vocabulary, then give us a shout on social media to let us know your favorites recipes from this list.
Think of this as a joyful compilation of all of our favorite things about summer, from ‘a’ to ‘zucchini.’
‘A’ is for Aloha BBQ Sliders
All you need to complete the tropical island atmosphere are some decorative cocktail umbrellas. These mini burger sliders topped with barbecued pineapple slices and crispy bacon will have you dreaming of your next vacation.
‘B’ is for Blackened Pork Belly with Mango Pineapple Slaw
Beach vibes abound with these Caribbean and Asian inspired pork belly bites—flavored with blackening seasoning and roasted to crispy, crunchy perfection, then garnished with juicy pineapple, fresh cilantro, and a mango-broccoli slaw.
‘C’ is for Cajun Catfish Sandwich
Can’t wait to go fishing this summer? Keep this recipe in mind as a great way to serve up your fresh catch! Cajun-seasoned catfish fillets are pan-fried, then topped with lettuce, tomato, relish, and a lemon-shallot dijonnaise, then served up on Martin’s Big Marty’s Rolls for a rewarding meal.
‘D’ is for Deep Fried S’mores Rolls
Does summer seem incomplete without first enjoying either an over-the-top deep-fried dessert (boardwalk-style), or something s’mores flavored? We got you covered with these deep-fried Party Rolls stuffed with chocolate-hazelnut spread and marshmallow fluff, and sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar.
‘E’ is for Eggplant & Mozzarella Sandwich
Every summer meal should utilize the season’s delicious fresh-picked produce in some way; with options like summer squash, juicy-ripe tomatoes, and eggplant, there’s no excuse not to! Why not take it one step further with a tasty sandwich loaded up on all the veggies you can get your hands on? Our eggplant and mozzarella sandwich on fresh Whole Wheat Potato Bread or our Grilled Farmers’ Market Sandwich are two great examples!
‘F’ is for Frank & Beans Dog
From picnics in the park to neighborhood barbecues, you can’t go wrong with a classic grilled hot dog and some quick and easy sides. This simple yet ingenious hot dog concept combines your entrée and preferred side dish into one delicious meal!
‘G’ is for Grilled Fish Sandwich with Avocado and Cilantro-Lime Slaw
Give your fish sandwich a Latin flair with a marinade of achiote paste, orange juice, cumin, and oregano, a fresh cilantro-lime slaw, a homemade roasted pineapple-jalapeño spread, and some sliced avocado.
‘H’ is for Hanger Steak Sandwich
Here’s hoping for many sunny days ahead and the opportunity to cook (and dine) outdoors every chance we get. For your next family dinner, try grilling up some juicy hanger steak to prepare these restaurant-worthy sandwiches garnished with mustard-mayo, caramelized onions, and baby arugula.
‘I’ is for Italian Panzanella Salad
If your summer garden is overflowing with fresh veggies like tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, onions, and herbs, a classic panzanella salad using toasted Martin’s bread cubes may be just what you need!
‘J’ is for Jamaican Jerk Chicken Tacos
Juicy chicken tenders meet Jamaican jerk seasoning in this flavor-packed take on street tacos, topped with spicy mayo and quick cabbage slaw, using flattened Martin’s Sandwich Potato Rolls as the shells. (Bonus: crank up the heat with this recipe trio.)
‘K’ is for Kansas City-Style BBQ Sauce
Keep your cooking skills sharp by learning to make your own homemade barbecue sauces to use with all your summer eats! A great place to start is the classic Kansas City BBQ Sauce, a sweet thick sauce that goes with everything from Beef Brisket to these Sweet Heat BBQ Dogs.
‘L’ is for Lemon Chess Bread Pudding
Light and refreshing, just like a sunny summer morning, this sweet and tangy bread pudding topped with Lemon Whipped Cream is the perfect way to start your day!
‘M’ is for Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich
Mix up your daily sandwich by layering in an assortment of garden-fresh produce like cucumbers, red onion, and roasted bell pepper, along with flavorful additions such as pickled banana peppers, hummus, and feta cheese!
‘N’ is for New England Lobster Roll
Nothing says “summer” better than some fresh-caught lobster! Whether you catch it yourself or pick some up from a local seafood market, you’re sure to love this mayo-based lobster salad on Martin’s Long Potato Rolls.
‘O’ is for Old Bay Burger
One simple and effective way to diversify your weekly grilled burger recipe is by incorporating different seasoning blends into the patties. Take these Old Bay Burgers, for instance, which incorporate the famous seasoning blend along with Worcestershire sauce and a few extra herbs and spices, to create a flavor-packed phenomenon.
‘P’ is for Peach Jam
Plums, peaches, apricots, nectarines—summer stone fruits are some of the best parts of the season. If you plan to go orchard picking this year, be sure to stock up so you can make your own homemade jams and jellies to use throughout the fall and winter months! Check out this step-by-step blog post for a universal jam recipe that works for everything from peaches to berries! (Plus: learn more about the different types of fruit preserves.)
‘Q’ is for Quiche Lorraine
Quiet Sunday mornings can be hard to come by this time of year. Make sure to slow down with a quaint family brunch, made complete with a homemade Quiche Lorraine—inspired by the traditional French pastry. Our variation uses Martin’s Potato Bread for the crust and incorporates shredded potatoes, onion, bacon, thyme, gruyere cheese, and summer sausage into the filling.
‘R’ is for Red White & Blue Mini Buns
Ready for the Fourth of July? Incorporate a patriotic theme directly into your cookout spread with this trio of BBQ appetizers, each using a different “color” of BBQ sauce. Red: pulled chicken with Memphis BBQ Sauce; Blue: pulled pork with blueberry-balsamic flavored Kansas City BBQ Sauce; White: mini hot dogs with Alabama BBQ Sauce.
‘S’ is for Sweet Tea Grilled Chicken
Southerners rejoice! It’s not summer without a nice cold glass of southern-style sweet tea! It also makes a tasty marinade for these grilled chicken sliders on Martin’s 12-Sliced Slider Potato Rolls (served with more tea on the side, of course).
‘T’ is for (Heirloom) Tomato Tart
There’s nothing quite like fresh-picked, locally grown tomatoes in the peak of summertime. This seasonal superstar is one of many people’s most-looked-forward-to things about the warm weather months. Give this star the ultimate spotlight with this open-faced tomato tart using Martin’s 12-Sliced Slider Potato Rolls, or go old-school with a classic tomato sandwich.
‘U’ is for Ultimate All-American Summer Burger
Unleash your inner grill-master with this masterpiece of a burger: half-pound beef and pork patties stuffed with bacon, onions, and cheddar cheese, then grilled to perfection and served on Martin’s Sandwich Potato Rolls, topped with ketchup, mustard, and potato chips for an added salty crunch! (Tip: More of a hot dog person? Try these two-for-one Bacon Cheeseburger Dogs.)
‘V’ is for Vegetable Sandwich with Dill Sauce
Veg out with a light and refreshing sandwich filled with fresh veggies and a homemade yogurt-dill sauce. What a great way to put your garden herbs and veggies to good use!
‘W’ is for Watermelon Panzanella
What would summer be without wondrously cool watermelon on a scorching hot day? Elevate this wonder-melon to the next level by transforming it into a fresh and tasty salad filled with fresh mint, arugula, feta cheese, a lemon vinaigrette, and cubed Martin’s Party Potato Rolls.
‘X’ is for eXclusive Labor Day Burger and Hot Dog Recipes
Expect to enjoy your fair share of burgers and hot dogs in the coming weeks and months, between small group get-togethers, family cookouts, and vacation meal prep. If you’ve run out of new ideas or are just looking for some creative inspiration, check out our eXclusive Recipes Guide which includes the above BBQ Lover’s Burger!
‘Y’ is for Yogurt Smoothie Bowl
You didn’t think we’d forget to mention summer berry season, did you? This time of year is when our favorite strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries are at their peak. Be sure to find a local orchard to do some berry picking, then enjoy them fresh in this yogurt smoothie bowl. (Bonus: Head to our blog to learn how to build a Summer Berry French Toast Bar!)
‘Z’ is for Zucchini Grinders
Zest up your dinner routine with these vegetarian Italian-style subs made with thinly sliced zucchini, homemade marinara, and shredded mozzarella cheese, all nestled in a Martin’s Hoagie Roll. It makes a perfect lighter alternative to its heartier cousin, the meatball sub.
Ta-da! We’ve made it through the entire alphabet. We hope you enjoyed these 26 Summer Favorite Recipes, but just in case you need even more inspiration, check out our recipes archive using the links below to browse through some popular categories.
More Summer Recipes
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