12 Warm-Weather Recipes for the First Day of Summer

Summer has finally arrived! If you’re scratching your head wondering what to make during these long, hot days, check out these 11 delicious options!

No. 1: Grant's Strawberry Salsa

Rachael Ray Show

For this sweet and savory salsa, Grant blends strawberries with cilantro, honey, lime juice, onion and jalapeno. He suggests you serve it with chips, or with any grilled meat.

No. 2: Marc Murphy's Zucchini, Pecorino, and Mint Salad

This creative salad features zucchini cut into spaghetti-like strands tossed with a dressing of olive oil, lemon and mint and topped with shaved pecorino.

No. 3: Thai Beef Salad

This cool summer salad features shredded green papaya, a Thai-inspired dressing, and grilled steak. Perfect warm weather dinner!

No. 4: Katie Lee’s BLT Ranch Burgers

Katie’s simple, summery BLT burger will be the hit of any BBQ. Katie accessorizes her beef patty with bacon, homemade ranch dressing and a toasted bun.

Tip: Add Worcestershire sauce to your ground beef when you make your burger patties, because as Katie says, it will make your meat taste “meatier.”

No. 5: Sriracha Chicken with Peanuts in Lettuce Wraps

For maximum flavor, Rach makes her own spicy Asian-inspired sauce for this dish, blending hoisin sauce, tamari, Sriracha, peanut butter and rice vinegar.

No. 6: Scarlett Smorynski's Avocado Ice Cream

Why not cool down with some healthy avocado ice cream? This recipe really could not be easier. Just blend up avocado, heavy cream and agave, then freeze, that’s it.

No. 7: Smoky Mexican Street Corn

Rach grills corn then douses with a spicy cream sauce, and a sprinkling of queso fresco and chives. Yum!

No. 8: Spicy Grapefruit Margarita Ice Pops

This margarita-inspired pop features DIY jalapeno-infused tequila with grapefruit juice and sugar. Freeze them into cone-shaped cups and roll the finished pops in chili salt! Amazing!

No. 9: Katie Lee’s Best Barbecue Ribs Ever

Katie makes her own spicy-sweet dry rub and lets her ribs cure in the fridge for at least four hours before cooking in the oven, and finishing on the grill.

No. 10: Lemon Yogurt & Chive Dip

For this fresh and delicious dip, Richard Blais uses items you might already have in your kitchen. He starts with Greek yogurt and adds lemon juice, capers and fresh dill and chives. Who wants a pre-made dip when you can serve something as fresh and tasty as this?

No. 11: Rotisserie Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch Dressing

For a hearty but still light and refreshing summer meal, try this Cobb salad, also made with time-saving rotisserie chicken.

No. 12: Sliced Ginger-Garlic Steak and Cold Sesame Noodles

For this delectable make-your-own takeout recipe, Rach serves sliced steak atop a bed of delicious, peanutty cold sesame noodles.

What’s your favorite summer food? Tell us below!