Now that June's here, it's GO TIME—we don't know about you, but we’re not wasting a second of summer, and now that Memorial Day is in the rearview, it’s time to kick summer into top gear! Join us as we try and stuff all our meals with fleeting summer produce (peaches! summer squash! sweet corn!) and eat ALL our meals outdoors. We’ve got 40 recipes to help inspire you to make dinner this June—one for every day of the month, and then some.
We’ve included a good mix of entirely new recipes here, like our one-pan chimichurri shrimp, our garlic Parmesan summer squash pasta, and our Hawaiian shoyu chicken, as well as some older classics like our summer bowtie pasta & chicken sausage skillet, our steak kebab bowls, and our green goddess meatballs. Craving lighter meals that won’t weigh you down? Try our zucchini lasagna roll-ups, our summer roll bowls, or our creamy corn pasta (the corn becomes the cream sauce 😵). Starting to really enjoy that AC inside, and dreading going outside for all your restaurant faves? We've also included some of our top new copycat recipes, like our copycat Chicken Big Macs, our copycat Culver's ButterBurgers, and our copycat Dave's Hot Chicken cauliflower sliders.
We’re also taking inspiration from holidays in June, and have included recipes that are synonymous with Father’s Day, as well as Pride month (in memory of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising that is known for sparking the modern gay rights movement). There’s no better time of year to include a rainbow of colorful veggies in your meals, like in our Caribbean Cobb salad, our sushi sandwiches, or our rainbow spaghetti—check out our gallery of rainbow foods for more inspiration too. Father’s Day is synonymous with grilling, sure, but we say, the best way to celebrate your dad is to spend time with him. Rather than just relying on standard burgers and dogs for one day only, try grilling more impressive recipes together all month long. Our grilled short ribs, our chicken teriyaki pineapple bowls, our surf 'n' turf foil packs, or our Peruvian-style chicken with green sauce are all fun to tackle, and are like gifts that keep on giving (turn leftover pineapple into piña coladas, short ribs into tacos, put that aji sauce onto ALL your grilled meats… you get the idea).
Want more June recipe inspiration? Check out our fave healthy summer dinners, our best Father’s Day brunch recipes, our top cookout and picnic recipes, and the sweetest Father’s Day cakes too.
Peruvian-Style Chicken With Green Sauce
Our ever-popular Peruvian roast chicken will forever be one of our favorites…unless we need to get dinner on the table ASAP. This weeknight-friendly adaptation leans instead on bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs—you still get that smoky, garlicky, and deeply savory chicken with its dark mahogany crispy skin, in less than half the time.
Lobster Rolls
While this recipe focuses on the all-butter version that makes lobster the star of the show, mayo fans need not fear—we've included both options, so you can make your dream lobster roll, just how you like it. Serve it with your favorite summer sides to transport yourself straight to the coast after just one bite.
Get the Lobster Rolls recipe.
Shrimp Street Corn Skillet
Mexican street corn (AKA elote) is one of the best things to ever come off a grill, in our opinion. The only way to improve it? Add shrimp & tortillas to make it a well-rounded dinner we know we'll be making again and again, all summer long.
Get the Shrimp Street Corn Skillet recipe.
Garlic Parmesan Summer Squash Pasta
Though pasta salad reigns supreme during the summer, that doesn't mean there's not still room on your plate for this buttery, garlic-forward warm pasta dish too. It's the perfect thing to make when you've got an abundance of summer squash, and are craving a little comfort food.
Crunchy Coconut Chicken
This recipe is inspired by Thai Diner, the New York restaurant that famously marries American diner traditions with classic Thai street food. Though their chicken is made in the classic Milanese preparation, there is really something special about how the slightly-sweet coconut crust paired with the extra-coconutty chicken.
Get the Crunchy Coconut Chicken recipe.
Green Goddess Meatballs
Chicken meatballs get a serious upgrade with the fresh, herbaceous magic of green goddess sauce in this easy dinner. The sauce works double-duty and isn’t just for drizzling—it’s mixed right into the meatballs for an extra dose of flavor!
Get the Green Goddess Meatballs recipe.
Roasted Cabbage Burgers
We love cabbage in any form (schnitzel! Parmesan!), but these baked cabbage burgers are something extra special. Roasted cabbage steaks are topped with melty cheeseburgers and a smattering of all your favorite burger condiments for a cozier, healthier take on this summer backyard staple.
Get the Roasted Cabbage Burgers recipe.
Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu)
Inspired by the popular Japanese onigirazu, this is like a cross between sushi and a sandwich. We filled ours with spicy salmon, seasoned sushi rice, cucumber, pickled cabbage, carrot, and avocado—then wrapped it in nori to make it extra portable. Serve it with plenty of the sriracha-soy mayo on the side!
Get the Sushi Sandwich (Onigirazu) recipe.
Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken
A saucy glazed chicken thigh is typically pretty hard to beat, but this Hawaiian shoyu chicken is really something special. Featuring a ridiculously simple soy and brown sugar sauce, this easy one-pot meal will become your new go-to weeknight dinner.
Get the Hawaiian Shoyu Chicken recipe.
Copycat Chicken Big Macs
The highly anticipated, limited-time release of the Chicken Big Mac came and went in the blink of an eye, leaving many fans scrambling to get their hands on one before it disappeared. If you missed out, don’t worry—this copycat is just as delicious and much easier to enjoy at home.
Get the Copycat Chicken Big Macs recipe.
Copycat Chicken Big Macs
One-Pan Chimichurri Shrimp
Chimichurri is best known as an Argentine topping for grilled beef, but the fun doesn’t have to stop there. This bright, zippy blend of fresh herbs, alliums, and acid can play well with many different foods, including juicy, marinated shrimp.
Get the One-Pan Chimichurri Shrimp recipe.
Eggplant Bacon
When you’ve made eggplant Parm three days in a row and there’s STILL eggplant filling up your crisper drawer, make eggplant bacon. Rich and smoky with just a touch of sweetness, this homemade vegan bacon is the perfect addition to everything from salads to breakfast sandwiches—and it makes a kick-butt BLT.
Get the Eggplant Bacon recipe.
Taco Bell Quesaritos
If you’ve been mourning the Quesarito ever since Taco Bell discontinued it, then we have good news: this copycat recipe is even better. It has everything you love about the Quesarito: seasoned ground beef, cilantro-lime rice, nacho cheese sauce, and sour cream, all wrapped in a quesadilla-style burrito.
Get the Taco Bell Quesaritos recipe.
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
Elote (Mexican street corn) has that grilled, charred flavor that every grill out needs, while pasta salad is the easy, reliable side dish that everyone thanks you for. We love both of these summer sides so much, we decided to combine them for the ultimate light summer meal. Feel free to add protein to make this even heartier if you like.
Dragon Roll
Uramaki arguably reaches a peak of extravagance with the dragon roll, with its gorgeous "scales" of thinly sliced mango and avocado and drizzle of spicy sriracha mayo. The roll is wrapped in classic vinegar-seasoned rice and filled with crispy shrimp tempura, a mix of buttery avocado, and crunchy cucumber.
Get the Dragon Roll recipe.
Copycat Culver's ButterBurgers
If you’ve ever had the pleasure of sinking your teeth into a Culver’s ButterBurger, you know it’s the kind of burger that really sticks with you. Served on a toasted and lightly buttered Kaiser-style bun, they’re so good you don’t even need condiments!
Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
This zucchini recipe takes some time and patience, but it's just about the prettiest "pasta" dish you'll ever see. If you have mandoline, use it to make the noodles; if you don't, practice your knife skills. 😉
Get the Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups recipe.
Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad
This recipe tastes like Caesar salad took a vacation to the Midwest. Bright green crisp-tender broccoli is tossed with cavatappi, shredded Parm, and shards of crispy croutons in a silky homemade Caesar dressing for an unforgettable spin on the classic cookout staple. Add a protein (à la chicken or shrimp Caesar salad) to make it even heartier.
Get the Broccoli Caesar Pasta Salad recipe.
Copycat Raising Cane's Chicken & Sauce
Cane’s juicy, fried chicken strips dunked in tangy, peppery sauce is the kind of fast food meal we dream about. While the restaurant has expanded outside of the Midwest, it still isn’t totally accessible everywhere yet… until now. We tested and tested and retested this recipe so that we could confidently say, this copycat is as good as the real thing.
Creamy Chicken & Corn Skillet
With toasty corn kernels, smoky bacon, and a creamy, herby sauce, this simple skillet dinner proves corn belongs off the cob too. Since the chicken and corn are so hearty on their own, all you’ll need to complete the meal is a side of sautéed spinach or your favorite grilled veggie.
Get the Creamy Chicken & Corn Skillet recipe.
