50+ BEST Italian Summer Recipes

Updated May 14, 2025, Published Jun 15, 2021

40+ Italian Summer Recipes You will Love

It’s the season to spend more time outside and less time warming the house with the oven! Bonus: I’ve also included some American classics to round out your menu.

Make your summer better with recipes for breezy side dishes, desserts, grilled mains, and simple weeknight dinners.

Save this post and return to it when you think, WHAT DO I MAKE FOR DINNER ON A HOT SUMMER NIGHT?? Here are some to get you started…

best hamburger recipe ever perfect juicy burger- close up with sauce dripping down the side.

Italian Summer Recipes- On The Grill

Summer is the best time for grilling and outside with family and friends. Turn on the grill and make these mouthwatering Italian and American favorites.

BEST Hamburger Recipe (Perfect Juicy Burger!)

These tasty burgers are ready in less than 20 minutes and are a must-make for your next cookout or BBQ gathering. There are no fillers in this recipe. The grill and stovetop methods are included.

Grilled Chicken Thighs (Easy Recipe)

Marinated to perfection with a blend of herbs and spices, these tender thighs boast a tantalizing charred exterior and juicy, mouthwatering meat in every bite.

finished grilled chicken thighs on a serving platter with herbs on the side. Ready to serve and eat.

Dad’s Famous Dry Rub Beef Ribs (EASY)

THE BEST DRY RUB RECIPE FOR BEEF RIBS ON THE BBQ! You need this recipe to make the tastiest ribs. It is a secret family recipe and my dad let me release it to all of you.

Chicken Spiedini with Lemon Sauce

tender chicken marinated in a lemony blend, coated with a rustic Italian breadcrumb and Parmigiano mixture, and finished with a zesty lemon butter sauce. Adults and children will request this recipe time and time again!

chicken spiedini recipe on a platter with grilled lemons and herbs ready to serve with dipping sauce on the side.

Tastiest Sage Garlic Honey Lemon Grilled Chicken

The perfect flavors for the best-grilled chicken!

Grilled Beef Tri-Tip Steak with Chimichurri Sauce

Best Tips for Cooking Tri-Tip Steak Beef! Tri-tip is a relatively cheap and lean steak cut from sirloin. It cooks up tasty and tender.

Grilled Shrimp Recipe

These jumbo shrimp are marinated in rich, flavorful, sweet, spicy tomato butter. It is finger-licking good and comes together in 30 minutes!

grilled longhorn steakhouse redrock shrimp on a platter ready to eat. Grilled lemon and butter dipping sauce on the side. Sunlight on the platter.

Ultimate Grilled Chicken Sandwich Recipe (Easy!)

This recipe perfectly balances indulgent elements like juicy chicken, crispy bacon, garlic aioli, and hot honey with lighter components- fresh veggies, creating a satisfying experience with every bite!

Grilled Pork Chops (Best Juicy Recipe)–

The juiciest and tastiest grilled pork chops!

Juicy grilled pork chops on a plate with parsley on top. Grilled chops in the sunlight.

Italian Summer Recipes- Salads, Pasta Salads, and Potato Salads

These easy salads are beautiful and delicious. Perfect for hot summer days when you need something fresh with seasonal ingredients.

antipasto pasta salad serving bowl and individual bowl with fork.

Antipasto Pasta Salad Recipe

Bring this Antipasto Pasta Salad Recipe (with Italian Dressing) to your next BBQ party and everyone will ask for the secret recipe. And make sure to know how long your pasta salad last outside so it won’t spoil before you even start your BBQ party.

Peach and Mozzarella Salad with Orange, Basil, and Poppy Seed Dressing

Fresh local peaches and nectarines everywhere!! This recipe makes enough to feed a crowd and is loved by all.

Prosciutto Melon Arugula Salad Citrus Vinaigrette

Salty, sweet, and tangy, this prosciutto (Italian cured ham), melon, and arugula salad is a match made in Italian flavor heaven. This is an elegant salad/appetizer to wow a crowd that comes together with a few ingredients and little time.

SIMPLE Creamy Tarragon and Chive Potato Salad

Simple Potato Salad Recipe! No barbecue is complete without a bowl of delicious potato (or pasta) salad on the picnic…

Nicoise salad

This recipe combines fresh ingredients, a well-balanced flavor profile, a tangy dressing, and various textures to create the perfect salad.

Italian Style Pasta Salad Recipe (with Arugula)

Let’s Make a New kind of Pasta Salad! This one is packed with Italian flavors. The greens used are fresh.

Summer Panzanella Salad

This traditional Tuscan dish is a delightful combination of stale or toasted bread, juicy tomatoes, fragrant basil, and a drizzle of olive oil and vinegar. It’s a refreshing and hearty salad that is guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds on hot summer days.

Pesto Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Tomatoes

Golden brown and crispy, these spuds will change the way you think about small potatoes. They are soft on the inside with crispy edges- an all-around potato- the perfect combo!

Easy Lemony Asparagus and Potato Salad Recipe

Easy, healthy, and yummy potato salad recipe for your next summer BBQ or party!

Berry and Goat Cheese Salad with Honey Citrus Dressing

Best Berry and Goat Cheese Salad! Fresh and delicious berry salad! This salad is sublime. It hits all the taste buds.

Easy Italian Rice Salad Recipe (Insalata Di Riso)

A refreshing and colorful dish made with tender short-grain rice mixed with various fresh vegetables, herbs, a light dressing, and optional meat or meat seafood. It’s delightful!

Easy Italian rice salad (insalata di riso) in a large platter with the hard boiled eggs sliced on top.

Goat Cheese Salad Recipe with Lemon Olive Oil Dressing

The BEST Salads are Simple! I love my salads simple. A few fresh ingredients can bring a salad to life.

Arugula, Apple, and Pistachio Salad in Parmigiano Cups

Fresh and delicious salad recipe These easy and fancy little salad cups add a little extra fabulous to any occasion!

Classic Italian Chopped Salad Recipe

A delicious and colorful Italian-American dish that combines a variety of fresh vegetables, Italian deli meats, cheeses, and a tangy vinaigrette dressing. It’s easy to make and one the best salads for any occasion.

Spoon in a large bowl of Italian chopped salad.

Farro Salad Recipe Red Pepper Mushroom

Delicious and Filling Vegetarian Meal This meal is packed with flavor and nutrition! Farro Salad with red peppers and porcini.

Easy Italian Tortellini Pasta Salad

Easy and Delicious Tortellini Pasta Salad Recipe. This Italian pasta salad comes together quickly and can easily be made ahead of time. Great as leftover too!

Italian Summer Recipes: In-Season Produce

Summer calls for fresh and delicious produce. Maybe you have some growing in your garden and you are wondering what to do with it all? Here are some ideas for you.

Easy Oven Roasted Zucchini and Yellow Squash Recipe on a platter with basil on the top. Parmigiano cheese on the side. Serving utensils on the side.

Ratatouille Tartine (toast)

A beautiful and traditional way to use all your summer veggies in one dish!

Sautéed Zucchini and Onion (Italian Recipe)

Delicious Italian Style Zucchini and Onion Side Dish A truly delectable medley of zucchini, onion, and herbs. A light and…

Italian Stuffed Zucchini (Twice Baked Zucchini)

Vegetarian stuffed zucchini (zucchine ripiene) are one of the most classic Italian ways to eat zucchini. Essentially, they are twice…

Eggplant Parmigiana Recipe- Melanzane alla Parmigiana

Both comforting and fresh, you’ll love this classic Italian eggplant dish.

slice of eggplant parmigiano on a plate with a slice of bread on the side.

Sicilian Eggplant Caponata Recipe

This beloved Italian dish is lovely for any occasion, bursting with bold flavors, delicious vegetables, and aromas that define Sicilian cuisine.

Baked Zucchini and Tomatoes Bruschetta

Baked Zucchini Tomato Bruschetta! Let’s make a light and delicious summer recipe to use all the gorgeous bounty of zucchini…

Roasted Peppers in oil with Garlic with Pasta

Delicious Homemade Roasted Peppers and Garlic with Olive Oil! These perfectly roasted peppers and garlic marinated in olive oil make…

Spaghetti alle Vongole Recipe in the pan with bread and fresh parsley surrounding the white pan.

Pasta with Clams

Every bite is a harmonious blend of textures and tastes that will tantalize your taste buds…

Pickled Italian Vinegar Peppers Recipe (Easy)

These are so easy to make and the pickling method can be applied to other vegetables as well…

Best Italian Stuffed Peppers

These Stuffed Peppers are a one stop meal with veggies,…

Grilled Eggplant Recipe

Each tender slice of grilled eggplant is infused with the aromatic flavors of garlic, parsley, basil, and extra-virgin olive oil, creating a symphony of tastes that will transport you straight to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean…

spoonful of Best Authentic Pesto Genovese (Basil Pesto) over the bowl of fresh pesto.

Pesto Genovese (classic basil pesto)

Homemade pesto is a gloriously simple, fresh, and full of flavor sauce. As soon as all the ingredients come together…

Italian Summer Recipes- Desserts

Summer calls for easy and often no bake deserts. Here is a list that will have everyone running for a sweet treat!

Lemon Tiramisu with lemon curd missing a scoop.

Easy Lemon Tiramisu Recipe– no bake

You will make this gorgeous, light, and refreshing dessert all summer!

Frozen Lemon Dessert (Creamy Lemony Treat)– no bake

No bake. Frozen Lemon Dessert! A sweet summer treat that will cool your taste buds and make you pucker with excitement.

Vanilla Cake Roll with Cream and Berries

Delicious and Pretty Dessert! This light, airy cake recipe is perfect for summer! This vanilla roll cake – a light…

Honey Panna Cotta Italian Recipe– no bake

Authentic Italian Panna Cotta recipe using Kefir! Yes, kefir panna cotta! Not only is this recipe silky smooth and irresistible- it is high in protein and easy to digest.

Heavenly Angel Food Cake

The Best Angel Food Cake- For Real! Angel Food Cake is truly heaven-sent. The light, fluffy, white, and…

Traditional Italian Tiramisù Recipe– no bake

No bake. Tiramisu- A Classic Italian Dessert Tiramisù means- “pick me up” in Italian. It is traditionally made with espresso and most…

How to Make Italian Pistachio Gelato (Recipe)– no bake

Have you ever wondered how to make Italian pistachio gelato? Here is an authentic step by step recipe for you! Learn how to make homemade Italian pistachio gelato and transport yourself to the streets of Italy!