In partnership withPEPCID®

9 Comforting Summer Dishes That Are Heartburn-Friendly

published Jun 22, 2021
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(Image credit: Christine Han)

This time of year, the meals we share are equally as festive as the season itself. Whether it’s a cookout, picnic, or simply dinner at home on the patio, summer eating is just plain fun. What isn’t fun, though, is when heartburn disrupts the meal, which can happen all too easily when tucking into our favorite summertime classics.

Chef Millie Peartree — also known as a comfort food pro — understands the frustrations of heartburn firsthand. One of her best options for relieving heartburn is simply taking PEPCID®, but she can also avoid it in the first place by cooking around it. “I’ve had to really find and research different alternative ingredients to prevent my heartburn symptoms, so I don’t have to worry about heartburn getting in the way of the foods that I love,” she said.

Steering clear of trigger ingredients like raw garlic, citrus, and tomatoes, as well as fried or fatty foods, definitely helps. But there’s plenty of comforting dishes that pivot to seasonal flavors for a satisfying taste. Some of Chef Millie’s favorite heartburn-friendly foods include oatmeal with fresh fruit, yogurt parfaits, and crusty bread with truffle oil.

Credit: Photo: Tara Donne | Food Stylist: Cyd McDowell

Of course, when Chef Millie wants to indulge, she’s found PEPCID AC® Max to be especially useful. “Comfort food is the food you eat that makes you close your eyes and dance in your chair,” she said. “And with PEPCID®, I can embrace every bite of my favorite comfort foods, without worrying about heartburn symptoms.”

According to Dr. Samantha Nazareth, a gastroenterology specialist, moderation also helps. “When it comes to heartburn, the less you trigger it, the less often you burn,” she said. “Luckily, if you are prone to heartburn after eating a decadent meal, PEPCID AC® Max works in as little as 15 minutes and lasts for hours to control acid all day or all night.”

Inspired by Chef Millie’s knack for making comfort food more comfortable, we put together nine of our favorite heartburn-friendly recipes to make the most of summer. Enjoy!

1 / 9
Summer Squash Risotto
Grated zucchini and fresh basil partner up in this creamy Parmesan risotto. Though the wine will mostly cook off, alcohol can be a potential heartburn trigger so to be safe, swap it out for an additional cup of chicken broth.
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2 / 9
Grilled Shrimp and Vegetable Grain Bowls
Think of grilled grain bowls as the grown-up version of the campfire packets you might have made at sleep-away camp. These veggie-packed ones are so flavorful, you can easily skip the white sauce and lemon juice to avoid potential heartburn triggers. Also, make sure the vegetable broth you're using doesn't contain tomato.
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3 / 9
5-Ingredient Creamy Corn Bucatini with Burrata
This one-pot pasta sings summer sweetness: It’s got juicy, milky corn; creamy, luscious burrata; and edgy, grassy chives to bring it all into focus. In case you can't find bucatini pasta, feel free to use spaghetti or linguine instead.
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4 / 9
Buttermilk Grilled Chicken
Achieve the juiciest grilled chicken with the help of the Southern favorite: buttermilk! The dairy lends so much great flavor to the meat that you can easily skip the garlic, lemon juice, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes in the recipe to avoid any potential heartburn triggers. Swap them out for heartburn-friendly dried herbs like dried oregano or thyme, instead!
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5 / 9
Grilled Slow-Cooked Sweet Potatoes
Whole slow roasted sweet potatoes from the grill aren't just side dish material. Serve them as the main event finished with dollop of Greek yogurt or hummus, or simply a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
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6 / 9
Roasted Eggplant and Brown Rice Bowl with Turmeric Tahini
This vibrant grain bowl is topped with chickpeas, roasted eggplant, and a vibrant turmeric tahini sauce. To ensure it's free of potential triggers, replace the mint with parsley, basil, or more cilantro, and skip the garlic and lemon juice in the tahini sauce.
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7 / 9
Caramelized Zucchini Phyllo Pie
Here, crisp, flaky layers of phyllo dough encase a savory filling of caramelized zucchini, sweet summer corn, two types of cheese, and lots of fresh herbs. It's as pretty to serve as it is tasty to eat. Hot sauce is optional, so be sure to skip it if you're prone to heartburn.
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8 / 9
Fish Tacos
These homemade fish tacos boast the crispiest golden fish fillets — no deep-frying required! Opt for mild chili powder, or leave it out, and skip the Sriracha mayonnaise. Instead, serve the tacos simply with lots of buttery avocado, fresh cilantro, and crunchy shredded cabbage. If just a small squeeze of lime doesn't bother you, feel free to add a little to the finished tacos, however they hardly need it to be delicious.
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9 / 9
Slow Cooker Corn Chowder
This summery slow cooker corn chowder is finished with just a dash of heavy cream and topped with a bright and fresh relish. This is another one where you won't miss the lemon juice and garlic by skipping it — there's tons of flavor here without it.
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