The 30 Best Recipes to Cook This June

updated Jun 17, 2021

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platter of Japanese cucumber salad — Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Styling: Cyd McDowell
Japanese-Inspired Cucumber Salad

The calendar doesn’t quite say summer yet, but after a few hot, sunny days and the seasonal bounty that’s slowly showing up at the farmers market, I’m already in full summer mode. You too? One place I really feel it is in the kitchen. Sure, I’m cooking meals on the grill as often as possible and keeping summer favorites like cucumber salad, butter bath corn, and burgers in heavy rotation, but most of all my approach to cooking already feels more simple. Come summer I like to spend more time outside with my family and less time in the kitchen. That means unfussy dinners, like foil packets and sandwiches, a quick, creamy dip I can pull out to snack on when family and friends come to spend the afternoon on our patio, and all the summer salads I can toss together with whatever I grab at the farmers market.

My family is also big on breakfast, so when Father’s Day hits later this month, we plan to celebrate with a breakfast pizza that I’m certain both big and little eaters will love. Plus, a big pan of oven-cooked bacon and plenty of iced coffee, of course.

From pasta salad and the best veggie burgers for grilling to a hash brown breakfast casserole and cherry pie, here are 30 of our favorite ideas for recipes to cook and bake throughout the month ahead

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Vegetarian Italian Chopped Salad

The whole Kitchn team is crazy for chopped salads. This June you'll find Lifestyle Editor Riddley eating this pizza joint-inspired salad on repeat all month.

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Veggie Burger Recipe

Senior Contributing Food Editor, Sheela, has had a serious craving for a good veggie burger. "Not to toot my own horn, but this one I developed a couple of years ago absolutely fits the bill and I am way overdue making a batch again."

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Mediterranean Tuna and White Bean Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette

When it feels too hot to cook this month, this is the meal-worthy salad to make for dinner. It's a crunchy Italian-inspired tuna and white bean salad bursting with bright colors and fresh flavor.

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Corn and Avocado Pasta Salad with Cilantro and Lime

"I love a good one-bowl meal and this easy pasta salad is bursting with flavors and ingredients — corn, avocado, lime — that will be a guaranteed hit with my 2-year-old," says Executive Editor, Patty.

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Teriyaki Chicken Foil Packets

The magic of foil packets is that everything steams together, so the vegetables come out tender and the chicken is nice and juicy. Cook them on the grill or in the oven.

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Broiled Shrimp with Black Beans and Cilantro Rice

Deputy Food Director, Grace, has her sights set on this broiled shrimp. "I know it will be hot and I won't want to have the oven on for long, so this is a great way to speed up the cooking process."

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Halloumi and Melon Skewers

"I'm really excited to grill outside next month with my friends in LA," Features Director, Arie, tells me. "I have my eye on these melon and halloumi skewers. The salty/sweet/heat thing just ... does it for me."

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3-Ingredient Peanut Butter and Banana Popsicles

The start of summer means it's time for all the cool frozen treats. You definitely won't regret keeping these pops in the freezer this month.

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Southern-Style Grits with Okra, Corn, and Goat Cheese

You know what makes creamy grits even better? Crisp roasted okra, buttery summer corn, and tangy goat cheese! Assistant Food Editor, Nicole, has had her eye on these grits for a while and they're at the top of her must-make list this month.

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Tangy Cucumber Salad

Anytime you're not sure what side dish to make with dinner, go for this simple cucumber salad. It pairs well with just about everything and comes together in minutes.

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Garlic and Herb Butter Bath Corn

Boiling sweet summer corn in a butter bath with fresh herbs and garlic makes it taste like your favorite steakhouse side.

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Easy Fruit Clafoutis

Not sure what to do with your farmers market fruit haul? Follow Senior Contributing Food Editor, Sheela's, lead: "I am gathering all the cherries at the farmers market and making clafoutis."

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Sirloin Steak Sandwiches

These sandwiches are the number-one reason to add steak to your meal plan this month.

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Food Editor-at-Large, Christine, just went cherry picking and came home with 30 (!!!) pounds of cherries. Needless to say, cherry pie is in her future this month.

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Easy No-Cook Freezer Jam

If your June plans include berry picking, it's a good idea to bookmark this easy jam recipe immediately.

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Easy Grilled Sweet Potatoes

"Once summer arrives I cook almost exclusively on the grill," says Contributing Editor, Patty. "One unexpected item I love to grill is sweet potatoes."

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Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

Lifestyle Director, Lisa, loves ice cream sandwiches! This month she plans to grab a box to make this totally irresistible and oh-so-easy ice cream cake.

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Breakfast Pizza

Breakfast pizza is a win on any weekend, and an especially good idea on Father's Day.

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Japanese-Inspired Cucumber Salad

Managing Editor, Lauren, is all about cucumber salad right now. But not just any cucumber salad: She only has eyes for this version, inspired by sunomono. It's crunchy, refreshing, and swimming in delicate umami notes.

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If you're as excited about summer tomatoes as Food Editor Meghan, you should definitely join her in making tomato butter this month. Toss it with pasta, top it on grilled chicken or fish, spread it on muffins, or use it with fried eggs.

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Credit: Joe Lingeman

Chicken and Veggie Pesto Salad

Full of a robust assortment of the freshest veggies and strips of juicy chicken, and tossed with a bright, herby pesto, this no-lettuce summer salad comes together with a single trip to the farmers market.

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The Juiciest Burger Patties

When it comes to grilling burgers, there's just one kind of patty that does it for Food Editor Meghan: butter burgers.

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Four-Can Pantry Salad

Food Director, Nina, is moving this month and keeping her cooking super easy. "This recipe is a delicious way to use up what's left in the pantry, will keep well so we can have it for lunch AND dinner, and is satisfying enough to be a plant-based main, which is great for my vegetarian son."

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Sausage Calzone

"When I want to hit the sweet spot in between feeling like I’m making a home-cooked meal and not spending too much time in the kitchen, I look to our Kitchn Miracle Meals," says Production Editor, Tracey. " This sausage calzone is one of our favorites and will make an appearance on our dinner table (possibly more than once) before my kids finish up the school year."

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Creamy Avocado Dip

A good dip is Food Editor Kelli's go-to snack for backyard hangs, and she's kicking off summer with this cool, tangy number. "I like to serve it with pita chips, pretzels, and cut veggies. It's always a huge hit with everyone."

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Dill Pickle Chicken

Spicy and tangy pickle juice is the one-ingredient brine that makes the most tender and delicious chicken you will eat all summer.

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Lemonade from Scratch

Ditch the simple syrup for the easiest homemade lemonade ever.

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3-Ingredient Green Tahini Sauce

You'll find this herb-packed sauce in Food Editor Kelli's fridge at all times this month. "I love as a creamy salad dressing and partner it with almost everything I pull off the grill."

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Credit: Joe Lingeman

Samin Nosrat’s Ligurian Focaccia

Lifestyle Editor Lauren tells me that she's been itching to make focaccia. "Apparently even bread beginners can do it, and now that Nicole has vetted some of the best recipes in our Showdown, I'm going to finally walk the walk."

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Credit: Lauren Volo

Cheesy Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

No doubt about it: Any dad would love waking up to this loaded breakfast casserole on Father's Day. Just don't forget the coffee.

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