Summer Vegetable Recipes for Fresh and Fiber Rich Meals
Summer is here which means it’s time to try new summer vegetable recipes. Whether you grow your own, have a CSA box, shop local at the farmer’s market, or pick up from the grocery store, seasonal veggies make for the most flavorful and delicious dishes! When it comes to working on nutrition goals, I’m a big proponent for adding in nutrient dense foods, not getting rid of the foods you like. You don’t need to replace foods that have a reputation for being “less healthy” for whatever reason. If you enjoy them, keep them! But I think it can be wonderful to add new foods to your plate too! Vegetables add different flavors, textures, micronutrients, antioxidants, and fiber. Using seasonal vegetables ensures that they are more fresh and have better flavor, so you are more likely to enjoy them!
12 Summer Vegetable Recipes to Add to your Routine
Baked Zucchini Fries
Baked zucchini fries are a tasty addition to your zucchini recipe repertoire. We’re not trying to replace french fries here, but instead adding a different way to enjoy the zucchini. The breadcrumb coating gives them a crunchy texture, and the parmesan cheese adds that irresistible flavor!
Baked Zucchini Hash Browns
Another great way to use zucchini! Zucchini hash browns are similar to a veggie fritter, but they’re baked and go perfectly with any meal of the day! My favorite way to enjoy zucchini hash browns is with eggs for breakfast.
One Pot Ratatouille
A list of summer veggie recipes isn’t complete without ratatouille. The perfect way to use up summer staples like summer squash, eggplant, and tomato. My favorite way to enjoy it is with some good crusty bread.
Cucumber Noodle Greek Salad
No need for a spiralizer with this cucumber noodle Greek salad. A veggie peeler will do, to create long flat cucumber (or zucchini) noodles. All the classic Greek flavors make this a delicious and fresh salad for summer.
Grilled Vegetable Lasagna
Do you need to replace your lasagna noodles with veggies? No! You could do a hybrid and ADD summer vegetables to your lasagna. But honestly, this Grilled Vegetable Lasagna is a favorite in our house. It is so good, and an easy way to use up your summer squash!
Grilled Veggie Sandwich with Mozzarella and Balsamic Glaze
Balsamic glaze makes everything better, and this Grilled Vegetable Sandwich is no exception. You can really use whatever veggies you want, but zucchini, squash, and eggplant can be sliced in a way that stays put on the bread, making it easier to eat.
Ginger Chicken Zoodles
I love me some zucchini recipes because it’s just so versatile and so abundant in the summer! Zoodles are a fun way to enjoy zucchini and these ginger chicken zoodles are flavorful and spicy with ingredients like fresh ginger and sriracha.
Corn Zucchini Chowder
While we don’t always think about making soup in the summer, every once in awhile, it still hits the spot. I love a good corn chowder and this one is no exception! Plus the addition of zucchini, another summer vegetable. Yum!
Zucchini Pizza Bites
Can you tell we have a lot of zucchini to use up in the summer? We love our zucchini recipes. Zucchini pizza bites is another tasty recipe that makes for a great kid-friendly snack!
Chickpea Tomato Salad
Chickpea Tomato Salad is a fresh and tasty way to use summer tomatoes and cucumbers. It’s herby and delicious and can be eaten alone or alongside your favorite grilled protein.
Black Bean and Corn Salsa
The original black bean and corn salsa is not made with fresh corn, but I think it would be a great use of any leftover corn! Cut the kernels from the cobs and use in the recipe!
Summertime eating is fresh and flavorful. It makes me think of gathering with family and friends in the warm sunshine and enjoying delicious meals together. It can be more of an experience than just a meal. Especially in a time when we have experienced so much isolation, getting out in the warm weather and enjoying socially distanced meals can do the soul some good. We hope our summer vegetable recipes have inspired you to add in some tasty summer veggies to your meals!
Looking for more summertime meal ideas? Check out our Vegetarian Grilling Blog for more inspiration!
An award winning recipe developer, Dietitian Kaitlin’s mission is to empower others to reach their health goals by encouraging them to get back into the kitchen. Co-author of Nourished: 10 Ingredients to Happy, Healthy Eating and Cooking with Diabetes.
