July is such a perfect time for fresh produce — and the delicious family recipes that make use of them. My backyard garden is starting to produce some radishes and cabbage right about now, and I’m seeing the most delicious peaches and tomatoes at local roadside stands lately. So I am going to be picking dinner recipes for my family that focus on July’s fresh produce, so we can make the most of these ingredients while they’re at their peak.
From a savory-sweet peach chicken to an easy tomato quiche, to grilled skewers that take veggies to a whole new level, I think you’ll love these favorite July recipes of mine that freshen up dinner time for all of us.
And if it’s too hot where you are for al fresco dining, spread a gingham tablecloth on the kitchen table (love this one!) and have the kids snip some flowers from the yard to arrange in a mason jar (this one is so cool!0 for a summery dinner table setup indoors.
Top image: Molly Keesling via Unsplash
Related: 5 meals to get you through a heat wave. Turn off that oven!
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5 family-friendly summer recipes using July produce
1. Tomato Pie
Tomato Pie | Tastes Better from Scratch
Tomato Pie is standard southern fare, and if you have never tried it before, you’re missing out! For the uninitiated: it’s simply layers of herby tomatoes and creamy cheese in a pie crust, yielding something like a lighter, more summery lasagna. The recipe from Tastes Better From Scratch is outstanding, with the perfect mix of cheesiness and fresh tomatoes, and gives you bursts of herby flavor.
I’d serve this with a easy summer salad — perfect if you do #MeatlessMonday — or accompany with some grilled chicken on the side for those who want some protein to make the meal more substantial.
2. Pesto Peach Chicken
Pesto Peach Chicken | Halfbaked Harvest
This pesto peach chicken recipe from Halfbaked Harvest will make great use of my burgeoning indoor basil plants (weatherproof and heat resistant!) plus the overflowing baskets of peaches I’ve picked up from a local grower—if I can keep my kids to keep from eating those peaches straight from the fridge. Give some asparagus a quick sear for a fresh veggie on the side, and you’ve got a delightfully summery dish using July’s delicious produce.
Related: 5 fantastic dinners featuring summer veggies
Let me take a minute just to recommend a good cast iron pan that will get a ton of use with all these fresh fruits and veggies. Staub cast iron skillets are pricey, but I’ve found they are worth every extra penny. I have Staub, Lodge, and Le Creuset skillets in my kitchen and my Staub pan is, hands down, my favorite. I use a gentle brush and a little dish soap to wash mine after I’m finished cooking, and it still looks brand new more than two years later. If you’re not sure which piece to buy first, start with this Staub double handed fry pan; it’s perfect for the recipes you’ll cook this week. That said, whatever brand you prefer is totally fine, and there are some on our team who are firmly on #TeamLodge, which is also the most affordable.
Related: A surprising, non-toxic way to clean cast iron
3. Hoisin Glazed Tempeh Bowls
Hoisin Glazed Tempeh Bowls | The Curious Chickpea
To use up some of the fresh July radishes, cabbage, and kale in my garden, I’m planning to make these Hoisin Glazed Tempeh Bowls at The Curious Chickpea. I’ll serve them DIY style (you know how families love food bars and DIY dinners!), so the kids can pick which ingredients they want in their own bowls. You can absolutely substitute tempeh by the way — grill some chicken or steak, learn more about this plant-based steak that my teen loves, or even cut up some fresh ahi tuna.
4. Fajita Bowls or Tacos
Chicken Fajita Bowls | What’s Gaby Cooking?
You can make the most of July’s fresh avocado, peppers, tomatoes, and herbs in markets and gardens now with this terrific recipe for Chicken Fajita Bowls from What’s Gaby Cooking?, which is just terrific. The poblano peppers are a fantastic touch, the marinade is perfection, and and her step-by-step instructions and helpful tips really make it all easy. As with the tempeh bowls, serve DIY style and let everyone make their own.
You can also use her recipe as a base for tacos or even quesadillas — accompanied with a generous helping of easy homemade guacamole on the side. My only suggestion is to make some margaritas to go with them. You know, for the adults. Or try some of our favorite non-alcoholic drink ideas to beat the heat and keep you hydrated.
5. Grilled Caesar salad Skewers
Grilled Caesar Salad Skewers | Skinny Taste
One last recipe using July produce that I really want to recommend, and this one is so easy! I picked up some in-season zucchini with the intent of making my family’s favorite zucchini bread recipe, but instead, I think I’ll keep the oven off and turn to the grill to make these Grilled Caesar Salad Skewers from Skinny Taste. (Plus, you get to honor the 100th anniversary of the Caeasar Salad this month! Its a history worth a read.) Her recipe couldn’t be easier — load these skewers up, grill them, then slide them off for a ready made chicken Caesar salad that really changes up your family dinner. The grilled romaine is wonderful! And the cucumber-yogurt sauce is a clever way to keep the flavor of the classic dressing while lightening it up for July. Tip: I like add some fresh red bell peppers onto the skewers for a little more “rainbow” on our plates
