5 Summer Cookbooks to Inspire Your Next BBQ or Picnic

Summer Cookbooks

If you feel like you blinked and half of the summer has snuck by without you noticing, take a pause and make the most of these precious last weeks by hosting a BBQ or picnic. Sharing a meal outdoors with loved ones is one of my favourite ways to enjoy the warm weather. So, with that in mind, I have spent some time perusing some cookbook releases for recipes to inspire my next soirée under the sun.

Read on for a list of five summer cookbooks to inspire your summer cooking. Happy reading, and bon appetit!

5 Cookbooks to Inspire Your Summer Cooking

Uncomplicated: Taking the Stress Out of Home Cooking, by Claire Tansey | Available here

To all the busy mamas out there, this book is for you. With Uncomplicated, Claire Tansey sets out to prove that recipes don’t have to be difficult to be delicious with 125 easy-to-make dishes that take the stress out of home cooking. I’ll definitely be trying the 20-minute prep Saucy Pot Roast and simple Make-Ahead Scalloped Potatoes on the side this winter. But for summer, I’ll be giving the Teriyaki Chicken Skewers and the sweet and spicy Grilled Barbeque Chicken Pizza a try next time I fire up my BBQ.

Oven to Table, by Jan Scott | Available here

This fantastic cookbook from SavvyMom food editor Jan Scott is all about one-pot, one-pan recipes that simplify cooking by reducing the number of dirty dishes waiting for you after you’re done eating.

While the One-Pan English Breakfast and the single-skillet Baked Risotto With Chicken, Leeks, and Lemon are sure to make for perfect winter weather comfort food, this summer I’ll be bringing the Perfect Saucy Pulled Pork, the Quinoa Tabbouleh With Cherries and Feta, and Baked Apple Spice Doughnuts to my next family picnic.

The Domestic Geek, by Sara Lynn Caughon | Available here

Sara Lynn Caughon is known for hosting the popular Youtube show The Domestic Geek, and in this new book, she compiles recipes for a fresh, fuss-free approach to healthy cooking. I’ll definitely be adding the Vegan Power Bowl and the classic One-Pot Creamy Chicken Alfredo pasta to my future meal-planning list.

And for my next outdoor gathering, the Southwestern Black Bean Salad, BBQ Chicken & Pineapple Salad, and Cucumber & Watermelon Salad will make the perfect side dishes.

Family, by Hetty McKinnon | Available here

This new cookbook features delicious and innovative recipes, such as a Gnocchi with Asparagus, Edamame, and Parmesan salad and the Deconstructed Falafel Salad. One of the best summer cookbooks for family dining, for your next BBQ or picnic, bring along a big bowl of the Cabbage and Carrot Vermicelli Slaw with Tofu and Lemon-Poppyseed Dressing and the Grilled Peach Salad With Mozzarella, Basil, and Honey for a unique and unexpected alternative to boring old salads.

Love & Lemons Every Day, by Jeanine Donofrio | Available here

As far as summer cookbooks go, this s a good one. Love and Lemons blogger Jeanine Donofrio’s second cookbook features a whole new batch of 125 easy vegetarian recipes using seasonal ingredients. This book is sure to become a kitchen staple all year round (I can’t wait to try the Banana Bread Quinoa Breakfast Cookies and the Shitake Bok Choy Buddha Bowls), but for summer outdoor eating, several delicious-sounding recipes stand out: the rich and tangy Grilled Romaine Vegan Caesar Wedges, the Soba Noodle Picnic Salad with Tahini Miso, and grilled Mediterranean Stuffed Eggplants.

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