As the weather begins to cool, the first thing I grab out of the pantry is canned pumpkin. My family loves pumpkin goodies (sweet and savory), so I thought I’d share a few with you today. I hope one of these becomes a favorite for you as well.

Pumpkin Bread

Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread with Mascarpone

Good enough to be dessert!

Get this one bowl pumpkin bread recipe.

Southwest Roasted Pumpkin Stew

Southwest Roasted Pumpkin Stew

A quick and flavorful stew roasts luxuriously in a pumpkin with a poblano-avocado-cucumber salsa.

Make this pumpkin stew recipe.

Pumpkin Seed Pesto with Kale and Spinach

Pumpkin Seed Pesto with Kale and Spinach

Add a burst of flavor to pasta, stew, steak or roasted vegetables.

Make this pumpkin seed pesto recipe.

Pumpkin Pie

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Nobody misses out with this vegan and gluten-free classic.

Get this pumpkin pie recipe.

Butternut Squash Pasta

Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta

Like a bechamel sauce made with roasted butternut squash.
Get this butternut squash pasta recipe.

I love how these sweet and savory dishes make use of the entire pumpkin in different ways. There are so many types of pumpkin, so have fun trying these recipes with your favorites.

These aren’t your run of the mill Dutch oven recipes.

Pumpkin Bread

Grandma’s Pumpkin Bread with Mascarpone

Good enough to be dessert!

Get this one bowl pumpkin bread recipe.

Southwest Roasted Pumpkin Stew

Southwest Roasted Pumpkin Stew

A quick and flavorful stew roasts luxuriously in a pumpkin with a poblano-avocado-cucumber salsa.

Make this pumpkin stew recipe.

Pumpkin Seed Pesto with Kale and Spinach

Pumpkin Seed Pesto with Kale and Spinach

Add a burst of flavor to pasta, stew, steak or roasted vegetables.

Make this pumpkin seed pesto recipe.

Pumpkin Pie

Perfect Pumpkin Pie

Nobody misses out with this vegan and gluten-free classic.

Get this pumpkin pie recipe.

Butternut Squash Pasta

Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta

Like a bechamel sauce made with roasted butternut squash.
Get this butternut squash pasta recipe.

Each dish captures something magically unique about Dutch oven cooking. What can I say? Things just taste better when they come out of a heavy cast iron pot.

If you’re looking for more Dutch oven inspiration, I poured so much love and testing into my cookbook: Easy Dutch Oven Cooking (100 recipes, all 5 steps or less!).

From vibrant salads to grilling recipes, these feel-good summer recipes are refreshing, quick, and simple to keep you well fed and out of the kitchen, enjoying fresh air and sunshine.

This summer meal plan is a keeper: Pin For Later

Minty Melon Cucumber Salad

Nothing satisfies quite like a juicy, cold fruit salad on a hot day.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Grilled Rosemary Chicken Cutlets and Leeks

Juicy chicken with all the caramelized flavor with sweet leeks? Sign me up.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Bursting Cherry Tomato Panzanella

Is there anything better than a perfectly ripe tomato?

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Crispy Sea Bream with Olives and Pickled Onion

There’s nothing heavy or fussy about this fast and fresh fish dish.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Miracle Chicken and Zucchini

Dinner’s in the bag, baby!

Use up that garden zucchini with this recipe from The Frayed Apron

Sunshine Tropical Smoothie with Turmeric

Refreshing and ice cold, this smoothie is both delicious and anti-inflammatory.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Easy Vegetable Teriyaki Stir Fry

Nothing is faster or simpler than a stir fry.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Cream Cheese Pasta with Bacon, Chives, and Corn

This is simple as can be, totally delicious, and delivers a smoky kick.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Tuscan Kale Salad with Grilled Chicken

Get the chicken on the grill, then chop and dress the kale for a 20 minute salad that you will crave every week.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Turkey Burgers with Jalapeno Sauce and Apple Kale Slaw

Anything beef can do, turkey can do better.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Berries and Cream with Orange Liqueur

Summer berries are nature’s perfect dessert. If you’re feeling extra, add some caramel powder (the BEST ever).

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Chicken Tinga Tacos

Shredding a rotisserie chicken saves time, time well spent creating some smoky, saucy flavor with chipotle chile.

Snag the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Spicy Greek Feta Dip (Tyrokafteri)

Your new favorite vegetable crudite dip takes 5 minutes to make and packs unbelievable flavor.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Chilaquiles with Fried Eggs

Enchilada sauce, leftover corn tortillas, and cheese become a fast breakfast or dinner.

Grab the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Cold Steak Salad

Thinly sliced flank steak becomes a light indulgence with a zippy mustard-yuzu vinaigrette.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Chocolate Smoothie

Need. Chocolate. Now.

Get your fix the healthy way with this recipe from The Frayed Apron

Salmon Curry with Kaffir Lime

A super quick and easy way to prepare salmon, that you need in your arsenal.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Calabacitas Guacamole

Bulk up that guac and make a meal out of it.

Get the famous guac recipe from The Frayed Apron

Tom Kha Gai Soup

Slurp on some aromatic Thai coconut broth with some chile oil if you like it spicy.

Make the recipe by The Frayed Apron

Kale Salad with Pan-Seared Salmon

A bright and creamy lemon vinaigrette over kale with pan-seared salmon, avocado, and pumpkin seeds.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Thai Sea Bass

Eat more fresh fish with this pan-seared until crispy skinned delicacy served with fresh vegetables in a coconut broth.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Fettuccine Alfredo with Shrimp

If you buy already cleaned shrimp, this creamy, herbaceous pasta dinner cooks up in no time.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Mangonada Smoothies

Who can resist a tamarind wrapped straw and a chamoy-mango party in a glass?

Grab the popular recipe from The Frayed Apron

Easy Salmon Cakes

Make ’em small for an appetizer or big for a meal.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Disappearing Apricot Coconut Bites

A melt-in-your-mouth snack that’s perfect for road trips.

Get this refined sugar free recipe from The Frayed Apron

Buttery ‘Cacio e Pepe’

A simple, yet decadent way to enjoy pasta. Don’t skimp on the pecorino romano!

Get the recipe from Michiel’s Kitchen

Quinoa Salad

A nutty, cold grain salad is such a versatile way to enjoy peak summer vegetables. I love adding kale, tons of tomatoes, and pine nuts to mine.

Get the recipe from Home Ec At Home

Vegeterian Haloumi Wraps

Picnic time! Grab some halloumi and pesto, and you’ve got lunch in the bag.

Get the recipe from Always Use Butter

Watermelon, Arugula and Goat Cheese Salad

A harmonious and cooling salad that features a balsamic reduction.

Get the recipe from Toshi’s Table

Sweet and Savory Sauteed Green Beans with Basil

When you have green beans and basil galore, a dash of garlic and soy sauce is all you need for a flavorful side dish.

Get the recipe from Healthy Feels

Sundried Tomato and Basil Quinoa Patties

Prep the quinoa ahead of time, and it’s a breeze to make these crispy croquettes.

Get the recipe from Simple Spoonfuls

Lemony Chicken Piccata

A bright lemon caper sauce is the perfect way to serve that crispy chicken breast. Don’t forget the broccoli rice.

Get the recipe from The Frayed Apron

Need more summer recipes? Check out these recipes for Labor Day fun.

You work hard, so you deserve summer treasures like charred foods, fresh fruit smoothies, and vibrant vegetable dips. That’s why I’ve put together your end of summer playbook just in time for Labor Day – so you can focus on having fun and enjoying life. Pin for later.

Skewered chicken is fun to eat and easy to flip on the grill.

Grilled Lemongrass Chicken Satay

Summer snackin is fresh fruit galore. Try your mango with everybody’s favorite Mexican condiment.

Mango with Chamoy

Don’t let the avocado shortage stop you. Enhance your guacamole with some Mexican squash, zucchini, and corn, and it will go twice as far.

Calabacitas Guacamole

Something clean, cool, and healthy for dipping crudité or pita chips.

Beetroot Hummus

Bold weather calls for bold flavors.

Dominican Chimichurri Hamburger

Whether you call it pizza or flatbread, this Grilled Summer Flatbread is crispy in all the right places.

Who doesn’t love a bite sized dessert?

Lime Cheesecake Bites with Toasted Coconut

Turn your favorite Greek snacks into an entire meal.

Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl

For when you need a light and crunchy lunch or fresh side dish.

Green Bean Salad with Mustard and Garlic Dressing

Make a batch of these salty snacks for munching on all weekend long.

Marinated Pretzels

Our second citrus season is almost upon us. Play your part and drink your weight in orange, lime, and lemon juice.

Fresh Citrus Margaritas

Talk about a refreshing way to stay hydrated and cool.

Watermelon Strawberry Popsicles

A salad that takes 5 minutes to assemble, that gets its freshness from crunchy cucumbers, cold smoked salmon, and fresh herbs – YES, YES, and YES.

Smoked Salmon Salad with Lemon Dill Dressing

Have you kabobed yet? Don’t forget to soak those wood skewers.

Grilled Sweet and Sour Chicken Kabobs

No summer is complete without at least 5 mangonadas. Yes, you can freeze these into popsicles.

Mangonada Smoothies

Looking for the perfect marinade for that aged boneless ribeye? You will love the Mediterranean flavors on the grill.

Juicy Grilled Steak Salad

Would you just look at the blueberry filling in these bars?!

Blueberry Crumble Bars

Turns out, the grill is the best way to achieve really crunchy taco shells that also get seasoned on the inside while they cook.

Grilled Chorizo Tacos

Sweating much? Cool off and replenish those electrolytes the natural way.

Salted Plum Lemonade.

The golden rule of grilling skin-on chicken? Go for the thighs, high heat, and don’t move them around too much.

Grilled Chicken

Salmon is always amazing, but especially with a little salt, pepper, and skin grilled until crispy.

Grilled Salmon

Are you going camping? Grab that tinfoil and make some hobo packs with whatever lake fish you can catch.

Halibut Foil Pack with White Wine Sauce

Hey, we are taking the day OFF. I think that calls for the works (aka bacon, cheese, and BBQ sauce). Add some wood chips to the grill if you have them.

Epic Texas BBQ Burger

Just throw all the contents of your vegetable drawer in between some noodles, and call it a day. Leftover heaven.

Summer Vegetable Lasagna

Little known fact. Shrimp on the grill is awesome and it takes really well to a good char with virtually any bold seasoning.

Giant Barbecue Cajun Shrimp

A simple, refreshing salad with real ingredients.

Citrus Salad with Basil Vinaigrette

This requires little more than beating eggs into chocolate and refrigerating until firm.

S’more Mousse

If you want the ultimate slushie texture, use your ice cream machine and make a batch of these.

Strawberry Frose (aka Grown Up Slushie)

In case you don’t own an ice cream machine, you can always make possets for something cool and creamy with a simple pot on the stove.

Tangerine Posset

Following the theme of throwing everything on the grill…why not grill some of the margarita fruit?

Grilled Margaritas

For when you need something rich, but don’t want to heat your entire house.

No Bake Chocolate Tart

A bold side dish that is creamy, spicy, and addicting.

Firecracker Chili Glazed Yams

Pucker up because this is an ice cream flavor you have got to try.

Lemon Custard Ice Cream

Boozy berries get the royal treatment with whipped cream and caramel dust.

Berries and Whipped Cream with Orange Liqueur

You must try barbecuing short ribs low and slow if it’s the last thing you do on earth.

Smoked Beef Short Ribs

For a show stopping dessert, imagine serving up a slice of this.

Sticky Turtle No Churn Ice Cream Pie

No fuss cooking that brings home the bold, tangy flavors of pork shoulder with your favorite green salsa. Kinda like a Mexican goulash.

Crockpot Pork Green Chili

Add a little lime and mint to your bubbly soda.

Refreshing Mint Lime Soda

Chocolate pudding never gets old, especially served with a little garnish in glass ramekins.

Eggless Chocolate Pudding

Freshen up your mac and cheese with some juicy tomato and fresh basil.

Mac and Cheddar with Tomato Basil Salsa

Pin these 40 summer themed recipes for easy menu planning.