Summer is one of our favorite times of the year with all the fun activities to do outside. There’s all the get-togethers and all the fun holidays like the 4th of July. Sometimes when you have to eat gluten-free it can feel stressful to coordinate food and snacks but it doesn’t have to be. Here are 15 of our favorite summer recipes and ideas so that you can keep up with everything you want to do and still have food you enjoy, and food your guests can enjoy as well (even if they don’t have to eat GF.)
1. Easy Snacks on the Go
Having a variety of containers and Ziploc bags comes in handy when you are planning for on-the-go snacks and meals. Even small containers for sauces and dips can be really helpful. These on-the-go snacks can come in handy while taking a nice hike this season or a trip to the pool.
Charcuterie of Adult Lunchables to Go
Who knew that charcuterie would become so popular over the last few years. Having a variety of lunch meats, cheeses, and GF crackers like Simply Mills Almond Flour Crackers, Breton White Bean Crackers, and your favorite GF crackers make it easy to pack something on the go.
Other fun items we include in our to-go charcuterie are olives, Mediterranean olives, grapes, watermelon, and sometimes even apple slices and PB. For more ideas on adult lunchables click here (1)
Fruit & Fruit Dip
Summer is the time of fresh berries and fruit. Taking the time to pack strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, watermelons, and honeydew is always something that makes summer fresh and enjoyable.
Having fruit by itself is delicious but having a nice creamy addition to dip it in? Even better! There are so many different dips out there and they are all so good, find our Favorite Fruit Dip Recipe Here.
2. Grilling it Up
Grilling is an essential part of summer. From backyard barbecues to friendly potlucks, when people think summer, they think grilling. Making gluten-free items to grill can be quick and easy. Here are some of our grilling favorites.
Salmon
Salmon and other fish are easy to make gluten-free. They don’t contain gluten unless specified otherwise. One of our favorite gluten-free grill recipes is salmon with honey barbeque sauce. It’s smoky and flavorful, everything you want summer to be!
There are so many different rubs and marinades that are great on fish. While salmon isn’t necessarily the first thing people think of when asked about grilling and summer, it’s a nice light and refreshing alternative to the traditional burger.
Grilled Chicken and Grape Salad
Salads are a barbeque favorite, they can be the main dish or a hearty side dish. There are many different kinds of salad. There’s regular green leafy salad, pasta, fruit, and vegetable salads. With this, there are endless possibilities of what you can put in the salad.
When talking about grilled meat, it can be just one part of the salad. One of our favorites is
grilled chicken and grape salad. The perfectly grilled chicken paired with the sweetness of the grapes is a mouth-watering combination. This is just one example of a grilled salad, there are so many more to explore!
Short Ribs
Ribs, a barbeque essential! Ribs can be made with beef, pork, or lamb. Just like the salmon, some different rubs and marinades can be used. While they can be a bit messy, that’s where all the fun is! They can be sweet, they can be salty, or like one of our favorites, both!
Korean barbecue short ribs are flavorful ribs that can be grilled or baked. It’s marinated to perfection, with a sweet and savory taste! It’s an excellent idea for a barbeque, and pairs nicely with salads and fruits!
3. Potluck Ideas
I’m sure we’ve all had a potluck nearing and had absolutely no clue what to bring. It can be hard to find something that caters to everyone’s needs. However, that’s the joy of potlucks, there’s a little bit of everything. Whether you need ideas for a family potluck or a neighborhood get-together, here are some gluten-free ideas!
Broccoli Salad
Like I said before, salads are the perfect addition to any potluck. But who wants a leafy salad all the time? It’s nice to have variety. Vegetable salads are a filling alternative that can be served as a side dish.
Broccoli, bacon, onion, and cheese. It can’t get easier than that! Simple and delicious that’s how we would describe our gluten-free broccoli salad. It pairs well with meat and other salads.
Jello Salad
There are many different variations of jello salad. Most are already gluten-free! However, some are not dairy-free. If you would like a gluten and dairy-free jello salad here is a recipe for you.
Jello is a fast and convenient dessert or side salad you can make the night before a potluck. That way the day the potluck comes it is already made! A foolproof way to enjoy your time at the potluck, while eating good food.
Veggie Tray & GF Dip
The easy thing about veggie trays is they are already gluten-free! Veggies are healthy and can be a speedy item to get right before a potluck if you are in a rush. You can buy some pre-cut veggies at the store, or cut them yourself. The dip however is where it can be tricky.
Some dips are not gluten-free. It’s important to read the ingredients when buying a store-bought dip. However, there are also many recipes you can make at home! There is gluten-free ranch dip, hummus (which is naturally gluten-free), or a yogurt-based dip.
Chips & Salsa
Chips and salsa are a great inclusion to every summer hangout. Regular salsas you buy in the store are typically gluten-free, however, if you are looking to make homemade salsa with a twist, check out our gluten-free shrimp salsa.
There are a lot of different ways to make and enjoy salsa. There is no right or wrong! Some examples include mango salsa, corn salsa, or avocado salsa.
GF Pasta salad
Back to salads, a great thing to bring to a potluck is pasta salad. They take almost no time to put together. This is ideal when putting a dish together to bring to your family reunion or work party. It’s a nice cold dish for a warm summer day.
Noodles, onions, corn, carrots, peas, broccoli, celery, cheese, chicken, and bacon. Doesn’t that sound delicious?! Click here for the full recipe of our favorite gluten-free pasta salad!
4. Dessert
There’s always room for dessert! There are so many options for a refreshing gluten-free dessert. You can take your everyday favorites and make them gluten-free, or try one of these new recipes for an exciting summer adventure.
GF Strawberry Pizza
Dessert pizza? Definitely! What better way to eat pizza than with strawberries on it. With a flakey crust and a gooey cream cheese base, strawberry pizza will melt in your mouth!
It can be hard to find good gluten-free recipes that you want to try. No fear, whether you just started baking gluten-free or have done it for years this is an easy recipe to get you started on all the summer treats you’ll make this year.
GF Citrus Pound Cake
Something light and refreshing, but also cake? Sign me up! Citrus cakes are a summer must. They can be airy with that summer citrus taste. Pound cake can be a bit dense, but for a dessert or even just a nice pick-me-up treat, it’s perfect!
Our favorite is a gluten-free citrus pound cake. Eating it by itself or adding some fruit, is great either way. It’s springy and sweet, everything you want in a pound cake.
GF Waffle Cones
Crispy, crunchy, and sweet, the perfect addition to ice cream! Everyone loves ice cream, but the cones are seldom gluten-free. If you’re having a particular craving for an ice cream cone, try these gluten-free cones with your ice cream this summer.
It’s a fun process making waffle cones, you can do it with your whole family!
GF Peach Raspberry Cobbler
If you’re looking for a dessert to take to a potluck or have at a barbeque, this is the one for you. Cobbler is a summer staple. From peaches to blueberries, cobblers are a fan favorite. With its gooey interior and crunchy bits on top, cobbler is the way to go.
Our favorite is the peach raspberry cobbler. The peach and raspberry complement each other and end with a yummy crunch. It’s also a great dessert to take on a picnic. Making it is simple, and takes little time.
GF Lemon Raspberry Muffins
Last but certainly not least, muffins. Muffins can be a great convenient dessert for a picnic or potluck. They can also be a great morning snack! They are amazing for any occasion. With so many different muffin recipes it can be hard to pick out a nice one for summer, but we got you covered.
Sticking with citrus for summer, our lemon raspberry muffins are to die for. They are light and sweet, a great combination! The citrus of lemon and the sweetness from the raspberries mashed together creates a tasty muffin.
