On the heels of a day spent poolside or at the beach, easy summer suppers are a must. Chances are you’re still in relaxation mode, so this is not the time for meals that call for lots of prep, hands-on cooking, and dirty dishes. Instead, pour yourself a glass of rosé and lean on this selection of fresh, summery recipes that hit the table without too much effort.

From no-heat favorites like a Greek-inspired panzanella and juicy burgers, to grilled shrimp skewers and sloppy joe’s spooned straight from the slow cooker, these 20 dinners are easy to pull together and totally hit the spot.

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You straighten up your house on a near-daily basis, but when it comes to your fridge, it’s probably in constant disarray, especially after you hit the grocery store. We feel you. It’s easy to just shove everything in there and think the problem will solve itself — I mean, it kind of does, as you eat the stuff that’s in there. Plus, that mess is easy to ignore because you can just close the door and poof! The mess is gone.

But here’s the big advantage to keeping your fridge in tip-top shape: It will reduce food spoilage. Ever look in the back of the fridge and find broccoli you bought two weeks ago, now unusable? Simply put: You can’t eat the food you can’t see. And if you don’t eat the food that you buy, it’s cash in the trash.

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One of my favorite annual traditions is making this super-simple flag cake with my daughter. Yes, turning a cake into an American flag is somewhat cliché, but if you consider this the best way to dress up berry shortcake then it’s as fun to make as it is to share.

This charming, whipped cream-frosted cake has a colorful surprise inside. It’s what makes this vanilla-cake-meets-berry-shortcake recipe stand out from the rest.

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(Image credit: Maria Siriano)

Pork and beans, the popular companion to barbecued meat at summer cookouts, doesn’t have to come straight out of a can — nor does it mean soaking dried beans and hours of slow cooking time. With your favorite cut of cured pork, smoky molasses, canned beans, and a secret ingredient, you can be eating creamy beans suspended in a smoky, velvety, sweet, and savory sauce with just 30 minutes of stovetop time. This recipe is fast but just a touch fancy — just the way we like it.

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Maybe you’ve tried to grow basil in your kitchen before? And maybe you were lucky to get four leaves — two of which you were actually willing to eat? Trust me, I get it. I didn’t always have a green thumb, but now I’ve literally written the book on indoor gardening.

The good news: Plants don’t require a ton to grow (the official list includes light, nutrients, water, and a little bit of love). Here’s how to make sure those needs get met.

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(Image credit: Christine Gallary)

When you want an egg dish to feed a crowd or make enough breakfast for the week, breakfast casseroles are just the ticket. Eggs hold together whatever ingredients you want to put in the baking dish, and in this case it’s a filling combination of frozen diced potatoes, savory sausage, a whole bag of baby spinach, and, of course, a few handfuls of shredded cheese. This casserole is a bit like a diner omelette and breakfast potatoes all in one dish, and it’s nice to start the day knowing you’ve already had a serving of greens!

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(Image credit: Pinterest)

It’s finally time for ice cream! Although you can definitely make your own ice cream from scratch, you aren’t alone if you buy your pints or half gallons and make your own recipes from there. After all, the most popular Pinterest ice cream “recipe” stars after you open the carton of ice cream.

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

When strawberries are in season, it’s hard not to inhale the cartons you bring home immediately before even thinking about what else you’ll do with them. I encourage you, however, to put some aside to make this butter — rich with all that fruity flavor, enhanced by honey and orange zest, and just begging to be slathered on toast or biscuits and melted all over your pancakes and waffles.

When the season is said and done, a taste of this butter will be a welcome reminder of just how sweet it was.

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(Image credit: Joe Lingeman)

Summer brings its own unique set of situations when it comes to dinner. Produce is at its peak and we want to make the most of it while still taking weekend vacations, grilling with friends, and making weeknight dinners that sometimes need to be on the quick-and-easy side.

There are five essential recipes that will get you through most summer supper situations — the heat-wave weeknight dinners, the road-trip-ready meals, a great grilling recipe for guests, or a recipe that will use up the last of the zucchini. There’s even a salad that will get you back in meal-planning mode after a long vacation.

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There isn’t really anything sweeter than the arrival of strawberry season. For me, it not only marks the arrival of fresh fruit after a long, cold winter of imported citrus and cellared apples, but it’s also the kickoff to all the berries and stone fruit that’s soon to arrive. Now’s the time to binge on cartons of strawberries until your fingers are stained and your belly is stuffed. Here’s how to buy the best of the best, because the season is too short not to.

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