Crab Soup to Cornbread: 21 Summer Comfort Food Recipes

By Jenn Segal

Comfort food isn’t just for cold weather. Sometimes we crave cozy dishes in the middle of the summer, and no-cook salads just won’t do. From crab soup to cornbread, these summer comfort food options conjure up lazy summer days and family gatherings.

Crab Soup

This rich and creamy crab soup seasoned with Old Bay is the essence of the Eastern shore.
Strawberry Shortcake

Warm buttermilk biscuits filled with juicy, sweet strawberries and whipped cream make the best strawberry shortcake.
Cornbread Muffins

These tender cornbread muffins are the perfect side to any Southern or Southwestern dish. You can whip up the batter in no time!
Spinach Quiche

Made with heavy cream and Gruyère, this rich spinach quiche is classic French and classic comfort food.
Shrimp and Grits

This easy shrimp and grits recipe incorporates bacon, which gives the dish a nice smoky undertone — and there’s plenty of silky gravy for spooning over the grits.
Peach Crisp

With a crunchy and generous oat-pecan-streusel and luscious filling, this peach crisp is the epitome of rustic summer comfort food.
Grilled Cheese Sandwiches with Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto

These grilled cheese sandwiches with sun-dried tomato pesto taste like hot, crispy pizza paninis.
Spring Risotto with Asparagus & Peas

This creamy risotto with asparagus and peas makes a lovely starter, side dish, or vegetarian main course.
Summer Pasta Primavera

With roasted tomatoes, zucchini, and corn, this pasta primavera is an ode to summer. And nothing says comfort food like pasta.
Ratatouille

Ratatouille is a bright and chunky summer vegetable stew, rich with olive oil and fragrant with garlic and herbs.
Linguine with Clams

Linguine with clams in a garlicky white wine sauce makes an easy and elegant Italian pasta dinner.
Peaches & Cream Steel-Cut Oatmeal

This delicious steel-cut oatmeal recipe comes from Megan Gilmore’s new cookbook, The Fresh and Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook.
Cioppino (Fisherman’s Stew)

Brimming with fresh seafood in a tomato and wine broth that tastes like the sea, cioppino is a delicious Italian-American fish stew.
Caramelized Banana Ice Cream

From David Lebovitz’s The Perfect Scoop, this banana ice cream is one of the best homemade ice creams I’ve ever had.
Mac and Cheese

I find most homemade mac and cheese recipes to be a bit dry, so I developed this version to be ultra-creamy. The crispy panko-Herbes de Provence topping absolutely makes the dish!
Blueberry Cornbread Muffins

Cornbread makes a perfect backdrop for blueberries, which burst as they bake, creating little pockets of juice that keep these blueberry cornbread muffins tender.
Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp

Gorgeous red fruit bubbling away beneath a crunchy oat streusel topping — this strawberry rhubarb crisp is one of the easiest and best desserts I know.
Steakhouse Burgers

These are the ultimate steakhouse burgers. They are packed with flavor and reliably juicy, even when cooked to well-done.
Summer Corn Soup with Fresh Herbs

With only a few simple ingredients, this soup has an intense corn flavor that tastes just like summer.
Julia Turshen’s “A Nice Lasagna”

This light and elegant lasagna comes from Julia Turshen’s lovely cookbook, Small Victories (Chronicle Books, 2016).
Shrimp Saganaki (Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes & Feta)

Greek shrimp nestled in a spiced tomato sauce, topped with chunks of feta, and then baked until golden.