25 Summer Comfort Food Recipes Slideshow

Summer and comfort foods do not, at first glance, go hand in hand. When most people think of comfort foods they think of hearty fare to comfort one in the cold months of winter or the cooling months of autumn. Hearty beef stews, rich cheese pastas, spaghetti and meatballs, chicken pot pie, and French onion soup are all traditional comfort foods.

Think of summer barbecues, picnics in fields and under shady trees and lazy afternoons and all of the delicious things you want to cook and eat for those occasions. From fried chicken and blueberry pie to summer rolls and no-cook summer pastas, we have plenty of recipes that are sure to comfort you this summer.

Barbecue chicken, mozzarella, provolone, and bacon! Make this tasty flatbread for a fast and easy dinner the whole family will enjoy.

For the Barbecue Chicken Flatbread recipe, click here.

This recipe replaces sponge cake with buttery, flaky biscuits for a summer dessert that is comforting and sweet.

For the Biscuit Strawberry Shortcake recipe, click here.

Bright and crunchy corn, coated in a spicy and creamy dressing, is a fantastic way to cook sweet corn this season.

For the Charred Mexican Corn Salad recipe, click here.

Make a delicious, old-fashioned ice box cake for a simple dessert that is icy, sweet, and oh so indulgent.

For the Chocolate Peanut Butter Icebox Cake recipe, click here.

This salad is sweet and fragrant, with heat and a bit of a bite coming from fresh ginger and chiles. Cooling coconut milk and fresh citrus flavors make this a great summer comfort food.

For the Coconut, Lime, and Lemongrass Chicken Salad recipe, click here.

Whipped cream, sweet strawberries, and crisp meringue make up this amazing British summer dessert (or pudding, as they say across the pond). Make it ASAP for a dessert that tastes as good as it looks.

For the Eton Mess recipe, click here.

Make full use of the grill while it's hot and grill peaches for a lovely peach cobbler.

For the Grilled Peach Cobbler recipe, click here.

In the colder months, tomato soup is a go-to comfort food. In the summer months, why not switch out one delicious tomato soup for another that just happens to be cold. Gazpacho is a great, refreshing and super satisfying soup to serve when the days are long and hot and the tomatoes are ripe for the picking.

For the Heirloom Tomato Gazpacho recipe, click here.

What better way to end a summer meal than with the silky texture of pudding? This childhood classic is delicious and can be enjoyed by all ages, so definitely make some pudding this summer!

For the Homemade Organic Chocolate Pudding recipe, click here.

Make these fun "grilled cheese sandwiches" for your next outdoor gathering. They are a perfect combination of hot and cold and can be made ahead of time.

For the Ice Cream Grilled Cheese PB&J recipe, click here.

There's nothing like a lattice pie filled with ripe fruit to evoke summer. This pie happens to be filled with delicious blueberries, but you can use whatever fruit you feel like enjoying!

For the Lattice-Top Blueberry Pie recipe, click here.

Pulled pork is comfort food you can enjoy all year long. Long, succulent shreds of meat, coated in the perfect amount of barbecue sauce and served on a soft bun — divine!

For the Low and Slow Memphis-Style Pulled Pork recipe, click here.

This stew is a classic dish from Louisiana. This recipe from Lucy Buffett is full of wonderful seafood and great flavor. Serve it over perfectly cooked rice and there's no way you won't be comforted when eating this dish.

For Lucy's Signature Summer Seafood Gumbo recipe, click here.

A meal of pasta is always comforting. The no-cook tomato and mozzarella sauce in this recipe makes full use of the season's ripe tomatoes and comes together easily so you won't be overheating in the kitchen while making it.

For the No Cook Summer Tomato and Mozzarella Salad recipe, click here.

If you eat meat, then chances are you love bacon and perfectly cooked pork belly. Make this wonderful BLT that uses pork belly in the place of bacon. If you want to make some serious BLT's, use the pork belly and add some bacon for good measure.

For the Pork Belly BLT recipe, click here.

An easy summer pasta salad is perfect for warm weather. Apple cider vinegar gives this pasta salad an acidity that balances the creamy mayonnaise really well.

For the Quick Summer Pasta Salad recipe, click here.

Full of fresh vegetables and paired with a rich, creamy, peanut dipping sauce, summer rolls are a fun and delicious light lunch, appetizer, or snack.

For the Shrimp Summer Rolls recipe, click here.

When making summer desserts, simplicity is essential. The hardest part of this recipe is slicing the strawberries, so there's no excuse not to make it this summer!

For the Simple Summer Strawberry Tart recipe, click here.

Fried chicken is a perennial comfort food. This family recipe from A Southern Gentleman's Kitchen: Adventures in Cooking, Eating and Living in the New South will not let you down.

For Sitty's Fried Chicken recipe, click here.

Make these muffins for a sweet and sticky summer breakfast. Filled with ripe summer fruit and tart crème fraîche, they are the perfect way to start a summer day!

For the Sticky Summer Strawberry Muffins recipe, click here.

For something sweet that everything will love, try these cake kebabs. Cooked on the grill and served with a tasty orange frosting, these are a perfect summer dessert.

For the Summer Grilled Cake Kebabs with Orange Frosting recipe, click here.

Nothing says comfort in the summer like ripe heirloom tomatoes. Paired with fragrant basil and sharp, creamy goat's cheese, this salad makes the most of delicious summer produce.

For the Summer Salad With Heirloom Tomatoes, Goat Cheese, and Basil recipe, click here.

Not your classic, mayo-laden slaw, this recipe uses wonderful Asian ingredients to season a slaw that everyone will love.

For the Best Coleslaw Ever recipe, click here.

Fill your grilled cheese sandwich with the flavors of Italy! If you are already cooking on the grill, just bring your cast iron out, too, and cook these cheesy, delicious sandwiches alfresco!

For the Three Cheese Italian Grilled Cheese recipe, click here.