The Fourth of July is coming up this weekend… which means watermelons, fireworks, and grills. Or, at least, summer cookout food and potlucks and tasty treats!

I’ve put together a collection of recipes from the blog that are perfect, not only for Independence Day, but for all kinds of summer parties and cookouts. These recipes feature the lighter, fresher foods we want in the summer. Plus, they’re easy to make, easy to serve with friends, and easy to prep ahead of time so you can put more effort into… relaxing and having a good time!

Scroll through to see the sides, appetizers, drinks, dips, main dishes, and DELICIOUS DESSERTS. If you share some of these recipes in your cookout or dishes in a summer cookout, be sure to tag me so I can see!

20+ Tasty Summer Cookout Recipes

APPETIZERS & SIDES ::

Super Simple Summer Pasta Salad

Rainbow Coleslaw

Easy Coleslaw Hack

Amazing Fresh Salsa

Instant Pot Corn on the Cob

Roasted Zucchini Spears with Secret Sauce 

Easy Instant Pot Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Instant Pot Creamiest Ranch Mac’n’Cheese

Sweet Broccoli Salad

DRINKS ::

Instant Pot Iced Tea

Simple Homemade Lemonade 

DIPS & SPREADS ::

Best Ever Ranch 

Easy Barbecue Dipping Sauce

5 Minute Super Greens Pesto 

MAIN DISH ::

Greek Chicken Kabobs

Tastiest Easy Sliders 

DESSERTS ::

Mini Cherry Pies

Naturally Sweetened Fresh Strawberry Pie

Best Classic Apple Pie

Peanut Butter & Banana Ice Cream

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes

Easy Strawberry Crisp 

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I asked my friend yesterday about whether or not I should share such a simple recipe, because while I know deep down that even the simplest things can be helpful…I still can tend to second guess the eeaaasssiiir recipes.

Like this one. Because, E.A.S.Y.

And yet, sometimes having even the easiest recipes written out for us, taking away any guesswork, are just what we need to make it through long days that more often than not include a degree of brain fog! 

So, here’s how we make our very simple homemade lemonade with just two ingredients (plus water) that we can pull from our pantry and fridge in a moment’s notice. Solidarity to all the other mamas who could use a little fun and ease today!

Simple Homemade Lemonade

This simple homemade lemonade is perfect for kids to make themselves! If your water gets pretty hot just from the sink, there’s no need to heat anything on the stove. Just combine the sugar and hot water and stir, stir, stir until the sugar is completely dissolved. (Tip: look at the bottom of the mason jar to check. If you don’t see a lot of a sugar floating around or in the bottom, you’re good!)

(More tips on getting kids involved in the kitchen). 

Once the sugar is dissolved, it’s all downhill from there. Just add the lemon juice and fill the rest of the jar with water (5 cups).

We love to make this lemonade to have with lunches occasionally, and especially when we have friends over. It’s fun to serve something special to friends! 

MORE DRINK RECIPES ::

• Instant Pot Iced Tea 
• Rich & Creamy Hot Chocolate Mix
• Spiced Cider in the Instant Pot 

SHOP THIS POST ::

• 1/2 cup mason jar (also use these for iced tea and chicken stock)
• Double Old-Fashioned glasses (these glasses are so pretty and come in several colors)
• Wide Mouth mason jar pour spout
• Color changing cups with lids (I love these cups for the kids, especially that the lids don’t require straws).

Simple Homemade Lemonade

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews

• Author: Lisa @ This Pilgrim Life
• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Yield: 8 cups 1x
• Category: beverage

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Description

Perfect homemade lemonade in just five minutes with just three ingredients. Simple and refreshing!

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Ingredients

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 cup hot water (hot from the tap works)
• 1 cup lemon juice
• 5 cups cold water

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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Instructions

1. Measure the sugar into a half-gallon mason jar or pitcher. Pour in hot water and stir until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Add the lemon juice, then the cold water. Stir until incorporated.
3. Serve chilled or with ice.

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The links below may be affiliate links, meaning I earn a small compensation at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure policy here. 

It’s that time again! Time to look back at 2020 and remember all the new recipes of the year, and take stock of what were the most popular recipes on the blog.

This is always a fun exercise because even though I am the one testing and publishing the new recipes, I’m still amazed when I look back and remember recipes that have slipped my mind.

I’ve organized the new recipes (all thirty-nine of them) into categories so you can easily scroll through and find something new to try this year. I also looked back through which recipes were visited the most frequently in 2020, and compiled a list of those, too, at the end of the post. 

Thank you so much for trusting me with your meal times and trying so many new recipes with me this year! (I’d love to hear in the comments which were your favorites!) Your support and enthusiasm keep me going and mean so much!

Scroll through the list, check out which new recipes you missed this year, and save this post so you can come back for quick and easy links! 

New Recipes in 2020

MAIN DISH

1. Garlic Orzo with Bacon & Greens in the Instant Pot
2. Pan Fried Chicken Strips
3. Instant Pot Whole Chicken
4. Garden Fresh Pasta Primavera
5. Venison French Dips in the Instant Pot & Easy Sub Rolls
6. Herb Chicken and Rice in the Instant Pot
7. 5-Ingredient Easy Alfredo Sauce
8. Super Simple Summer Pasta Salad
9. French Dip Empanadas

SOUPS

1. Instant Pot French Onion Soup
2. Instant Pot Chicken & Wild Rice Soup
3. Loaded Cauliflower Soup in the Instant Pot
4. Potlikker Gumbo in the Instant Pot

SIDES

1. Maple Brussel Sprouts and Bacon
2. Roasted Carrot Fries
3. Blistered Garlic Green Beans
4. Crispy Potato Cakes
5. Instant Pot Corn on the Cob
6. Roasted Zucchini Spears with “Secret Sauce”
7. Sauteed Garlicky Greens
8. Rosemary & Parmesan Squash Casserole
9. Roasted Okra Fries

SNACKS & TREATS

1. How to Make Stovetop Popcorn
2. Simple Honey Cake
3. Quick Cinnamon Sweet Breads: Cinnamon Raisin Swirl & Dark Chocolate Chunk
4. Monster Cookies
5. Spiced Apple Butter in the Instant Pot
6. Russian Tea Cakes
7. Italian Icebox Cookies
8. Homemade Apple Cider in the Vitamix
9. Oat & Nut Bread

BREAKFAST

1. Stone Ground Grits in the Instant Pot
2. Strawberry Muffins with Sweet Cream Surprise
3. Easy Sourdough Pancakes with Discard
4. Healthy Chocolate Cereal
5. Easy Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
6. Easy Chia Seed Jam
7. Gluten-Free Cinnamon Raisin Biscuits

16 Most Popular Recipes in 2020

1. Pan Fried Chicken Strips
2. Instant Pot Cinnamon Apples
3. One-Hour Focaccia Bread
4. One-Hour French Bread
5. Best Old Fashioned Pound Cake
6. Instant Pot Shepherd’s Pie
7. Instant Pot Ramen Noodles
8. Simple Thin Crust Pizza Dough
9. London Broil on a Cast Iron Griddle
10. Instant Pot Creamy Tomato Soup
11. How to Make Box Mac’n’Cheese in the Instant Pot
12. Instant Pot Chocolate Pudding Cake
13. Simple Honey Cake
14. Cauliflower Au Gratin in the Instant Pot
15. Amazing Thirty Minute Cinnamon Rolls
16. Easy Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

Don’t forget to come back and let me know how you enjoyed a recipe after you try it by leaving a comment and/or a rating! It helps a ton and I love to hear your thoughts. I also LOVE to see your dishes when you share on social media, so be sure to tag me @thispilgrimlife!

Sharing is caring! Don’t forget to pin and share. Thank you!

The post New & Most Popular Recipes from 2020 appeared first on This Pilgrim Life.