What To Cook in August (USA & Northern Hemisphere)

Discover what to cook in August in the USA, Canada, and Europe, with seasonal produce, easy summer recipes, and simple meal ideas built around what’s fresh right now.

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If you’re in the Northern Hemisphere and wondering what to cook in August, the answer is: let the produce do most of the work. This is peak season — corn is at its sweetest, tomatoes finally taste like tomatoes again, and stone fruit is everywhere. It’s also the month I would cook the least, in the best way, because so much of what’s in season barely needs touching to taste good.

Knowing what’s in season in August makes meal planning a lot easier. Here’s what to look for at the shops or farmers market this time of year:

• Corn, tomatoes, and zucchini
• Peaches, nectarines, apricots, and plums
• Watermelon
• Eggplant and bell peppers (capsicum)
• Basil, mint, and other soft herbs

My #1 Tip For Cooking In August

Cooking in August is less about following complicated recipes and more about using what’s ripest at the market this week — good olive oil, flaky salt, and fresh herbs added right at the end so they stay bright instead of wilting into the dish. Enjoy the season while it lasts.

Corn Is One Of The Best Ingredients To Cook With Right Now

Fresh corn is genuinely sweeter in August than any other time of year, and it doesn’t need much done to it. I love it cooked lightly in salted water, then lathered in butter with more salted flakes sprinkled over the top. You can also toss it raw off the cob into salads at this point in the season.

Try these corn dishes:

• Corn & Quinoa Salad with Tomatoes & Feta — keeps well for a few days, so it’s an easy one to make ahead for lunches or a BBQ side
• Grilled Salmon With Kale, Corn & Parmesan Salad
• Corn black bean Tex-Mex salad
• Mini corn fritters with whipped feta – make it with fresh or lightly cooked corn kernels, or if making out of season, use frozen sweet corn.

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Tomatoes & Stone Fruit Are Both Having Their Moment

This is the one overlap I look forward to every year — tomatoes and peaches are in season at the exact same time, and they genuinely work together.

My Peach Caprese puts ripe peaches alongside tomatoes, mozzarella, and red onion, finished with toasted slivered almonds and a good drizzle of aged balsamic. It takes ten minutes to put together and looks like a lot more effort than it was.

Try these dishes:

• Peach Caprese
• Tomato Garlic Salad
• Stewed Tomatoes
• Cucumber Tomato & Feta Salad
• Caprese Salad Skewers
• Best Tomato Recipes for more ways to use up a glut of ripe tomatoes
• Best Peach Recipes (sweet and savory)

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Watermelon Is The Easiest Way To Cool Down

When it’s too hot to cook, watermelon is where I go. Sweet, hydrating, and it pairs with almost anything salty.

Try these:

• Watermelon Salad with Feta, Mint & Cucumber — icy watermelon, salty feta, and fresh mint; a genuine go-to when it’s too hot to turn the stove on
• Best Watermelon Recipes to make the most of this hydrating summer fruit

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Zucchini Is Still Everywhere in August

If zucchini keeps showing up in your grocery delivery or farmers market haul this month, you’re not imagining it — it’s everywhere and cheap right now.

Try these zucchini recipes:

• 5-Minute Zucchini Salad with Lemon & Mint — raw zucchini ribbons tossed with lemon, olive oil, and mint, ready in the time it takes to set the table
• Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) — garlicky sautéed zoodles, low-carb pasta swap
• Lemon Zucchini Pasta — caramelized zucchini melted into a silky lemon-Parmesan sauce
• High-Protein Zucchini Slice
• Sauteed Zucchini With Garlic & Lemon
• Best Summer Squash & Zucchini Recipes
• Zucchini Bread Recipes

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Eggplant & Bell Peppers Are Hitting Their Stride

Eggplant and bell peppers (capsicum) are both at their best in August, and they pair naturally — smoky, sweet, and made for anything with garlic and good olive oil.

Try these recipes:

• Pisto (Spanish Vegetable Stew) — eggplant, zucchini, peppers, and tomatoes stewed together; a great one to make a big batch of and eat all week
• Eggplant Caprese Salad with Crispy Garlic & Aged Balsamic — grilled eggplant standing in for the usual tomato-only caprese
• Eggplant Chickpea Salad
• Roasted Red Peppers — a simple one to have on hand for salads, sandwiches, and antipasto boards
• Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers with beans, rice and cheesy tops
• Check out these Healthy Eggplant Recipes and Best Bell Pepper Recipes for more ways to use up a glut of either.

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Grilling Season Is Still In Full Swing

Quick-cooking seafood is exactly what August dinners call for, especially once it’s too warm to want the oven on for long.

Try these recipes:

• Grilled Shrimp Salad — smoky, spice-rubbed shrimp with avocado, radish, and feta; light but genuinely filling
• Mediterranean Salmon Bowl — for a heartier option, with rice, a fresh cucumber-tomato salad, and a garlicky yogurt sauce
• Grilled Fish Tacos
• Grilled Vegetables – these are my must-have for every BBQ meal we make during summer; the herby garlicky sauce ends up on everything.
• Best BBQ Skewers & Kabobs for summer outdoor cooking

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