What To Cook In August

By the time August rolls around, I'm ready for meals that still feel fresh but a little more filling. We're still enjoying easy summer dinners, but I start reaching for cozy skillet meals, roasted vegetables, simple casseroles, and back-to-school recipes that don't take over the evening.

If you're wondering what to cook this month, I gathered my favorite late-summer recipes below. These are simple dishes I'd come back to for easy dinners, sides, meatless meals, and cozy end-of-summer nights.

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What's In Season In August?

Whether you need easy weeknight dinners, simple sides, meatless meals, or cozy recipes for the end of summer, these are the dishes I'd come back to in August.

What To Cook In August

Potatoes 🥔

What's in season:

• Baby potatoes
• Fingerling potatoes
• Red potatoes
• Russet potatoes

More Recipe ideas:

• Spicy Skillet Potatoes
• Hash Brown
• Potato Salad

Cabbage 🥬

Cabbage is one of my favorite practical vegetables because it lasts well and works in many easy meals.

Cabbage Carrot Sauerkraut

This homemade cabbage carrot sauerkraut is crunchy, tangy, easy to make, and naturally fermented with just cabbage, carrot, salt, and time.

RECIPE

More Recipe ideas:

• Cabbage Cucumber Salad
• Cabbage Pancakes
• Cabbage Soup
• Cabbage Rolls

Mushrooms 🍄

Mushrooms are great for late summer because they make meals feel hearty without being too heavy.

Lentils with Mushrooms

This easy lentils with mushrooms recipe is a healthy one pan vegetarian dinner made with green lentils, mushrooms, and warm spices. Perfect for a quick vegan weeknight meal.

RECIPE

More Recipe ideas:

• Mushroom Tacos
• Mushroom Broccoli Pasta
• Soup with Mushrooms
• Beef Stew With Mushrooms

Cauliflower 🤍

Cauliflower is great when I want something lighter but still satisfying. I love roasting it or pairing it with bold flavors like spices, sauces, miso, curry, or avocado crema.

Crispy Miso Cauliflower

This crispy miso cauliflower is savory, crispy, and packed with umami flavor. Make it in the air fryer or oven for an easy vegetable side dish, healthy weeknight dinner, or meal prep favorite. 😍

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Cauliflower Steaks

Learn how to make delicious cauliflower steaks, grilled or roasted to perfection. This easy, healthy recipe is a great meatless main or side dish for any meal.

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Spanish Cauliflower Rice

Spanish cauliflower rice is a bold, low-carb side dish ready in 20 minutes. Packed with spices, it's healthy, vegan, and easy to customize!

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Recipe ideas:

• Spinach Patties With Cauliflower
• Cauliflower Casserole
• Tofu Stir Fry With Cauliflower

Broccoli 🥦

Broccoli is one of those everyday vegetables I always come back to. It's easy, quick, and works in so many family dinners.

Cheesy Broccoli Breakfast Bake

This Cheesy Broccoli Breakfast Bake is an easy, family-friendly breakfast made with broccoli, cheddar cheese, eggs, and corn. Perfect for meal prep and busy mornings.

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Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli

Roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli is an easy one-pan side dish with crispy edges, bold flavor, and simple ingredients. Perfect for healthy dinners and meal prep.

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Air Fryer Cheesy Broccoli Balls

These Air Fryer Broccoli Balls are crispy, cheesy, and perfect for quick snacks or easy sides. Just 20 minutes and a handful of simple ingredients!

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Air Fryer Broccoli (in 13 Minutes!)

This Air Fryer Broccoli is crispy, golden, and ready in just 15 minutes! A quick, healthy side dish for any meal-perfect for busy weeknights.

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Recipe ideas:

• Beef & Broccoli
• Broccoli Rice Salad
• Chicken And Broccoli

Chickpeas And Lentils 🫘

Chickpeas and lentils are pantry staples I love for quick, filling meals. I use chickpeas for easy lunches and lentils for hearty meatless dinners or cozy one-pot recipes.

Chickpea Salad Sandwich

This chickpea salad sandwich is an easy vegan lunch that's creamy, high-protein, and ready in minutes. Perfect for meal prep, sandwiches, and quick no-cook meals.

RECIPE

Mediterranean Lentil Bread

This Mediterranean Lentil Bread is made with red lentils, feta, olives, and cheddar cheese for an easy high-protein loaf that's perfect for breakfast, lunch, or meal prep.

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Sticky Sesame Chickpeas

These sticky sesame chickpeas are sweet, savory, and totally beginner-friendly-made in 1 pan in just 20 minutes!

RECIPE

Recipe ideas:

• Chickpeas with Coconut
• Chickpea Burger
• Chickpea Stew
• Air Fryer Chickpeas

Carrots 🥕

Carrots are easy to keep on hand for simple meals. I like adding them to soups, stir-fries, bowls, salads, and cozy sides for busy weeknights.

Carrots In Air Fryer

Honey Glazed Air Fryer Carrots - Looking for an easy, flavorful side dish? These honey glazed carrots are the perfect answer.

RECIPE

Carrot and Ginger Soup Recipe

This Carrot Ginger Soup is both comforting and flavorful, with healing properties. Made with turmeric, ginger, sweet paprika, and fresh vegetables, it's an easy and delicious one-pot meal.

RECIPE

Recipe ideas:

• Vegetable Stew
• Asparagus and Carrots

Pasta And Noodles 🍝

Pasta and noodles are perfect for easy August dinners when routines get busy. I love them for quick, filling, family-friendly meals and simple leftovers.

Lemon Ricotta Pasta

This Lemon Ricotta Pasta is creamy, zesty, and ready in just 20 minutes! A quick and easy weeknight dinner made with ricotta, lemon, spinach, and Parmesan. Perfect for busy families!

RECIPE

Garlic Hoisin Noodles (20-Minutes)

Garlic Hoisin Noodles are a quick 20-minute sweet and savory noodle stir fry made with hoisin sauce, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger. Easy, beginner-friendly, and better than takeout.

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Sausage Pasta Recipe

The 4-ingredient sausage pasta is a delightful one-pan meal you'll crave repeatedly! Ideal for busy nights, it's a hearty, comforting dish that is cooked in one single pan.

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Recipe ideas:

• Taco Pasta
• Italian Pasta Salad
• Pasta Bake
• Pasta Fagioli

Beets 🫜

Beets add color, sweetness, and earthy flavor to August meals. I like using them in salads, roasted sides, or simple meal prep.

Beetroot And Feta Salad

Beet salad is a beautiful colorful salad and a very easy fresh summer side dish.

RECIPE

Roasted Beets and Carrots

With its effortless prep and wholesome elements, this honey roasted beets and carrots recipe adds a sweet note to your plate.

RECIPE

Chicken and Beetroot Salad

This healthy beetroot salad is an easy salad recipe for all those who love beets and their naturally sweet flavor!

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Recipe ideas:

• Beet Juice
• Halloumi Salad With Beetroot

Apples 🍎

Apples are a fresh late-August ingredient that bring a cozy hint of fall. I love using them in breakfasts, salads, snacks, and easy desserts.

Gluten Free Apple Scones

These Apple Scones are everything I want in a cozy homemade bake-tender, buttery, and packed with sweet apple pieces in every bite.

RECIPE

Old Fashioned Baked Apples

Enjoy these Old-Fashioned Baked Apples, featuring warm spices such as cinnamon and nutmeg, providing an easier yet equally satisfying dessert or snack, perfect for chilly evenings

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Fried Apples With Cinnamon

A delicious recipe for fried apples with cinnamon, made the old-fashioned way just like we love it. Great to use in your favorite sweet or savory recipes and simply enjoyed on its own with a scoop of ice cream.

RECIPE

Skillet Apple Cobbler

This easy apple cobbler is the best and everyone's favorite fall dessert every year. Made with delicious fried apples with cinnamon, and a fluffy cake-like topping that is simply irresistible.

RECIPE

Recipe ideas:

• Apple Tarts
• Apple Bread
• Apple Crisp

Sweet Potatoes 🍠

Sweet potatoes are perfect for late summer when I want something filling, colorful, and a little cozy. I love using them in skillets, tacos, soups, fritters, and roasted sides.

Sweet Potato Lentil Fritters

These Sweet Potato Lentil Fritters are crispy on the outside, soft inside, and made with simple pantry ingredients. A family-friendly vegetarian recipe perfect for meal prep, lunches, or easy dinners.

RECIPE

Sweet Potato, Black Bean Rice Skillet

Whip up this Sweet Potato, Black Bean Rice Skillet in just 25 minutes! A healthy, one-pan meal that's perfect for busy weeknights. Simple, flavorful, and family-friendly!

RECIPE

Sweet Potato Soup with Coconut Milk

This easy Sweet Potato Soup with Coconut Milk is creamy, cozy, and made in one pot. A quick, healthy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

RECIPE

Recipe ideas:

• Roasted Sweet Potatoes
• Sweet Potato Tacos
• Sweet Potato Casserole

Pears 🍐

Pears are a sweet late-August fruit that make summer feel like it's slowly turning into fall. I like using them when I want something simple, cozy, and light.

Creamy Cinnamon Pear Oatmeal

Cinnamon pear oatmeal is a creamy, healthy breakfast made with fresh pear, cinnamon, and maple syrup. Easy, cozy, and ready in minutes.

RECIPE

Recipe ideas:

• Pear Tarts
• Roasted Pears

Rice And Grain Bowls 🍚

Rice and grain bowls make August meals feel easy, filling, and flexible. I love using them for busy weeks and quick leftovers.

What's in season:

• Rice
• Quinoa
• Buckwheat
• Brown rice
• Farro
• Barley

Pork Rice Pilaf (Rice Plov)

This Pork Pilaf recipe is a healthy, one-pot meal made with tender pork, brown rice, garlic, and warm spices-perfect for busy weeknights!

RECIPE

More Recipe ideas:

• Vegetable Fried Rice
• Cilantro Lime Rice
• Chicken Quinoa Bowls
• Yellow Rice

One-Pot Back-To-School Dinners 🍽️

By August, I start reaching for one-pot dinners that make busy weeks easier. They're cozy, practical, and perfect for back-to-school evenings with less cleanup.

One Pot Cheesy Taco Pasta

This cheesy one-pot taco pasta is ready in 30 minutes! Made with ground beef, beans, salsa, and pasta-it's a weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

RECIPE

One-Pot Cabbage Rolls

These unstuffed cabbage rolls are my lazy man version of traditional Ukrainian cabbage rolls. Everything is cooked in one pot and is healthier than the authentic version.

RECIPE