cooking

The Most Popular Recipes of July 2024

Like creamy banana pudding and hash brown breakfast casserole.
Jars of banana pudding and biscuits on pink fabric.
Photograph by Clay Williams, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Alexandra Massillon

It's the most wonderful time of the year—at the farmers market. The beguiling sight of two-toned zucchini. The sweet scent of tender basil. The tomatoes, the tomatoes, the tomatoes. If you're anything like us, you're overloading your tote bags, then wondering what to do with it all. July's most popular recipes have the answers.

Take, for example, these 25-minute cold noodles put plump heirloom and cherry tomatoes to great use. The ultra-savory sauce relies on grated tomato pulp, creamy peanut butter, and umami-packed fridge-door condiments. And this 30-minute Saucy Beef and Pepper Stir-Fry takes advantage of gleaming high-season peppers. It’s dealer’s choice—fiery finger hots or cayenne chiles work well in the scorching wok—just make sure to wash those hands after their chop.

But let’s say the AC is blasting and you’re craving a project bake—this Caramel Cake is the way to go. Browning butter and mixing it with dark brown sugar makes for a deeply smoky, molasses-like frosting. Two slices for me, please.

Read on to explore the most popular recipes of July.

  • Caramel Cake on a white cake stand
    Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Marc Williams
    1/10

    Southern-Style Caramel Cake

    This buttermilk layer cake features a cloud-soft crumb and brown-butter-caramel frosting.

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  • Photograph by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Mieko Takahashi
    2/10

    Basil Chicken Stir-Fry

    This savory and spicy dinner takes less than 30 minutes to make.

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  • Photograph by Travis Rainey, food styling by Drew Aichele, prop styling by Christina Allen
    3/10

    Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole

    Frozen hash brown patties—trimmed to fit in the bottom of a large baking dish—form a crisp-but-fluffy crust for this ample, sausage-studded casserole.

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  • Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Christina Allen
    4/10

    Saucy Beef and Pepper Stir-Fry

    This easy recipe for stir-fried steak and peppers comes together with strips of ribeye and vibrant hot chiles—but you can swap in sweet peppers if you’d prefer.

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  • Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Christina Allen
    5/10

    Samosa-dillas With Cucumber Salad

    All the flavors of a samosa with none of the deep-frying. A cheesy, spiced potato filling folded into whole wheat tortillas is the best double-carb mashup.

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  • Photograph by Elizabeth Coetzee, Food Styling by Sean Dooley, Prop Styling by Christina Allen
    6/10

    Tofu Meatballs in Burst Tomato Sauce

    We paired these easy tofu meatballs with a simple, summery tomato sauce that cooks as they bake, but you can flavor them any way you like.

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  • Photograph by Travis Rainey, food styling by Micah Morton, prop styling by Tim Ferro
    7/10

    Cucumber-Lime Energy Drink

    Loosely based on the WHO’s rehydration formula, this DIY electrolyte drink with cucumber, lime, and mint is the perfect salve for hot summer days.

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  • Photograph by Clay Williams, food styling by Taneka Morris, prop styling by Alexandra Massillon
    8/10

    Banana Pudding Jars

    Stacked with chopped bananas, vanilla pudding, and crunchy Marie biscuits, these individual banana pudding jars are the perfect make-ahead summer dessert.

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Nina enjoys solving mysteries like “Why do beans make us fart?” and “What is that white stuff oozing out of my chicken?” She also edits and produces recurring columns like It’s That Simple and has even developed a recipe or two. Before joining the editorial... Read more
Editorial Assistant