I Cooked Ina Garten’s 5 Favorite Summer Recipes of All Time—Here’s What I’d Make Again

It's time to let Ina Garten help plan your summer menu. The culinary icon shared the most-clicked summer recipes on the Barefoot Contessa website, and the list is filled with crowd favorites like watermelon salad, mojitos, and chocolate cake. I put them all to the test in the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen and was once again reminded why Ina's recipes have earned top spots in my recipe box.

Drink: Watermelon Mojitos

This recipe for refreshing watermelon mojitos checks all the boxes I require in a summer party drink. You can prep a 6-serving pitcher in advance of the party, customize the drink with your favorite garnishes, and make a mocktail version by simply omitting the rum. I loved how the sweetness of the fresh watermelon paired with the herbaceous mint. This is a boozy cocktail that would be perfect for sipping next to the pool or alongside dinner on the deck.

Side Dish: Tomato and Avocado Salad

Put your bounty of summer produce to good use with this 6-ingredient side dish salad. To assemble, simply dress chopped avocados, cherry tomatoes, and red onion with lemon juice and olive oil. A generous sprinkle of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper is all you need to bring out the flavor of the produce. My favorite part of the salad was the addition of baby arugula. The peppery flavor helps cut through the creamy avocado and balances the sweetness of the tomatoes. Like all Ina recipes, this dish seems so simple, but the flavors are perfectly paired.

Side Dish: Orzo with Roasted Vegetables

Put a twist on that bowl of pasta salad by using orzo instead of macaroni and roasted vegetables in place of fresh. The result is a summer side dish that's filled with both rich caramelized flavor and bright lemon notes. Add-ins like feta cheese, fresh basil, and pine nuts helped the dish earn rave reviews from everyone who tried it in the Better Homes & Gardens Test Kitchen. I like to prep the pasta and vegetables for this salad in advance and toss them together just before serving. Don't add the basil until you're ready to eat so it doesn't become too brown or soggy. Ina suggests serving the dish at room temperature, and I have to agree. The flavors are at their best when it's had a chance to warm up a bit from the chill of the fridge.

Main: Lemon Chicken Breasts

Ina is famous for her chicken recipes, and for good reason! Every recipe I've tried has turned out both flavorful and moist, a feat that's hard to achieve with many chicken dishes. Here, Ina roasts skin-on chicken breasts in a mix of garlicky olive oil, white wine, lemon juice, and herbs. As the chicken cooks, it absorbs all the bright flavors of the citrus and wine. I make this dish often and like it best served with rice, pasta, or crusty bread for soaking up all the pan juices. The roasted lemon wedges are also delicious bites alongside the chicken.

Dessert: Beatty's Chocolate Cake

While I often think of lemon bars or strawberry shortcake as my go-to summer desserts, I was blown away by just how good this chocolate cake is. The moist texture of the cake totally stole the show for me. I often find chocolate cake dry and a bit flavorless, but not here. Ina's trick of adding hot coffee to the batter both adds moisture and amps up the flavor of the cocoa powder. And as Ina often reminds us, choose a good-quality cocoa powder here, as the flavor shines. While I loved her chocolate buttercream as well, I think I'll try a fudgier frosting next time. Either way, this cake won't last long at your next summer party.