The 10 Recipes Readers Couldn't Stop Making in July

Slow Cooker Barbecued Boston Butt

The North Carolinian in me has to point out that you can't barbecue anything in a slow cooker, but even so it's hard to beat this super easy method for turning a pork shoulder into tender, juicy pulled pork. No pit-digging or hours of smoking required!

This method is ideal for a cookout because you can keep the pork warm in the slow cooker. Choose the best, smoky barbecue sauce you can find to provide some of the smoke flavor the pork won't get from its stint in the crock pot.

Tinto de Verano

Love sangria but hate the long ingredient list? Stop scrolling! The tinto de verano, or "red wine of summer" is a Spanish classic that mixes a light and fruity red wine with lemon-lime soda. The flavor is deliciously reminiscent of sangria, but gets you the end result a lot faster. It's the ideal drink for lazy summer weekends and backyard parties where guests can mix the wine and soda to suit their tastes.

Classic Southern Fried Chicken

Even though fried chicken has a reputation for being fussy, this version is about as stress-free as it gets. Rather than a long marination time, multiple dredges in flour, and endless hacks for the crispiest craggiest chicken, this recipe takes a minimalist approach. And guess what? It's still fried chicken! Still crusty, still tender, still super flavorful. I think the cast-iron skillet is the secret to this dish's success, and the bonus is that you use way less oil with this frying method.

Easy Jell-O Shots

I'm not sure what y'all have been up to this summer but it must be fun? But for those of you who think Jell-O shots are just for college kids, it's time to turn off your mind, relax, and float downstream on a boozy, gelatinous, technicolor river. No one is going to be mad that you brought out a tray of Jell-O shots at the party. If anything, you'll find out who's still young at heart and probably get an earful of great stories.

Easy Homemade Gyros

This recipe takes the Greek diner classic and turns it into a home-friendly recipe you can make any night of the week. Using ground lamb or beef, plenty of spices, and, everyone's favorite, tzatziki sauce, this gyro recipe can be made on the grill or just in a pan on the stove.

Tortellini Pasta Salad

This is the summer meal prep recipe you've been dreaming of! This hearty pasta salad can be made at the beginning of the week and enjoyed for lunches throughout the week. It has plenty of protein from the cheese-filled tortellini, salami, and mozzarella pearls and a tangy, semi-homemade dressing. Or if meal prep isn't your thing, this salad also makes a standout potluck dish, as it only gets better with time.

Steamed Corn on the Cob

Grilled corn gets all the love, but if you don't have a grill (or just don't want to fuss with one) it's hard to beat steaming for ease, speed, and flavor. Really great summer corn needs almost no gussying up to be exceptional, and this method proves it. Serve your steamed corn with softened butter, salt, and pepper or just munch on it as-is. It's corn!

Easy No-Cook Chocolate Ice Cream

This ice cream has a secret ingredient. Spoiler: it's whipped cream! The whipped cream gives this deeply chocolaty ice cream a soft, spoonable texture (no more rock-hard homemade ice cream!). Enjoy it plain or add in different mix-ins to amp up the flavor. Swirls of salted caramel, crushed up chocolate sandwich cookies, and marshmallow creme are good places to start your chocolate ice cream journey.

Red Currant Jam

Red currants are so beautiful that it's hard to mash them up and turn them into jam, but oh is it worth it! The tiny, juice-filled fruits make the most stunning sweet-tart jam you've ever tried. This is a very popular jam in the UK, so we recommend serving it atop buttered fresh crumpets for the full experience.

Watermelon Rind Pickles

It never feels great throwing away all the rinds from a watermelon. Did you know that you don't have to? Rather than adding to the compost heap, whip up a batch of these classic southern pickles. They're very tangy, sweet, and ideal for serving alongside that southern fried chicken and steamed corn on the cob for a well-rounded summer supper.