Summer is here, and our kitchens are calling for fresh fare and flavorful innovation! Whether you’re firing up the grill, hosting backyard barbecues, or craving easy meals for busy summer days, we’ve got you covered with our top picks for summer cookbooks worth snagging this sweltering season. While it would be easy to default to standard meals like take-out pizza and simple salads, these eight tried-and-true cookbooks elevate your summer menu with choices from globally-inspired cuisine to show-stopping grilled entrees and decadent desserts. Armed with these, your everyday meals and family gatherings are sure to be anything but ordinary or bland.

_{Prices are accurate as of July 10, 2025. Subject to change.}

The Italian Summer Kitchen — Cathy Whims

You’ll escape to Italy without ever having to leave your kitchen when you dive into the delicious decadence that is The Italian Summer Kitchen. Portland, Oregon-based author Cathy Whims is a much-celebrated restaurateur and seven-time James Beard Award-nominated chef. This beautifully illustrated book is her long-awaited foray into the world of cookbooks, and wow, was it worth the wait! It draws on countless regions, highlighting recipes for everything from drinks, pasta, pizza, risotto, and pesto. While flavorful and fan-favorite recipes, like homemade ricotta, salt and herb focaccia, and olive oil cake, would be enough to sell us on the 224-page book, it’s Whims’ commentary and wisdom that brings the essence of Italy to life. With her warm and inviting narrative, Whims weaves together stories of Italian culture and cuisine that will have you cooking the whole book in no time at all. 

Once Upon A Chef — Jennifer Segal

If there’s one cook who has never let me down, it’s Jennifer Segal. Her website Once Upon A Chef is regularly updated with fail-safe, family-favorite recipes like baked ziti, chicken marsala, and Maryland crab cakes. Though this cookbook was released back in 2021, it’s still as relevant today as it was then. Segal, a classically trained chef, is a master at walking home cooks through challenging recipes with ease and clarity, breaking down complex techniques into approachable steps that make even the most ambitious dishes feel achievable. That’s why I reach for this cookbook on the regular, especially during the summer, with stained and splatter-marked pages to prove it! Recipes like butter chicken and fettuccine carbonara are just a few of the 100 recipes at your fingertips with this book. 

Easy Everyday — Jessica Merchant

Jessica Merchant is another cook whose recipes are always a huge hit in my household. I first discovered Jessica through her cooking site, How Sweet Eats, and her previous cookbooks, Everyday Dinners and Seriously Delish, are the source for many of my summer meals. Her latest cookbook release, Easy Everyday, is a continuation of what Merchant does best: providing approachable, delicious recipes for stress-free and affordable everyday cooking that doesn’t compromise on quality or flavor. What you’ll find in this 100-recipe guide is a treasure trove of summer-inspired recipes like blackened salmon burgers, chicken zucchini meatballs, flank steak with kale, cherry cheesecake turnovers, and other filling and satisfying dishes perfect for weeknight meals and group gatherings. 

The Ambitious Kitchen Cookbook — Monique Volz

Ambitious Kitchen is one of those recipe sites that holds you captive with its creative flavor combinations, health-focused recipes, and insanely gorgeous food photography. In her debut cookbook, food writer and social media star Monique Volz delivers 125 recipes that everyone from the baby to grandma can enjoy, making summer mealtime a breeze for families with diverse tastes and varying dietary requirements. With a focus on healthy, wholesome ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, Volz’s flavorful recipes cater to a wide range of palates and preferences. And don’t worry about sacrificing flavor. With options like blueberry high-protein waffles, ropa vieja, baked chicken tacos, and double strawberry oatmeal cream pies, you’ll find a great balance of indulgence without going overboard.   

ArnieTex — Arnie Segovia

It’s not summer without barbecue and grilled fare, which is why we’re eager to get our hands on the newly released ArnieTex cookbook from author Arnie Segovia. The Texas-based, award-winning barbecue pro is quite the YouTube sensation, walking viewers through classic recipes like carne guisada, elote, and cheesy chicken enchiladas, but his new cookbook takes things to the next level with classic interpretations and creative twists. Get ready to be exposed to a brilliant blend of Texas and Mexican cuisine with tantalizing dishes like smoked brisket, fajitas, Mexican-Spanish rice, and Texas chili. With Arnie’s expert grilling prowess and authentic flavors, this cookbook is sure to become a staple in any grillmaster’s or pitmaster’s library. 

Monsoon — Asma Khan

Not many cuisines pack the intensity of flavor and variety quite like Indian food with its rich blend of spices and herbs. And while you might assume you need intense culinary training to master such a historic cuisine, the truth is that all it takes is the right teacher. Asma Khan, author of Monsoon, is a prominent London-based chef who was born and raised in India and has gained international recognition for her authentic and adventurous Indian cuisine. Monsoon features a collection of 80 recipes, including options like spiced and creamy pumpkin dhal and delicate lentil fritters with spiced yogurt that might sound intimidating, but are actually anything but with Khan’s thorough guidance and clear instructions. The book makes it easy-breezy to bring a taste of India into your home kitchen, which is why it’s a huge bestseller!  

Umma — Sarah Ahn and Nam Soon Ahn

Mom-and-daughter team Nam Soon Ahn and Sarah Ahn join forces with America’s Test Kitchen to deliver an engaging and, at times, emotional Korean cookbook that has quickly become one of my favorites. The duo gained quite the following on social media with their familial wit and wisdom, and the book showcases their love for Korean cuisine through approachable recipes, beautiful photography, and heartfelt storytelling. What could easily just be recipe-reference material is actually a comprehensive guide to Korean cooking — a cuisine that’s had a profound impact on the American culinary landscape. The duo shares personal anecdotes, walks you through a Korean grocery store, and shares meticulously tested recipes like kimchi, fish cakes, and Korean BBQ short ribs that invite readers to explore the rich flavors of Korean cuisine.

Snacking Dinners — Georgia Freedman

Sometimes the best meals are rooted in ease and simplicity, which is why we couldn’t resist snagging Snacking Dinners. This recently released cookbook makes mealtime an absolute breeze with plenty of flavor, festivity, and flexibility. Snacking Dinners offers creative solutions for busy home cooks to serve up worldly and satisfying meals without sacrificing taste or style. Especially for those who are cooking just for themselves, the book, which covers a smorgasbord of cuisines, shines with its small-serving recipes that can be effortlessly doubled or tripled, allowing for extra guests or larger gatherings. The recipes are anything but boring or predictable with options like spicy tuna hand rolls, Turkish breakfast for dinner, black bean picadillo, and other decadent, delicious meals you’ll be whipping up all summer long! 

Featured Image Credit: ANTONI SHKRABA production/ Pexels

I’ve always been a baker. When I was little, I’d help my parents in the kitchen, kneading and rolling out dough for calzones and walnut horns and crimping ravioli edges. My breadmaker is one of my most used bridal shower gifts, and bread is my go-to item for potluck-style get-togethers. In 2020, when everyone else was baking bread, too, I saw an advertisement for a Danish dough whisk. For approximately $10, I figured it was a safe buy. Now, I almost never put it down. If you like to bake, be it bread, cookies, or muffins, you might benefit from a Danish dough whisk, too. 

_{Prices are accurate as of September 16, 2025. Subject to change.}

Jillmo 12-Inch Stainless Steel Danish Dough Whisk

You’re probably familiar with a traditional whisk. It has a few layers of thin, interwoven wires and works to quickly beat eggs or mix meringue. You can buy them at any store that sells kitchen items, usually for around $5. They’re not necessarily sturdy — I’ve lost one to a dishwasher and another to my kids’ playtime — which means that they aren’t the best tool for working with dough. For that, pick up a Danish dough whisk instead.

Sometimes called a brødpisker (bread whipper) or, as it was traditionally used, a farsrører (minced meat stirrer), a Danish dough whisk is an essential tool for every kitchen. Its thick looped coils efficiently mix heavy doughs for anything from breads and pizzas to brownies. Danish whisks easily pull in dough or other ingredients off of the sides of the mixing bowl better than a spatula, spoon, or traditional whisk. They’re so easy to use, even my preschool-aged children have no trouble mixing with one. Unlike a traditional whisk, I’ve owned my Danish dough whisk for almost five years, and it shows no signs of wear.

Usually, getting dough from flour to a ball that’s able to be kneaded can be a time-consuming process. I often start with a spatula or spoon , but wind up using my hands (or additional kitchen tools) to finish incorporating all of the mixture, especially if I’m adding chocolate chips or craisins. With a Danish dough whisk, on the other hand, a good grip on the bowl and the whisk, plus a little arm strength, are all you need. The dough whisk uses its heavy-duty coils to quickly pull everything together into one ball, comparable to using a stand mixer (and even that needs an extra tool to scrape off the sides of the bowl).

Cleaning it is also a breeze. When hand washing, I feel like I get a more thorough clean on a Danish dough whisk, with less crevices and gaps than a traditional whisk. It also sits nicely on the top rack of my dishwasher (mine has a stainless steel handle; wooden handles would be hand-wash only). I think it cleans even better than a spatula, which normally has to be taken apart into two pieces. 

I own a lot of kitchen utensils, and I’m not one to splurge on every current TikTok trend, but this dough whisk is magical. Since I started using one, I’ve gifted them to friends and family several times over.

Whether you bake homemade bread every week or you only ever make boxed brownies, the Danish dough whisk has a place in your kitchen.

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Outdoor pizza ovens have become an increasingly popular addition to backyard entertainment in recent years, and it’s easy to see why. Pizza ovens offer a combination of convenience, flexibility, flavor, and undeniable showmanship that’s hard to replicate with traditional cooking methods. Choosing the right oven for your setup, however, can be a daunting decision with many factors at play. With varying options to consider such as size, material, fuel type, and price point, it’s important to assess your needs and priorities when hunting down a pizza oven that complements your entertaining style and cooking preferences.

I tested out some of the market’s top-rated outdoor pizza ovens, from affordable and basic to high-end models with advanced features. Read more to find out how these pizzeria-style ovens can take your family pizza nights and patio get-togethers to the next level, and discover which model best fits your experience level, needs, and budget.

_{Prices are accurate as of March 18, 2025. Subject to change.}

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Pizza Oven

I hadn’t heard too much buzz about Ninja’s pizza oven while researching baseline, frills-free options, but it surprised me in the best way possible. After using it for a few pizza nights, I can say the performance is perfect for those who are new to making homemade pizzas and aren’t necessarily vaunted pros just yet. 

The electric oven heats up to a temperature of your choice in around 25 minutes and makes cooking your 12-inch, signature-style pizzas easy to conquer from the start. To work the oven, turn the dial to pizza and choose between the different style settings, including Neapolitan, thin, New York, pan, frozen, or custom. These selections come with pre-set but adjustable times that remove any potential confusion that comes along with the more advanced oven models. 

I tested the Ninja with an easy homemade pepperoni pizza, as well as a pre-made frozen pizza. I was surprised by just how quickly and efficiently it cooked them without any hiccups, inconsistencies, or confusion. The best part? You don’t have to babysit it; there’s no need to turn the pizza or monitor the heat along the way. 

The pizza crust gets that signature, chef’s kiss brick-oven char, decadent crunch, and bubbly cheese. I wouldn’t say the results are going to rival some of the other expensive ovens featured on this list, but for a more affordable, beginner-friendly option, the delicious results are worth the price. Perhaps one of the main pros of this oven is that even at a lower price point than the competition, it’s not a one-trick pony you only pull out on pizza nights. Add flavored wood pellets if you want to experiment with smoked meats or roasts, or use it to bake, broil, or dehydrate. This is a reasonable oven to consider, especially if you don’t plan on making pizzas religiously.

Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven

Like the Ninja, the Solo Stove Pi Prime Pizza Oven is a great option for novice-to-advanced home chefs who want to cook pizzeria-style pies. I first discovered the Solo Stove brand through their top-performing fire pits, so I was curious what experience the Pi Prime Pizza Oven had in store for my 12-inch creations. 

This durable, 30-pound oven heats up to a max of around 950 degrees Fahrenheit and uses propane to cook. While I was unsure how well I would be able to operate it at first glance, the set-up and execution experience is almost as seamless as the Ninja with a few extra bells and whistles to boot.

The oven takes around 20 minutes to properly heat up, and I recommend you allow ample time to let it preheat. I tried to cut it short once and noticed my pizza was much less crispy and crunchy. The heat/flame is controlled by an adjustable knob on the front, so you’re able to set your exact preference, whether that’s for whipping up puffy calzones or thin-crust personal pies.

As you get familiar with the oven, you’ll discover minor adjustments that can be made to suit your personal preferences, and it’s not a huge hurdle to conquer. For example, I had to learn how to gauge exactly how long my pizza needed to cook depending on its thickness, so nailing down cooking time with this oven really does make all the difference. This Solo Stove pizza oven doesn’t include an internal temperature gauge you can read, so I used an infrared thermometer so I could know exactly how hot it was at various stages. Not having the temperature displayed right on the oven wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, however, you might find the lack of guidance something you’ll have to get used to. 

I didn’t think turning the pizza would make much of a difference, so on my first try I left the Pi Stainless Turner unused.  But the difference is indeed quite noticeable in presentation, texture, and flavor if you make the effort to do some maneuvering while the pizza is fired up. It took some work over a couple of tries, but once you master turning the pie you’ll be a pizza pro. The Margherita and New York-style pizzas I tried were cooked to perfection, with well-balanced flavors and a slightly charred finish that was a hit among the crowd. 

Solo Stove’s oven features a panoramic opening that makes it easy to keep an eye on your pizza and make adjustments as needed during the cooking process. And it’s honestly gratifying to watch your meal transform from dough, cheese, and toppings into savory pies ready to devour. 

I suspect this oven might be the best bang for your buck for those who want to entertain a crowd with confidence and style while still getting the best-you’ve-had pizzas on a consistent basis. I do recommend using an infrared thermometer, and if you can, consider getting Solo Stove’s Essential Bundle for $450. It includes the oven and experience-enhancing accessories, like a pizza stone, turner, and a rocker pizza cutter. But if you want to test the waters first, the oven itself is a great place to start. 

Ooni Volt 12 Electric Pizza Oven

Not everyone has access to the outdoor setup that is required of most pizza ovens, and sometimes the weather simply doesn’t allow for outdoor cooking. For those times, consider the indoor-and-outdoor-capable Ooni Volt 12. 

This versatile pizza oven is a stand-out from Ooni’s other well-reviewed outdoor-only ovens because it’s electric. I was a bit intimidated by the $900 price tag, but the price is a reflection of its astute versatility, ease of use, and consistent and considerable gourmet results.

The oven itself is surprisingly compact for all its capabilities and fits right on my countertop without having to move too much around. It comes with a 13-inch, easy-to-clean pizza stone and features adjustable knobs — one for timing, one for temperature, and a “boost” mode for transferring heat between the top and bottom heating elements for cooking multiple pizzas at a time. I really liked the triple-paned, drop-down glass door and internal light that makes it simple to keep an eye on what’s cooking, whether that’s New York, Chicago-style, or other savory pies. 

The Ooni Volt 12 debuted a few years ago, but it’s still a stand-out favorite among competing brands. For one, the electric oven reaches 850 degrees Fahrenheit, an astounding temp capability compared to most electric pizza ovens. The Ninja oven mentioned above only reaches 700 degrees Fahrenheit, and those extra degrees are needed if you prefer pizzas that require a higher temp. 

I powered the oven up both indoors and outdoors with a 20-minute pre-heat, and each time was a seamless, sensory-filled experience. For my test, I went with a basil and mozzarella-loaded pizza as well as a more adventurous fig with caramelized onion, and was blown away by how thoroughly each pizza was finished in less than two minutes with minimal effort on my end. 

The transfer into and out of the oven was a breeze. With three kids hovering around me I was worried about them standing too close to heat, but found that the oven’s shell barely even felt hot during use — a testament to its superior insulation. 

While I can equate some of the pillowy, cheesy perfection to my culinary knowledge, I have to credit Ooni for how well the combination of flavors and textures came together. It’s an appliance I’d be confident using for family pizza nights and patio get-togethers on the regular. 

Perhaps the most worthwhile appeal of the Ooni Volt 12 is its sincere, borderline ridiculous, ease of use for the top-notch results you achieve. Whereas a lot of outdoor pizza ovens require a ton of babysitting with temperature control, fire, and clean up, the Ooni Volt 12 comes with intuitive controls and capabilities that take the stress out of cooking and let the oven do the heavy lifting. 

While I wouldn’t say this is the most beginner-friendly piece on this list, it’s the one that delivers some of the best results with a minimal and manageable learning curve.

Gozney Arc XL Pizza Oven

Sometimes a 12-inch pizza doesn’t cut it, which is why we wanted to include an oven that could handle larger pies with ease. The Arc XL cooks up to a 16-inch pizza that’ll satisfy hungry crowds. 

When it comes to gourmet pizza at home, the most performance-driven brand at the moment seems to be Gozney. This chef-loved brand offers a range of ovens from basic to super-advanced. I would describe the best-selling Arc XL as a novice-friendly oven that pizza pros will also love.   

The propane-powered oven brings all the best details into one cohesive package, including precise temperature control, a spacious cooking area, and a sleek, dome-shaped presentation that’s a stand-out in any outdoor entertainment space. It weighs nearly 60 pounds and is about 21 inches wide, so it won’t hog much space in your backyard. For this oven, you can customize your whole setup or keep it simple with just the oven itself. I opted to test the oven with the Arc XL Stand, which features incredibly useful side tables, and accessories like the Balance Placement Peel and Balance Turning Peel. If it’s in your budget, I recommend these accessories as they do help move things along much more smoothly and successfully.  

Firing up the Gozney Arc XL was a cinch. True to its name, the arced, rolling flame at the top of the chamber is visually stunning, but also a brilliant way to distribute heat evenly throughout the cooking process with the fire at the top and the pizza stone at the bottom. The digital temperature display is probably my favorite feature, so you’re able to match up the temp with the style of pizza you’re making and know exactly when it’s time to slide your pie onto the cooking stone.  

A common complaint with higher-temp pizza ovens is often poor heat retention. While an oven might claim to be capable of reaching 900-degree temps, if you pull out an infrared thermometer you might find that it’s actually much lower. What impressed me with the Gozney Arc XL is how well it retained its temperature. It stayed nearly identical to what’s displayed on the oven, give or take a few degrees.

I let the Gozney heat up for about 30 minutes before experimenting with different styles of pizza, including a family-favorite Neapolitan, as well as a Detroit-style pizza I was testing out for the first time. I cooked them at different temperatures — 500 degrees Fahrenheit for the Detroit pizza and around 850 degrees Fahrenheit for the Neapolitan — and the results each time were some of the best I’ve ever had with homemade slices. The Neapolitan pizza was cooked with a slightly charred crust and a flavorful center topped with sweet tomatoes and creamy mozzarella cheese. The Detroit-style pizza was also a delight, with a crispy, golden-brown crust, and melty cheese topped with savory Italian sausage. 

The combination of flavors and textures was top-notch, and it’s clear that this pizza oven is capable of producing exceptional results, regardless of pizza style, toppings, or one’s personal pizza prowess. The Gozney Arc XL’s ability to turn the heat up quickly also made it a breeze when cooking multiple different pizzas at a time. 

The Gozney Arc XL has a commercial-oven aesthetic in an at-home product, but it’s still pricey. I recommend this oven for someone who wants to make bigger pizzas on the regular and turn it into a centerpiece for outdoor entertainment where you’re guaranteed to show off its delicious output. 

Featured image credit: wmaster890/ iStock