10 of the best summer roasts
Enjoy a roast in the height of summer with these 10 seasonal ideas. With a few clever swaps, you can enjoy a special Sunday lunch even during warmer weather. Our 10 best summer roasts include roast chicken with holiday-inspired potatoes, golden roast pork with juicy seasonal peaches, herby roast beef and a traditional lamb dish from sunny Greece. We’ve also included an impressive barbecue salmon dish for al fresco entertaining and a delicious vegetarian option. Which one will you try first?
Can you eat a roast in summer?
Roasts aren’t just for Christmas. With a few clever switches, you can sit down to a Sunday lunch that hits the spot in high summer. A roast is perfect for low-effort summer entertaining, as you can leave the meat to cook in the oven instead of sweltering over the stove.
Senior food producer Pollyanna loves roasting a chicken in the summer. “There’s nothing more universally loved than a simple, home-cooked roast chicken, and I cook a summer roast – or some version of it – most weekends at home,” she says. “It’s minimal fuss for maximum flavour and can mostly be prepared before guests arrive. I switch up the salads to go with it depending on the month but this pickled courgette and peach beauty is a particular favourite.”
Pollyanna’s summer roast chicken
Serve this golden chicken with Pollyanna’s seasonal salad and holiday potatoes: new potatoes roasted with olive oil, oregano, and smoky paprika, which transport your palate to the shores of the Med.
How to make a great summer roast
The secret to a great summer roast is to make a few seasonal changes. Swap the classic vegetable sides (roast potatoes, cauliflower cheese and so on) for seasonal produce and salads. Our recipes below include aubergines, peppers, courgettes and even stone fruit like apricots and peaches, which bring sweetness and acidity to roasted meats. Use plenty of lemon and fresh herbs too, either to create simple marinades and rubs for your meat or fish, or in vibrant salads. Make a lighter gravy, or swap it for one of the fresh sauces below.
What to serve with a summer roast
Save the yorkshires, bread sauce and parsnips for autumn and serve your roast with these smart ideas.
Seasonal sides
- Sweet and sour aubergine salad
- Baked feta and green veg potato salad
- Grilled courgettes with agrodolce
- Tomato salad with Indian-style tarka dressing
Fresh slaws
Alternative sauces
10 of the best summer roast recipes
Lamb kleftiko
Kleftiko is a Greek icon. Learn how to make this traditional dish of tender, slow-roasted lamb on a bed of sliced potatoes with plenty of herbs and garlic. Enjoy with a glass of wine and imagine you’re at a sun-bleached taverna on your favourite Greek island.
Herby dijon roast beef
Swap traditional roast beef with all the trimmings for this summertime version. Cover rolled sirloin with a thick crust of mustard and fresh parsley, oregano and rosemary before roasting. Serve with new potatoes and a zingy lemon and tarragon remoulade.
Roast pork with peaches
Dark-gold roast pork, garlicky roasties, a moreish courgette gratin and juicy peaches: this is a showstopper of a summer roast from restaurateur Ben Tish. Ben recommends using yellow peaches that aren’t overripe so they hold their shape during cooking.
Halloumi and pistachio nut roast
A great vegetarian option. Nut roasts are often get wheeled out at Christmas, but this lighter version sings with eastern Mediterranean flavours that are ideal for summer. Think sharp-sweet pomegranate, salty halloumi and creamy pistachios, plus plenty of lemon zest and fresh herbs.
Roast chicken with crispy potatoes and summer salad
Switch out wintery staples for lighter, seasonal equivalents in this gorgeous roast chicken recipe. Exchange classic roasties for crispy new potatoes, traditional veggie sides for crisp asparagus and radishes, and the gravy for a herby hollandaise.
Roast pork loin with apricots
Rich pork loin and tangy apricots make a perfect pair in this summer pork roast. Glaze the apricots with lavender honey to tease out their sweetness and serve with a peppery radicchio and watercress salad.
Glazed roast salmon with pickled cucumber salsa
If the hot weather has you craving a lighter centrepiece, check out our recipe for glazed roast salmon. This impressive side of salmon can serve 8-10 people and has a gorgeous miso, honey and lime glaze. Roast in the oven (or cook on the barbecue for extra flavour) and serve with new potatoes and an addictive pickled cucumber salsa.
Harissa-spiced slow roast lamb
Baste a leg of lamb with harissa paste, lemon and coriander before treating it to a long, slow roast in the oven. Serve with a refreshing and colourful mint, almond, pomegranate and radish salad.
Whole roast chicken caesar salad
The caesar salad we all know and love – with a whole roast chicken! Crisp lettuce leaves drenched in creamy dressing are the perfect light partner for a bronzed bird in the summer months.
Roast beef with aubergine, peppers and cannellini beans
Make the most of high-summer produce by serving juicy roast beef on a bed of in-season aubergines, juicy red peppers and creamy cannellini beans.
Desserts to follow a summer roast
These fine puddings have Sunday lunch comfort-factor while also making the most of seasonal fruit.
- Strawberry and vanilla crumble
- Gooseberry cobbler
- Cherries jubilee
- Strawberry and nectarine galette
- Peach melba frangipane crumble
- Plum and apricot brioche tart
Browse our complete summer roast recipes collection for even more delicious ideas.