8 New England Summer Cookout Recipes

From old-fashioned baked beans and church supper coleslaw to cream-filled whoopie pies and Maine wild blueberry pie, these classic recipes are here to help make your New England summer cookout a delicious success.

8 New England Summer Cookout Recipes

Clam Dip

In this easy New England clam dip recipe, sour cream and cream cheese pair with tender clams, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, and onion to form a tasty concoction you won’t be able to resist. Why settle for store-bought when homemade tastes this good?

Church Supper Coleslaw

The word coleslaw comes from the Dutch koolsla, meaning cabbage salad. This version, studded with carrots and celery, is a New England church supper crowd-pleaser. You can switch it up by adding raisins, chopped nuts, or bits of fruit, such as apple or pineapple.

Tom Curren’s Beanhole Beans

Beanhole beans, or beans-in-the-ground, are New Hampshire cook Tom Curren’s specialty: 25 pounds of beans baked the way they were in the logging camps of the Great North Woods, where they had no ovens. Here’s a scaled-down version, adapted for your home oven. This recipe still makes a generous amount, but the beans freeze beautifully.

Classic New England Clam Chowder

This recipe includes all the traditional ingredients for true New England chowdah – fresh shellfish, bacon, potatoes, and cream – yet it’s rich and thick without turning gloopy.

Outside-In Homemade Burgers

Even though condiments are actually incorporated into these patties, don’t hesitate to top these homemade burgers with the usual fixings. You’ll enjoy an even richer flavor. And feel free to double or triple the recipe for a crowd — it’s quite flexible. Other New England grill favorites include Fenway Franks and “red snapper” dogs, served on a top-split hot dog bun.

Stovetop Clambake

A traditional beachfront clambake is a signature New England experience, but it’s an effort reserved for only the most special occasions (unless you’re in possession of a stretch of private beach and ample free time to dig a pit and build a fire). You can, however, reproduce the flavors at home with a stovetop clambake — all you need is a large pot, some seafood, and aromatics like fennel and lemons.

Mary Blenk’s Maine Wild Blueberry Pie

This award-winning wild blueberry pie recipe from Maine cook Mary Blenk is juicy, not runny; the berries sweet (yet just a bit tart); the crust flaky and light. In short, it’s everything a blueberry pie should be. Don’t forget the vanilla ice cream!

Whoopie Pies with Marshmallow Fluff Filling

Here’s a classic homemade whoopie pie recipe for this favorite old-fashioned New England dessert. Soft chocolate cookies with Marshmallow Fluff cream filling never had it so good. If you prefer New England–inspired cookies, try chewy molasses hermit bars or the classic chocolate chip Toll House cookies.