15 Recipes to Help You Escape to the Beach
Apr 10, 2020, Updated Jun 15, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Unfortunately, spring break is canceled this year. When normally we would be hauling our families off for vacation beach adventures, instead we’re self-quarantining and practicing social distancing. And that’s a good thing: by preventing the spread of COVID-19 and flattening the curve, we’ll be able to take those vacations next year and many more years after that!
But that doesn’t mean we don’t miss our regularly scheduled beach time. This year, we’ll have to settle for our fond memories of the beach… the sounds of crashing waves and shorebirds, the orange glow of a perfect ocean sunset, the salty breeze, and of course the delicious aroma of tropical food!
Your senses of smell and taste are strongly linked to memory, and our Produce Moms recipe book is full of meals to bring you right back to the beach — and we’ll do it without getting sand everywhere! Here are 15 beach recipes, from drinks to entrees to desserts, that will transport you to the tropics.
1. Papaya Piña Colada
Let’s get this beach party started! If you love Piña Coladas, you’ll love what fresh Papaya brings to this classic cocktail.
Recipe: Papaya Piña Colada
2. Cantaloupe Agua Fresca with Coconut Water
Easy to make and easy to love, this Mexican drink is highly customizable — just pick your favorite fruits! This version calls for refreshing cantaloupe juice and uses nutty, electrolyte-rich coconut water, although you can just as easily use tap water.
Recipe: Cantaloupe Agua Fresca with Coconut Water
3. Fresh Citrus Shrimp Ceviche
This South American dish is made with citrus-marinated seafood. Go at it with chips, crackers, or just a spoon!
Recipe: Fresh Citrus Shrimp Ceviche
4. Fresh Cherry Salsa
Our partners at Sage Fruit whipped up this flavorful salsa recipe using Dark Sweet Cherries. It’s great as a dip, in pork or chicken tacos, and on fish!
Recipe: Fresh Cherry Salsa
5. Creamy Watermelon Sorbet
No trip to the beach is complete without a stop at the local ice cream shop. This year, make your own sorbet. This recipe for creamy watermelon sorbet from our partners at Watermelon Board is surprisingly easy to make!
Recipe: Creamy Watermelon Sorbet
6. Cherry and Lime Slushies
This is the perfect poolside drink, and that includes the kiddie pool in the backyard!
Recipe: Cherry and Lime Slushie
7. Tropical Avocado Shrimp Tacos
Looking for a Taco Tuesday twist? Try these shrimp tacos with avocado salsa verde, made with large tropical avocados.
Recipe: Tropical Avocado Shrimp Tacos
8. Sweet Kale Fish Tacos
Another fresh take on tacos, our fish tacos are quick and easy to make. Why? Because we use a sweet kale salad kit to build them!
Recipe: Sweet Kale Fish Tacos
9. Chili-Lime Jackfruit Burrito Bowls
Jackfruit is an excellent alternative to pulled pork. Even if you’re not looking to replace your carnitas, it brings delicious flavor to these burrito bowls that your whole family will love.
Recipe: Chili-Lime Jackfruit Burrito Bowls
10. Easy Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Sheet Pan
Bring some Hawaiian sensibilities to the table with this sheet pan dinner. Prep your ingredients, through them in the oven together, and in just 30 minutes you’ll have baked a beach barbeque.
Recipe: Easy Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken Sheet Pan
11. Fruit and Hazelnut Salad
Go beachy with your salad. This one mixes some of our favorite summer fruits and is topped with hazelnuts.
Recipe: Hazelnut Fruit Salad
12. Grilled Fruit Kabobs
Take advantage of the weather, clean off your grill, and try grilling some fruit! Grilling brings out the sugar in fruits, making them deliciously sweet.
Recipe: Grilled Fruit Kabobs
13. Dragon Fruit Yogurt Parfait
This vibrant parfait is the sort of thing you might eat for breakfast while enjoying a coastal sunrise. It makes a great dessert too!
Recipe: Dragon Fruit Yogurt Parfait
14. Strawberry Daiquiri Ice Pops
Poptails give you a new way to enjoy your favorite cocktails. The rum base of these Strawberry Daiquiri poptails gives them an irresistible velvety texture.
Recipe: Strawberry Daiquiri Ice Pops
15. Sandía Loca – Mexican-Style “Crazy” Watermelon
Turn your backyard into a beach party! This Mexican party dessert is sure to bring smiles to your family’s faces. It’s sweet, fruity, and nutty, with a little Tajín seasoning zing!
Recipe: Sandía Loca – Mexican-Style “Crazy” Watermelon
Staying home and preventing the spread of COVID-19 is the right thing to do right now — for you, for your family, and for your whole community. But that doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourself to some adventurous meals! We hope these beach recipes help you take your family on a vacation right at your own dining table.
What are your favorite beach recipes? Share in the comments below or tag us in your food photos on Instagram @theproducemoms.
