Trend Feast®
Cool and Craveable Summer Trends
2/18/2026
TOP TAKEAWAYS
Refreshing salads, from ceviche to potato salads, can keep customers cool in the heat of summer.
Ribs and BBQ dominate summer menus, but leaning into flavor can keep your menu exciting and fresh.
Grilled veggies bring the flavor, freshness, and healthy cues to summer.
A slab of ribs slowly smoking over a wood fire. Crisp and juicy corn on the cob, fresh from the grill and slathered in butter. A pitcher of tropical mango lemonade, cool and refreshing.
The foods of summer are a vibe—and an opportunity
Seasonality is more important than ever on menus. Consumers today want a reason to go out and spend money on a meal. They want to experience those summery foods and feelings: comforting foods, bold flavors, refreshing options that beat the heat.
So what should you put on the menu to ensure a successful summer? What are consumers clamoring for? Based on the data and research, this is your blueprint for a trend-driven summer menu.
Cool down on hot days
When temperatures get hotter and hotter, cold menu options aren’t just a nice-to-have, they’re a deep consumer need. In fact, numerous cold dishes are growing on menus, driven by the demand for refreshing options that don’t skimp on the flavor.
Options like shrimp and salmon caesar salads, seafood crudo and ceviche, beef carpaccio, protein-driven salads like shrimp or turkey, and antipasto options are all growing on menus.1
The growth is partly driven by consumers’ increasing interest in these options. Dishes like ceviche and carpaccio are both growing in the number of consumers who say they love or like them, while a wide range of produce-driven salads (caprese, cucumber, broccoli) are popular with consumers.2
And don’t forget the potato salad. Not only is it already a beloved favorite—nearly three quarters of all consumers say they love or like it—but it’s still growing in popularity.2
Looking for the recipe inspiration? Consider these options, all featured in the Spring/Summer 2026 Trend Feast® Guide:
BBQ for the win
When looking at summer menus, there is one popular option that over-indexes compared to all other foods: ribs. In fact, “pork ribs” and “BBQ ribs” specifically dominate many of the summer menu launches.3
BBQ pulled pork, pulled pork sandwiches, and BBQ chicken are also key launches.3
While BBQ and ribs are clearly summer staples, there are numerous opportunities to keep this category exciting and innovative. Sauce options are showcasing a much wider range of flavors – global (Korean BBQ ribs), regional (Alabama white sauce, Carolina gold sauce), spicy (think ghost pepper coffee rubs), and sweet and savory (fruit sauces infused with cherry, strawberry, or apples). BBQ sliders, tacos, bowls, loaded fries, and even breakfast dishes take the category in new directions, expanding their reach.
Those unique flavors are a must. In 2024, BBQ showed up in 73 limited-time offers and new and returning menu items at major chains during the summer, and that’s not even including independent restaurants, so it will take effort to stand out.3
Don’t forget BBQ options for catering summer parties and get-togethers, which can increase the bottom line during the summer months. That’s particularly true for smoked meats and BBQ like brisket that require a lot of time, effort, and special equipment for home cooks; a catering platter package takes the work off their plate.
Need a menu-ready recipe for a crowd-pleasing dish? Check out these BBQ Ribs with Succotash, a menu item that infuses Southern soul and smoke into the summer.
Grilled veggies for next-level flavor
When it comes to veggies, grilled options are the flavor of summer. In fact, grilled vegetables like peppers and tomatoes are also some of the highest-indexing summer BBQ menu trends, whether they are served with BBQ proteins or on their own terms.3
With summer being peak produce season, many consumers want to see flavorful veggies that showcase freshness and health without sacrificing flavor. But again, differentiation is key: grilled vegetables like green peppers and tomatoes were also a part of 73 limited-time offers during summer 2024.3 For insanely busy kitchens looking for perfectly roasted vegetables, RoastWorks® is the perfect solution straight from the bag. Because frozen works when it’s .
How do you stand out? Consider bold sauces, lots of fresh herbs, and plenty of citrus and acid to amp up the flavor. Mediterranean olive oil, crunchy chili crisps, global yuzu, and unique options like fermented hot sauces can all take grilled veggies to the next level.
Plus, these options are clear cross-utilization winners. Use them as sides, bases or toppers for salads or bowls, sandwich fillings, taco and burrito enhancements, protein toppings, etc.
As you consider your summer menu, keep this overall theme in mind: it’s all about contrast and balance. Cool and chilled dishes to contrast with the heat. Simple BBQ meats elevated with unique sauces and flavors. Fresh and healthy veggies balanced with flavors from the grill and beyond.
With those ideas in mind, you’ll create a menu your customers will seek out through the long days of summer. Check out the Spring/Summer 2026 Trend Feast® Guide for inspiration to keep your menu hot all summer, available by joining Simplot+.
1 MenuTrends, Datassential, September 2025
2 Consumer Preferences, Datassential, September 2025
3 Seasonal Insights: Summer 2025, Datassential, May 2025
