Easy Summer Meals (Thanks to this Mayo)

Do you know who the real MVP of summer cooking is?

Homemade mayonnaise!

(Scroll to the bottom for the recipe)

When it’s too hot to even look at the oven...

This mayo becomes the base for lunches, snacks, and dinners that are cool, creamy, and ridiculously satisfying.

It’s my go-to for just about everything in the summer.

But one dish that’s always on repeat in our house?

Chicken salad.

Now…

I’m not about to give you a full-blown chicken salad recipe because, let’s be honest—

It’s basically just chicken and mayo.

But it’s how you build it that makes it shine. Here are a few of my favorite ways to dress it up (or down):

• For sweetness: grapes, cranberries, or chopped apples

• For crunch: celery, red onion, walnuts, or pecans

• For flair: fresh herbs, splash of lime, honey mustard, or hot sauce

• For a protein boost: chopped hard-boiled eggs

It’s perfect on toast, tucked in lettuce cups, scooped with crackers, or just grab a fork and go straight from the bowl (I won’t judge)..

My personal favorite?

Chopped apples + walnuts + Simple Mills almond flour crackers.

It’s got that UMPH—you’ll see.

And thanks to that homemade mayo, it’s got a depth of flavor you just don’t get from the store bought stuff.

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Other Ways I Use My Homemade Mayo All Summer Long:

✅ Tuna Salad – Quick, pantry-friendly, endlessly customizable

✅ Egg Salad – Add smoked paprika or curry powder for a little twist

✅ Coleslaw – Mayo + apple cider vinegar + honey = perfect slaw dressing

✅ Grilled Corn – Slather with mayo, sprinkle with chili powder + lime juice (seriously, try it)

✅ Sandwich Spread – Mix with garlic or herbs for a homemade aioli vibe

✅ Pasta Salad Base – Mayo + yogurt or sour cream + lemon = creamy perfection

✅ Aioli for burgers – Garlic + lemon juice, and maybe hot sauce if you like a kick

✅ Quick Dressing – Whisk in vinegar or lemon juice + fresh herbs for a fast, creamy dressing

✅ Deviled Eggs – Obviously.

So if you’re looking for a way to eat better and simpler this summer…

Start with the mayo.

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Homemade Mayo Recipe

Ingredients:

1 large egg

1 cup avocado oil

2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

1. Crack the egg into a tall, wide-mouth glass jar.

2. Add vinegar, mustard, and salt.

3. Insert your immersion blender and give it a quick mix (about 20 seconds).

4. Pour the avocado oil right on top.

5. Place the blender at the bottom of the jar where the egg is.

6. Blend without lifting, then slowly move the blender upward.

7. Once you reach the top, go back down and up a few times until it turns into creamy, dreamy mayo.

And that’s it!

You’re officially ready to give your stove a summer break. ☀️