**Joanna Gaines** Reveals Summer Family Dinner Menu

Summer provides more opportunities to cook delicious meals. Fortunately, **Joanna Gaines** recently revealed her family’s ideal seasonal menus, showcasing comforting dishes we’re eager to prepare.

Summer Nostalgia

According to **Gaines**, the recipes offer both nostalgia and spontaneity, perfect “for kids returning home…hungry for familiarity, and kids still growing, still in need of surprise.” The collection appears in the summer 2025 edition of *Magnolia Journal*.

The dishes offer opportunities to be still, gathered around the table, according to **Gaines**. Recipes can also be found on the Magnolia Blog.

The Perfect Trio: Burgers, Fries, and Corn

The **Gaines** family’s ideal summer dinner menu is surprisingly straightforward. It features smash burgers, french fries, and corn on the cob with charred jalapeño butter.

“This is our oldest son’s favorite meal—and always the first dinner he requests when he’s home from college,” **Joanna** noted, highlighting its appeal.

Smash Burger Recipe

Prep time is 15 minutes, cook time is 30 minutes, and the recipe makes eight burgers.

• 3 lb. ground beef (80% lean)
• 3 tbsp. grated white onion
• 3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
• 3 tbsp. ketchup
• ¾ tsp. freshly cracked black pepper
• ¾ tsp. kosher salt
• Vegetable oil, for greasing
• 2 onions, thinly sliced (optional)
• 2 fresh poblano chiles, sliced (optional)
• 16 slices American cheese
• 8 tsp. mayonnaise
• 8 brioche burger buns
• 8 lettuce leaves
• 8 thick tomato slices
• Smash Sauce (recipe below)

Combine ground beef, onion, Worcestershire, ketchup, pepper, and salt. Divide into 16 portions and roll into balls.

Heat a griddle to 375°F, brush with oil. Press meatball with parchment paper using a burger press, then cook patties for two minutes. Flip, add cheese, and cook two minutes more.

Spread mayonnaise on buns and toast. Assemble burgers with Smash Sauce, patties, onions/chiles (if using), lettuce, and tomato.

Smash Sauce Recipe

Combine 1 cup ketchup, 2 tbsp mayonnaise, 2 tbsp dill relish, 1 tbsp yellow mustard, 1 tbsp sliced green onions, ½ tsp black pepper, and ¼ tsp kosher salt. Store in the refrigerator up to 5 days.

Crinkle Fries Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes, Soak: 2 hours, Cook: 30 minutes, Stand: 15 minutes. The recipe yields eight servings.

• ½ cup kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
• 6 large russet potatoes, peeled
• 1 gallon peanut oil, for frying
• Freshly ground black pepper, for seasoning
• Seasoned salt, for seasoning (optional)
• Chopped fresh parsley or freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for sprinkling (optional)

Add salt to one bowl of cold water. Cut potatoes into fry shapes, adding to plain water. Then, transfer to salted water and refrigerate for at least two hours.

Heat peanut oil to 325°F. Drain and dry potatoes.

Fry in batches for five minutes, then let stand for 15 minutes.

Increase oil to 400°F and fry again until crisp. Season with salt, pepper, and seasoned salt.

Garnish with parsley or Parmesan, if desired, and serve.

Corn with Charred Jalapeño Butter Recipe

Prep: 5 minutes, Cook: 6 minutes, Serves 8.

• 3 cloves garlic, charred
• ¼ of a fresh jalapeño, charred
• ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• ½ tsp. garlic salt
• 8 ears sweet corn, shucked
• Flaky salt

Process charred garlic and jalapeño into a paste. Add butter and garlic salt, processing until combined.

Grill corn until charred, then spread with butter and sprinkle with flaky salt.

According to the USDA, the average American consumes about 54 pounds of corn per year, highlighting its popularity as a side dish.

Store leftover butter in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Soften before using.