The 6 ‘Million Dollar’ Recipes We’re Making All Summer Long

The long days of summer invite us to kick back and embrace a slower pace—for enjoying lazy pool days, baseball games, and family beach vacations—reminding us to appreciate the finer things in life. And to that end, the Allrecipes magazine summer issue celebrates food in its delicious extravagance with a Million Dollar takeover. The recipes in this issue are ultra-rich, decadent, and over-the-top. But they’re also fun, approachable, and easy to make at home. With over 70 recipes to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin, so we tapped the folks who know best—the stylists, photographers, and editors who brought this issue to life—to find out which recipes we absolutely shouldn’t miss.

With its combination of cool, sweet ice cream, nutty and fruity toppings, and luscious chocolate sauce, a hot fudge sundae is the ultimate summer dessert, and this marshmallow hot fudge sauce is guaranteed to take your ice cream sundae to the next level. “This is so easy to make! It’s a must for your ice cream sundaes,” says Design Director Steph Hunter. Marshmallows provide sweetness and a supple texture in this rich, chocolaty sauce that comes together in just 15 minutes. 

Imagine it: The sweet smell of cinnamon wafting through the house on a Sunday morning, calling your family members to the kitchen table where you’ll present this gorgeous pan of homemade cinnamon rolls (that only took 35 minutes of hands-on time to make) to great fanfare. The day will have just started, and you will have already won. Culinary Specialist Juliana Hale advises not to sleep on these gooey goodies: “These buns are swoonworthy! The dough was soft and moist, and the buns had just the right amount of sticky pecan caramel topping.”

Fire up this grill for a marinated steak that’s juicy with big beefy flavor courtesy of this easy, pantry-friendly marinade that Food Stylist Holly Dreesman calls “tasty and umami-packed.” Dreesman notes that marinating steak is worth the extra time it requires because the final result will be tender and delicious, no matter what cut you choose.

Perfect for picky eaters of all ages, pepperoni casserole combines pasta and Italian sausage (or substitute ground beef if you prefer it) with pasta sauce, cheese, black olives (totally optional), and pepperoni to deliver an easy dinner that’s always a winner. Senior Photographer Carson Downing can attest that it’s a hit: “This casserole is awesome! We had zero leftovers.”

As the name implies, this Million Dollar Dip is very rich indeed. Reminiscent of a warm pimento cheese dip, this party favorite goes the extra mile, adding smoky bacon and slivered almonds for texture. “This is a classic dip that everyone will devour. I love the bacon,” says Emily Nienhaus, Culinary Specialist. Serve with Ritz crackers, pretzel crisps, or heavy-duty chips, and then watch this delicious dip disappear.

If you’ve been looking for an affordable, wholesome, easy-to-make dish to take to every summer potluck, this Ultimate Cowboy Caviar is the answer. The combination of fresh, pickled, and smoked peppers gives this cookout classic extra depth, while the bright, zesty vinaigrette keeps you coming back for bite after bite. Senior Food Editor Caitlyn Diimig says, “I’m bringing this to every summer cookout. I love all the texture from the corn, tomatoes, peppers, and beans, but it’s the dressing that really takes it over the top.”