Easy fresh peach recipes are great to keep handy in the summer when the market is overflowing with fresh fruit. From sweet peach dessert recipes to savory peach dinner ideas for chicken and pork, all the best ways to use peaches are here.
When you move to the south like our family did, it is an unwritten rule that you need to embrace fresh peaches and learn to use them in all manner of recipes immediately the moment your house is unpacked.
I started with this classic peach jam recipe the same week we moved in so I could slather it over a buttery biscuit.
I then proceeded to work for 8 summers in a row to perfect my southern peach cobbler game. I've finally nailed it.
Every year I add a few more peach recipes to my repertoire and I never tire of those sweet golden stone fruits that explode all over our farm stand.
How to Pick a Perfect Peach
Before you try to cook any of these peach recipes, you'll want to know how to pick the perfect peach from your market.
Look for the Sticker:
I'm a HUGE fan of the peaches from Titan Farms in South Carolina.
Everyone thinks Georgia peaches are the best, but the peaches from Titan Farms have been the best I've ever tasted.
If you can't find them, peaches from the South are definitely still going to be the best.
GENTLY Squeeze:
Very gently, not so hard as to make a mark just enough to get a feel, squeeze the fruit and see if it is hard like a rock or has some give to the flesh.
If you plan to eat or bake with your peaches in the next 24 hours, pick ones that are softer.
The hard-as-rock ones will ripen at home in the next 3 days and are better for when you plan to use them later in the week.
Smell the Peach
Give the fruit a sniff. Does it smell like a sweet peach? Ripe peaches give off a lovely aroma.
Storage Tips
If your peaches are ripe and soft, keep them in the fridge fruit drawer but plan to enjoy them as soon as possible.
If your peaches are hard and still need to ripen at home, place them in a paper bag with the top open on the counter and they'll soften up in the next 24 - 48 hours.
If you want them to take longer to ripen, store the hard peaches in the fruit drawer of your fridge for a week.
The Best Fresh Peach Recipes
Looking for a fresh way to use the juicy ripe peaches at your farmer's market stand? Don't miss my all time favorite peach recipes:
This peach cobbler may just be the very best peach recipe on my entire site!
My mom and sister beg me to make it for them every summer and I guarantee it will be the best peach dessert you've ever had.
Juicy peach bread with an easy vanilla glaze and crispy slivered almonds on top makes a lovely weekend breakfast treat.
This spicy peach salsa is a fun twist on a summertime appetizer. Serve it with a chilled glass of white wine and a big bowl of salty tortilla chips for dunking!
My peach scones are studded with white chocolate chips for a yummy peaches and cream flavor on this easy baked treat.
This savory peach pizza has 5 easy variations for you to pick from since specialty pizza toppings can be such a personal preference.
With any of the pizza topping ideas, you're sure to love the sweet juicy peaches scattered over the top.
My husband and I enjoy these peach blueberry salsa bites every summer as a light dinner when the heat is too much to cook. Crispy crostini topped with goat cheese and these fruity peach salsa is absolutely addictive.
These grilled peaches are the perfect summer side dish with my favorite rum glazed pork tenderloin but they'd be just as tasty as a simple dessert with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
Want to preserve peaches for later? This vanilla bean peach freezer jam recipe is perfect for beginners with no experience in canning. This is the perfect topping for a buttery biscuit!
Pour a tall glass of peach lemonade infused with a rosemary simple syrup for a refreshing mocktail.
For a savory dinner, Amee's Savory Dish's peach chicken kabobs are perfect for popping on the grill.
A chilled peach froze from Amee's Savory Dish would be such a fun cocktail to try.
For a healthy breakfast, top Slice of Jess's peaches and cream oatmeal with fresh sliced peaches.
I can't think of a cocktail more southern than My Forking Life's sweet tea with peaches and rum!
Peaches, pecans, goat cheese, and arugula from Family Food on the Table would make an amazing summertime salad for dinner.
Top Family Food on the Table's skillet chicken recipe with mozarella and fresh basil to pair with the sweet juicy peaches.
I love sweet and spicy things and peaches make an amazing homemade hot sauce! Give the one from Chili Pepper Madness a try.
This classic summer ice cream recipe from Beyond the Chicken Coop would be so fun to make with the kids.
The Food Charlatan's peach cake would taste so amazing with homemade brown sugar frosting or my favorite browned butter frosting!
Peach pie is one of my favorite desserts. Don't miss the pie filling from All Things Mama and my amazing flaky pie crust to go with it!
These peach crumble bars from Pastry and Beyond look like the perfect treat to bring to a potluck.
This no-bake peach yum yum from The Kitchen is My Playground would be a perfect thing to make when it's too hot to bake.
Marisa Moore's bourbon peach glazed salmon would be right up my alley for an easy dinner with air fryer green beans and wild rice.
I love a simple baked fruit dessert and Celebrating Sweets' baked peaches with easy streusel would be a lovely choice.
I'm drooling over these peach muffins from The Busy Baker. Look at that buttery topping! YUM.
Peaches and brie go perfectly hand in hand and I'll be rushing to make the Banana Diarie's grilled cheese soon.
Another fun Southern recipe from Southern Bite is a pan of these sweet peach dumplings. Topped with a little cinnamon sugar, what a fun dessert.
Peach glazed meatballs from Lets Dish Recipes is a fantastic party appetizer.
Peach caprese burgers from the Recipe Runner are my pick for the next family grill out!
Abbey's Kitchen is serving up slow cooker peach chicken tacos and I'm grabbing the tortillas stat.
I love my BBQ chicken thighs recipe but I never thought to add peaches to the mix! This idea from Bake Me Some Sugar is just brilliant.
Does it get any easier than Julie Blanner's prosciutto wrapped peaches? I think not. What a fun twist on prosciutto e melone.
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