Supercharge Summer with These Delicious Blueberry Recipes

The Sneaky Chef
The Sneaky Chef

Summer is known as berry season, and along with the vibrant red, pink, and black ones we see on the berry stands, we also see those perky bright blueberries sitting there just waiting to be eaten. Blueberries are delicious, packed with nutrition, and have a longer shelf life than some other berries.

Related: 5 Delicious Baking Recipes

As blueberries are great for snacking and cooking, they are not only the superfood of the season but one of the most nutritious berries in their field. Before getting to some of the many ways to play around with them, here are our top 10 reasons blueberries are your new best friends this summer.

TOP 10 REASONS TO EAT BLUEBERRIES:

• They're packed with more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable.
• They are bursting with vitamins A and C, zinc, potassium, iron, calcium, and magnesium, and they're also high in fiber.
• They boost our immunity against everyday illnesses.
• Blueberries contain 38 percent more heart-healthy anthocyanins than red wine.
• Blueberries help neurons in the brain talk to each other, significantly improving learning function, motor skills, and memory.
• Like cranberries, they also help protect against urinary tract infections.
• They can help relieve both diarrhea and constipation.
• They boost lutein, which helps protect vision.
• They help fight belly fat.
• They taste great.

Related: 10 Blueberry Recipes to Boost Your Brain Power

Royal Ice Pops Recipe

The royalty in this recipe comes from how healthy it is. Made with Blueberry Juice, they're a treat for your kids and good for them, too.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup Blueberry Juice

DIRECTIONS

Pour the juice into 4 ice pop molds, insert stick, and freeze for at least 3 hours.

Recipe Details

Servings: 4
Cuisine: American
Special Designations: Kid-friendly, Healthy

Sneaky Joe Sliders Recipe

This is a smoky twist on a traditional "Sloppy Joe," served up mini-style on slider buns. I especially love the subtle sweet flavor that blueberry adds to barbecue sauce - who knew? Because it isn't bound in a patty, you can also sneak much more nutritious purée into this dish.

Click here to see the Sneaky Joe Slides recipe.

Blueberry Beef Tacos Recipe

These tacos are deliberately mild so they will appeal to a wide variety of palates. If your kids like the taste of packaged taco seasoning or taco sauce, you can simply add it to this recipe.

Click here to see Blueberry Beef Tacos recipe.

Blockbuster Blueberry Muffins Recipe

These days, the average supersized muffin costs you half a day's calories and fat grams. The ones that taste good are no better than cupcakes without the icing (and the ones that are whole grain and low-fat taste just like the box they came in). If you want the best of both worlds - great taste and lower fat - these muffins may become your family's favorite morning staple. White Bean Puree works overtime to cut the fat and provide fiber, and the oat bran and wheat germ disappear behind the world's healthiest berry.

Click here to see the Blockbuster Blueberry Muffins recipe.

-Missy Chase Lapine, The Daily Meal

Click Here for other Ways to Use Blueberries for delicious meals