Amazingly simple summer dinner ideas
Fresh fruit and the smell of neighborhood BBQs… let’s be honest, one of the best parts about summer is the food! Some days are all about slowly cooking something delicious, and other days are full of activities and vacation planning. So to keep the food on the busy days just as delicious, we’ve gathered up 100 of our all-time favorite summer dinner ideas! These summer meals are perfect for those hot nights when you need to throw together a simple meal that everyone will love.
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Check out our tried and true favorite summer recipes and some we can’t wait to try. We’ve divvied them all up into five categories:
- No Heat Summer Dinner Ideas
- Last-Minute Summer Dinner Ideas
- Farmers Market Summer Dinner Ideas
- Grill Summer Dinner Ideas
- One-Pot Summer Dinner Ideas
No Heat Summer Dinner Ideas
When you need to beat the heat, check out this yummy recipe collection that requires no stovetop, oven, grill, or crockpot to keep you and your kitchen cool.
1. Asian Kale Salad–Get even the pickiest eaters trying kale with this delicious Asian twist on a classic side dish.
2.Buffalo Chickpea Pinwheels– With a hint of spicy, this is one vegetarian recipe that even meat-lovers will love!
3. Copycat Superfood Salad– Easy, healthy, and so good!
4. Crab Stuffed Avocado– Trust us, you have to try this one!
5. Greek Salad– This will be one of the BEST salads you’ve ever eaten. The vinaigrette is so easy but really takes it to the next level.
6. Open-Faced Mediterranean Pita– I love the addition of pesto to this Mediterranean-inspired pita.
7. Pesto, Tomato, and Mozzarella Sandwich– Pesto just screams summer, doesn’t it? Skip toasting the rolls and you’ve got a no heat dinner.
8. Smoothie Bowls– Turn smoothies into a meal byloading them with toppings (and possibly convince your kids it’s ice cream).
9. Southwestern Chopped Salad– You have to try this dressing- you will want to eat it on everything! (Or alone. Whatever.)
10. Spicy California Shrimp Stack– Sushi at home has never been easier! These will be gone faster than you can make them. Use leftover rice to go totally heat-free.
11. Tuna Ceviche Salad– Throw this tuna salad on top of a bed of greens for a delicious and balanced meal.
12. Veggie Pizza Bites–Turn your kids to veggie lovers by loading up a no-bake pizza! This is one of the best summer dinner ideas.
13. Chickpea and Avocado Salad Sandwich– The fresh summer flavors are perfect for a quick meal to throw together.
14. Summer Berry Chicken Salad–Loaded with fresh fruit, use canned chicken for a no-heat version!
15. Summer Rolls–You’ll have everyone drooling over these bright and colorful vegetable rolls.
16. Cobb Salad Sandwich– A sandwich with all of the works! And bonus, you can totally cheat and use bacon bits.
17. Tangy Veggie Wrap– Perfect for a summer picnic date. Definitely an upgrade from PB&J.
18. Thai Cashew Chopped Salad– Colorful, pretty, and delicious!
19. Strawberry Spring Salad– Strawberries go with everything in the summer, but loading them in a salad is always sure to be a favorite.
20. Cheese and Cracker Plates–It may seem like just an appetizer, but l with lots of fancy extras, it’s a fun little meal to snack on. You can make all kinds of cracker combinations!
Last-Minute Summer Dinner Ideas
We know all about those crazy summer nights filled with fun {and chaos} when you just need to throw something together. These summer recipes are the perfect alternative to fast food.
21. Asparagus Penne Pasta– Simple, healthy, and delicious!
22. Baked Chicken Taquitos– Super easy dinner that is also great for a party!
23. Barbecue Chicken Salad– Super yummy, healthy, and fast! Even salad haters will be requesting this one.
24. Cheesesteak Sandwiches– Quick, easy, and good every time!
25. Cherry Tomato and Basil Pasta– I’m telling you, this is the easiest thing to make, and it only takes 20 minutes, AND it’s delish.
26. Chicken Parmesan Casserole– All you need is four ingredients and one pan. Plus, it’s a great freezer meal if you want to make two and save one for later.
27. Creamy Avocado Linguine– A delicious and creamy avocado pasta that you can have prepped and ready on the table in 15 minutes!
28. Easy BBQ Chicken Bake– Super simple dump and bake meal.
29. Fruity Curry Chicken Salad– Serve this yummy salad over a flaky croissant, and it will meltin your mouth.
30. Honey Balsamic Chicken Salad– A delicious summer salad packed with flavor and lots of colorful fruits and veggies! The perfect combination of sweet, crunchy, and healthy flavors!
31. Hot and Healthy Quinoa Wraps– This meal is quick, easy, and flavorful. The leftovers store well, which make perfect future easy meals! Check and check!
32. Hummus Crusted Chicken– One dish and a full meal? Count me in. So simple you won’t even need the recipe for long!
33. Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta– This is one of the best easy summer dinners! Sometimes I add a can of artichoke hearts and chicken! Yummy.
34. Turkey Avocado BLT Croissant– Yummy twist on a traditional BLT.
35. Easy Fajita Chicken Bake– This recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight! It only takes a few ingredients and a couple of steps, and you’re done!
36. Chicken Pesto Pasta– This simple and delicious Chicken Pesto Pasta will make your taste-buds giddy!
37. Baked Ravioli– So simple with only three ingredients! Or, you could cook up some Italian sausage and layer that in there as well!
38. Pizza Casserole– Super easy and so delicious! Just add whatever pizza toppings that you love, and you’ll be good to go!
39. Spinach Artichoke Chicken–If you love spinach artichoke dip, this quick and easy meal will hit the spot!
40. Tilapia Tacos with Mango Salsa–Fish tacos with afresh, summery topping!
Farmers Market Summer Dinner Ideas
One of the best things about summer meals is the amazing, fresh produce and these easy summer dinners take full advantage of all those fruits and veggies! Use any of these great recipes on our Farmer’s Market Date.
41. Asian Roll Lettuce Wraps– Fresh veggies and meatballs made of turkey or beef! These can be cooked inside or on the grill.
42. Black Bean and Mango Quesadillas– You will love this mango salsa- so yummy with fresh mangoes, peppers, and cilantro! Throwing it on some quick black bean quesadillas makes the perfect summer dinner!
43.Coconut Chicken Salad– The chicken alone is tasty, but it’s like heaven in your mouth when you add the fresh veggies!
44. Summer Skillet Gnocchi– The yummy grilled corn makes this recipe PERFECT for summer!
45. Lemon Chicken and Zucchini Pasta– You will love the grilled chicken, tangy lemon, and fresh zucchini (especially from the garden).
46. Lentil Tacos– So easy, fast, and light. Fill each taco with tons of fresh veggies from the farmers market: lettuce, peppers, avocados, and tomatoes!
47. Chicken Banh Mi– You’ll love the quick, pickled veggies loaded onto this sandwich.
48. Skilled Basil-Peach Chicken– Is there anything better than fresh summer peaches?
49. Summer Pizza– A fresh pizza with toppings from the Farmer’s Market is sure to become a family favorite.
50. Grilled Chicken and Strawberry Salad Wrap– So bright, so delicious, and so flavorful! Yum!
51. Summer Vegetables with Sausage– Also a one-pot wonder – you can totally modify this to throw in whatever summer veggies your family loves!
52. Summer Veggie Pasta– The perfect pasta dish for all of those fresh summer veggies.
53. Zoodles and Meatballs– Grow some fresh zucchini in your garden this year, and use them up in this delicious recipe!
54. Peach Basil Chicken Salad Spring Rolls– Perfect summer meal. Light and flavorful spring rolls filled with a peach and basil chicken salad.
55.Rainbow Tomato Pizza– Have you ever tried grilling a pizza? You won’t want it any other way once you have!
56. Greek Yogurt Chicken–This simple chicken dish uses fresh summer cucumbers.
57. Bulgogi Ground Beef Bowls–You can definitely get a few healthy servings of veggies in your diet with this twist on Bulgogi!
58. Rainbow Power Salad–Add the “Magic Green Sauce” to all kinds of other salads!
59. Heirloom Tomato and Fontina Grilled Cheese–As if this fancy grilled cheese wasn’t enough, the green bean and tomato salad are sure to be a family favorite, too!
60. Roasted Garlic Ratatouille– A great dish for all of those colorful vegetables!
Grilled Summer Dinner Ideas
During the summer, everyone loves being outdoors, so grab one of these meal ideas and fire up the grill for dinner! We also have a way fun grilling group date, so invite your friends!
61. Grilled Greek Pizza– Such a great go-to! Fun for everybody to make, and the olive pesto is to die for.
62. Buffalo Turkey Cheeseburgers– These are the burgers you will turn to time after time. The bleu cheese broccoli slaw is incredible!
63. Caprese Grilled Chicken– It’s like having bruschetta as your main course, plus it’s light and healthy.
64. Chipotle Honey Chicken Skewers–Try marinating the meat overnight, then just throw it all on the grill at dinner time.
65. Cilantro Thai Skewers–You will want these for dinner every night!
66. Greek Chicken Kebabs–These taste as amazing as they look!
67. Greek Style Chicken Tacos– Greek-Style Chicken Tacos are a unique, delicious, and healthy chicken tacos that are loaded with flavor.
68. Grilled BBQ Chicken and Veggies– Try grilling with foil for easier cleanup!
69. Juicy Lucy Stuffed Cheeseburger– Drippy yummy stuffed cheeseburger that will put a smile on your face.
70. Grilled Honey Mustard Chicken– Delicious Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken. This would be yummy on a salad as well!
71. Pesto Chicken and Tomato Kebabs– This is super easy, delicious, and healthy!
72. Tex Mex Hot Dogs– Hot dogs are the classic summer grilling food – but add a few toppings like this, and it’s a delicious spin on the classic!
73. Salmon Kebabs– Just a few ingredients, and it’s a super flavorful (and healthy) dinner.
74.Shrimp Tacos with Pineapple– This dish screams summer! The pineapple salsa is so yummy.
75. Stuffed Portobella Mushrooms– A great meat-free grilling option.
76. Jalapeno Grilled Chicken– A hot-and-sweet main dish; perfect for late summer.
77. Shrimp Boil Kebabs–Seafood boils are really popular in the South, but throw the ingredients on a skewer and turn it into a simple summer supper!
78. Shrimp Fajitas– These are a great way to eat healthy fajitas at home.
79. Skinny Chicken Pesto– An awesome grilled meal that even the kids will devour.
80. Sweet Chili Salmon Skewers– Super easy and super flavorful.
One-Pot Summer Dinner Ideas
Delectable dinners that can be thrown together using only one pot, good quality heavy-bottom pan, or slow-cooker… these summer dinner ideas have so little clean up that they allow plenty of opportunity for quality time with your family!
81. Garlic Chicken, Zucchini and Corn–Corn and zucchini are pretty much the epitomai of summer vegetables, so this one-pan dish is perfect!
82. Shrimp Perloo–You’ve probably heard of shrimp and grits, but this lesser-known, Southern dish deserves just as much fame.
83. Thai Green Curry Shrimp–An easy stir fry to throw together anytime.
84.Lox, Dill and Goat Cheese Omelette–Make an elegant breakfast for dinner.
85. Crunchy Black Bean Tacos– Crispy corn tortillas make these irresistible.
86. Quick Shells and Cheese–Everyone loves a creamy mac and cheese, and this one does not disappoint.
87. Baked Pork Tenderloin– Prep takes 10 minutes, then you just put the entire skillet in the oven!
88. Spicy Sausage Pasta– It’s so delicious, that you won’t be able to get enough!
89. Confetti Rice and Bean Salad–You probably have most of these ingredients in your pantry right now, so it’s perfect to throw together in a jiff!
90. Halibut and Shellfish Soup–We love that it’s easy to substitute any seafood in this summery soup!
91. Chicken and Orzo–A simple and easy dish to prep in just one skillet, with basic ingredients but huge flavor!
92. Salmon Burgers– The garlic aioli is the perfect touch on these healthy burgers.
93. White Turkey Chili–A lighter feeling chili is perfect for summer. Bonus: it makes a ton and tastes even better the next day!
94. Korean Beef–Let this simmer in the slow-cookerall day, and your house will smell amazing. When dinnertime rolls around, you won’t have to lift a finger… just lift the lid!
95. Roasted Red Pepper and Prosciutto Chicken– Beautiful and so delicious!
96. Crockpot Italian Chicken– The simplest dinner ever. Just throw it all in the slow-cooker,and it cooks itself in time for dinner.
97. Caribbean Coconut Rice–Coconut is the ultimate in summer flavor! You could definitely make your own version by adding any seasonal vegetable!
98. Homemade Ramen–A simple noodle soup that’s easy to customize to your family’s tastes. Just swap inyour favorite summer veggies!
99.Steak, Beans and Tomatoes–Grab some fresh summer tomatoes, and this recipe will be a huge hit. It somehow still manages to have a TON of flavor with only a few ingredients!
100. Smoky Spice-Rubbed Salmon– Simplify this dish by making it on the stovetop and when the salmon is almost ready, throw the black beans and corn – simplified means less mess!
Now I’m sure you’re completely ready for those gorgeous summer nights! We’ve even got a bunch of ideas for how you can spend your summer outside the kitchen, like our 100 Summer Activities and 75 Water Activities!
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