These 33 summer dinner ideas feature recipes that are all light, flavorful, and perfect to enjoy on a hot summer day.
Lemon Pepper Wings
Enjoy these crispy and zesty Lemon Pepper Wings. This recipe yields juicy wings with a tangy lemon pepper flavor. Prepare them in the oven for a delightful summer dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Pepper Wings
Thai Chicken Salad
Experience a burst of flavors with this Thai Chicken Salad. Packed with nutrients, this power-packed salad features marinated chicken, arugula, and spiralized cucumbers. It’s a refreshing and easy-to-make main dish.
Get the Recipe: Thai Chicken Salad
Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Try this 30-minute Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach recipe this summer. Enjoy perfectly-cooked shrimp in a flavorful garlic sauce, served alongside grape tomatoes and spinach.
Get the Recipe: Tuscan Garlic Shrimp and Spinach
Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
Whip up these Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs in just 30 minutes for a weeknight dinner. These rich and flavorful meatballs are made with ground turkey, coconut aminos, coconut milk, curry powder, and red curry paste.
Get the Recipe: Coconut Curry Thai Turkey Meatballs
Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats
Create a quick and satisfying meal with these Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats. These refreshing boats are filled with a delicious mixture of canned chicken, bacon, and cheese.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Ranch Chicken Salad Cucumber Boats
Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
Experience the classic flavors of a bacon cheeseburger in a convenient and hassle-free bowl. This Bacon Cheeseburger Salad is an easy-to-make and satisfying option, perfect for meal prepping or a quick dinner.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon
Incorporate asparagus into your meal with this innovative Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon dish. Enjoy asparagus noodles topped with homemade creamy Alfredo sauce and bacon crumbles for a unique and flavorful dinner.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Noodles with Alfredo Sauce and Bacon
Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Add some spice to your menu with this flavorful Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad. It’s a fun variation of traditional jalapeño poppers, perfect for meal prepping and busy weekdays.
Get the Recipe: Jalapeño Popper Chicken Salad
Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Cool down with this crisp and refreshing Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad. Prepared with sour cream and mayo, it’s a quick and easy dish that’s perfect for a summer meal.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Dill Cucumber Onion Salad
Shawarma Kebabs
Prepare these easy and flavorful Shawarma Kebabs right in your oven. These baked kebabs are a delicious high-protein option for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Get the Recipe: Shawarma Kebabs
Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk and Bok Choy
Enjoy a nutrient-dense dish with this Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk and Bok Choy. Prepared in just 30 minutes, it features a homemade curry paste and sauce, infused with flavors of curry powder, fresh ginger, and creamy coconut milk.
Get the Recipe: Curry Salmon with Coconut Milk and Bok Choy
Cabbage and Sausage
In less than 30 minutes, enjoy a delicious and filling one-pan dish with this Cabbage and Sausage recipe. It’s a perfect choice for a hassle-free dinner option.
Get the Recipe: Cabbage and Sausage
Bell Pepper Sandwich
This Bell Pepper Sandwich is perfect for a light summer meal! Instead of bread, you’ll use a bell pepper and fill it with your favorite sandwich fillings. Whip one up in 10 minutes flat for a delicious meal!
Get the Recipe: Bell Pepper Sandwich
Lemon Garlic Scallops
Elevate your summer dinner menu with these succulent Lemon Garlic Scallops. This dish can be prepared in less than 30 minutes, making it perfect for a special summer evening meal.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Garlic Scallops
Zucchini Bites
These Zucchini Bites are a breeze to make, serving as a quick and easy light dinner. In just 30 minutes, you can enjoy these bites.
Get the Recipe: Zucchini Bites
Broccoli Fritters
Try these versatile Broccoli Fritters for a delicious summer dish. Enjoy them on their own or pair them with Greek yogurt or sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Broccoli Fritters
Cauliflower Potato Salad
Put a creative twist on classic potato salad with this Cauliflower Potato Salad. Made with cauliflower, crispy bacon, cheese, and a touch of hot sauce, it’s a flavorful dish perfect for summer dinners.
Get the Recipe: Cauliflower Potato Salad
Avocado Tuna Salad
Stay full and satisfied throughout the day with this protein-packed Avocado Tuna Salad. It’s an easy-to-make meal option that’s bursting with flavor.
Get the Recipe: Avocado Tuna Salad
Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
For a light and refreshing summer dinner, try Vegetable Fritters. Made with shredded veggies like zucchini, carrots, or corn, these crispy fritters are bursting with flavor. Best of all, they’re quick and easy to make! Just fry them up, and you’ll have a plateful of golden fritters, perfect for enjoying on summer evenings.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Chipotle Burrito Bowl
Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
This Cast Iron Burger recipe is a savory patty perfectly cooked in a cast-iron skillet nestled between two soft buns with a slice of cheese, lettuce, tomato, and onion. The classic burger!
Get the Recipe: Cast Iron Skillet Burgers
Easy Black Bean Burger
Looking for a quick and satisfying summer dinner? Try this 20-Minute Black Bean Burger! Made with black beans, onions, and spices, these vegetarian patties cook up fast. Grill or cook them for a few minutes, and you’ll have a hearty meal ready.
Get the Recipe: Easy Black Bean Burger
Flank Steak
Pick one of three ways to marinate one of the best budget-friendly cuts of beef: flank steak. It takes only 10 minutes of prep time, followed by resting in the refrigerator, then grilling to tender perfection just in time for an easy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Flank Steak
Blackened Fish Tacos
Blackened Mahi Mahi Tacos are fish taco perfection! Flaky seasoned fish in soft corn tortillas with a creamy cilantro lime sauce.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Fish Tacos
Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Take a bite of summer with these Air Fryer Salmon Bites, crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and bursting with flavor. They’re a quick, effortless meal that doesn’t heat up the kitchen, perfect for those long, hot summer days.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Salmon Bites
Lemon Marinated Chicken
Chicken on the grill is so delicious and juicy. It’s even better when you mix it with this simple lemon marinade for more flavor. Go ahead and skewer it with your favorite veggies for a delicious summer meal everyone will love.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Marinated Chicken
Santa Fe Salad
Salads are the perfect option for a quick and easy dinner. This Santa Fe Salad is light, refreshing, and full of flavor. It’s also a great way to use up leftover chicken or turkey.
Get the Recipe: Santa Fe Salad
Grilled Garlic Lime Chicken with Cilantro Crema
This Grilled Chicken with Cilantro Crema is a perfect summer meal. With juicy marinated and grilled chicken breast, and a creamy, tangy cilantro crema, it’s a delicious and flavorful pairing that’s amazing for weeknights or summer cookouts.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Garlic Lime Chicken with Cilantro Crema
Slow Cooker Summer Beef Stew
This Summer Beef Stew is made in the slow cooker so the house stays cool. Enjoy this classic dish with a summer vegetable twist!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Summer Beef Stew
Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri
Bring on the flavor! Super tender hanger steaks cook hot and fast, and when topped with this herbaceous chimichurri, they’re delicious! An easy but impressive dish, this is summer cooking at its finest!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Hanger Steaks with Chimichurri
Smash Burgers
Smash burgers are outdoor griddling 101. Super fast and super delicious, these thin burger patties are caramelized with crispy edges that are so beefy and so darn good. Stack ’em 2 or 3 high and change your burger game for the better!
Get the Recipe: Smash Burgers
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
These Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches are a breeze to make and are the perfect lazy summer dinner! The slow cooker does all the work, leaving you more time to enjoy those long summer evenings.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches
Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs
With a hint of lemon and oregano, these Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs are a taste of the Mediterranean! They’re tender, and with all your favorite keto veggies, they’re pretty much a complete meal. Fire up the BBQ and enjoy a great meal tonight!
Get the Recipe: Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas
These Chicken Slow Cooker Enchiladas are spicy, tangy, cheesy, and delicious. With tender chicken, bold enchilada sauce, chewy tortillas, and rich, melty cheese, this is a satisfying dinner that won’t heat up the house on a summer night!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas