25 easy summer dinners to put on rotation
These quick and easy summer dinners are so simple to make. They’re light and fresh – perfect for hot weather.
One of my favorite things about the seasons is the change in the food we eat.
As the weather warms up, we say goodbye to the soups, stews and comfort food of winter, those hours spent in front of the oven with pots simmering, and the air thick with delicious aromas.
Now it’s all about fast and fresh, no cook meals or dinners that can be made in 30 minutes or less. Because the hotter it gets, the less time we want to spend cooking!
These easy summer dinners are perfect for when you want a meal that won’t take long to make that everyone will enjoy.
(Want meals for summer entertaining? Check out these summer salads, summer grilling recipes and cookout sides).
Easy summer dinners
You’ll love the freshness and spectacular flavors of this chicken salad. It is perfect for weekly meal planning, as it is both tasty and light.
This recipe for lemon pepper chicken is crispy, crunchy, and delicious. It only uses four ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes.
If there’s one thing that can instantly elevate a backyard barbecue or weeknight dinner, it’s the mouthwatering combination of juicy beef patties, crispy bacon, and the rich flavors of Swiss and mild cheddar cheese, all topped off with a drizzle of smoky barbecue sauce.
These cheeseburger bowls are perfect for when you're craving the taste of a classic cheeseburger but want to keep it light and fresh! They're quick and easy to make in just 20 minutes.
Creamy chicken broccoli orzo is made with sauteed chicken, fresh broccoli, and orzo pasta in a cheesy sauce. It takes only 30 minutes to cook.
This creamy chicken artichoke pasta recipe is a simple pasta dish that can be made in no time for a quick weeknight meal for the family. In only 30 minutes, enjoy a delicious chicken pasta dish that needs only a handful of ingredients.
Black pepper chicken is a Chinese takeout classic. Think stir fried chicken breast in a savory pepper sauce with onions and bell peppers. Ready in half an hour and so garlicky, piquant, and delicious.
This delicious pizza is quick, easy, and bursting with flavor! Made with just five ingredients, it's great for a busy weeknight dinner.
Chicken bacon ranch pasta salad is a summer staple. This cold pasta salad recipe is loaded with flavor from the homemade ranch dressing, grilled garlic chicken, crisp bacon, fresh juicy grape tomatoes, and noodles.
There’s nothing more refreshing during the summer than a delicious grilled chicken strawberry salad. With fresh strawberries, feta, avocado, pecans, marinated chicken, and homemade strawberry balsamic vinaigrette, this strawberry chicken salad recipe is bursting with flavor in every bite.
Elevate dinnertime with these irresistible pineapple meatball skewers. Tender meatballs glazed in a sweet, tangy sauce are skewered with juicy pineapple chunks and cooked on the grill. This kid-friendly 20-minute recipe is perfect for parties, barbecues, or a fun weeknight dinner.
This 20-minute spinach garlic pasta with peas is comforting, satisfying, and the perfect easy summer meal. Think cooked pasta noodles, spinach, fresh basil, sugar snap, and sweet peas all infused in extra virgin olive oil, sautéed fresh garlic, onions, simple seasoning, and creamy Parmesan cheese.
This salad has a bright and punchy Thai style dressing and is packed with fresh vegetables and herbs. Done in just 30 minutes, basil, cilantro, ginger and Thai chili make this meal sing.
This sautéed shrimp with zucchini showcases natural sweetness of shrimps and zucchini. The addition of garlic and lemon juice makes the dish flavorful and delicious. It is a quick and easy one-pan meal for hot summer days when you don't want to be slaving over a stove.
These grilled chicken skewers are juicy and bursting with flavor. Made with a simple chicken skewer marinade, these cook up on the grill in under 15 minutes. They make the perfect healthy summer dinner.
These Mediterranean grain bowls feature fluffy quinoa, crispy garlic herb roasted chickpeas, lemony cucumber tomato salad, creamy avocado, and an easy hummus dressing.
This lemon basil pasta is quick and easy to make. It’s loaded with fresh, summery flavors.
Light and refreshing pork Vietnamese spring rolls are perfect to serve as a quick, light summer dinner.
Here’s a fresh, flavorful, healthy, easy dinner salad perfect for a light summer meal. Best of all, this cool and crunchy shrimp mango avocado salad with sweet chili vinaigrette is practically no-cook, so you can enjoy its fresh, crispy goodness without breaking a sweat.
This Southwest chicken salad is absolutely packed with flavor and heat. It only takes less than an hour to make this spicy salad, with most of the time allowing the chicken to marinate.
These smash turkey burgers may just be the perfect summer dinner. Packed with melty cheese and a golden-brown crust from being pressed on a hot skillet, these are not your average turkey burgers.
Summer green beans and tomatoes shine in this easy one pan salmon with green beans and tomatoes. It's the perfect easy summer recipe.
This tomato ricotta pasta with kale is fresh and nourishing. The tomatoes burst with so much flavor, and the lemon tofu ricotta makes the pasta dish nice and creamy.
This vermicelli noodle salad is loaded with vegetables, and served with creamy sesame dressing with a nice kick. It is refreshing, satisfying and so easy to whip up together in under 30 minutes.
These taco stuffed zucchini boats look and taste delicious. The spiced garlic beef filling sits in the succulent zucchini taco boats for a cute presentation.
Want to add more meals to your summer dinner rotation? Check out these summer dinner ideas to make on repeat.