Wondering what to make for dinner on a hot summer night? You know, something that is light, fresh, and packed with seasonal ingredients that are light and fresh. Well, you have come to the right place. We have rounded up over 60 of the best easy summer dinner ideas including quick and easy summer pastas, summer grill recipes, summer seafood, summer salads for dinner, recipes for a summer Mexican fiesta, and more! Plus, many of these recipes are quick and easy 30-minute meals with just a few simple ingredients.
Best Summer Dinners
Pesto Penne Pasta
Quick and easy pesto penne pasta is a simple and light Italian pasta dish made with just five ingredients in under 15 minutes. The easiest summer dinner recipe. If you like this recipe, try Mascarpone Pesto Pasta.
Creamy Lemon Chicken Piccata
Quick and easy, creamy lemon chicken piccata is a simple and delicious 30-minute meal made with tender chicken breast in a light lemon sauce with capers. One of my favorite summer dinner ideas. You can also try Creamy Lemon Parmesan Chicken.
Greek Salmon
Greek salmon is delicious, flaky, and tender. This healthy oven-baked salmon is packed with Mediterranean flavors and is ready in just 20 minutes.
Greek Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki
This refreshing and light, easy Greek chicken gyros is packed with tender souvlaki chicken, Greek salad, and homemade tzatziki sauce, all wrapped in a pita.
Easy Skillet Neapolitan Margherita Pizza
Quick and easy skillet Neapolitan margherita pizza has an iconic thin and soft crust with a perfectly crisp exterior, and simple and fresh toppings. Customize it completely with your favorite toppings, like Mushroom and Arugula Skillet Pizza or Butter Chicken Pizza.
Easy Grilled Shrimp Boil
Easy, garlicky and buttery grilled shrimp boil with prawns, corn, baby potatoes and sausage, seasoned and tossed with parsley takes just 20 minutes to cook. Throw some whole potatoes on the grill too and serve this with some BBQ Chicken Stuffed Baked Potatoes.
Mediterranean Chicken Patties
Delicious, moist and juicy Mediterranean chicken patties have everything you want in one bite: protein, veggies, herbs, and they're quick and easy to make. Serve it on it's own, with hamburger buns, or a side of Basmati rice.
Balsamic Chicken Kabobs
Grilled Balsamic Chicken Kabobs are a delicious flavorful summer grill staple marinated in a balsamic sauce, skewered with vegetables, and grilled or baked.
Salmon Burgers
These Salmon Burgers made with real fresh salmon, are crispy on the outside and flaky inside, juicy and thick, and healthy and packed with protein.
Baked Caprese Chicken
Baked caprese chicken is tender, juicy, and delicious, topped with burst tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Vietnamese Salad Rolls with Peanut Dipping Sauce
Fresh, light and healthy Vietnamese salad rolls are packed with vermicelli noodles, shrimp, fresh vegetables and herbs and dipped in homemade peanut sauce. If you prefer chicken, try our Vietnamese Summer Rolls with Chicken.
Easy Vegan Stuffed Bell Peppers
Easy vegan stuffed bell peppers are filled with brown rice, mushrooms, veggies, and seasonings, then baked for 40 minutes. It's a perfect summer weeknight dinner. Serve it with a Classic Coleslaw on the side.
Chicken Shawarma
Homemade chicken shawarma (donair) with juicy tender chicken marinated in Middle Eastern spices and wrapped in pita bread is easy to make at home. Serve it with a Persian Shirazi Salad on the side.
Garlic Shrimp Stir Fry
Better than takeout garlic shrimp stir fry is saucy, sticky, flavorful, and delicious. It's quick and easy to make in 15 minutes and great for meal prep.
Baked Queso Chicken
Baked queso chicken with tomatoes is an easy, cheesy, delicious chicken dinner that takes just 30 minutes to cook. One of the best comforting summer dinner ideas. Serve it on its own with or over Cilantro Lime Rice.
Falafel
Homemade falafel are delicious, golden brown and crispy on the outside, fluffy tender and soft inside. Plus, they're vegan, loaded with plant-based protein.
Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
Mediterranean turkey burgers are tender, juicy, and delicious, loaded with garlic, fresh dill, and lemon juice. The perfect summer weeknight meal.
Szechuan Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Spicy Mayo (Cactus Club Copycat)
Spice it up and make copycat Szechuan chicken lettuce wraps with spicy mayo from the comfort of your own home with this easy to follow recipe. Plus, it is healthier than the original.
Easy 15-Minute Lo Mein
Say goodbye to takeout and make easy Lo Mein Noodles at home, packed with fresh veggies and healthy ingredients, in less than 15 minutes! Or try Vegetarian Chow Mein for an easy summer dinner recipe.
Garlic Butter Lobster Tails
Garlic Butter Lobster Tails are juicy, tender, and flavorful. This quick and easy seafood dinner is ready in less than 20 minutes (including prep!).
Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara
Cheesy Baked Zucchini with Marinara will save your weeknight dinner routine (and the kids love it too!). It's low carb, vegetarian, gluten-free, and keto.
Creamy Tuscan Shrimp
Creamy Tuscan shrimp packed with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and garlic, is creamy, rich, and delicious. Make it in just 15 minutes, including prep!
Sticky Honey Garlic Meatballs
Sticky honey garlic meatballs are a delicious and flavourful 30-minute meal to add to your weekly dinner rotation. A total crowd pleaser.
Healthy Lemon Chicken
Better than takeout, healthy lemon chicken is a delicious, sticky chicken stir fry coated in a flavourful, sweet and tangy sauce. The best weeknight dinner.
Chicken Pad Thai
No more takeout when you can make flavourful, restaurant-style, authentic chicken Pad Thai at home in just 10 minutes. It's sweet, savoury, sour and nutty.
Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles
Shrimp scampi with zucchini noodles is filling, yet surprisingly light! Since we are using fresh zucchini noodles, you will feel no guilt in sopping up the sauce with an extra crusty piece of bread!
Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
Slow cooker BBQ ribs are juicy, saucy, and tender -- the meat literally falls right off the bone. Add this easy recipe to your list of crockpot recipes.
Pan-Fried Lemongrass Chicken
Aromatic Asian pan-fried lemongrass chicken is healthy, gluten-free, and takes less than 25 minutes to prep and cook. Now that's what I call the perfect weeknight meal. Use any leftovers in a Lemongrass Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich.
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo Pasta Bake
Creamy shrimp fettuccine alfredo pasta bake is garlicky, buttery, cheesy, loaded with shrimp and parsley and topped with mozzarella. Easy summer comfort food goals.
Creamy Avocado Basil Pesto Spaghetti
This easy 10-minute vegan light and creamy avocado basil pesto spaghetti is loaded with avocado, basil, walnuts, garlic, olive oil and lemon juice.
Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Sweet and sour meatballs are quick, easy, delicious, and flavorful, tossed in a vegetable and pineapple stir fry with homemade sweet and sour sauce.
Summer Grill Recipes
Easy Greek Chicken Souvlaki Skewers
Easy Greek chicken souvlaki skewers marinated in garlic, fresh herbs, lemon and bay leaves for that classic Mediterranean flavour. Grill in under 15 minutes. Serve alongside some easy Homemade Tzatziki Sauce. One of my favorite summer dinner recipes!
Juicy and tender grilled cajun shrimp skewers are garlicky, lemony, and packed with flavour with a cajun marinade. Ready in under 30 minutes including prep.
Better than the steakhouse, the best tender and juicy ribeye steak with a perfect seared crust is garlicky, buttery and packed with so much flavour. Serve with a side of Air Fryer Asparagus. Or, why not make your meal a full on Surf and Turf with Lobster Tails... um yes please!
Easy Greek souvlaki beef shish kebabs are marinated in a garlicky lemony olive oil marinade and threaded with fresh vegetables. Cook on the grill or oven. Serve them wrapped inside some Homemade Pita Bread.
Better than the steakhouse, these classic juicy hamburgers are perfectly seasoned, so flavourful and delicious. You can't have a collection of summer dinner ideas without burgers. Plus, try your hand at Homemade Hamburger Buns.
Teriyaki Chicken Skewers with Pineapple
Juicy and tender teriyaki chicken skewers with pineapple, bell peppers and red onions are sticky, sweet, savoury, and tangy. So flavourful and delicious. Serve over some steamed rice or Coconut Rice.
Grilled Orange Chicken Skewers
Flame-kissed, sticky and saucy, grilled orange chicken skewers with a rich, citrus-based marinade are delicious, juicy and so tender. Best summer weeknight dinner ever. Serve with a side of Vegetarian Fried Rice or Noodles.
Spinach and Feta Turkey Burgers
Greek-style spinach and feta turkey burgers are tender, juicy, and flavourful, loaded with spinach, feta and fresh Mediterranean herbs and is so easy to prep. Serve it with Tzatziki Sauce.
Juicy and tender, Xinjiang spicy cumin lamb skewers with a bold cumin and cayenne marinade, are so flavourful and easy to make on the grill or air fryer. Serve it with a fresh Chinese Garlic Cucumber Salad on the side.
Chicken Satay Skewers with Peanut Sauce
Better than takeout, easy to make tender chicken satay skewers with coconut marinade and homemade peanut dipping sauce is savoury, sweet, tangy, and nutty. Serve this delicious summer dinner over some delicious Easy Coconut Rice.
These 15-minute fish burgers with creamy slaw are juicy, flakey, and packed with flavour. So easy that it's the perfect summer weeknight meal!
Quick and easy, grilled Greek lamb souvlaki skewers are marinated in a simple Mediterranean marinade for just 30 minutes. Serve with some tzatziki sauce. Serve over top of Rice Pilaf and Greek Salad on the side. So delicious.
Persian Saffron Chicken Kebabs (Joojeh Kabob)
Quick and easy, classic Persian saffron chicken kebabs (joojeh kabob) is marinated in a simple saffron and lemon marinade for that classic Iranian flavour. Make it a full on Persian dinner with Basmati Rice with Saffron and Persian Shirazi Salad.
Juicy and tender Korean chicken skewers are packed with bold flavors bringing sweet, savory, and spicy your dinner table. The best summer weeknight dinner.
Seafood Summer
Tender, flaky, flavorful garlic butter salmon is well-seasoned, seared to perfection, and basted until juicy. Quick and easy to make in 20 minutes.
Creamy garlic shrimp is a delicious, quick and easy 15-minute meal (including prep!) that you need to include in your weeknight dinner meal plan.
Quick and easy shrimp cakes are juicy, tender, delicious, and flavorful. They're made simple with a food processor and your choice of three cooking methods.
Creamy Shrimp Pasta with Sun-dried Tomatoes
Creamy shrimp pasta with sun-dried tomatoes is a delicious, quick and easy meal that takes just 20 minutes to prep and make. The perfect weeknight summer dinner.
Quick and easy, one-pan, 10-minute seafood fried rice with tiger prawns is so much healthier, tastier and better than takeout. It's the easiest weeknight meal.
Summer Salads for Dinner
Italian pasta salad is delicious, wholesome, and easy to make. Make it up to three days ahead for your summer picnics and cookouts. You can't get more classic than Italian Salad on for dinner on a hot summer night!
Chickpea Greek salad is a fresh, healthy, vibrant, and colorful salad, packed with traditional Mediterranean ingredients, superfoods, and nutrients.
There’s nothing better on a hot day than a cold and refreshing vegan soba noodle salad, tossed with fresh vegetables and a delicious saucy dressing.
Shrimp taco salad with cilantro lime dressing is flavourful, delicious, and easy to make. It has all the fixings and of shrimp tacos, but without the mess.
Mediterranean Orzo Pasta Salad
Quick and easy Mediterranean orzo pasta salad packed with fresh vegetables and herbs is tossed in a Greek lemon vinaigrette. Healthy, light and delicious.
Mediterranean Chickpea Wedge Salad
Mediterranean chickpea wedge salad combines chickpeas, crunchy vegetable toppings, and hummus dressing for a delicious deconstructed falafel flavour.
This creamy cucumber salad is the easy, refreshing snack and side dish your summer cookouts have been missing. Make it ahead with just 5 minutes prep. Another one of the classic Memorial Day recipes.
Asian chopped salad is a delicious and colorful salad, loaded with refreshing crisp vegetables, plant-based protein, and a homemade creamy sesame dressing.
Take a bite into this refreshing, gluten-free quinoa and spinach salad bursting with colourful tomatoes, cucumbers and raisins.
Classic macaroni salad is a creamy and delicious pasta salad that is easy to throw together. It's the perfect side to bring to a summer potluck or BBQ.
Take fresh-off-the-grill corn on the cob and turn it into a light, flavourful summer corn salad, topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and cheese.
Easy homemade potato salad is loaded with baby potatoes, eggs, and green onions and tossed in a mayo sauce and is a go-to for summer barbecues and picnics.
Summer Fiesta Menu
Flavourful, easy fish tacos with lime crema is made with seasoned white fish, cabbage slaw, and lime sauce. It takes less than 25 minutes to prep and serve.
Easy baked chicken enchiladas brings the taste of authentic Mexican food into your kitchen -- saucy, spicy, and savoury. Perfect for a Mexican fiesta on Cinco de Mayo.
Oven-baked loaded sheet pan nachos are a crowd pleaser for an easy weeknight dinner or a crave-worthy appetizer to serve at a Mexican fiesta.
Ground beef tacos are delicious, authentic, and so easy to make. They're savory, spicy, creamy, and fresh. The perfect recipe for a Mexican fiesta.
Skillet chicken fajitas are a light, fresh, and sizzling dish bursting with flavour, packed with colorful vegetables, and wrapped in warm tortillas or with a side of Cilantro Lime Rice.
Shrimp Tacos with Lime Crema Slaw
Quick and easy shrimp tacos with lime crema slaw are ready in less than 30 minutes and are packed with flavourful crispy shrimp and creamy cabbage slaw.
Fusion-style Korean beef steak tacos are made with tender, flavour-packed slices of beef and topped with caramelized pineapple, kimchi, and spicy mayo.
Shrimp avocado tostadas are a delicious, crunchy, quick and easy Mexican dish you can make in just 15 minutes, loaded with the best combination of toppings.
Beef taco salad is a simple, filling, and delicious meal loaded with your favorite taco fillings, and a creamy lime dressing. Make it in 20 minutes.
Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos (Carnitas)
Mexican pulled pork tacos with juicy and tender traditional carnitas wrapped in corn tortillas and topped with fresh onions, cilantro, and jalapeños.
Sizzling and hot sheet pan chicken fajitas are on the table in less than 30 minutes! The best part is that you just throw everything into one sheet pan.
When it comes to vegetarian tacos, these vegan chickpea tacos are some of the best. They are delicious, filling, easy to make, and loved by all.
Storing and Reheating Summer Dinners
- Make ahead instructions. You can make some of these summer dinners ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also prep the ingredients in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- How to store: Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator or possible even in the freezer. Check the individual recipe for complete storing instructions and to see if the recipe is freezer-friendly.
- How to reheat: Most of the leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.
More Summer Dinner Ideas
- 40 Best Pasta Recipes
- 60 Best Chicken Recipes
- 30 Best Shrimp Recipes
- 30 Best Mexican Recipes
- 25 Best Ground Beef Recipes
- 20 Best Dip Recipes
Did You Make Any of These Easy Summer Dinner Recipes?
Please leave a comment and rating below, and let me know what you thought of this round up of these easy summer dinner ideas. Be sure to snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @aheadofthyme or share it on the Pinterest pin so that I can follow along.
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60+ Summer Dinner Ideas
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 3-4 servings
Description
Over 60 best quick and easy summer dinner ideas from summer pastas, seafood, summer grill recipes, summer salads, Mexican fiesta menu, and more.
Ingredients
Refer to each recipe post for full ingredient lists.
Instructions
- Make ahead instructions. You can make some of these summer dinners ahead of time and store in the refrigerator for a few days or even in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can also prep the ingredients in advance and store in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- How to store: Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the refrigerator or possible even in the freezer. Check the individual recipe for complete storing instructions and to see if the recipe is freezer-friendly.
- How to reheat: Most of the leftovers can be reheated on the stovetop over medium to low heat for about 5-10 minutes until warmed through, in the air fryer or the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes until warmed through, or in the microwave in 20-second increments until warmed through. If heating from frozen, let it thaw first and then reheat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Various
- Cuisine: Various
Nutrition
- Calories: 300
Gabriela Hales says
As a super busy homeschooling mom of 4 and home maker, I appreciate the nice compilation of recipes, from Mexican, to Asian, to all-favorite American ones!! Thank you!
Denay DeGuzman says
What an incredible collection of summer dinner ideas! I'm drooling on my keyboard. Thank you SO MUCH for sharing these. I'll be working my way down this page all summer long.
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Denay! Let me know what you make! =)
Nellie Tracy says
Great compilation of summer dishes! Can't wait to use this all summer long
Sam Hu | Ahead of Thyme says
Thank you Nellie!