It's time to fire up the grill, pull out the sprinklers, and pour yourself a tall lemonade. Summer is here! I have this great list of easy summer dinner recipes here to help you plan for flavorful dinners all season long. In summer I tend to plan for one fewer dinner each week than during the school year. Spontaneous dinners with friends, meals out, and day time activities that run into the evening create the need for a bit more flexibility! Summer dinner recipes are also a bit less fussy. They highlight the in-season produce and fresh flavors. As always, I use this list of dinner ideas when I am creating my weekly meal plan to make that process easier.
Quick Dinner Recipes
When there's fun to be had outside, the last thing I want to do is stand at the stove and cook dinner for an hour. These quick dinner ideas are done in less than 30 minutes, but don't skimp on flavor.
- Cashew Nut Mango stir fry can be made with chicken, pork, or tofu for a simple and quick meal.
- Lemon Basil Beans make a great meal with a green salad and a fresh baguette.
- Thai Basil Beef and Green Beans is a super flavorful way to cook fresh summer green beans.
- Tartines are great for quick dinners. Toppings like Pea Pesto or Edamame Lemon Spread, cheese (burrata or mozzarella are great options), and dressed greens make a fancy dinner in minutes.
- Curry Poached Fish is equally good with brown rice or slurp-able noodles.
- My favorite quick stir fry is Pad Kaprow. You can use ground chicken or turkey, but I think it's best with ground pork. The fried egg is optional, but I never go without.
- Consider this your cue to allow a simple PB&J or turkey sandwich to count as dinner sometimes!
Easy Side Dishes
Sometimes the sides are the best part! This category contains plenty of sides to make a simple grilled chicken or steak into a complete meal. This is a great list for when you are asked to bring a side to a gathering, too.
- This Melon Salad with Mojito Vinaigrette is a cool and refreshing side for grilled chicken or shrimp.
- Baked Gnocchi with Sun Dried Tomato Cream is a delicious side for grilled sausages.
- If you make it to August and haven't had a tomato Caprese salad, you're missing out.
- Don't forget to add corn on the cob to your summer dinners! My favorite way to cook it is in the pressure cooker with an inch of water for 2 minutes on high pressure.
- Honey Ancho Vinaigrette is delicious when tossed with grilled asparagus, green beans, or shishito peppers.
- Make a spin on the wedge salad. Add Cilantro and Pepita Dressing to a quartered head of romaine lettuce. Sprinkle with diced tomato, pepita seeds, and crumbled cotija cheese.
- Keep it simple! Chips, pretzels, berries, or veggie sticks make great sides with almost no effort.
No Cook Dinner Ideas
On the hottest days of summer, I don't want to even think about turning on the stove, oven, or even the grill. No-cook meals to the rescue! These meals are simple summer favorites that will help you keep your cool.
- Spread Chicken Pecan Salad between slices of whole wheat bread for a perfect way to use rotisserie chicken.
- If you buy a rotisserie chicken for the week, make Barbecue Chicken Chopped Salad too!
- Grazing Boards are great for no-cook meals. You can clean out your refrigerator at the same time! Add a few dips (Hummus or Muhammara are great options), vegetables, fruits, cheeses, salami, crackers, and nuts to make a platter everyone will enjoy.
- Use leftover shredded chicken for a Chicken and Cabbage Salad with Hoisin Vinaigrette.
- An Antipasto Chopped Salad is full of all your favorite Italian flavors and makes a great deconstructed meal for the kids, too.
Pressure Cooker and Slow Cooker Recipes for Summer
The pressure cooker and slow cooker are great tools for making savory summer dinners without standing at the stove or heating up the kitchen. This category has great options for meals that make tasty leftovers, too.
- Make these Curried Beef Tacos and use the leftover meat for a rice bowl.
- A big batch of Chile Colorado makes tacos, enchiladas, and burrito bowls with only a bit of up-front effort and freezes well.
- Pressure cooker macaroni and cheese offers that kid-favorite comfort food without heating up the whole kitchen.
- If you prep the rice in the pressure cooker, this Cheater Paella gets finished up on the stove in a snap!
- A batch of Mole Sauce plus a pack of chicken thighs in the slow cooker for the day is all you need for a rich and delicious main dish.
Summer Grilling Options
The grill is king in the summer! Here you'll find my favorites for grilling all season long.
- This Grilled Peach and Zucchini Salad has all of the summer's best ingredients for an impressive dish!
- Use Thai Basil Pesto for a marinade for grilled chicken thighs or shrimp skewers.
- Grilled Zucchini and Burrata Bowls are a great vegetarian dinner option.
- A Grilled Panzanella Salad recipe is in the works and it's fabulous with tomatoes at their summer peak.
- This Chicken Thighs with Chimichurri Sauce recipe can be easily adapted for the grill. The chimichurri sauce is equally delicious on grilled flank steak.
- Five Spice Chicken Thighs get a great char on the grill and are the perfect filling for a banh mi-style sandwich.
Desserts, Drinks, and Entertaining
We tend to gather a lot more in the summer, so I like to have some great desserts in mind to share. The same goes for a good batch cocktail or a dip to bring for an afternoon happy hour! Check out this list of treats to bring to your next summer gathering.
- Vegan Lemon Cheesecake Dip is quick to pull together and not overly sweet. It is a fun way to bring dessert!
- Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars are great all year round, but they are perfect in summer because nothing melts or needs refrigeration.
- I'm working on finalizing a Peach Trifle with Rosemary Syrup recipe, and it is going to knock your socks off.
- If you're having some kiddos over for a play date, make a fruit dip of peanut butter, cinnamon, and yogurt to serve for a snack. This recipe is in the works, too!
- Greek Salad Dip is so bright and refreshing and I've never brought it to a party without being asked for the recipe.
- Bring a chilled bowl of Baja Shrimp Cocktail along with some saltines or tortilla chips and you'll be the hit of the party.
- Stone Fruit Sangria is perfect for warm summer evenings and that star anise will have your friends asking what that special twist to the flavor is.
- Cucumber Lemonade is so refreshing, and works just as well as a non-alcoholic option as it does with a splash of vodka or gin.
I hope your summer is filled with loads of good memories, sunshine, and laughter!
I'd love to hear your thoughts!