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32 Reliable Summer Dinners to make when you can’t figure out what to make! This list includes a burger, easy to throw on the grill protein, and fresh summer produce like corn, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber!
If your goal is to keep the kitchen time to a minimum this summer, I’ve got the recipe list for you!
There’s 32 recipes on this list, so technically, with taking the weekends off, you have enough recipes to make everything just twice during the summer holiday!
And not having to think about dinner for 3 months?
YES PLEASE.
Table of Contents
32 Summer Dinners your family will love
Jalapeno Peach Chicken
Sweet, sticky and spicy Jalapeno Peach Chicken. A delicious recipe for tender chicken pieces tossed in a flavorful sauce made…
A great way to use up all the summer peaches from the farmers market!
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: Rice cooker rice or cauliflower rice
Honey Sesame Chicken
Sweet and Sticky Honey Sesame Chicken! A classic sesame chicken recipe made easy and no frying required! It’s one of…
Faster than ordering takeout and that sauce is so good! Finish with scallions or some sesame seeds.
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: air fryer broccoli, rice made in the rice cooker, or cauliflower rice
Mediterranean Shrimp Orzo Salad
Mediterranean shrimp orzo salad is fresh and easy to make for boxed lunches or light dinners. It’s ultra-simple — the…
a complete meal in one! No sides necessary!
Total Time: 40 Mins
Serves: 5
Sides needed: none
Saucy Burst Tomato Basil Chicken
Saucy burst tomato basil chicken comes together entirely in one pan! You start by seasoning the chicken and sauteing it…
Total Time: 45 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: prepared rice or spaghettini or other pasta
Easy Weeknight Pasta Puttanesca
Pasta Puttanesca is a spicy tomato-based Italian dish made with aromatic garlic, olive oil, anchovies, olives, and capers. This classic…
A staple pantry meal loaded with capers, black olives, and anchovies.
Total Time: 35 Mins
Serves: 5
Sides needed: none
Saucy Lemon Cilantro Chicken
This is Lemon Chicken Cilantro! Tender seasoned chicken breasts in the most delicious creamy lemon cilantro sauce! Season the chicken…
Use chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs!
Total Time: 37 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: prepared pasta, crusty bread, or rice made in a rice cooker
Loaded Burger Bowl with Mac Sauce
A simple weeknight-friendly Burger Bowl recipe with homemade Mac Sauce, minus the bun. We elevate the house fries with a…
The Mac sauce is my favorite with the fries!
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
Spicy Shrimp Pasta with Tomatoes and Garlic
A simple spicy shrimp pasta that’s perfect for the summertime! Similar to the shrimp fra diavolo you get at Italian restaurants, this…
A quick and easy garlic-filled spicy shrimp pasta dish that’s perfect topped with parmesan cheese.
Total Time: 45 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
Cheesy Baked BBQ Chicken
The easiest baked BBQ chicken. This is basically tender cooked chicken breast doused in bbq sauce and topped with melty…
Want all the fab flavor of grilled chicken, but don’t want to step outside? May this topped with red onion, and pickled jalapenos. Leftovers are great on pizza!
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: everyday salad, pasta, rice, or crusty bread
Banh Mi Smash Tacos
Vietnamese Banh Mi Smash Tacos are the best way to make smash tacos! Start with a ground chicken mixture, load…
Use keto tortillas to make this summer friendly. Loaded with crunch from the pickled veggies and the spicy mayo is perfection!
Total Time: 35 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
Summer Blackened Chicken Salad with Feta and Watermelon
This Blackened Chicken Salad is summer in a bowl! Start with chicken seasoned in blackening spices that’s seared in a…
Feta cheese and watermelon in a salad topped with a balsamic lime dressing? Yes!
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
White Cheddar Chicken Burgers with Caramelized Onions
Caramelized Onions White Cheddar Chicken Burgers will be a hit at your next cookout or on a weeknight for the…
Shredded cheese loaded right into the burger. Top with smashed avocados.
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: fries or a side salad
Mediterranean Tuna Orzo Summer Salad
A mediterranean inspired tuna orzo summer salad! This salad has tons of capers, kalamata olives, roasted red peppers, and fresh…
A great way to use tuna for dinner without it being a casserole.
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 5
Sides needed: none
Thai Sweet Chili Salmon Bowls
Sweet Chili Salmon Bowls are a family-friendly weeknight recipe everyone will love! Start by tossing salmon pieces in soy sauce,…
A clean the fridge kind of recipe. Use different textures to make it interesting
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: prepared rice, cauliflower rice
Crispy Chicken Salad with Sriracha Honey BBQ Dressing
Learn how to make a crispy chicken salad that’s drizzled with sriracha honey bbq dressing! The chicken tenders are perfectly…
A picnic kind of recipe. Leftover cutlets make great sandwiches too…if there’s any left!
Total Time: 40 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
Easy Spinach Pesto Pasta
Spinach pesto pasta is the easiest main or side dish! You can serve it on its own or with roasted…
A great way to get in those greens. Use protein pasta to make this a full meal. Leftover pesto is great on eggs!
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: grilled chicken, salmon or steak.
Spicy California Sushi Nachos (aka Wonton Nachos!)
Spicy California Sushi Nachos are the perfect poolside snack! Crispy wonton chips topped with sushi grade salmon or ahi tuna…
When you can’t fathom cooking… go the sushi nachos route! Tons of savory flavor.
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 5
Sides needed: none
Sticky Garlic Gochujang Chicken
Sweet and Sticky Gochujang Chicken! Crispy chicken pieces tossed in the most delicious sweet, sticky and delicious gochujang sauce! It’s…
Gochujang is made with Korean chile flakes and provides a complex flavor along with soy sauce that is sure to be a hit!
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: prepared rice from a rice cooker, or garlic noodles
Shrimp Gnocchi in Pomodoro Sauce
One filling and hearty meal! Shrimp gnocchi in Pomodoro sauce is made with a homemade sauce, fresh zucchini, cherry tomatoes,…
Uses summer fresh zucchini and cherry tomatoes.
Total Time: 45 Mins
Serves: 5
Sides needed: Everyday House Salad
Easy Lemon Rosemary Chicken
An Easy Lemon Rosemary Chicken recipe that requires just ten simple ingredients! The chicken is seasoned with lemon pepper seasoning,…
Fresh herbs give this the best flavor.
Total Time: 35 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: rice, pasta, everyday salad
Weeknight Sesame Peanut Noodles with Chicken
Quick and creamy peanut noodles with toasted sesame and chili sauce! These noodles are quick enough to throw together on…
Swap tofu for chicken if you want to make this vegan friendly.
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
Crispy Rice Salad with Thai Chili Dressing
The most delicious Crispy Rice Salad! Start with shredded veggies, and toss them with a sweet heat Thai chili dressing.…
The sweetness from the mangoes pairs so well with the spices.
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail (+ Stuffed Avocados)
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail stuffed into avocados with tons of veggies in a spicy sauce. Serve Mexican Shrimp Cocktail with tortilla…
The perfect excuse to eat tortilla chips for dinner!
Total Time: 15 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: tortilla chips, avocado halves
Garlic Butter Tomato Baked Chicken with Mozzarella
The easiest garlic butter tomato baked chicken with mozzarella. It’s a one-pan recipe that comes complete with roasted sweet balsamic…
If you need a hands-off one pot dinner, I got you! The cheesy crust is 10/10.
Total Time: 40 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: prepared rice, buttered noodles, everyday salad, no knead bread
Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Salmon
Creamy spinach artichoke stuffed salmon doused in a homemade lemon butter sauce! This summer food that’s fancy enough to serve…
The best way to use leftover spinach artichoke dip after a party!
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: pasta for the sauce, or rice
Fiesta Creamy Corn Chicken
Fiesta-inspired Creamy Corn Chicken! The chicken is seasoned with lots of seasonings and pan-seared. Then we’ll make the creamed corn…
Use Charred corn for even more flavor.
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: prepared rice, cheddar mashed potatoes, air fryer broccoli
Blackened Hot Honey Salmon with Broccoli
Blackened Hot Honey Salmon is my favorite salmon recipe right now! It’s so quick and easy to make with just…
a protein and a side dish all in one.
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: baked potato, cheddar mashed potatoes, everyday salad, potato wedges
Avocado Shrimp Salad with Citrus Miso Dressing
Avocado shrimp salad topped with homemade citrus miso dressing is what summer is all about! This salad is loaded with…
the grated ginger and miso is a smashing combo!
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 3-4
Sides needed: none
Crunchy Asparagus Orzo Salad with Lemon Shallot Dressing
Crunchy asparagus orzo salad topped with lemon garlic toasted breadcrumbs! We’ll cook the pasta and asparagus together then toss with…
use seasonal produce and jazz it up with lemon and feta
Total Time: 30 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: grilled drumsticks, grilled chicken
Grilled Romaine Chicken Caesar Cobb Salad
A mash up of two salad! This grilled romaine chicken Caesar Cobb salad has all the things you love about…
That 2-minute caesar dressing is almost dangerous!
Total Time: 25 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: none
Ponzu Zucchini Stir Fry with Chicken
This Ponzu and Chili Crisp Zucchini Stir Fry with Chicken is sure to become a weekly staple! Each bite has…
the ponzu adds such a nice citrus-y touch!
Total Time: 40 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: white rice, or hibachi fried rice
Sun-dried Tomato Baked Salmon Orzo Recipe
One Pan Sun-dried Tomato Baked Salmon Orzo Recipe that’s ready in around 35 minutes! Cook the orzo in broth, stir…
A protein and a side all in one!
Total Time: 40 Mins
Serves: 4
Sides needed: kale crunch salad
All of these recipes are incredibly flavorful and most take under 45 minutes to make!
