When summertime rolls around, fresh, easy, and flavorful dinner recipes are the name of the game. This list of 20+ Summer Dinner Ideas includes everything from colorful salads and hearty black bean burgers, to seafood favorites and veggie-inspired pizzas. Gather around the patio table after a day in the sun… and let’s eat!
Favorite Summer Dinner Recipes
My team and I gathered 20+ Summer Dinner Recipe Ideas to keep your supper menu fresh, tasty, and fun all season long. Luckily the following recipes don’t take too much time or effort, because no one wants to stand over the stove when the temperature rises.
The recipes collected on this page highlight the season’s flavors like garden-fresh zucchini and tomatoes, fragrant basil, and hot-off-the-grill burgers.
Speaking of the grill, jalapeño pepper jack turkey burgers, black bean burgers, and caprese chicken burgers are top choices. The black bean burgers are loved by both non-meat eaters and meat eaters alike. I usually serve them alongside corn on the cob, chicken pasta salad, zucchini fritters, or zucchini casserole.
When pizza night rolls around, try my beginner-friendly pizza dough to make BBQ chicken pizza or pesto pizza. Homemade basil pesto tastes incredible here, especially if you have garden-fresh basil.
If you have a family of seafood lovers, everyone always raves about these Maryland crab cakes. Serve them with potatoes, vegetables, and cornbread, dinner rolls, or asiago-crusted skillet bread to complete the meal. You can prep the crab cake mixture up to 1 day in advance, so all you have to do is portion and bake them. They take less than 15 minutes in the oven.
I hope the following list of summer dinner ideas provides you with plenty of inspiration throughout the season. If you’re looking for a fun summery dessert to follow the main meal, what better time to try homemade funnel cakes or an ice cream cake? Or here are all my favorite BBQ cookout dessert recipes. I would never leave you hanging without dessert! 😉
20+ Summer Dinner Ideas
Easy Pesto Pizza
Use my popular homemade pizza dough and homemade pesto to make your new favorite summertime pizza.
6-Ingredient Honey Garlic Salmon
This is honey garlic soy salmon, a dish made from just 6 ingredients in under 35 minutes for big flavor with minimal effort.
Easy Zucchini Casserole Recipe
If you’re searching for an easy and flavorful side dish, look no further than this garlic and herb-infused feta cheese zucchini bake.
Jalapeño Pepper Jack Turkey Burgers
My recipe promises medium-spicy turkey burgers that are plump and juicy with mega flavor, and they serve as the perfect canvas for all your favorite burger fixings.
Maryland Crab Cakes Recipe
From my family to yours, here is our favorite recipe for Maryland crab cakes that gets the stamp of approval from locals and out-of-towners alike.
Baked Chicken Meatballs
Packed with flavor, baked, and then brushed with a lemony garlic herb butter for even more flavor, these baked chicken meatballs are lighter-tasting than many other recipes.
The Best Black Bean Burgers
These are the best black bean burgers I’ve ever had—they’re big, thick, hearty, and flavorful, and you can make them on the grill or bake them in the oven.
Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon
This flavorful and tender baked lemon garlic salmon takes about 30 minutes to make, and you can roast vegetables simultaneously on the baking sheet.
Zucchini & Herbed Ricotta Flatbread
Give homemade flatbread pizza a fresh summer spin with the addition of zucchini, herbed ricotta, roasted tomatoes, and fresh basil.
Easy Coconut Shrimp
Golden, sweet, and crisp coconut shrimp is a crowd-favorite, especially if you serve it with the spicy-sweet dipping sauce.
Southwestern Chopped Chicken Salad
My easy recipe for southwestern chopped chicken salad is packed with flavor and texture, comes together in a snap, and pairs beautifully with a zesty taco seasoning-spiced Greek yogurt dressing.
Bruschetta Chicken With Zucchini Noodles
Combining a fresh basil, tomato, and garlic bruschetta mixture, zucchini noodles, and chicken marinated in Italian dressing, this dish is positively packed with flavor.
Easy Corn Fritters
These easy corn fritters come together in just 1 bowl and are altogether crispy, savory, and packed with fresh flavor.
20-Minute Honey Garlic Shrimp
This 20-minute honey garlic shrimp recipe has been a reader favorite for years because it’s extra quick, very simple, and delivers with big flavor.
Creamy Cilantro Lime Chicken
Another reader-favorite dinner recipe, this cilantro lime chicken simmers in a creamy, flavor-packed sauce that comes together in just 1 pan.
Zucchini & Sweet Potato Fritters with Garlic Herb Yogurt Sauce
These are my perfectly golden brown, crispy, and light zucchini sweet potato fritters that I love to pair with a creamy and refreshing garlic herb yogurt sauce.
Citrus Chicken Quinoa Salad
Love this one! Fresh, bright, protein-packed, and naturally gluten-free, this citrus chicken quinoa salad makes a perfect light dinner or make-ahead lunch.
Peanut Chicken Zucchini Noodles
This flavorful peanut chicken zucchini noodles dish is a healthier and wholesome dinner that has lean protein, plenty of vegetables, and a delectable savory peanut sauce.
Creamy Pesto Shrimp
This is creamy pesto shrimp, an unbelievably versatile meal you can serve with pasta, rice, vegetables, salads, and more, and its ready in less than 30 minutes.
Homemade Flatbread Pizza Recipe
Much quicker and easier than pizza dough with only 45 minutes of rise time needed, this flatbread can be topped any way you’d like for your next pizza night.
Fresh & Healthy Strawberry Chicken Salad
I have 1 more recipe for you, and it’s a fabulous lunch or dinner option. The following strawberry almond chicken salad has the works—juicy berries, crunchy almonds, creamy avocado, chopped chicken, and plenty of tender greens—so it’s a lighter, healthier option but keeps you feeling satisfied. Use leftover cooked chicken or pick up a rotisserie chicken from the store.
Top it with the same easy homemade poppy seed dressing that I use for creamy strawberry feta pasta salad, only halved because you don’t need quite as much!
When I serve this salad for dinner, I often bake some cornbread on the side to round out the meal.
Description
This colorful, healthy strawberry almond chicken salad has the works! Juicy berries, crunchy almonds, creamy avocado, and chicken sit atop a bed of spinach and field greens, all drizzled with homemade poppy seed dressing.
Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing
- Toss everything together in a large bowl, except for the dressing, until combined.
- Whisk all of the poppy seed dressing ingredients together. Pour desired amount of dressing on top, toss to coat, and serve immediately.
Notes
- Special Tools (affiliate links): Glass Mixing Bowl | Whisk
- Dressing: You could really dress this summer salad with just about anything. Either balsamic or raspberry vinaigrette would be incredible, too.
- Can I Add Cheese? Yes, absolutely. Try adding 4 ounces goat cheese, gorgonzola, or feta cheese.
