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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    20 Quick Dinner Party Recipes Perfect for All Your Summer Gatherings

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on June 15, 2024, updated June 14, 2024 - Leave a Comment

    Here are 20 quick recipes you'll want to keep on hand for all your dinner parties this summer. They all capture the fresh flavors of summer and are quick and easy to make. From lighter pastas to summery mains, these dishes are as beautiful as they are delicious—and they can all be prepared in just 30 minutes.

    Pesto Salmon

    Pesto salmon on a serving platter.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This delicious Pesto Salmon is on your table in just 15 minutes. Smothered in a Greek yogurt and pesto blend, this baked salmon is perfect for busy evenings. With minimal ingredients but tons of flavor, the final result is salmon filets you can't resist.

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    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

    Garlic butter shrimp pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This 15-minute Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is an irresistible combination of tender shrimp, al dente pasta, and flavorful garlic butter sauce. Follow this simple recipe to create an effortless meal that blends the best of seafood and pasta into a delicious dish the whole family will love.

    Get the recipe

    Thin Basil Chicken Breasts

    Thin Basil Chicken Breasts.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Cook thin chicken breasts in your air fryer for a quick, easy, flavorful dinner. They're done with 6 minutes and heavily seasoned with garlic and basil. You can also cook them up on the grill or pan fry them!

    Get the recipe

    Halloumi Pasta Primavera

    Halloumi pasta primavera.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    20-minutes (chopping included!) is all you need to make this delicious, vegetarian halloumi pasta loaded with veggies. A light and summery dish without cream, this is a great fresh dinner that lets the veggies shine.

    Get the recipe

    Salmon Stir-fry

    Salmon stir-fry.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This quick stir-fry loaded with veggies has a light & citrusy flavor profile you'll love - and is just as good served on its own as with a side of rice.

    Get the recipe

    Marry Me Chicken Pasta

    Marry me chicken pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make this flavor-packed Marry Me Chicken Pasta in just 20 minutes - and don't be surprised if everyone asks for seconds (or your hand in marriage!). It's a super creamy sauce with a delicious flavor combo of crème fraîche, sun-dried tomatoes, basil, paprika & oregano. All achieved with pantry staple dried herbs & minimal prep.

    Get the recipe

    Lemon Pepper Salmon

    Baked lemon pepper salmon.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Probably the best salmon version ever - all done with just 3 ingredients.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Broccoli Pasta

    Broccoli pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This pasta is loaded with veggies for a healthier dish you'll love.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Steak Bites

    Air Fryer Steak Bites.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Cook air fryer steak bites in under 10 minutes for a quick dinner your whole family will love. Marinated in lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, and herbs to tenderize any cut of steak and ensure maximum flavor in every single bite.

    Get the recipe

    Lemon Ricotta Pasta

    Lemon ricotta pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    You won't find a simpler pasta dish than this.

    Get the recipe

    Spanish Chicken Stew

    Spanish chicken stew with rice.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make a quick chicken stew with the help of rotisserie chicken - packed full with lemon & rosemary flavors!

    Get the recipe

    Antipasti Pasta Salad

    Antipasti Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: An Affair From the Heart.

    This recipe is the perfect addition to any meal. If you’re looking for something simple and Italian-inspired for your next potluck, BBQ or cookout, then this salad is perfect for you! Great for a crowd and thrown together in less than 30 minutes, it's made with flavorful salami, pepperoni, grape tomatoes, and Parmesan cheese for a pasta salad that is both filling and tasty.

    Get the recipe

    Air Fryer Flank Steak

    Sliced flank steak.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make perfectly tender Air Fryer Flank Steak with just 8-10 minutes of cooking. The flavor-packed marinade tenderizes the meat for you, so you end up with a juicy steak in no time.

    Get the recipe

    Creamy Chicken Pasta with Feta Cheese

    finished pasta with chicken and feta cheese
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Feta cheese makes everything better - including creamy pasta sauces.

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    Air Fryer Salmon Patties

    Air Fryer Salmon Patties.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make these easy Air Fryer Salmon Patties with fresh salmon and just 6-8 minutes of cooking. They're deliciously packed with flavor and require no chopping thanks to powdered seasonings.

    Get the recipe

    Smoked Salmon & Spinach Pasta

    Salmon spinach pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    A super quick pasta dish loaded with smoked salmon & lemon flavor you'll be coming back to over and over again.

    Get the recipe

    Salmon Tacos

    A salmon taco.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Fresh salmon is seasoned lightly, pan-fried quickly, and deliciously paired with a super easy Ginger Avocado Salsa to make the perfect healthy Salmon Tacos. All with just a few short minutes of cooking and loads of flavor!

    Get the recipe

    Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts

    15-Minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts
    Photo credit: always use butter

    Simple can sometimes be so much more, and that's definitely the case with this 15-minute Cherry Tomato Pasta with Spinach and Walnuts. Quick and easy to make it's delicious as it is, and even better topped with a generous piece of mozzarella or burrata cheese.

    Get the recipe

    Shrimp Scampi Without Wine

    Shrimp scampi.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Make Shrimp Scampi without wine in just 10 minutes for a flavor packed appetizer or meal. Your kitchen will smell so amazing with all those garlic, lemon, chili and parsley flavors mixed together.

    Get the recipe

    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta

    Mushroom Sweet Corn Pasta.
    Photo credit: Delightful Plate.

    This delicious mushroom sweet corn pasta  features earthy mushrooms, charred corn, and a light cream sauce. It is a quick, easy and satisfying meatless pasta dish you can throw together in half an hour.

    Get the recipe

     

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    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has more than 20 years of experience creating and simplifying recipes so they taste good, and are quick, easy, and approachable. She is a regular contributor to MSN  and her work has been featured by The Guardian, Well+Good, Vulture, SheKnows, Good Men Project, Daily Kos, The Grio, The Asian Parent, and The Feed Feed, among others.

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    Hi, I'm Emmeline! I love tasty food, but I'm always in a hurry. And I have the quick and easy recipes to prove it!

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