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    Home » Recipe Roundups

    22 Easy Summer Dinners Even Your Kids Will Eat

    By Emmeline Kemperyd on June 16, 2025, updated May 6, 2025 - Leave a Comment

    Summer is the perfect time for easy and fun dinners that the whole family can enjoy. With fresh ingredients and simple recipes, you can whip up meals that even picky eaters will love. Here are 22 easy summer dinner ideas that are sure to please kids and adults alike.

    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta

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

    Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta is a quick and tasty dish that brings together juicy shrimp, perfectly cooked pasta, and a rich garlic butter sauce. This is a great meal for summer evenings when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Pizza Bagel Bites

    Pizza bagel bites.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Homemade pizza bagel bites are great for a fun lunch, a quick snack after school, or a tasty appetizer for game day. With just four simple ingredients, you can easily customize them to fit your family's preferences.

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    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Gypsy Plate.

    Crockpot Tuscan Chicken is covered in a rich, creamy sauce filled with Mediterranean flavors. This is an easy and tasty dinner you can prepare ahead of time for a busy weeknight.

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    Slow Cooker Chicken Piccata

    Slow Cooker Chicken Piccata.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    This chicken piccata features bright lemon flavors mixed with chicken broth, capers, and dijon mustard, making it a family favorite. With just a few simple steps and a bit of cooking time, you can have this delicious dish ready for dinner tonight.

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    Roasted Gnocchi with Veggies

    Roasted gnocchi with veggies.
    Photo credit: FODMAP Everyday.

    This recipe is perfect for anyone who loves gnocchi. Roasting the gnocchi in the oven with olive oil gives it a crispy outside while keeping it soft and tender inside.

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    Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca

    Copycat Noodles and Company Pasta Fresca.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    This quick 15-minute pasta fresca is just like the popular dish from Noodles and Company, and you can whip it up in your own kitchen. It's perfect for summer dinners when you want something tasty without spending too much time cooking.

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    Garlic Parmesan Pork Chops with Rosemary

    Garlic parmesan pork chop with sprigs of rosemary on a black skillet.
    Photo Credit: Enza's Quail Hollow Kitchen.

    This dish features tender pork loin chops that are seasoned with rosemary and parmesan cheese, then pan-fried and served in a light garlic white wine sauce. It's a simple and tasty option for summer dinners, perfect for busy nights.

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    Creamy Garlic Parmesan Instant Pot Pasta with Broccoli

    Creamy Garlic Parmesan Instant Pot Pasta with Broccoli.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Creamy garlic pasta is quick to prepare and packed with rich Parmesan flavor, complemented by tender-crisp broccoli. It's a great option for summer dinners when you want something delicious without spending too much time in the kitchen.

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    Thai Cashew Chicken

    Thai cashew chicken.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    This version of a favorite takeout meal is packed with chicken and fresh vegetables, bringing authentic Thai flavors to your table. It’s a quick and simple dish that you can whip up in just 35 minutes.

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    Sheet Pan Jerk Shrimp with Coconut Rice

    Sheet Pan Jerk Shrimp with Coconut Rice
    Photo Credit: Inquiring Chef.

    Sheet Pan Jerk Shrimp are quick to prepare and packed with vibrant flavors, all made in one pan in under 30 minutes. Pair it with coconut rice for a fun, tropical dinner any night.

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    Sheet Pan Halloumi Tacos

    Halloumi tacos.
    Image credit: Hey Nutrition Lady.

    Halloumi tacos are a quick and easy meal that you can whip up in no time. Perfect for summer nights, these tacos are satisfying and full of flavor.

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    Garlic Chicken with Honey Sauce

    Garlic chicken with honey and chopped green onions.
    Photo Credit: Midwest Foodie.

    Garlic chicken with honey sauce is quick to prepare, taking only 20 minutes in one pan. With just a few simple ingredients, it’s packed with flavor.

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    Ground Beef Philly Cheesesteak

    Ground beef cheesesteak.
    Photo credit: Easy Budget Recipes.

    This ground beef version of a Philly Cheesesteak is a quick and budget-friendly option. It delivers all the classic flavors you love, with savory meat, gooey cheese, and delicious toppings on a soft bun.

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    Halloumi Portobello Burgers

    A portobello halloumi burger.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Halloumi Burgers are loaded with flavor, featuring mashed avocado, a big portobello mushroom, crumbled chèvre cheese, peppery arugula, and sweet caramelized onions. They’re simple to prepare and always a hit with everyone.

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    Salmon Tacos

    A salmon taco.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    Fresh salmon is seasoned and pan-fried in no time, then served with a simple Ginger Avocado Salsa for tasty Salmon Tacos. This is a healthy dinner option that’s quick to prepare and full of flavor.

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    Baked Apricot Chicken

    Easy Baked Apricot Chicken.
    Photo Credit: Casual Foodist.

    Baked Apricot Chicken is a simple and delcious chicken dinner recipe with a sweet and savor glaze your family will love. With a handful of ingredients this Baked Apricot Chicken is ready in 30 minutes and perfect for weeknight dinners.

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    Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies

    Red pesto pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This red pesto pasta is quick to prepare, taking less than 30 minutes with only 15 minutes of actual cooking time. It's loaded with veggies and flavor, and you can enjoy it hot or cold, whether you use homemade or store-bought pesto.

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    Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken

    Slow Cooker Bruschetta Chicken.
    Photo Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

    Chicken cooked in a mix of tomatoes and garlic, then covered with melted mozzarella cheese. This dish features a fresh tomato topping that gives it a classic Italian flavor.

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    Air Fryer T-Bone Steak with Homemade Garlic Butter

    T-bone steak with garlic butter.
    Photo credit: Emmeline Kemperyd.

    Juicy T-bone steaks come out perfectly in the air fryer, and they're quick to prepare. Pair them with a simple garlic butter or your favorite sauce for a satisfying dinner.

    Get the recipe

    Salmon Crème Fraîche Pasta

    Salmon Crème Fraîche Pasta.
    Photo credit: always use butter.

    This salmon pasta with crème fraîche and lemon is quick to prepare and packed with flavor, perfect for any weeknight dinner. Using fresh or frozen salmon, it offers a light and refreshing meal that you can enjoy all year long.

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    Warm Vegan Pasta Salad

    Warm Vegan Pasta Salad.
    Photo credit: Healing Tomato.

    This cauliflower gnocchi pasta is super quick to prepare, taking only 10 minutes. It's a great dish to take along to picnics or outdoor gatherings.

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    Healthy Chicken Salad

    A chicken salad sandwich.
    Photo credit: Sustainable Cooks.

    This is a lighter take on a creamy salad that works great in a sandwich for lunch. It's a simple and tasty option for summer meals.

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    More Recipe Roundups

    • Cauliflower potato bake,
      22 Vegetarian Casseroles That Are Perfect for Busy Weeknights
    • Lemon ricotta pasta.
      22 No-Fuss Pasta Recipes With Just a Few Ingredients
    • Mustard chicken.
      24 Grandma Approved Dinners That Will Make You Love Cooking Again
    • Chicken adobo.
      21 Deliciously Easy Crockpot Meals Perfect for Hot Summer Days

    About Emmeline Kemperyd

    Emmeline Kemperyd is a writer, food blogger, recipe creator and food photographer and the founder of alwaysusebutter.com. She has 20+ years 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, 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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