Summer is the perfect time to enjoy light and easy dinners that don’t require hours in the kitchen. With fresh ingredients and simple recipes, these 23 meals will keep you satisfied and make the most of the season's flavors. From simple pastas to refreshing salads, these ideas are sure to become your go-to options all summer long.
Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables

Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Roasted Vegetables is a quick and tasty dinner that comes together in under thirty minutes. Packed with mushrooms, leeks, kale, and other veggies, this one-pan meal is both simple and satisfying.
Shrimp Caesar Pasta Salad
This shrimp Caesar pasta salad combines the creamy flavors of a classic Caesar salad with pasta and grilled shrimp for a fun twist. It's a filling dish that's perfect for summer dinners.
Tuna Rice Bowls 4 Ways
Canned tuna and rice is a quick and easy meal that you'll find yourself making often. With just a few ingredients and a few minutes, you can whip up a tasty dinner, and there are four different flavor options to keep things interesting.
Air Fryer Salmon
In just 20 minutes, you can have flavorful skin-on salmon cooked in your air fryer, perfect for a quick meal any night. Seasoned with lemon juice and lemon pepper, this dish is sure to please everyone at the table.
Halloumi Portobello Burgers
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.
Salmon Tacos
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.
Salmon Crème Fraîche Pasta
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.
Caprese Salad with Spinach & Cashews
This caprese dish is simple to prepare and hearty enough to serve as dinner. It's perfect for warm summer evenings when you want something light yet satisfying.
Creamy Cottage Cheese Pasta
This creamy cottage cheese pasta sauce offers a fresh take on traditional tomato sauce, bringing a rich and smooth texture to your meal. It's packed with flavor and perfect for a quick summer dinner.
Sheet Pan Maple Dijon Chicken
Sheet pan meals are perfect for busy nights, and this maple Dijon chicken dish is a winner with simple prep and delicious flavors. With seasoned chicken, crispy bacon, and roasted veggies, it’s a hearty option that doesn’t require much work.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Pasta
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.
Naan Pizza
This naan pizza is super simple to make with just three ingredients and comes together in minutes. It's a great option for busy summer evenings when you need a quick dinner.
Carnitas
Skip the restaurant and enjoy homemade pulled pork instead. It's simple to prepare and delicious, making it a great choice for summer dinners.
Larb Gai
This Thai chicken salad is a quick and healthy option you'll want to prepare often. It features a flavorful base and is topped with crunchy peanuts.
Slow Cooker Chicken and Broccoli
This dish features chicken thighs and broccoli cooked together in a tasty sauce made from soy sauce, honey, sesame oil, and ginger paste. It's a simple one-pot meal that's perfect for summer dinners.
Air Fryer T-Bone Steak with Homemade Garlic Butter
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.
Sweetheart Cabbage Salad with Gyoza Chickpeas
This refreshing sweetheart cabbage salad comes together in just 15 minutes and is perfect for summer dinners. Packed with spinach, crunchy cabbage, and tasty chickpeas, it's topped with Parmesan cheese for a satisfying and healthy meal.
Orzo Pesto Salad
Orzo pesto salad is packed with veggies and fresh mozzarella, all tossed in a delicious nut-free basil pesto. It's a great choice for lunch, dinner, or as a side at any summer get-together.
Spicy Sausage Pasta
Spicy sausage, pasta, and Parmesan cheese combine to create this super-tasty dinner.
Veggie Loaded Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
This pasta salad with Italian dressing is quick to prepare and packed with fresh vegetables. It's perfect as a side dish or for meal prep during the summer.
Thai Cashew Chicken
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.
Mozzarella Pesto Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner
Mozzarella Pesto Chicken Sheet Pan dinner is a simple and delicious meal that you can have on the table in just 30 minutes. With everything cooking in one pan, cleanup is a breeze, and it's gluten-free and lower in carbs.
Red Pesto Pasta Salad with Veggies
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.
Comments
No Comments