Summer Dinner Ideas
May 13, 2018, Updated May 10, 2019
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy
Summer Dinner Ideas – Don’t want to heat up the house when it is so hot out? Here are 25 great summer dinner ideas that don’t take long to make, use what is in season and are delicious!
Cooking dinner in the summer can be hard. You are hungry, but don’t want to heat up the house or do a lot of work. And when it is super hot, you don’t always feel like eating a lot too. Plus, burgers every night can get old fast.
So today I have 25 of my favorite summer dinner ideas. Things you can grill, cook on the stove top and have ready in minutes. Light, fresh, and delicious for those busy summer nights. Because you still need quick dinner ideas, even in the summer.
And in the summer with paying for vacations, summer camps and everything else, don’t miss the Cheap Dinner Ideas round up. That one is good year round!
Summer Dinner Ideas
Summer Dinner Ideas - Don't want to heat up the house when it is so hot out? Here are 25 great summer dinner ideas that don't take long to make, use what is in season and are delicious!
Greek inspired lemon chicken skewers with a yogurt sauce
Asian Chicken Wraps - an easy chicken wrap with a Thai peanut sauce. A great lunch idea or a quick and easy dinner!
Shrimp Summer Rolls with Sesame Soy Dipping Sauce - a super refreshing, cool, crisp and great dinner to have this summer. Works as an appetizer or a meal.
A cold pasta salad with summer sausage and grilled veggies. Great for picnics or as a summer side dish.
A creamy pasta salad with all your favorite taco toppings! Great to make ahead and have in the fridge for dinner or to take to any get together.
An easy pasta salad full of olives, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, parsley, and feta cheese. Topped with a light vinaigrette dressing for a cool and delicious dish.
Chicken Skewers - tender pieces of chicken marinated with lots of lime juice and chipotle, then grilled and served with an avocado dipping sauce.
A flavorful marinade with lemon juice and fresh herbs makes this pork tenderloin super moist and tender. Great on chicken and fish too!
Tender grilled skirt steak wrapped in a charred corn tortilla and topped with a creamy cilantro lime sauce. Just like Southern California at home in no time!
Honey Sesame Chicken Salad Wraps - Broccoli slaw coated in a creamy honey sesame dressing. Wrapped with crispy chicken for a quick and easy meal.
Combine two favorites for one perfect summer side dish. Caesar salad and pasta salad come together in an easy dish everyone will love!
An easy salad that comes together in minutes. Turn your favorite appetizer and cheese board into dinner!
Southwestern Cobb Salad - A classic Cobb salad with a Southwestern, tex-mex twist! Topped with a creamy cilantro lime dressing for a hearty, filling, and delicious salad.
Pasta Carbonara with Corn and Chiles - Creamy carbonara pasta with bacon, fresh corn, and jalapenos. A little spicy, smokey, and oh so delicious!
Caprese Pasta Salad - turn classic caprese salad into a quick pasta salad. Great for summer get togethers, quick lunches, or a light dinner!
Pasta with sauteed veggies and chicken sausage tossed with a balsamic vinaigrette. Quick and easy weeknight meal, that is also good for you.
A hearty salad with chicken, caramelized onions, avocado and topped with a Garlic Balsamic Vinaigrette
Thai Peanut Noodles - Super easy Asian noodles mixed with a creamy peanut butter sauce with bell peppers and carrots.
Chicken Tostadas - A quick and easy Mexican dinner! A crispy corn tortilla piled high with guacamole, chicken and salsa. Take a shortcut from the store and this can be ready in no time!
Heat pan over med-high heat. Drizzle with a little bit of olive oil. Sprinkle lemon pepper seasoning over both sides of turkey. Cook turkey for about 10 minutes, turning half way. While cooking, you can mix together the lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and mustard. Once turkey is almost done, pour sauce into pan. Cook for just a couple minutes, and you are done!
Smoked Tri-Tip - a perfectly smoked cut of meet is a gorgeous thing! This Tri-tip is coated in a quick and easy rub, and then smoked to perfection!
Chicken breasts marinated in a blend of yogurt, lemon juice, and Greek seasonings. Then grilled to perfection. A quick and easy dinner all summer long.
Yogurt Marinated Chicken - chicken breasts marinated in a blend of yogurt, lemon juice, and Greek seasonings. Then grilled to perfection. A quick and easy dinner all summer long.
Yogurt Marinated Pork Kebobs - pork tenderloin cubes marinated in Greek yogurt and warm spices. Grilled to perfection and served with a lemon yogurt sauce! Up your summer grilling game!
One Pan Spicy Garlic Shrimp - dinner is ready in 15 minutes, with this super flavorful, a little spicy, garlic shrimp recipe.
Soy, ginger, and lime give tons of flavor to the marinade. Great for swordfish, chicken, pork, or just about anything.
Copycat Tokyo Joes Chicken Spring Rolls - almost no cooking required to make this easy copy cat recipe for chicken spring rolls.