School's out, summer is officially here! It's the season where fresh, easy, and flavorful dinner recipes are a must-have. This list of 20+ Summer Dinner Recipes has it all– from grilling favorites like stuffed bacon cheeseburgers to quick seafood options, and side dish favorites. Pull a chair up around the patio table with family and friends, and dig in!
Dinner Ideas for Summer
Nothing says summer dinner like patio dining with juicy turkey burgers or chicken wings hot off the grill, crispy french fries or a big scoop of baked beans, bright citrus quinoa salad, and cheesecake berry trifle on the table.
I pulled together this collection of 20+ Summer Dinner Ideas to keep your dinner menu fresh and flavorful. Many of these recipes don't require a ton of effort, time or dishes. Bonus: the family will love all these recipes!
20+ Summer Dinner Recipes
Crispy Zucchini Fritters
Golden brown and crispy, these easy zucchini fritters are the perfect way to use up a summer surplus of zucchini. Flavored with fresh parsley, onion, and garlic, these savory pancakes are deliciously tender without being mushy. These can be served any time of day with a creamy herb yogurt sauce or hot sauce.
Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers with Garlic Aioli
You'll love this easy sheet pan sausage and peppers recipe– juicy Italian sausage perfectly cooked every time with bell peppers and onions. Make it the ultimate sausage and peppers sandwich by serving inside a toasted brioche roll with melty provolone cheese and topped with a garlic aioli. It's guaranteed to be a hit with family! Bonus: it only takes 30 minutes start to finish!
Cheddar Jalapeño Turkey Burgers
Move over traditional cheeseburgers– these juicy cheddar jalapeño turkey burgers are the star now! Loaded with flavor from the jalapeño peppers, garlic, smoke paprika, onion powder and Worcestershire sauce stuffed with gooey melted cheddar cheese throughout. This jalapeño turkey burger recipe will be favorite in no time!
Citrus Quinoa Salad
This citrus quinoa salad is light and hearty– filled with quinoa, spinach, chicken, pepper, onion, fresh cilantro, oranges, and creamy avocado. Bursting with flavor from the refreshing citrus vinaigrette, this quinoa salad is a warmer weather staple!
Slow Cooker Pineapple Chicken Tacos
Switch up your weeknight dinners with these delicious Hawaiian chicken tacos topped with a fresh jalapeño pineapple salsa. This easy, slow cooker recipe requires minimal effort– just set and forget it.
Herb Smashed Potato Salad
This savory herb smashed potato salad is spiced just right, packed full of crispy baby potatoes and tossed in an incredibly flavorful buttermilk dressing. It's a delicious side dish for BBQs, picnics and a recipe that family and guests will love!
Cilantro Orange Chicken with Rice and Beans
Juicy, tender and sweet– this cilantro orange chicken is minimum effort with maximum flavor making it an ideal dinner recipe for busy weeknights. The marinade adds incredible flavor to the chicken and creates the best sauce. Serve it alongside rice and beans with a homemade pineapple jalapeño salsa.
Roasted Vegetable Pasta Salad
This roasted vegetable pasta salad is absolutely delicious and features seasonal vegetables. It's not only easy to make, but it's bursting with flavor from the homemade dressing, feeds a crowd, keeps for days in the refrigerator, and is a recipe that even meat lovers can't get enough of!
Easy Baked Chicken Meatballs
These baked chicken meatballs are the best anytime meatballs. Packed with layers of flavor, baked at a high temperature, and brushed with a lemon garlic herb butter sauce to finish them off. Pair them with spaghetti, add them to salad, or enjoy all on their own! Bonus: these chicken meatballs are a perfect make-ahead recipe and can be easily frozen before or after baking.
15-Minute Pesto Shrimp (Easy Recipe!)
Enjoy this quick pesto shrimp with tomatoes—a versatile dinner recipe perfect for warmer days! With only 6 simple ingredients, whether it's homemade or store-bought pesto, this dish is bursting with flavor. Minimal dishes and on the table in under 15 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights!
Crispy Homemade Baked French Fries
These oven baked french fries solve all problems and are the perfect side to pretty much any dinner. Made a handful of ingredients and baked to produce a fried-like crispy exterior while remaining fluffy on the inside. Making homemade french fries has never been easier!
The Best Baked Beans I've Ever Had
These are truly the best baked beans I've ever had. With layers of flavor, tender beans, slightly sweet and incredibly easy to make, I'm confident this baked beans recipe will quickly become the star of the sides at your next cookout!
Quinoa & Sausage Stuffed Peppers
These sausage stuffed peppers are a satisfying twist on classic stuffed peppers and on the table in 35 minutes. The sweet bell peppers are stuffed with a savory blend of sausage, hearty quinoa, garlic, fresh herbs, and topped with cheese.
The Best Black Bean Burgers
This is my favorite easy black bean burger recipe– featuring BIG, thick, hearty patties bursting with flavor. The burgers stay together beautifully without becoming too mushy. You can bake these in the oven or toss on the grill.
The Best Veggie Burgers I've Ever Had
No need for store-bought when you've got this veggie burger recipe. Big, thick, and hearty patties full of texture from beans, sweet potatoes, and vegetables, and seasoned just right with garlic, cumin, paprika, and chili powder. Whether you toss them on the grill or bake in the oven, these will be the best veggie burgers that you've ever had!
Mexican Quinoa Salad
This vibrant and fresh Mexican quinoa salad – essentially a party in a bowl, if you will. Loaded with quinoa, bell peppers, red onions, black beans, and combined with a fresh cilantro lime dressing. This bold flavored dish will enhance any meal.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Inspired by the classic caesar salad, this chicken caesar pasta salad is packed with chicken, lettuce, croutons, shaved parmesan, and pasta, all tossed together with homemade or store-bought caesar dressing. It's a simple yet delicious dish for your next BBQ or cookout that can easily feed a crowd!
Ridiculously Good Bacon Cheeseburgers
A twist on classic bacon cheeseburgers; we're kicking it up a notch by incorporating savory bacon and rich cheddar cheese to the ground beef. Just one bite and you'll know why this is the ultimate bacon cheeseburgers recipe!
Extra Crispy Baked Chicken Wings
When I say these are crispy baked chicken wings, I mean it. You'd never know these weren't deep fried! Tossed in a flavorful dry rub, baked at a very high temperature until the exterior is crispy and the inside is tender with meat that falls of the bone. This recipe produces the crispiest chicken wings – who knew that you could bake chicken wings and get them this crispy?!
Turkey Burgers (That Aren't Dry!)
If you're craving BIG flavor, you need to make these turkey burgers. This grilled turkey burger recipe proves that ground turkey can produce a flavorful, juicy burger just like a traditional beef burger. Trust me, these turkey burgers will exceed your expectations and become a favorite!
Baked BBQ Chicken Thighs
This baked BBQ chicken recipe delivers perfectly tender and juicy chicken every time. It only takes 30 minutes for this foolproof BBQ chicken– use homemade or store-bought BBQ sauce and some pantry spices to kick it up a notch!
Chicken Caprese Burgers
Dive right into this juicy chicken caprese burger packed with fresh flavors. A twist on the classic caprese salad, but in burger form! Perfectly seasoned and topped with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, fresh basil leaves and finished with a drizzle of balsamic glaze.
Easy Baked Herb Crusted Salmon
If you're looking for a quick and easy dinner that delivers, try this baked herb crusted salmon. Brushed with butter, topped with a flavorful spice rub, and finished with lemon slices. Bonus: this baked salmon is done in under 30 minutes!
The Best Grilled Chicken Wings
This is the best grilled chicken wings recipe that you'll ever have! Incredibly simple to make– just pat dry, toss in the flavorful dry rub and throw on the grill. The grilled wings get crispy on the outside and stay tender and juicy on the inside. Let the grill do the hard work for you!
More Summer Recipes
- Find more easy weeknight dinner recipes in this collection or archive.
- Try one of these 35-minute or less pasta recipes.
- Find more summer inspiration here or here.
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