Yahoo Lifestyle 90 Easy Summer Dinners That Everyone Will Love
Summer produce makes every cold, dark winter day worth it. Summer squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and corn practically transform themselves into gorgeous, mouthwatering meals. And when the weather’s warm, you belong outside in a breezy maxi dress, not sweating in a hot kitchen. These easy summer dinner ideas don’t take long to whip up or use every single pan in the kitchen. So, they’re perfect for those balmy nights when the sun’s still out, it’s 85 degrees and you really don’t want to be standing at the stove. And just to ensure you’ve got plenty of options, we're bringing you 90 easy meals to devour in the backyard, from sweet-and-sour pork skewers with pineapple to butter-baked cucumber tostadas.
RELATED: 30 Summer Slow Cooker Recipes to Make All Season Long
1. Spicy Corn Carbonara
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, high protein
Corn, bacon and just a touch of Parm = one completely irresistible weeknight dinner.
2. Grilled Peach and Halloumi Salad with Lemon-Pesto Dressing
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, vegetarian
Now this is what we call a dinner salad. Sweet, smoky grilled peaches are just the match for salty, tangy halloumi cheese.
3. Summer Chipotle Chicken Cobb Salad with Cilantro Vinaigrette
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
Is your mouth watering yet? Bring this to every potluck you're ever invited to—it's sure to wow the host and their guests.
4. Grilled Flatbread Pizza with Artichoke, Ricotta and Lemon
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, vegetarian
Pizza is one of our favorite summer dinners because it cooks up on the grill in a flash.
5. Zucchini Pad Thai
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: low carb, <30 minutes
Ten minutes and you’re done. (And you have PureWow Coterie member Gaby Dalkin to thank.)
6. Greek Chicken and Rice Skillet
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, high protein, crowd-pleaser
Aka an easy but impressive way to feed a crowd. Might we suggest serving it alfresco at your next intimate dinner party with a bottle of white?
7. Cauliflower Sweet Potato Burgers
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, high protein
Smashed avocado and spicy mayo take these family-friendly sammies over the top. The kids won't even notice how healthy the sweet potato patties are.
8. Summer Skillet Gnocchi with Grilled Corn and Burrata
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser
This one-pan wonder comes together in just 30 minutes, so the recipe is prime for an impromptu BBQ.
9. Zucchini Ricotta Galette
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
It tastes like you spent hours making it. (Hint: You didn’t, thanks to store-bought pie crust.)
10. Sweet-and-Sour Pork Skewers with Pineapple
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, high protein
It’s totally OK to lean on your grill pan in the off-season, but be sure to use the real deal for these skewers come summertime. It's only fair to the pineapple, which will be at peak deliciousness.
11. Skillet Roast Chicken with Peaches, Tomatoes and Red Onion
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 20 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, special occasion-worthy, high protein, kid-friendly
Who knew juicy fruit paired so magically with chicken thighs? It's just the centerpiece for your next backyard soiree.
12. Poblano and Mushroom Tacos with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Way more interesting than ground beef. Serve them with grilled mango salsa and tortilla chips at your first Taco Tuesday of the summer.
13. Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, kid-friendly
If it were up to us, every dinner recipe would be this darn easy.
14. Baked Sesame-Ginger Salmon in Parchment
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: pescatarian, high protein
Any recipe that doesn't call for pots or pans is our kind of recipe, especially one that calls for summer zucchini.
15. One-Pot, 15-Minute Pasta Limone
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, kid-friendly
Throw all of the ingredients in the pot and boil ’em. Just like that, dinner is served.
16. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, high protein, one pan
You only need 30 minutes to create this impressive and satisfying dinner, since it stars pantry staples like frozen peas, canned chickpeas and canned coconut milk.
17. Butter-Baked Cucumber Tostadas
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Roasted cucumbers are so in right now. But TBH, you had us at sriracha mayo.
18. 15-Minute Mezze Plate with Toasted Za’atar Pita Bread
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Just the appetizer for entertaining (or the laziest, most satisfying solo dinner of all time).
19. Skillet Pasta with Summer Squash, Ricotta and Basil
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, one pan, vegetarian
The squash and rigatoni cook in a single skillet, because the weather is too nice to be cooped up doing dishes.
20. Lime Chicken with Corn and Poblano Salad
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, one pan
File this gem under How to Feed Four People for Less Than Ten Bucks.
21. Summer Glow Bowls
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, dairy free, gluten free
PureWow Coterie member Jess Larson shares our love of hearty bowls, and this one includes grilled chicken, quinoa and a sweet-and-spicy curry vinaigrette.
22. Grilled Watermelon Steaks
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, beginner-friendly
Beautifully seasoned, just like filet mignon. Save the leftover spice mix for beef, chicken salmon or roasted veggies.
23. End of Summer Cobb Salad with Creamy Carrot-Kimchi Dressing
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian
Coterie member Phoebe Lapine gives you permission to throw in any veggies you have on hand. (Just don't skimp on the dressing.)
24. Chopped Italian Salad Pizza
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Store-bought dough makes this pie a breeze. And all the vegetables on top basically make it healthy, right?
25. Shredded Thai Salad with Avocado
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, make ahead
This just might be the prettiest salad you'll ever make (and definitely one of the tastiest).
26. Savory Heirloom Tomato Tart
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Ah, store-bought puff pastry—the ultimate cheat for making easy recipes look oh so impressive.
27. Crockpot Corn Chowder
Time Commitment: 6 hours and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, slow cooker recipe
Yes, you can (and should) use your slow cooker in the summer. It sure beats turning on the oven and heating up the whole house.
28. Summer Caprese Salad
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, <30 minutes
PureWow Coterie member Maria Lichty brings us this magical no-cook starter, featuring tomatoes, peaches, cucumber and balsamic glaze. Make a meal out of it by topping it off with prosciutto.
29. Zoodles with Summer Vegetables
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegan
This summer, the farmers market is your oyster. (Hi, peppers, zucchini, tomatoes and corn.)
30. Roasted Drumsticks with Tomatoes
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: one pan, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, high protein
We like to think of this baked chicken dish as the summer equivalent of a casserole. Can you believe you're only six ingredients away from enjoying it?
31. Skillet Steak with Asparagus and Potatoes
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, high protein, special occasion-worthy, one pan
You only *think* you can't cook a killer steak at home. This recipe is totally foolproof, we promise.
32. Mini Spanish Tortilla with Zucchini
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, vegetarian, high protein
Your quest for an interesting way to cook zucchini ends here. Save half this single-serve cutie for breakfast the next day.
33. Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
The creamy sauce is everything. Serve the skewers with olives and sliced cucumber for dipping.
34. Stone Fruit Cucumber Salad With Ricotta Salata, Purslane and Golden Balsamic Miso Vinaigrette
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, vegetarian, special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes
It’s a midsummer night’s dream. Substitute mozz or feta for ricotta salata if you'd like, or melon for stone fruit.
35. Steak Skewers with Chimichurri Sauce
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
Cutting steak into neat pieces, skewering it and roasting it to juicy perfection is as easy as 1-2-3, so try your hardest to not be intimidated.
36. Quick Guacamole Quinoa Salad
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, make ahead
This one’s fast, easy, healthy and protein-rich, thanks to black beans. Make the quinoa in advance so the salad can come together in a flash.
37. Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Shrimp
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, pescatarian, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes
Psst: You can entertain a whole crowd with nothing but five ingredients and 25 minutes of your time.
38. Sweet Potato and Black Bean Tacos with Blue Cheese Crema
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Meatless doesn’t always mean meager. Rich blue cheese sauce and diced avocado take these tacos over the top.
39. Shrimp Boil Skewers with Corn, Sausage and Potatoes
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, special occasion-worthy
We just hacked the traditional shrimp boil so it’s not only mess-free, but also elegant.
40. Chicken and Chicken Sausage Jambalaya
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, high protein
This lighter take on a Creole staple stars chicken sausage instead of andouille. It’s begging to be enjoyed alfresco in the backyard.
41. Easy 5-Ingredient Corn Soup
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
The crunchy sesame seed-brown butter topping elevates the soup tenfold. Skip it or trade it out for crumbled bacon if the kiddos aren't feeling it (but if they give it a chance, they might be pleasantly surprised...).
42. Cheeseburger Tater Tot Casserole
Time Commitment: 55 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, one pan, high protein
The whole fam will be obsessed, and you won't even have to stand at the grill flipping burger patties all night.
43. Moules-Frites (Steamed Mussels and Fries)
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, one pan, pescatarian, high protein
Cooked in a garlicky white wine sauce, this dish is ready in just 30 minutes and guaranteed to wow the whole party.
44. Abundance Kale Salad with Savory Tahini Dressing
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, gluten free
And you thought that a salad couldn't fill you up. Crispy chickpeas for the win.
45. Citrus and Shrimp Avocado Salad
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: pescatarian, make ahead, beginner-friendly, <30 minutes
Pan-seared citrus shrimp + buttery avocado + crunchy sliced almonds = a meal worth bragging to your trainer about.
46. Zucchini Basil Soup with Crème Fraîche and Pickled Corn
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Crème fraîche sounds fancy, but it lives right next to its humble cousin, sour cream, in the dairy aisle.
47. Marinated Salumi Sandwich
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser, high protein
PureWow Coterie member Aida Mollenkamp knows how to make a dinner-worthy sammy. It's piled high with hot coppa, finocchiona, fresh mozzarella cheese and baby arugula.
48. Cauliflower-Lentil Grain Salad with Pesto and Pickled Radishes
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, special occasion-worthy
Oh, mighty cauliflower. Is there anything you can’t do? (We love you too, underrated radishes.)
49. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: pescatarian, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
Cue the palm trees and a piña colada. Feel free to grill the shrimp instead of sautéing if the weather allows.
50. 15-Minute Lemony Broccolini Pasta
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
So much more interesting than jarred marinara, and a pleasantly surprising BBQ appetizer, if we do say so ourselves.
51. Ginger-Pineapple Shrimp Stir Fry
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, one pan, pescatarian
A speedy, single-serve dinner to enjoy solo that rivals your favorite takeout dish.
52. One-Pan Roasted Salmon with Potatoes and Romaine
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, pescatarian, <10 ingredients
We *love* making our protein, starch and veggie in one shot, and so will you. Add a drizzle of honey to the salmon for sweetness or dill for an herby kick.
53. Zoodle Stir Fry
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, dairy free, kid-friendly
Spruce this veggie-rich dish up with chicken, rice or any additional produce you’re craving (or that you forgot about in the fridge...).
54. Roasted Brussels Sprouts Quinoa
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: one pan, vegan, <10 ingredients
Easy, healthy and delicious? Guess dreams really do come true. Did we mention it cooks on a single sheet pan?
55. Summer Panzanella Salad
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy free, crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes
Salad with bread > salad without bread. Don't @ us. Take your pick of French, focaccia or sourdough.
56. 5-Minute Veggie Coconut Wraps
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, vegan, dairy free, gluten free
These little guys have totally stolen our hearts. Picture grain-free coconut wraps slathered with hummus and curry paste, then filled with fresh produce.
57. Cheater's Skillet Paella
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy, high protein, one pan
Behold, the quintessential meal for a summer dinner party. This feast takes just one hour from start to finish.
58. Parmesan-Ranch Chicken Thighs
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, high protein
Fun fact: These chicken thighs taste like they’re fried, despite being roasted instead.
59. Pork Scallopini With Lemon, Capers and Radicchio
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, one pan, <30 minutes
This bright, briny number will shake you out of your dinner rut. Bye, boring chicken breast and broccoli.
60. Blackberry Peach Grilled Cheese
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian, high protein
Juicy berries give this grilled cheese an elevated, seasonal twist. (We won't tell if you have seconds.)
61. Salmon Bowl with Farro, Black Beans and Tahini Dressing
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, pescatarian, beginner-friendly
Also known as a power bowl. Can you guess why? (We'll chalk it up to all the omega-3s.)
62. Beer Bratwursts with Dijon Coleslaw
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Boiled hot dogs? Meh. These tangy, beer-soaked brats give you an excuse to pile on the toppings.
63. Chicken and Snap Pea Stir Fry
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, kid-friendly, high protein, one pan
Soy sauce, vinegar and sriracha pack a ton of flavor into this easy 20-minute gem.
64. Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad with Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy free, vegan, special occasion-worthy
It’s corn season, y’all, and we intend to celebrate every single chance we get. Top it off with roasted chickpeas and a spritz of lime.
65. Cucumber Quinoa Salad
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Flavorful and hydrating. It makes a stellar side for rich, savory mains like ribs or pulled pork.
66. Thai Beef Bowls with Rice Noodles
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly
Way better than your average salad. We should also note that rice noodles are gluten free, healthy and irresistibly chewy.
67. Artichoke Garden Flatbread
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <30 minutes, vegetarian
This delightful dish is ready in just 15 minutes, thanks to using store-bought flatbreads for the crust instead of raw dough.
68. Crispy Baked Fish Tacos with Cabbage Slaw
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, pescatarian, kid-friendly, special occasion-worthy
Pretty much the epitome of summer, from the homemade slaw to the lime-kissed tilapia.
69. Coconut-Lime Fried Shrimp with Mango-Peach Jalapeño Sauce
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <30 minutes, pescatarian
The impossibly crisp panko-coconut breading is brag-worthy on its own. But that dipping sauce though…
70. Lobster BLTs with Sweet and Smoky Mayo
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion-worthy, high protein
We love lobster rolls. Like, a lot. But these salty, crispy handhelds are totally unexpected.
71. Spring Roll Bowls
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly, beginner-friendly
This noodle-salad hybrid is basically like a deconstructed spring roll, so you won't have to fuss with the tricky wrappers.
72. Beet Gazpacho
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, gluten free, dairy free
Don't knock cold soup until you've tried it. It's naturally dairy free, but finishing your bowl with a swirl of yogurt or sour cream wouldn't hurt.
73. Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies in Foil
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, kid-friendly
Just pop the packets on the grill and let them cook to juicy perfection—no cleanup required.
74. Kale Caesar Pasta Salad
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
Kale’s way tastier when it’s paired with pasta. (But you already knew that.)
75. Curry Noodles with Broccoli Rabe and Purple Cabbage
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, beginner-friendly
Spaghetti with marinara sauce? Yawn. Mix things up with this Thai-inspired alternative instead.
76. Orecchiette Ragu
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 5 minutes
Why We Love It: one pot, <10 ingredients, high protein, kid-friendly
This pasta wonder cooks in one pot and wants a place in your weekly dinner rotation.
77. Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 10 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, kid-friendly
Forget the sad, dry turkey burgers you've had before. This one is light, flavorful and impeccably juicy.
78. Grilled Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
Warning: Your guests just might think you ordered these 20-minute cuties from a nearby restaurant.
79. 15-Minute Cucumber-Avocado Blender Soup
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, <30 minutes, special occasion-worthy
We can't decide where to start, the uber-creamy, refreshing soup or the Asiago-encrusted baguette.
80. Grilled Sriracha Shrimp Skewers with Collard-Peach Salad
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, pescatarian, special occasion-worthy
The only way this dish could get any more summery is with an ice-cold glass of lemonade.
81. Italian Orzo Tuna Salad
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, pescatarian, high protein, beginner-friendly
Mayonnaise haters, rejoice. This recipe calls for a tangy lemon-Dijon dressing instead, plus tender orzo pasta, feta cheese and sun-dried tomatoes.
82. Instant Pot Ribs
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We Love It: Instant Pot recipe, high protein, crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
We're never as eager to get our hands dirty as when we're faced with a rack of smoky brown sugar ribs.
83. Camarones al Mojo de Ajo (Shrimp in Garlic Sauce)
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, pescatarian, <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
A 15-minute meal has never looked this good or been this simple to make. We're talking six ingredients (including salt and pepper), most of which you likely have on hand right now.
84. Grilled Barbecue Chicken
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, high protein, <10 ingredients
Eat 'em plain, serve them with a green side salad or debone and shred the pieces to make a saucy sandwich.
85. Corn Fritter Caprese with Peaches and Tomatoes
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
They're essentially corn-scallion pancakes. If that isn't enough to convince you, maybe the fresh mozzarella will.
86. Charcuterie Board Flatbread
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, <10 ingredients, <30 minutes, kid-friendly
Hi, lazy dinner of the gods. All you need is store-bought flatbread or naan for the base: The cheese, meat and fruit are up to you.
87. Piri Piri Chicken
Time Commitment: 4 hours and 55 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
With this spatchcocked beauty on the grill, your backyard will transform into a Portuguese retreat.
88. Cold Lemon Zoodles
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegan, no cook
A "pasta" dish that's no-cook? Sign us up. Just whisk the dressing, toss the zoodles et voilà.
89. Tarragon Chicken Salad Sandwiches
Time Commitment: 1 hour and 30 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, special occasion-worthy
Proof that chicken salad doesn't need to be boring...or full of grapes and walnuts. Try this version with tarragon mayonnaise, quick-pickled onions and arugula instead.
90. Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, special occasion-worthy, dairy free
Since this cold soup calls for the juiciest yellow tomatoes and the ripest peaches you can find, it's basically summer in a bowl.
RELATED: 40 Quick Summer Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less
For even more great recipes, check out our first cookbook, Only the Good Stuff.
