19 Ultra-Satisfying Summer Dinner Ideas

19 Ultra-Satisfying Summer Dinner Ideas

Simmer Dinners collage

Get out of the dinner rut with these incredibly delicious summer dinner ideas. These recipes will help you get the most out of the long days thanks to quick preparation and fresh ingredients. Dinner just got more interesting!

summer dinners pin image A

Summertime. So much to do, so little time. Who has time to make dinner? Forget about heating up the house by turning on the oven.

In the summer, we are busy soaking up the warm weather. Going swimming, fishing, hiking, playing backyard games, and much more. Since we spend all our time out and about, I need dinner ideas that are quick and easy to make.

Plus, in the summer, I don’t want to eat heavy meals. Light, zesty, and filling is what I’m looking for during the hot weather months.

This year, I hit a rut and needed some inspiration. I went searching for amazing summer dinner recipes to add some variety to our menu, and I can’t believe the smart recipes that I found.

In fact, they were so amazing, that I’m sharing them with you. Check them out!

Greek Orzo Salad with Greek Gyro Meatballs | Wanderlust and Wellness

Orzo pasta gives a light, fresh twist on pasta salad. Enjoy this flavor-packed as a meal by adding the Greek Gyro Meatballs.

Greek Orzo Pasta Salad with Gyro Meatballs

Instant Pot Pulled Pork | Whole Lotta Yum

Enjoy a summertime favorite thanks to your Instant Pot, which makes perfectly tender and BBQ pulled pork way faster than slow roasting it. The amazing flavor will be waiting for you in just one hour.

Bowl of Instant Pot Pulled Pork

Pesto Mozzarella Turkey Burgers | Homebody Eats

Satisfy your burger craving with these Pesto Mozzarella Turkey Burgers. They’re filled with mozzarella cheese and favorite Italian flavors like sun-dried tomato and pesto for one seriously good summer dinner.

Two Pesto Turkey Burgers

Fried Prosciutto and Mushrooms Pasta Dinner | 24Bite

This quick and easy pasta dinner is ready in just 30 minutes – perfect for any busy night. Love bacon? The fried prosciutto will blow you away. Delicious!

Fried prosciutto and mushrooms pasta dinner with bread and olive oil in the background

Lemon-Oregano Chicken Kabobs | Keto Cooking Wins

Have you ever heard the phrase “eat the rainbow”? That’s easy to accomplish with this colorful and yummy summer meal!

Lemon Oregano Chicken Kabobs with dipping sauce

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs | The Magical Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs are way easier to make than ribs on the grill. The ribs are so tender that they fall off the bone. Complete the recipe with a homemade rub made from seasonings, liquid smoke, and brown sugar.

Slow cooker baby back ribs in the slow cooker

No-Cook Buffalo Pulled Chicken Sandwich | Food Meanderings

These buffalo pulled chicken sandwiches are made with rotisserie chicken so you don’t need to cook a thing! One of the most perfect, tasty, and EASY summer dinner ideas for a hot evening.

Chicken Wanton Taco Bowl | Mighty Mrs.

Inspired by a popular dish at a restaurant, stir-fried chicken, slaw, creamy sriracha sauce, and crispy wonton strips come together in a meal that will make your taste buds dance and your lips smile.

two Chicken Wanton Taco Bowl dishes

Instant Pot Beef and Broccoli | Corrie Cooks

This recipe is just as good or even better than the same dish you would get from your local Asian restaurant. You can make it with chicken or beef, and it has so much flavor that it just might be the dish that gets your kids to eat broccoli.

Bowl of beef and broccoli

Taco Stuffed Peppers | Delightfully Low Carb

Using peppers instead of taco shells is a great, colorful way to change up an old staple (and reduce carbs).

two Taco Stuffed Peppers

Sheet Pan Chicken, Potatoes, and Peas | Paleo Gluten-Free Guy

Paleo, gluten-free, dairy-free, and grain-free, a lemon, herb, and garlic sauce flavors roasted chicken thighs as well as shallots, potatoes, and peas. An easy-to-make (and easy to clean!) summer dinner idea.

Sheet pan chicken potatoes and peas

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa | Kathryn’s Kitchen

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa is so light, fresh, and packed with plenty of flavor. Fresh lime juice, honey, garlic, cilantro, and other spices create a marinate that is zesty and completely addictive.

several cilantro lime chicken breasts side by side

Roasted Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad | Mae’s Menu

Ready in less than 40 minutes, enjoy this Roasted Sweet Potato & Quinoa Salad Recipe! Full of complex carbs, it’s one of our go-to summer dinner recipes for busy nights!

Roasted sweet potato and quinoa salad

Caprese Grilled Fish | Two Healthy Kitchens

Summer tomatoes and basil are two of my favorite flavors, making this Caprese Grilled Fish a flavorful but simple meal the whole family will love. This is the perfect type of summer fish dinner.

Caprese Grilled Chicken breast on a cutting board

Hawaiian Chicken Wraps | Sonshine Kitchen

Light and easy meals are a must for hot, summer days. Classic flavors of pineapple and BBQ blend well together in a delicious wrap you’ll want to enjoy again and again!

Hawaiian chicken wrap on a plate

Instant Pot Shrimp Scampi | Crayons and Cravings

The Instant Pot will cut the cooking time of this dish to just minutes without sacrificing one ounce of flavor. It’s perfect for a special romantic meal or those nights when you need to get dinner made quickly.

I love light, fresh, and tasty summer dinner ideas like this one!

Bowl of shrimp scampi

Baked Chicken Taquitos | Healthy Kitchen 101

This chicken taquitos recipe may, at first glance, seem like it takes a lot of work. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. Once you get a couple under your belt, you’ll be churning out these Baked Chicken Taquitos in no time.

Baked chicken taquitos on a plate with a bowl of guac and a cocktail

Pan Seared Sea Bass | Recipes For Men

Pan-sear sea bass in a buttery lemon and herb sauce for a beautiful-looking and delicious white fish dinner. It pairs really well with some asparagus and roasted potatoes.

One Pot French Ratatouille | My Pure Plants

This French stew, that uses fresh summer veggies, comes together in just 30 minutes. Since it’s cooked on the stove instead of being baked. Eat those veggies!

I hope these 19 different summer dinner ideas get your adventurous juices flowing to try something new. If you’re like us, you just may find your new family favorite on this list!

19 Quick and Easy Summer Dinner Recipes

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