45 Easy Summer Dinner Recipes (2024)

Relax and enjoy the taste of summer in these easy recipes, including fried fish, veggie gyros, grilled chicken, homemade pizza and main-dish salads.

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Fried Trout with Cherry-Pecan Salsa

This quick summer dinner—ready in just 30 minutes—shines because of its salsa, a zesty blend of cherries, pecans, red onions, onion, jalapeño and cilantro.

Fish Recipes for Dinner Tonight

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Parmesan Polenta with Roots and Shoots

The terms polenta, grits and mush generally refer to the same thing—coarse-ground cornmeal, simmered in liquid until thickened and creamy. This recipe uses a slow, no-stir soaking method, leaving your hands free to roast beets, dress them in balsamic vinegar, and rinse a fistful of summer greens and herbs.

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Coconut Milk Shrimp with Jalapeño-Peach Cornbread

The flavors of this dish might seem surprising, but they go together beautifully for a creative summer supper by Midwest chef Abra Berens.

Michigan Chef Abra Berens' New Cookbook Showcases Midwest Fruits

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Chermoula Halibut Skewers

Perfectly flaky fish, tender zucchini and not-mushy tomatoes shine in this herbaceous kebab recipe.

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Succotash Salad with Smoked Trout

We paired succotash—a blend of squash, sweet corn and lima beans—with smoked fish and tender lettuce for a light summer meal.

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Summer Chicken Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette

Butter lettuce, poached chicken, green beans, avocado, berries, chives and basil combine for a colorful, filling summer salad. Douse with berry-pink vinaigrette for extra zip.

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Rajas with Corn Tacos

In Spanish, the word raja can mean slice. In Mexican kitchens, it's also the shorthand name for a taco filling made of charred poblano peppers, thinly cut and steeped in cream. Some cooks add corn kernels, a happy harvest-season pairing that brings sweetness to balance the smoke and spice.

Sizzling Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes

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Cornmeal-Crusted Picnic Chicken with Blueberry Mostarda

Dredged in cornmeal and oven-baked, this naturally gluten-free "fried" chicken keeps its crunch longer, so it's perfect for toting on summer outings. Take along a jar of tangy mostarda—Italian fruit "mustard," or in this case, blueberries simmered with wine, mustard seeds and black pepper.

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Good Afternoon Burger

This recipe comes from Mustard Seed Kitchen in Chicago, where chef Erick Williams serves burgers that remind him of his childhood—thick, juicy and grilled. You'll want to make the pickle mayo on the repeat!

Grill Your Biggest, Best Burger Yet with Chicago Chef Erick Williams

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Chipotle Shrimp Scampi

This south-of-the-border variation on a classic Italian-American dish has a little smoky heat. It's a quick weeknight dinner, served over hot rice.

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Wine-Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts

An easy marinade that's seasoned with Italian herbs and garlic makes this chicken a must at your next backyard cookout.

Fast-and-Easy Grilling Recipes

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Mushroom-Arugula Pizza

Top purchased fresh pizza dough with fresh mushrooms and peppery arugula for an easy upgrade to pizza night.

Homemade Pizza Recipes

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Birchwood BLT

Summer's greatest hits—heirloom tomatoes, basil and sweet corn— combine in in what Tracy Singleton, owner of the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, calls "a kitchen sink sandwich."

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Pesto Veggie Gyros

Halloumi, veggie kabobs and flatbreads all get a turn on the grill and are paired with tangy pesto vinaigrette for a fast, warm-weather supper.

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Vietnamese Grilled Eggplant

Eat this peak-summer dish as a side or a meatless main. Eggplant and bell peppers are grilled au naturel—all the fun comes in the finish, when the vegetables are showered in mint, basil and peanuts and drizzled liberally with a sauce called nuoc cham.

Top Vegetarian Recipes

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Bean and Cheese Pupusas

A papusa is a flat, pan-fried pocket of corn dough traditionally stuffed with cheese, beans or meat. Top this hearty Salvadoran staple with mild salsa and curtido (a tangy cabbage slaw).

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Grilled Halibut with Watermelon Salsa

A bright and fruity salsa dresses up simple grilled fish in this easy, healthful summer dinner.

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Mojo Pork Chops with Fruit Salsa

Mojo is a Caribbean marinade made with citrus and garlic. If this jumbo chop cut dwarfs your appetite, cut the meat from the bone and share. The peppy pineapple and mango salsa almost hogs the spotlight—it's good enough to eat like a salad.

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Fresh Tomato Tart

Team garden-ripe tomatoes with fresh basil to make this wonderfully cheesy tart. Serve as an appetizer or a meatless main dish.

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Grilled Watermelon and Arugula Salad

Meat often gets all the attention during grill season, but don't discount fruits and veggies when creating summer salads. Heat from the grill draws out moisture and intensifies watermelon's sweet flavor (especially when fruit is rubbed with a sugar mixture!). Set a grilled wedge atop a bed of arugula, top with blue cheese and hazelnuts and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil.

Delicious Summer Salad Recipes

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Grilled Fish with Lime and Tarragon

At Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, Minnesota, this grilled fish is often served as a salad, atop a seasonal blend of lettuce, veggies and fruits. But the fish is equally delicious on its own.

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Chipotle-Maple Chicken Thighs

We won't mince words: This is juicy, spicy, sticky, glorious barbecued chicken. One of the secrets? Chicken thighs. They cook fast, like breasts, but they have richer flavor and don't dry out. And nutritionally speaking, the two are more similar than you'd think.

Chicken Thigh Recipes to Try Tonight

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Arugula-Lentil Salad with Poached Eggs

When it's too hot for lentil soup, put the quick-cooking pulse to good use in this nutritious, meat-free salad.

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Laap Tofu

For a change in routine, try this light, herby ground meat or tofu salad that's eaten across Thailand. It's traditionally scooped with rice or lettuce.

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Chicken Shawarma with Israeli Salad

Tuesday can have tacos. Make Saturday shawarma night, with a warm pita wrapped around spice-crusted chicken thighs, parsley-flecked Israeli salad and a swoop of the creamiest tahini.

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Smoked Barbecue Ribs

Minneapolis amateur barbecue competitor David Fries shares his recipe for succulent smoked ribs.

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Mango Toast with Prosciutto

Layers of cream cheese, mango, prosciutto and honey on this toast deliver an authentically sweet-savory punch. Enjoy as a light dinner or appetizer.

Easy Appetizers for Summer Parties

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Cajun West African Grilled Chicken in Tomato Sauce

At Okra African Grill, this chicken is served bowl-style, with sautéed or grilled seasoned bell peppers, as well as fried sweet plantains.

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Squash Blossom Pizza with Honey and Ricotta

The voluptuous blossoms that eventually turn into zucchini, pumpkins or other squash have a delicate flavor that plays well with herbs and mild cheese. Buy them at summer farmers markets or snip them in your garden to try on this beautiful, delicious pizza.

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Coffee and Spice Grilled Ribeye

Take your steak to new heights with this earthy, coffee-infused rub, and fight the urge to trim too much fat away. Fat dripping into the fire triggers smoke, which gives it a major flavor boost.

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Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Wilted Arugula

Packed with fresh veggies and hearty shrimp, this fast, satisfying recipe plates up nicely on a warm summer evening.

Easy Shrimp Recipes

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Citrus-Date Salad

This fruit-forward salad pairs perfectly with grilled chicken or pork tenderloin. The citrus juices mingle with the oil as you eat, so you don't even have to add dressing.

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Tuna and White Bean Salad with Lemon

Pair high-quality canned tuna with cannellini beans and herbs for a summer salad as light and fresh and the Mediterranean.

Great Ways to Use Canned or Dry Beans

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Watermelon Poke Bowl

This version of a Hawaiian poke bowl swaps marinated watermelon for the raw fish. It's an incredibly light and fresh summer dinner—and so pretty!

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Chip-Crusted Chicken Tenders

Tortilla chips provide the crispy coating for these kid-friendly chicken tenders. Serve with a ranch-Sriracha mixture or honey mustard.

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Jamaican Pork Tenderloin with Broccoli-Peach Slaw

Broccoli slaw mix is the quick cheat in this colorful, weeknight-simple recipe that's festive enough to serve to friends.

Our Best Pork Recipes

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Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry

Garden-fresh veggies and juicy pineapple give classic stir-fry a seasonal refresh. For an easy substitute, switch the chicken for thinly sliced boneless pork or peeled, deveined medium shrimp.

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Gazpacho Verde

Gazpacho Verde earns its name: Every ingredient in the recipe is green.

Summer Soup Recipes

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Mango-Barbecue Fish Tacos

Fresh fruit and bottled barbecue sauce lend sassy sweetness to low-cal, vitamin-rich grilled fish tacos.

Great Taco Recipes to Try Tonight

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Mustardy Grilled Corn and Sausage Kabobs

With just 5 ingredients and ready in less than 30 minutes, this colorful, family-friendly meal is sure to earn a spot in your summer weeknight dinner rotation.

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Paella-Style Rice with Ham and Shrimp

Ham stands in for sausage in this one-skillet dinner inspired by traditional Spanish paella. Sop up the juices with warm crusty bread.

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Caribbean White Fish with Mango-Orange Relish

Lightly pan-fried white fish gets a refreshing lift from a sweet confetti of oranges and chopped mango. Pair with rice or couscous for an easy meal.

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Sloppy Joes

Skip the canned stuff and make this childhood favorite from scratch. Our simple recipe is just a starting point; try one of our variations or experiment with seasonings.

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Chicken Sausage and Peppers

Pair this hearty meat-lovers' dish with quinoa or whole wheat couscous and a crisp lettuce salad for a well-rounded meal. Chicken-apple sausage lends a pleasant sweetness to this dish, but you can take it in a kickier, more savory direction with hot Italian or roasted garlic sausage.

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Vietnamese Shrimp and Noodle Bowls

These bowls check all the boxes with layers of flavors, textures and temperatures. Grab your chopsticks and dig in!

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Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken

Herbed lemon marinade cooks down with honey to a glossy, gorgeous glaze in our Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken recipe.

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