30 Easy Summer Dinners

Who wants to be slaving away in the summer in the kitchen, no one that I can think of. 30 Easy Summer Dinners will help you stay cool and relaxed during these hot days of summer.

Besides flipping a delicious burger or hot dog on the BBQ, there are other ways to get dinner on the table.

Taking a trip to your local farmers’ market will give you lots of inspiration for dinner. Starting with fresh produce in the summer is the perfect way to go!! Stock up, and you will have dinner for the whole week. 

We have for you so many family-friendly meals that you will want to try them all. Make summer simple with these dinners!!

We have divided into 5 categories, Easy BBQ recipes, Summer Salads, Vegetarian Meals, Beef and Pork Dinners and Chicken and Seafood Recipes. 

EASY BBQ RECIPES

The BBQ can be a great way to make summer dinners quick and easy. A foil pack is an effortless way to keep things simple with little to no cleanup afterwards. Plus they are equally perfect for a party or just the family.

You can make them up ahead of time and have them at the ready for entertaining. This is always a plus in my mind. Having prep work done ahead of time makes for a great host as you can be attentive to your company and enjoy your time together. 

Grilling up chicken is always an easy fix too. Making a little homemade BBQ sauce is also way more straightforward than you think.

It takes ingredients, for the most part, that you will already have on hand and it just adds so much more to your meal. You may really be surprised that with just a little effort you can create something very unique. 

We have always loved making this Copycat T.G.I. Friday’s Jack Daniels Grill Glaze and it is a very popular summer recipe for ribs, chicken, shrimp or steak.

GRILLED CAPRESE CHICKEN LITTLE POTATO FOIL PACKS

by Noshing With The Nolands

GRILLED SPICED CHICKEN POTATO FOIL PACKS

by Noshing With The Nolands

FOIL PACK SOUTHWEST SAUSAGE AND POTATOES

by Valerie’s Kitchen

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH HOMEMADE BBQ SAUCE

by Noshing With The Nolands

SUMMER SALADS

In my mind there is nothing better than a delicious summer salad!! A big dinner salad is wonderful with fresh produce and they don’t have to be laden with tons of meat which is nice for the summer keeping meals a bit lighter. 

A couple of chicken breasts, salmon fillets or one steak or a few shrimp can be stretched to feed the whole family, so it is an economical way to go also. 

A summer salad is also all very easily portable for a picnic, potluck or summer gathering. Any of these would be a welcome site and gobbled down. 

There are many to choose from here and they are a healthy choice that can be made vegetarian or vegan effortlessly. Some would be great as a side dish too. 

GRILLED SALMON PASTA SALAD

by BBQing With The Nolands

MEDITERRANEAN STEAK SALAD

by Noshing With The Nolands 

GYROS SALAD WITH CHICKEN

by Life Tastes Good

COBB SALAD RECIPE

by Noshing With The Nolands

MEXICAN STREET CORN CHICKEN SALAD 

by Easy Chicken Recipes

GREEK SALAD WITH BLACKENED SHRIMP

by The Blond Cook

GRILLED COBB SALAD WITH AVOCADO DRESSING

by Yummy Healthy Easy

VEGETARIAN MEALS

We love to have a vegetarian dinner option at least once a week all year round. These recipes are not only delicious but quick and easy too. 

If what you see isn’t in season at the grocery store or farmers market mix things up a bit and create your own meal. I never use something that is substandard just to follow the recipe. 

Using fresh, seasonal and readily available produce always works best. Some of us have gardens to enjoy too and many of these recipes can be enjoyed with your own bounty. 

These recipes are a few of my favorites. Zucchini boats are a great way to use up all that garden fresh zucchini.

The flavor of tacos for me is always an inviting meal bringing in that Mexican flare my family loves but these tacos are even more interesting with a Thai twist to them. Love that!

EASY ZUCCHINI BOAT RECIPE

by Masala Herb

THAI GRILLED VEGETABLE TACOS RECIPE

by Cookin Canuck

VEGETARIAN TACO BOWLS

by Peas and Crayons

BEEF AND PORK DINNERS

Whether it be a juicy burger, tasty hot dog or plateful of nachos, dinner can be on the table fast with these recipes. Layering up your nachos and adding in ingredients like chicken, black beans and more really takes this dish from an appetizer to a meal.

A cast iron pan right on the grill or a skillet on the kitchen stove keeps the oven off and the house cooler during the hot summer months. 

Some people still crave comfort food in the summer so a skillet of Easy Chili Mac will be the perfect meal for a hearty appetite. It is like combining mac and cheese and chili together, my goodness what is there not to love about that recipe!!

Pulling out the instant pot also makes quick work of spaghetti and meatballs in an effortless way.

Which reminds me, don’t forget about that slow cooker too for a great beef dip sandwich or Sloppy Joe. Both of these are family favorites. 

Steak and potatoes are really very easy and again make a big hearty meal for a weekend dinner. I love a great chimichurri with steak, a little goes a long way!

Our Little Potato Campfire {Grilled} Home Fries can be served at anytime of the day and can be made at home or at the campsite!! Another great recipe to try!!

EASY CHILI MAC SKILLET DINNER

by Noshing With The Nolands

EASY BEAN CHICKEN NACHOS

by Noshing With The Nolands

CHIMICHURRI STEAK

by Courtney’s Sweets

MEXICAN BEEF TACO LETTUCE WRAPS RECIPE

by Home Cooking Memories

INSTANT POT SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS

by This Old Gal

LITTLE POTATO CAMPFIRE {GRILL} HOME FRIES

by Noshing With The Nolands

PORK GOUDA BURGERS

by Certified Pastry Aficionado

FRIED GREEN TOMATO BLT

by Lemons for Lulu

COPYCAT WHISTLE DOG

by Noshing With The Nolands

SEATTLE HOT DOGS WITH ROASTED RED PEPPERS

by Flavor Mosaic

CHICKEN AND SEAFOOD RECIPES

Chicken and seafood like shrimp or fish are fast to cook up at any time of the year. An open-faced sandwich like a Tuna Melt keeps my family happy and is a great summer weeknight dinner. 

Barbecue chicken doesn’t have to be the only option for a summer meal using this protein. Making a “casserole” right in your skillet makes for a quick meal that is yummy and cheesy too. 

On a cooler or rainy day you can do the Low Country Bake in the oven or give our Backyard Clam Bake on Your Grill a try. 

Chilaquiles are similar to nachos but with more sauce to up the scrumptiousness. These just may be your new found family recipe to try!!

Everyone loves a bowl of pasta at anytime of the year so the gnocchi I know will be a hit. Great combination with chicken and bacon together!!

STOVE TOP CHICKEN BROCCOLI CHEESY RICE CASSEROLE

 by Noshing With The Nolands

CRISPY CHICKEN, BACON AND PESTO GNOCCHI SKILLET 

by Iowa Girl Eats

EASY CHILAQUILES 

by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures

OPEN-FACED TUNA MELT SANDWICH 

by Noshing With The Nolands

LOW COUNTRY BAKE

by Big Bear’s Wife

GREEK OVEN BAKED FISH

by Scrummy Lane

Sometimes only an inspiration is needed to get your own ideas going for recipes of your own that you may have forgotten. That is usually the case with me as I have lots stowed away in my head.

Whatever the case I hope you have enjoyed our latest roundup of the best recipes for Easy Summer Dinners! We love doing roundups here at Noshing With The Nolands sharing with you the best of the best recipes!!

Check out these roundups for more summer cooking ideas.

38 Best Grilling Recipes for Summer

18 Easy Cold Party Appetizers

24 Awesome Cobblers, Crisps and Crumbles