Summer Dinner Recipes

Check out these easy recipes and seasonal meal ideas for a summer weekday dinner.

Fish tacos

Aida Mollenkamp's taco fish is deep-fried, shredded, and served with avocado, salsa, and sour cream.

Recipe: Fish tacos

Garlic Shrimp with Angel Hair Pasta

Pan-fry the shrimp until pink and toss with garlic, lemon and superfine angel hair spaghetti.

Recipe: Garlic Shrimp with Angel Hair Pasta

Penne pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto sauce

For a savory, flavorful pesto, simply puree sun-dried tomatoes in a food processor along with the oil from the jar.

Recipe: Penne pasta with sun-dried tomato pesto sauce

Penne with shrimp and herb cream sauce

Photo of the dish - Penne with shrimp and creamy herb sauce

Shrimp and tomatoes add a pink color to the creamy sauce, while fresh basil and parsley add flavor.

Recipe: Penne with shrimp and herb cream sauce

Cajun Shrimp and Rice

Add some spice to your weeknight dinner with this Cajun-inspired dish.

Recipe: Cajun Shrimp and Rice

Chicken and Watermelon Tacos

Fresh watermelon replaces tomatoes in these classic chicken tacos.

Recipe: Chicken and Watermelon Tacos

Coffee-crusted beef steak with vegetables

Photo of the dish - Beef steak with coffee crust and vegetables

Spice up your steak by rubbing it with a coffee-spice mixture and adding sautéed onions and peppers.

Recipe: Coffee-crusted beef steak with vegetables

Fried chicken breasts in breadcrumbs with salad

Bread the chicken for this 30-minute dinner with panko breadcrumbs instead of regular breadcrumbs.

Recipe: Fried chicken breasts in breadcrumbs with salad

Tostados with ground beef and coleslaw

This appetizer takes just 30 minutes to prepare and gets its Mexican twist from chipotle chili powder.

Recipe: Tostados with ground beef and coleslaw

Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Instead of ketchup and mustard, make a simple yogurt sauce for this new take on the turkey burger.

Recipe: Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

Summer Chili with Vegetables

You can still enjoy hearty chili in summer. For a seasonal dish, use summer vegetables like corn.

Recipe: Summer Chili with Vegetables

Grilled shrimp with avocado, radish and kale salad

Delicious and quick to prepare, shrimp are perfect for a weekday salad.

Recipe: Grilled shrimp with avocado, radish and kale salad

Pizza on pita bread with ham and arugula

Grill store-bought pita bread and top with fennel, red onion, and blue cheese filling.

Recipe: Pizza on pita bread with ham and arugula

Grilled chicken breasts with cheese

For a summery take on the Italian appetizer, grill chicken breast and bread, then assemble into open-faced sandwiches with Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Grilled chicken breasts with cheese

Calzone with salami and mozzarella cheese

Instead of ordering pre-made pizza, make simple calzones using frozen pizza dough.

Recipe: Calzone with salami and mozzarella cheese

Capellini with tomatoes and basil

This dish cooks faster than water boils. The thin angel hair spaghetti cooks to al dente very quickly.

Recipe: Capellini with tomatoes and basil

Pasta with ground turkey and broccoli

Ground turkey sausage and peppers are a great combination, especially when paired with tender broccoli.

Recipe: Pasta with ground turkey and broccoli

Pasta shells with sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and green salad

Cooking for one? Flavorful ingredients like goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes make for a delicious single-serving dish.

Recipe: Pasta shells with sun-dried tomatoes, goat cheese and green salad

Thai Chicken with Carrot and Ginger Salad

Baked chicken curry is garnished with thinly sliced carrots and a ginger-lime vinaigrette.

Recipe: Thai Chicken with Carrot and Ginger Salad

Tilapia with escarole and lemon-pepper oil

A quick and easy-to-prepare dish of tilapia fillet with potatoes and escarole salad – the undeniable advantage of this dish is that all the ingredients are cooked in one pan.

Recipe: Tilapia with escarole and lemon-pepper oil

Chinese Chicken Salad

An Asian blend of rice vinegar, soy sauce and ginger serves as a marinade and salad dressing.

Recipe: Chinese Chicken Salad

Spaghetti and scallops simmered in marinara sauce

Scallops are simmered in tomato sauce and served with multigrain spaghetti. Dress this simple pasta with aromatic olive oil and fresh basil.

Recipe: Spaghetti and scallops simmered in marinara sauce

Grilled vegetables with couscous and yogurt sauce

For a hearty vegetable dinner, grill bell peppers, yellow zucchini, and shiitake mushrooms. Serve over a bed of couscous with a cold pepper yogurt sauce.

Recipe: Grilled vegetables with couscous and yogurt sauce

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Spaghetti with tomatoes, olives and capers

Pasta is a great weeknight dinner. Try this new version with tomatoes, mozzarella, and a briny caper-olive sauce.

Recipe: Spaghetti with tomatoes, olives and capers

Asian Chicken Salad with Cherry Walnut Dressing

Photo of the dish - Asian-style chicken salad with cherry-nut dressing

The chicken is marinated in an Asian blend of cherry juice, ginger, and soy sauce, then grilled. Serve with fresh, crisp vegetables.

Recipe: Asian Chicken Salad with Cherry Walnut Dressing

Fettuccine with salmon and sugar snap peas

Timing is key in this balanced dish. To speed up the process, boil the sugar snap peas in water after cooking the pasta while you cook the salmon in the pan.

Recipe: Fettuccine with salmon and sugar snap peas

Grilled Pork Chops and Zucchini with Orzo

Photo of the dish - Pan-fried pork chops and zucchini with orzo

Make a quick meal with three ingredients: pork tenderloin, thinly sliced zucchini, and orzo pasta.

Recipe: Grilled Pork Chops and Zucchini with Orzo

Thai Noodle Salad with Beef

Skirt steak is a great option for a weekday dinner, it's very flavorful and cooks quickly on the grill.

Recipe: Thai Noodle Salad with Beef

Warm Tuscan Bean Salad with Tuna

Make a quick and easy dinner by combining white beans and canned tuna with Kalamata olives, grape tomatoes, celery, and other vegetables.

Recipe: Warm Tuscan Bean Salad with Tuna

Creamy Pasta Salad with BBQ Chicken

This salad couldn't be easier to make. Use shredded store-bought rotisserie chicken, fresh chives, and dill.

Recipe: Creamy Pasta Salad with BBQ Chicken

Canned tuna salad and herb toast

Photo of the dish - Canned tuna salad with herb toast

This hearty 20-minute dish spreads zesty herb mayonnaise on slices of toasted bread and tosses with vinegar for a quick, flavorful dressing.

Recipe: Canned tuna salad and herb toast

Grilled chicken salad with arugula and gazpacho dressing

Use a grill pan or outdoor grill to sear the chicken and serve with a summer arugula and cherry tomato salad.

Recipe: Grilled chicken salad with arugula and gazpacho dressing

Creamy orzo pasta with green peas and ham

Prosciutto adds a crisp texture to this risotto-like orzo pasta dish. Giada's side dish can be topped with any vegetables.

Recipe: Creamy orzo pasta with green peas and ham

Grilled Pork and Pineapple Flatbread

Grill up a simple flatbread pizza inspired by Hawaiian cuisine.

Recipe: Grilled Pork and Pineapple Flatbread

Steak and Potato Salad

Photo of the dish - Salad with steak and potatoes

Make a fresh meat and potato dish by serving it on a bed of lettuce with a simple vinaigrette.

Recipe: Steak and Potato Salad

Natural pork cutlet on the bone with corn and arugula

Bright yellow corn and arugula make this dish colorful and flavorful.

Recipe: Natural pork cutlet on the bone with corn and arugula

Grilled Chicken with Green Beans

This simple recipe cooks chicken and vegetables in just 30 minutes.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Green Beans

Grilled Chicken Tostados

Photo of the dish - Tostados with grilled chicken

Thanks to store-bought grilled chicken, this pulled meat dish is ready in less than half an hour.

Recipe: Grilled Chicken Tostados

Warm bean salad with grilled shrimp

Grilled lettuce, shrimp, and chorizo add heat and smoky flavor to this light bean salad.

Recipe: Warm bean salad with grilled shrimp

Tuna and caper sandwiches

Transform the traditional tuna sandwich with a vinaigrette, olive oil dressing, and fresh vegetables.

Recipe: Tuna and caper sandwiches

Grilled Black Snapper with Oranges

Salty Kalamata olives add another layer of flavor, along with oranges and tangy watercress. Add fish fillet for the perfect summer dish.

Recipe: Grilled Black Snapper with Oranges

Hot dog with monkfish

Delicious seafood sandwiches don't have to be a luxury. Monkfish is cheaper than lobster, but it makes a wonderful salad topping for hot dog buns.

Recipe: Hot dog with monkfish

Cauliflower in tomato curry sauce

Familiar summer vegetables like cauliflower, tomatoes, and corn make this classic vegetable curry a seasonal dish. Make a big batch on Sunday and eat the leftovers for lunch on Monday.

Recipe: Cauliflower in tomato curry sauce

California Egg Salad

Make a fresh salad with greens and Californian ingredients like avocado, broccoli sprouts, and a yogurt-based dressing.

Recipe: California Egg Salad

Vegetarian Jambalaya

This one-skillet vegetable dish is packed with protein thanks to black-eyed beans.

Recipe: Vegetarian Jambalaya

Italian pasta with basil and tomato sauce

Use this simple pasta as a base for a variety of ingredients, from grilled chicken to fresh mozzarella.

Recipe: Italian pasta with basil and tomato sauce

Summer Grilled Pizza

Combine salad and pizza into one dish! Grill the cheese-topped dough for a few minutes and top it with a crisp salad topped with fennel and salty pancetta.

Recipe: Summer Grilled Pizza

Baked Rosemary and Lemon Shrimp with Garlic Butter

Photo of the dish - Oven-baked shrimp with rosemary and lemon and garlic butter

For a quick weeknight dinner, Ina bakes shrimp with lemon, garlic, and butter. Don't forget the crusty bread! Dip it in the garlic butter on the bottom of the pan.

Recipe: Baked Rosemary and Lemon Shrimp with Garlic Butter

Grilled Shrimp and Radicchio

Use your grill for more than just burgers: make an easy summer shrimp and radicchio salad that's ready in under 30 minutes. If you don't like radicchio, substitute romaine lettuce.

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp and Radicchio

Pan-fried salmon with capers and lemon rose wine sauce

Photo of the dish - Fried salmon with capers and lemon rosé sauce

Use leftover rosé wine to make a light, refreshing sauce for lightly seared salmon. Pair the dish with a simple salad with a lemony dressing for a perfect summer dinner.

Recipe: Pan-fried salmon with capers and lemon rose wine sauce

Tomato Soup 2.0

Ree adds a little sherry, cream, pesto, and fresh tomatoes to the canned soup. This summer dinner is ready in just 15 minutes.

Recipe: Tomato Soup 2.0

Warm salad with chicken and beans

This dish comes together very quickly. This simple, filling salad is complemented by juicy chicken and grilled red onions.

Recipe: Warm salad with chicken and beans

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