Food Recipe Collections & Favorites 32 Healthy Summer Dinner Ideas That Are Perfect for Hot Days It's 5:00 and you're hungry and hot—here are some of the best summer dinner recipes you can put together in a flash. By Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand Lisa Milbrand has more than 20 years of experience as a lifestyle writer and editor, writing thousands of articles on topics that help people live better and healthier lives for Real Simple, Parents, and dozens of other top publications. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines and Samantha Leffler Samantha Leffler Instagram Website Samantha is the senior food editor at RealSimple and previously launched the US Weekly food vertical, where she wrote about the intersection of food and pop culture. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on May 5, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article View All In This Article Quick and Easy Summer Dinner Recipes Vegetarian Summer Dinner Ideas Grilled Summer Dinner Recipes Summer Salad Dinner Ideas Summer dinners shouldn't require a lot of stove or oven time. (Who wants to heat up their kitchen even more by baking something for an hour?) But you don't have to look at that as a limitation—there are still tons of delicious and super-easy summer dinner ideas to explore that are full of flavor, use peak summer produce (hello, corn and tomatoes!), and let you get dinner on the table with minimal fuss and cooking time. 31 Easy, No-Cook Meals to Get You Through Summer Add a few of these to your weekly menu to make dinnertime simpler. Quick and Easy Summer Dinner Recipes Let's face it—in the summer, you have better things to do than spend an hour over a hot stove. These easy summer dinners come together in no time flat. Jen Causey Summer Tacos with Scallion-Peanut Relish On those summer nights when you don't want to cook—aka every night—make these easy tacos that use rotisserie chicken as a base. All you need to do is quick-pickle carrots and daikon radish, make a quick flavorful sauce to dress the chicken, and mix some peanuts and herbs for a super easy relish. Given how simple this dish is to make, it's no surprise that it's ready to eat in just 25 minutes. Get the recipe. Greg DuPree Linguine with Cherry Tomato Sauce This easy dinner recipe requires little chopping, minimal cooking—and results in a pasta dish that practically screams summer. Get the recipe. Greg DuPree Fancy Tomato Sandwiches Fresh summer tomatoes are the show-stopping centerpiece of these tasty sandwiches, perfect for a light summer dinner. Get the recipe. Caitlin Bensel Speedy Pork Banh Mi Sandwiches While Banh Mi might seem intimidating to make, these speedy sandwiches are ready in just 30 minutes. You'll start by glazing the pork (just before roasting it), which adds flavor to the meat and helps keep it tender. Then, you'll make the quick-pickled vegetables and Sriracha mayo, both of which complete this classic Vietnamese meal. Get the recipe. Jennifer Causey Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Broccoli Not a fan of doing tons of dishes once the temperature rises? Try this sheet pan dinner, which features gnocchi, broccoli florets, onions, and pesto all baked on one dish. What we love about this recipe is that it's extremely adaptable. For a pizza-inspired version, use marinara sauce and mozzarella instead. You can also add cauliflower and some cooked Italian sausage to make this meal even more filling. Get the recipe. Kan Kanbayashi Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos This make-ahead summer dinner takes just five minutes to pull together—and can simmer in your slow cooker while you're out having some summer fun. Get the recipe. José Picayo Salmon with Creamy Cucumber Fennel Salad Salmon is an easy weeknight dinner—especially when paired with this make-ahead salad. Get the recipe. Greg DuPree Cheesy Chicken Nachos Hey, it's summer—it's the perfect time to have something fun for dinner. This dish comes together in under 20 minutes, and is the perfect accompaniment to an outdoor movie night. Get the recipe. Vegetarian Summer Dinner Ideas Whether you're planning for Meatless Mondays (or for vegetarians everyday), these meat-free summer dinners are healthy and satisfying. Gentl & Hyers Linguine with Summer Vegetables and Goat Cheese Use the best veggies from your garden or the farmer's market for this simple summer dinner—a crumble of goat cheese and walnuts finishes off the dish. Get the recipe. GREG DUPREE Toasted Israeli Couscous with Corn and Herbs Give your standard pasta salad recipe a break and make this more modern dish instead. It features a toasted couscous base and pairs juicy summer corn kernels with a showering of fresh herbs—think basil, chives, and dill—plus some caramelized onions for good measure. If you're headed to a summer picnic or potluck, this dish is bound to be a hit. Get the recipe. Con Poulos Cool Southwestern Salad with Corn and Avocado This vegan-friendly salad is even better when you use fresh-from-the-cob summer corn. Get the recipe. Jennifer Causey Japanese Cabbage Pancake Savory pancakes for dinner? Yes, please. This Japanese dish, also known as okonomiyaki, has eggs like a frittata, but gets some added richness and body from sautéed cabbage and flour. Top the pancake with some Sriracha mayo and a Worcestershire-ketchup combo to give it some extra flavor. Get the recipe. VICTOR PROTASIO Watermelon Poke Bowls The Hawaiian classic dish gets a vegan-friendly tweak by using marinated watermelon in lieu of seafood. Get the recipe. Caitlin Bensel Vegetarian BLT with Shiitake Bacon For a fast and easy summer dinner idea, try this vegetarian take on the classic sandwich. Get the recipe. Christopher Baker Stir-Fried Rice Noodles with Tofu and Vegetables If you're going to cook, make it fast—and this tasty stir fry requires just a few minutes of cooking time. Get the recipe. Con Poulos Vegetarian Tacos with Goat Cheese The filling of these tasty tacos takes just under 10 minutes of cooking time—and you can sub in fresh corn if you have it for the perfect vegetarian summer dinner. Get the recipe. Grilled Summer Dinner Recipes Summertime is the perfect time to break out the grill—and these easy grilled summer dinner recipes help you avoid a hot kitchen (and a lot of cleanup). They're the perfect summer dinner ideas for hot days. Caitlin Bensel Grilled Turkey-Zucchini Burgers Fire up the grill to make these healthy burgers, which consist of a combination of zucchini, lean ground turkey, and an egg. Garlic powder and cumin help flavor the burgers from within, while a honey mustard and mayo topping adds irresistible creaminess. Serve the burgers alongside sweet potato chips and you're good to go. Get the recipe. Gentl & Hyers Smoky Butterflied Chicken With Garlic-Mayo Tomatoes and Herbs Butterflying a chicken before grilling cuts the cooking time in half and almost guarantees a more succulent bird—making it easy to get dinner faster on a scorching summer day. Get the recipe. GREG DUPREE Grilled Halloumi Cheese Salad Grilled cheese? Yes, please! This flavorful firm cheese can take the heat—and adds richness to a simple salad. Get the recipe. Charles Masters Steak with Chimichurri Sauce This entire dish (including the corn on the cob on the side) comes together on the grill—and flavorful chimichurri helps lighten up a meaty steak. Get the recipe. Quentin Bacon Halibut With Grilled Eggplant Salad Since this recipe calls for you to grill the halibut and eggplant slices at the same time, it takes just 20 minutes to prepare. Both components of the meal get brushed with a soy sauce mixture, which adds a pop of flavor to this easy dinner. Get the recipe. 19 Surprising Foods You Didn't Know You Could Grill Alex Farnum Grilled Chicken and Spinach Quesadillas This light summer dinner comes together fast on the grill, thanks to rotisserie chicken and pre-shredded cheese. Get the recipe. Caitlin Bensel Grilled Sriracha Pork Chops with Sesame Smashed Cucumbers When it comes to grilling food, pork chops are often overlooked in favor of steak or chicken, but we're here to tell you they absolutely shouldn't be. Here, the pork chops are marinated in a spicy sesame-soy sauce, which adds flavor and helps tenderize the meat. What's more? The honey in the marinade helps give the chop a caramelized crust, which pairs perfectly with the side of vinegary cucumbers. Get the recipe. Jonny Valiant Grilled Pizza with Ricotta, Summer Squash, and Scallions Grill the veggies first, then cook the dough on the grill before you assemble these tasty, veggie-packed pizzas. Get the recipe. Summer Salad Dinner Ideas When the weather is really hot, salads make for perfect light summer dinners, since they're heavy on the veggies and other light ingredients. Japanese-Style Shrimp Salad Ditch your standard summer salad for this Japanese-inspired dish, which features crunchy romaine and cucumbers, juicy shrimp, healthy avocado chunks, and a creamy soy-mayo dressing. For an easy shortcut, you can always make this salad with pre-cooked shrimp, though we suggest poaching your own crustaceans using this simple method at least once. Get the recipe. Anna Williams Watercress and Bean Salad with Almonds and Ricotta Salata Toss a few ingredients together for this perfect summer dish—a little crusty bread on the side makes it a meal. Get the recipe. Greg DuPree Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad This Mediterranean-inspired salad makes a great picnic side—or can be a perfect summer dinner for a hot day. Get the recipe. Andrew Purcell Eggplant Panzanella A salad with bread as the main ingredient is a salad we can get behind. This dish includes cubes of deliciously toasty, grilled sourdough bread, eggplant slices, crunchy kale, fresh cherry tomatoes, and shaved Manchego cheese. The whole thing comes together courtesy of a bright, lemony vinaigrette. Get the recipe. Andrew Purcell Steak and Blackberry Salad Don't want to heat up your kitchen? Cook the hanger steak on your grill instead for this fast and easy summer dinner. Get the recipe. Caitlin Bensel Grilled Chicken and Pepper Salad Garlicky-herb-filled yogurt pulls double duty in this recipe, as both a marinade for the grilled chicken (keeping it flavorful and moist) and as a savory dressing that tops the entire meal. You'll also find plenty of greens, toasted torn pita pieces, charred mini peppers and red onion. What's not to love? Get the recipe. Jennifer Causey Torn Pita and Eggplant Salad with Parsley and Green Tahini The broiler makes fast work of cooking the ingredients for this fresh, Mediterranean-inspired dinner salad. Get the recipe. Caitlin Bensel Nicoise-Inspired Summer Salad This fresh take on the French classic calls for sugar snap peas in lieu of green beans, and smoked trout in place of tuna. It's an easy summer dinner recipe that comes together super quickly—especially if you have pre-cooked hardboiled eggs! Get the recipe. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit