Initially printed in 2014; up to date in 2026 with contemporary summer time dinner concepts, present household favorites, and easy meal planning suggestions for busy summer time nights.
Summer season dinners have a character all their very own, don’t they?
The times are longer, everybody is a bit more sun-kissed and water-logged and we’re all rather less interested by following a strict schedule. By the point dinner rolls round, I’m often in search of one thing that checks just a few packing containers: contemporary (all of the superior summer time produce is ripe, in spite of everything), filling, and ideally one thing that doesn’t require an excessive amount of effort.
Over time, summer time meals in our home have shifted with the season of life we’re in. There have been years of nursing infants and meal prepping throughout nap time, and now we’re within the stage of pool baggage, basketball, cat-sitting, later evenings outdoors, and hungry youngsters who may help assemble their very own plates. Totally different season, similar objective: feed everybody nicely with out making dinner really feel sophisticated.
So for those who’re staring into the fridge questioning what to make on a sizzling summer time evening, listed below are a few of my go-to wholesome summer time meal concepts which can be versatile, family-friendly, and simple to tug collectively.
My Favourite Summer season Dinner Components
Once I don’t really feel like following a recipe (which is very often in summer time TBH), I often fall again on this easy system:
protein + contemporary produce + straightforward carb + sauce or dip
That may seem like grilled hen with corn, watermelon, rice, and tzatziki. Or salmon with roasted broccoli, tomato slices, and candy potatoes. Or taco-seasoned shrimp over rice with beans, avocado, salsa, and romaine. Pork tenderloin, straightforward inexperienced beans, farro. You get the thought!
No-Oven Summer season Meal Concepts
When it’s sizzling outdoors, the very last thing I wish to do is warmth up the entire kitchen. These are the sorts of meals I lean on when the oven is formally off obligation.
Taco salads: Floor beef, turkey, hen, or shrimp over lettuce with black beans, corn, avocado, salsa, bitter cream, and tortilla chips.
Greek bowls: Hen (use this marinade), cucumbers, tomatoes, rice or pita, chickpeas, olives, feta, and tzatziki.
Hen salad plates: Hen salad with crackers, fruit, uncooked veggies, and pickles.
Large dinner salads- make your individual type: Romaine or blended greens with grilled hen, salmon, shrimp, steak, or hard-boiled eggs, plus no matter veggies have to be used.
Wraps: Turkey or hen wraps, hummus and veggie wraps, buffalo hen wraps, or Caesar hen wraps. Strive my favourite low carb, excessive fiber tortillas.
Snack plate dinners: Cheese, crackers, boiled eggs, hummus, pimento cheese, fruit, veggies, nuts, popcorn, olives, and no matter leftovers are hanging round.
Simple Grilling Concepts
Grilling is certainly one of my favourite summer time dinner shortcuts as a result of it retains the warmth outdoors and makes even easy meals style particular.
A few of our go-to grilling concepts:
- Burgers with a giant easy salad
- Grilled hen thighs with rice and cucumbers
- Salmon with candy potatoes and sliced tomatoes
- Shrimp skewers with rice, beans, avocado, and salsa
- Steak salads with corn and avocado
- Grilled sausages with peppers, onions, and watermelon
- Veggie skewers with hen or shrimp
- BBQ hen with slaw and corn on the cob
One of many best methods to make grilling work throughout a busy week is to cook dinner additional protein as soon as, then use it in just a few completely different meals. Grilled hen can grow to be wraps, salads, bowls, quesadillas, or snack plates later within the week.
Make-Forward Summer season Meal Concepts
Summer season has a approach of constructing supper time unpredictable. Generally we’re consuming early earlier than an exercise, typically late after swimming, and typically individuals are hungry in shifts. Having just a few issues prepped makes an enormous distinction.
Listed below are some make-ahead parts I like:
- Cooked rice or quinoa
- Washed and chopped romaine
- A container of sliced cucumbers and peppers
- Onerous-boiled eggs
- Grilled hen or shredded hen
- Taco meat
- A jar of home made dressing or sauce
- Washed fruit
- Roasted or grilled greens
- Pasta salad with protein
That is additionally the place salad jars could be so useful. I nonetheless love the idea as a result of they keep contemporary, are straightforward to seize, and make lunch really feel extra intentional. My two go-to salad jars are a Southwest Fashion Salad Jar and a Greek Salad Jar (are you able to inform I’m a fan of Greek something?).
When you like this type of prep, you may also like my put up on summer time meal prep concepts, which fits into extra element on the best way to prep for busy summer time weeks with out spending your complete Sunday within the kitchen.
Pool Night time and Sports activities Night time Dinners
These are the meals I like for nights when everyone seems to be coming and going, moist towels are in every single place, and dinner must be versatile.
Rice bowls: Set out rice, protein, veggies, and toppings so everybody can construct their very own.
Taco bar: Meat, beans, lettuce, cheese, salsa, avocado, and tortillas or chips.
Pasta salad with hen: Make it earlier within the day and serve it chilly when everybody is prepared.
Rotisserie hen dinner: Hen, fruit, sliced veggies, bread, and a dip or sauce.
Loaded baked potatoes or candy potatoes: Prepare dinner forward, then high with hen, beans, cheese, Greek yogurt, salsa, or BBQ.
Quesadillas: Quick, kid-friendly, and simple to customise.
Burger bowls: All of the burger toppings over lettuce with fries, roasted potatoes, or chips on the aspect.
Easy Summer season Sides That Make Dinner Really feel Full
Generally the primary dish is straightforward, however I get caught on what to place with it. These are the straightforward summer time sides I come again to many times.
- Watermelon
- Corn on the cob
- Cucumber tomato salad
- Sliced tomatoes with salt and pepper
- Chips and guacamole
- Easy inexperienced salad
- Coleslaw
- Fruit salad
- Roasted candy potatoes
- Rice or quinoa
- Pasta salad
- Uncooked veggies and ranch
- Grilled zucchini or squash
Just a few good sides could make even a quite simple protein really feel like an actual dinner.
A Few Wholesome Summer season Meal Concepts
Listed below are some straightforward mixtures to get the wheels turning:
Brown sugar and bourbon glazed salmon with roasted broccoli, baked candy potato, and sliced tomatoes.
Crockpot complete hen with brown rice pilaf and a easy salad.
Taco-seasoned grilled shrimp bowls with rice, black beans, romaine, peppers, onions, cilantro, avocado, salsa, and bitter cream.
Gyro burgers with a giant Greek-inspired salad.
Grilled hen thighs with corn, watermelon, cucumbers, and rice.
Hen Caesar wraps with fruit and uncooked veggies.
Steak salads with avocado, tomato, cucumber, and crusty bread.
BBQ hen bowls with rice, corn, slaw, and pickles.
Pasta salad with grilled hen for a make-ahead dinner that works nicely chilly.
Snack plate dinner with boiled eggs, cheese, crackers, hummus, veggies, fruit, and nuts.
And if you need much more concepts, browse my dinner concepts class or try a few of our present household favorites like skillet lemon garlic hen and orzo, coconut hen thighs over rice, and creamy sluggish cooker hen burrito bowls.
Wholesome summer time meals don’t should be sophisticated. In truth, I believe they’re higher once they’re easy.
A bit of protein, one thing contemporary, one thing filling, and an excellent sauce or dip can go a good distance. Add within the flexibility to eat outdoors, eat after the pool, or let everybody construct their very own bowl, and dinner begins to really feel a complete lot simpler.
What’s in your summer time dinner rotation proper now? I’m at all times in search of new concepts so as to add to the combination.
