Summer is the perfect time to enjoy fresh, flavorful, and healthy meals with your family. With an abundance of seasonal produce, grilling options, and no-cook recipes, creating delicious and nutritious summer dinners has never been easier. This article explores a variety of healthy summer meal ideas, ranging from quick weeknight dinners to family-friendly barbecue recipes, ensuring there's something for everyone to enjoy.
Embracing Seasonal Flavors
Summer offers a unique opportunity to savor iconic flavors like watermelon, sweet corn, and fresh tomatoes. These ingredients can be incorporated into various dishes, from simple salads to grilled masterpieces, adding a burst of freshness and sweetness to your meals.
A simple burrata caprese salad served with crusty bread is a quintessential summer appetizer or light meal. The creamy burrata, ripe tomatoes, and fragrant basil create a harmonious blend of flavors that perfectly captures the essence of the season.
Quick and Easy Weeknight Dinners
During the busy summer months, it's essential to have a repertoire of quick and easy weeknight dinners that don't compromise on flavor or nutrition. These recipes often utilize simple ingredients and cooking methods, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the summer weather.
Grilled Chicken Kebabs
Marinated in Greek flavors and grilled to perfection, chicken kebabs are a flavorful and healthy summer meal. The marinade infuses the chicken with a tangy, herbaceous taste, while grilling provides a smoky char that enhances the overall flavor.
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Turkey Burgers with Feta and Spinach
These turkey burgers, studded with feta cheese and spinach, offer a juicy and flavorful alternative to traditional beef burgers. The additions of feta and spinach not only enhance the taste but also add nutritional value.
Flank Steak with Herb-and-Olive Oil Sauce
Tender, juicy flank steak topped with a bright herb-and-olive oil sauce is an ideal easy meal for summer. The herb sauce adds a burst of freshness and complements the richness of the steak.
Salmon Skewers with Yogurt Sauce
These light and lemony salmon skewers are tender, healthy, and so good when served right off the grill with a drizzle of creamy yogurt sauce. The lemon marinade brightens the flavor of the salmon, while the yogurt sauce adds a cooling element.
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Pineapple Salsa
This grilled pork tenderloin recipe comes with a simple fresh pineapple salsa that makes every bite so darn delicious. The pork cooks perfectly tender and juicy with this method, making it an easy grilled recipe for weeknights. The sweet and savory combination of the pork and pineapple salsa is a crowd-pleaser.
Steak Skewers with Quick Marinade
Sometimes simple is the best way to go, and that’s the case with these steak skewers made with sirloin steak, onions, red peppers, and a quick marinade. The marinade infuses the steak with flavor, while the vegetables add color and texture.
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Grilled Pork Chops with Honey Mustard Sauce
My popular Honey Mustard Sauce takes this recipe to the next level for summertime weeknight dinners that hit the spot. The honey mustard sauce adds a touch of sweetness and tanginess to the juicy and tender pork chops.
Grilled Steak Bowl
Crisp greens and creamy hummus are topped with a pile of rainbow-colored veggies and perfectly grilled steak in this Mediterranean-inspired steak bowl. This bowl is a complete and satisfying meal that is both healthy and flavorful.
Grilled Shrimp Tacos
When I’m craving a shrimp dinner, these simple grilled shrimp tacos always come to mind for a 30-minute weeknight dinner recipe that hits the spot in summer. The grilled shrimp are seasoned with spices and served in warm tortillas with your favorite toppings.
Pizza Burgers
This recipe is part pizza, part burger and perfect for those nights when my family can’t decide between the two! I top lean ground beef patties with flavorful pizza sauce for a summer grilled recipe that is both kid- and adult-friendly.
Hawaiian-Inspired Kebabs
My kids love anything with pineapple, so I had the idea to make these Hawaiian-inspired kebabs that are made with quick-to-assemble, healthy ingredients. The combination of sweet pineapple, savory meat, and colorful vegetables makes these kebabs a fun and flavorful meal.
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Pork Burgers with Peanut Slaw
My husband and I collaborated on this naturally tender and juicy pork burger recipe. He incorporated ginger, garlic, and jalapeño into the burgers, and I had the idea to top them with a creamy slaw made with peanut sauce. The combination of flavors and textures in these burgers is sure to impress.
Crockpot Pulled Pork Bowls
Think of this recipe like eating a BBQ picnic dinner in a bowl. The simple crockpot pulled pork makes every bite so satisfying and is perfectly complemented by tangy slaw and pickles served over rice.
Crockpot Chicken Tacos
My family loves all traditional Mexican-inspired dinners, including tacos, enchiladas, and burritos. When I want a summer dinner I can make ahead and warm up when it’s time to eat, this crockpot chicken taco recipe is what I turn to.
Bahn Mi Bowls
Whenever I can get one from a food truck, I always order a bahn mi sandwich. So I had the idea that those favorite rich flavors would taste great over rice and next to quick marinated veggies.
Slow-Cooked BBQ Beef
I serve this saucy slow-cooked BBQ beef over baked sweet potatoes or as the main protein for a baked potato bar. It’s also great stuffed into veggies, like bell peppers, or served in buns or wraps, too.
Spiced Shredded Pork Tacos
I use everyday pantry spices, including cumin, chili powder, oregano, and cinnamon to create this perfectly spiced shredded pork that I can serve as tacos or dinner bowls over rice and with a drizzle of a simple cilantro-lime sauce.
Salsa Verde Chicken
I created this salsa verde chicken recipe one night as I was craving tender, juicy shredded chicken to serve bowl style, over rice or cauliflower rice. I had a jar of salsa verde, so I dumped that into the slow cooker along with a few spices and boneless skinless chicken thighs. Dressed up with some sliced radishes and avocado, this simple dinner turned out to be a family hit.
Chicken Stir Fry
When I want a summer dinner that is quick, easy, and full of flavor, this chicken stir fry is the perfect one-skillet recipe.
Ground Beef Stir-Fry
This ground beef stir-fry is one of my favorite weeknight dinners in the summer.
Turkey Sloppy Joes
Turkey sloppy joes - or sloppy janes, which is what I call them - are a great option for summer meals that don’t require much effort. I appreciate the veggies and quick homemade sauce.
Zucchini Skillet
When my backyard garden is overflowing with zucchini in late July and August, this Mexican-inspired recipe is one I love to make. It’s easy and healthy, high-fiber, high-protein, and cooks in one skillet.
Ground Beef Bowls
These simple dinner bowls rely on ground beef and cook quickly in a skillet.
Salmon and Quinoa Bowls
These healthy salmon and quinoa bowls have all the Mediterranean flavors I could think of: lemon- and herb-marinated salmon, garbanzo bean salad, tender quinoa, crisp greens, feta cheese, kalamata olives, and homemade Tzatziki.
Beef Taco Bowls
When I want to put a fresh spin on taco night, I make these easy beef taco bowls. My husband and kids like to customize their own bowls, adding rice, cheese, salsa, cherry tomatoes, diced avocado, and corn chips.
Greek Chicken Meatballs
I’ve included a few different ways to cook these Greek chicken meatballs, though my favorite method is to cook them in the air fryer.
Stuffed Zucchini
This simple stuffed zucchini recipe is another favorite to make with my garden zucchini harvest, and my kids think they’re so fun to eat, too.
Refreshing Summer Salads
Salads are a staple of summer cuisine, offering a light and refreshing alternative to heavier meals. They can be customized with a variety of ingredients, from grilled proteins to seasonal fruits and vegetables, ensuring a satisfying and nutritious meal.
Chicken and Chickpea Salad
In the summer, especially on really hot days, I often crave a simple salad for dinner. But at the same time, I want to make sure I’m getting enough protein to keep me satisfied and nourished. Thanks to the chickpeas and chicken, this main dish salad provides an impressive 40 grams of protein per serving.
Steak Salad with Sweet-and-Spicy Dressing
I love a steak salad because it always feels filling and light at the same time. The sweet-and-spicy dressing is so good that I want to lick the plate when it’s all done.
Chicken Pesto Pasta Salad
I love anything with pesto, not only because it’s a perfect way to use up fresh basil from my garden, but also because it’s always so delicious. The vibrant flavors in this easy chicken pesto summer pasta salad are one of my daughter’s favorites.
Strawberry Spinach Chicken Salad
When strawberries are so big, bright, and sweet in the summer months, I use them to make this strawberry spinach chicken salad.
Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
This cold ramen noodle salad has quickly become a favorite of mine.
Salmon Caesar Salad Bowls
I love classic caesar salad and those flavors were the inspiration for these salmon caesar salad bowls that are both fresh and satisfying. They feature flakey salmon, shaved parmesan, tender grains, sliced radishes, and fresh romaine all served in a bowl topped with crispy chickpeas and caesar dressing.
Vibrant Summer Side Dishes
Since my summertime dinners often contain grilled protein, then it’s usually a fresh summer side dish that I’m looking for.
Fresh Veggie Chopped Salad
This fresh veggie chopped salad is so bright and perfect for summer meals. The goat cheese melts into the ingredients making every forkful taste absolutely delish. I often pair it with grilled chicken breast or pork chops.
Arugula Salad with Lemon-Dijon Vinaigrette
When I want something a little fancier than a spinach salad, this arugula salad always hits the spot. It has a delicious lemon-Dijon vinaigrette and the toasted almonds on top make every bite so good.
No-Lettuce Chopped Salad
This no-lettuce chopped salad features quick marinated cucumbers, red onion, and tomatoes with chickpeas, kalamata olives, and crumbled feta.
Peach Salad
I wait all year long for the moment that fresh peaches are in season. It’s hard for me to decide what’s the star ingredient in this summer side salad.
Brussels Sprouts Slaw
This recipe came to me one day as I was using up leftover ingredients from my fridge. When I discovered that thinly shaved raw Brussels sprouts create a unique alternative to cabbage for slaw recipes, I knew I had to create this recipe.
Quinoa Salad with Chili-Lime Vinaigrette
Here’s another no-lettuce salad that I love to serve with summer dinners. It features cooked quinoa, chopped fresh veggies, black beans, corn, avocado, cherry tomatoes and a simple chili-lime vinaigrette.
Corn and Tomato Salad
Growing up in the Midwest, I’d be amiss not to have sweet corn and fresh summer tomatoes on my list of favorite summer sides. This simple salad combines those iconic summer veggies, as well as creamy avocado and a zest lime vinaigrette.
Corn Salad
For a stunning summer salad, this corn salad never disappoints. When I make it, I feel like I’m serving something right off the pages of a food magazine. The unusual combination of ingredients works so well together and every bite is a full burst of fresh flavors.
Potato Salad
Some summer dinners just wouldn’t be complete without potato salad on the plate. And I love this particular potato salad because it doesn’t have any mayo and features some delicious crunchy mix-ins like red onion, celery, and chives.
Grilling Favorites
Firing up the grill is the perfect solution if you want to avoid using the oven or stove. From grilled meats to veggie kabobs to pizza, there are so many foods you can cook on the grill with delicious results.
Grilled Vegetable Dish with Vegan Pesto
Bursting with beautiful colours and flavours, this simple grilled vegetable dish makes a healthy vegan meal. Grilled aubergines, courgettes and cherry tomatoes are combined with cannellini beans and coated in a homemade vegan pesto. This zesty basil and parsley dressing uses nutritional yeast in place of the normal cheese - a great one to have on stand-by for plant-based pasta dishes, too.
Colorful Chicken and Pepper Skewers
Enjoying a family barbecue in the garden? These colourful chicken and pepper skewers are perfect for sizzling on the coals and the spice levels are low, making them kid-friendly. Serve them with a smoky paprika yogurt sauce and flatbreads. Rain threatening to spoil your plans? Fear not, these kebabs can also be cooked indoors under a hot grill for 15-20 mins.