100 Summer Dinner Recipes So Easy, You Can Make Them in a Heatwave
Light meals for heavy heat.
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Don't spend the first day of summer behind the stove! With these easy dinner ideas, you can forego the fuss, skip the boring meals, and enjoy great food without missing a moment of sunshine. Whether you're firing up the grill or heading to the park with a picnic basket, these summer recipes have you covered. Think simple 30-minute meals, juicy chicken dinners, fresh pasta salads, and plenty of ways to showcase summer veggies. Craving something grilled? Don't worry, there are plenty of burger ideas and fun twists on hot dogs (yes, even one for your air fryer) ahead.
Looking to make the most of seasonal garden produce? Try the show-stopping tomato pie, stuffed zucchini, or a summer pasta made with fresh pesto. You can also keep cool and make a splash with fun pool party food ideas like shrimp skewers or zucchini mini pizzas. Or skip the grill and stove completely and make a refreshing summer salad featuring creamy burrata and marinated tomatoes instead. Of course, you'll want to round out any of these meals with some frozen desserts and a batch of refreshing summer cocktails to really beat the heat.
Mediterranean Chicken
The Mediterranean diet becomes extra appealing in the summer, when the warm weather calls for light, bright bites. This one-pan dinner features seared chicken breasts baked alongside a mix of bell peppers, zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and red onions. Briny green olives and fresh herbs add a savory punch, while a splash of white wine and a squeeze of lemon bring just the right zing!
Get Ree's Mediterranean Chicken recipe.
Shrimp Fajitas
Sizzling shrimp, colorful peppers, and a hint of smoky spice—what more could you want on a summer night? These shrimp fajitas come together in just 25 minutes, making them perfect for busy weeknights or backyard dinners. Pile the juicy shrimp and tender veggies into warm tortillas, then top them off with your favorite fixings!
Get Ree's Shrimp Fajitas recipe.
Grilled Tilapia
Clean eating doesn't have to be boring or hard! In this recipe, each foil packet bundles flaky tilapia fillets with asparagus, lemon slices, herbs, and butter, locking in moisture and flavor as it cooks. No mess, no stress—just open it up and dig in.
Get the Grilled Tilapia recipe.
Cherry Tomato Pasta
Pasta is always a good idea, but this cherry tomato version is especially perfect for summertime! Whip up the sauce—a simple blend of garlic, pepper flakes, tomato pasta, and cherry tomatoes—as the pasta boils. A bit of broth brings it all together, and of course, you can't forget to top it off with fresh basil, creamy ricotta, and parmesan!
Get the Cherry Tomato Pasta recipe.
Smash Burgers
When your burger cravings align more with the drive-through than a backyard BBQ, try your hand at Ree's smash burgers! The simple stack of crispy beef patties, American cheese, ketchup, and mustard between two fluffy buns is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Get Ree's Smash Burgers recipe.
Steak Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
When the heat calls for something crisp but you're not in the mood for another salad, these steak lettuce wraps hit the spot. Cool, fresh, and finished with a luscious peanut sauce, they're summer perfection.
Get Ree's Steak Lettuce Wraps recipe.
Chicken Francese
Crispy, lemony, and pan-fried just right, this chicken brings bright, fresh flavor to any warm summer night. Serve it with pasta or crusty bread to catch every drop of that buttery lemon-wine sauce.
Get the Chicken Francese recipe.
Stuffed Banana Peppers
Packed with spicy sausage and gooey cheese, these stuffed banana peppers are the perfect mix of comfort and kick. It's a feel-good summer dish with a fiery twist!
Get the Stuffed Banana Peppers recipe.
Linguine with Clam Sauce
When summer rolls in, so do the seafood cravings. And nothing hits quite like twirling into a zesty, garlicky clam linguine!
Get Ree's Linguine with Clam Sauce recipe.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Let summer dinner take care of itself with these slow cooker chicken tacos. Just toss in the ingredients, walk away, and come back to rich, juicy chicken ready for wrapping.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos recipe.
Pork Burgers
Shake up your backyard BBQ by grilling pork patties instead of beef! Top them with crispy bacon, fresh sage, and caramelized onions for a flavor boost everyone will love.
Get the Pork Burgers recipe.
Caprese Chicken
Transform your favorite summer salad into a hearty chicken dinner! This dish brings all the classic Caprese components—ripe tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and balsamic glaze—plus flavorful jarred pesto and tender chicken cutlets.
Get Ree's Caprese Chicken recipe.
Salmon Tacos with Creamy Dill Slaw
Summer means slaw season! Whip up some easy salmon tacos and top them with a crunchy slaw tossed in a creamy dill-yogurt dressing.
Get Ree's Salmon Tacos with Creamy Dill Slaw recipe.
Cracker-Crusted Cod with Green Beans
Crunchy, flavorful, and super easy, this cracker-crusted cod checks all the boxes for a perfect summer meal! Add roasted green beans for a fresh, colorful sidekick.
Get Ree's Cracker-Crusted Cod recipe.
Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken
Add a burst of sunshine to your evening with Ree's lemon herb chicken. It's a one-skillet wonder, full of bright, zesty flavor in every bite.
Get Ree's Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken recipe.
Stuffed Eggplant
With summer eggplant in abundance, now's the time to stuff it! Fill roasted halves with couscous, savory veggies, and seasoned beef for a hearty, delicious meal ready in under an hour.
Get the Stuffed Eggplant recipe.
Veggie Fajitas
Summer veggies shine in these easy fajitas. Ree mixes peppers, squash, zucchini, and mushrooms with spicy steak seasoning for a fresh, flavorful meal.
Get Ree's Veggie Fajitas recipe.
Shrimp Boil
Few things capture summer like a buttery seafood boil. This shrimp take is simpler than most, but still packed with all the nostalgic, messy fun.
Get the Shrimp Boil recipe.
Watermelon Gazpacho
Craving something cool and refreshing? Try gazpacho with a twist—this version blends juicy watermelon with ripe tomatoes for a sweet-and-savory summer sip.
Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos
No need to fire up the oven on a sweltering day. Take Ree's advice: "Slow cooker pulled pork tacos al pastor is the answer, my friends." With just 15 minutes of prep, dinner practically makes itself.
Get Ree's Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Tacos recipe.
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