We’ve rounded up the 16 Best Summer Dinner Ideas for you to cook on a hot summer night. From classic and easy, to healthy, vegetarian – we’ve even thrown in some delicious kid-friendly recipes too!! Summer lovin’!!!
Listen to a few of these summer specials. Shrimp Tacos, Balsamic Veggie Pasta, Lasagna Roll-Ups, and Grilled Pizza Skewers! Yes, Pizza Kabobs!! Intrigued yet? Get reading, and COOKIN’!!!
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What Should I Make for Dinner on a Hot Summer Night?
On a hot summer night, one of the last places you may want to be is cooking over a stove! In fact, you’re probably looking for a way to cool down, then just whip up a BLT pasta salad, couscous summer salad, avocado pasta, or even a balsamic veggie pasta. If you’re cooking for a party in the backyard, make some marinated steak or chicken kabobs on the grill!
Classic Easy Summer Meals
1. Grilled Marinated Steak
Tender, juicy, and delicious marinated skirt steak is definitely a must-try this summer! This recipe will provide you with a simple trick to get the best-tasting skirt steak every time! Plus, with the garlic and lime marinade, your steaks will be bursting with flavor.
2. BBQ Chicken Kabobs
Ready in just 20 minutes, BBQ Chicken Kabobs are made with chicken, bacon, and pineapple! The combination produces juicy and tender kabobs perfect for the grill! Don’t forget the BBQ sauce!
3. BLT Pasta Salad
This BLT Pasta Salad is refreshing and colorful – the perfect salad for summertime. It’s probably the easiest pasta recipe you’ll ever try and will be on your dinner table in just 15 minutes. Your family and friends will ask for it again and again!
4. Shrimp Tacos
These Blackened Shrimp Tacos are a delicious meal made with blackened shrimp, avocado, mango, purple cabbage, fresh lime, and cilantro. Not only are they healthy, but they are a completely flavorful meal! With only 15 minutes of prep, you’re sure to please everyone with this one. Good to the last bite!
Healthy Summer Dinner Recipes
5. Easy Sirloin Steak
Get ready to enjoy tender and juicy Sirloin Steak packed full of delicious garlic butter flavors! It’s pan-seared to the caramelized perfection and will probably be the most satisfying steak dinner you can easily prepare.
6. Baked Sockeye Salmon
One of the most sought after types of salmon, sockeye is not farmed, it’s wild! Talk about health benefits from eating this fish: how does this sound: reduced inflammation, protection for the brain and nervous system. Plus, this dish is ready in just 10 minutes! You can’t beat that!
7. Summer Squash Sauté
Two words will sell you on this recipe – delicious and easy. This dish can be cooked in one skillet. Top with a little parmesan cheese, and basil vinaigrette, and you’re good to go!
8. Couscous Summer Salad
Cherries, avocado, juicy nectarines, chickpeas, cucumber, mint and sweet corn – may not sound like the best combination but definitely tastes like one! This may be the perfect summer salad with all the flavors and colors in every bite!
Vegetarian Summer Dinner Ideas
9. Avocado Pasta
Creamy, satisfying, full of flavor and it’s vegetarian! Okay, now I’m extra intrigued. Add in the fact it takes only 15 minutes to put together and you’ll be sold as well. To top it off, this dish is full of antioxidants.
10. Vegan Spaghetti Bolognese
This is spaghetti bolognese with a twist – vegan twist that is! Quick, easy to make, and oh so delicious! If you’re really in the cooking mood, you can use this recipe to make your sauce from scratch.
11. Balsamic Veggie Pasta
A rainbow of flavor, and so healthy! The key is to sauté the cooked pasta in a sauce, and you can add a splash of white wine if you’d like.
Summer Dinner Ideas for Kids
12. Crock Pot Pulled Pork
A dump-and-go recipe that is the answer to those busy nights and those picky eaters. It’s fall-apart and cooked to perfection with barbecue sauce and spices. Serve it on sandwiches, taco shells, or as is with a yummy side.
13. Lasagna Roll Ups
Veggies, mozzarella cheese, ricotta, parmesan cheese, and marinara sauce all rolled up individually in lasagna pasta. Versatile and easier to prepare than traditional lasagna, you’ll especially love how easily you can freeze these and reheat them!
14. Grilled Pizza Skewers
Pizza Kabobs!? No way! Fun to make, and even better to eat!! And to think you can customize every item…get your kids involved too!!! It’s definitely an easy and delicious way to keep those kiddos occupied during the summer months.
15. Summer Grilled Cheese
Some say you haven’t tried a grilled cheese until you’ve tried a ‘Summer’ Grilled Cheese! Fresh basil, tomato, and dill – and of course that melted cheese!! Bread of choice, cheese of choice. The choice is yours! Get grilling!!
16. Summer Veggie Mac and Cheese
A little spin on the classic mac and cheese, this summer veggie mac and cheese includes some nutritious veggies! With a nice crisp crust on top, and filled with ooey-gooey goodness in the middle, this dish only takes 15 minutes to prep!
16 Best Summer Dinner Ideas That Are Easy to Make on Hot Summer Nights (BLT Pasta Salad Recipe & More)
Ingredients
- 2 cups pasta farfalle uncooked
- 3 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
- 1/2 cup chopped red onion
- 1 cup tomatoes chopped
- 4 slices bacon cooked and crumbled
- 1/4 cup ranch dressing
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt Greek
- 1/4 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Add water to a large pot and bring it to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to the package instruction. Once cooked, drain the pasta and rinse with cold water.
- In a large bowl, mix together the tomatoes, lettuce, bacon and red onion.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together ranch, yogurt, mayonnaise, and vinegar.
- Then toss pasta with the dressing mixture until evenly coated.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve and enjoy!
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