When summer is upon us it’s like all our moods and approaches to our days change, and guess what? So does our dinner menu! We look forward to those refreshing summer flavors all year, so we’re super excited to share some of our favorite summer dinner ideas we’ve come across over the years from some of our favorite food bloggers. We did our best to cover a wide range of foods and flavors, so hopefully there’s at least one appealing dish for everybody. We hope you enjoy!
1. Aberdeen’s Kitchen‘s Balsamic Steak Gorgonzola Salad with Grilled Corn
With steak, cheese, cherry tomatoes, and everything else, you basically can’t lose. This dish is perfect for summer because it has enough substance that you definitely won’t leave the table hungry, but at the same time it tastes refreshing and not overly heavy thanks to the fresh veggies. Get the recipe here!
2. Cooking Classy‘s Hawaiian Chicken Kebabs
Hawaiian-inspired cooking is fantastic all year round, but a cuisine that evokes thoughts of a tropical beach sunset is probably one of the best things you can eat during those warm summer months. Chicken is a lean meat, and when paired with a bunch of light veggies and some pineapple, you’ve got a tasty grilled meal that’s perfect for a small (socially distanced) summer gathering with family and friends. Get the recipe here!
3. delish‘s Bruschetta Grilled Chicken
A classic bruschetta is typically made using grilled bread as the base, but we love this idea of using some lean skinless chicken with cheese and tomatoes! It’s almost like a healthier chicken parm with tomatoes and basil, which (surprise, surprise) is freakin’ amazing. You can serve one of these as a dinner appetizer, or two as an entree. Can you say “easy meal prep ideas”? Get the recipe here!
4. What’s in the Pan‘s Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Rice
Now we’re getting into the full, hearty stuff. What’s in the Pan’s Chicken with Garlic Parmesan Rice is a quick and easy recipe that can also help stretch your grocery budget since you just need some chicken and you fill the rest of the plate with rice! If you have a lot of mouths to feed and are looking for some garlic-y goodness, definitely add this to your summer dinner ideas list! Get the recipe here!
5. Julia’s Album‘s Pesto Shrimp Mushroom Pasta
Shrimp and pasta are always a match made in heaven, and Julia’s Album’s Pesto Shrimp Mushroom Pasta goes above and beyond to make a classic combo extra special. The basil and pesto flavors work perfectly, and the chili flakes add just a bit of kick that completes the experience. Get the recipe here!
6. Cooktoria‘s Creamy Salmon in Roasted Pepper Sauce
Salmon is, quite possibly, the tastiest fish ever, and it’s not every day that we’ve seen it served in a creamy sauce. But spinach in cream sauce is always a great idea, and this would be amazing if plopped on a bed of rice. Imagine all that sauce getting soaked up by the rice. 🥰 Get the recipe here!
7. Julia’s Album‘s Pesto Chicken Tortellini and Veggies
Here’s a tasty summer dinner idea that could actually be as filling or as light as you’d like depending on how much of each ingredient you use. In our opinion, this recipe could even be delicious without the tortellini if you wanted to make it as lean and carb-free as possible. But as Julia’s Album’s recipe is, it’s seriously worth a try. Get the recipe here!
8. Food With Feeling‘s Easy Summer Rolls
These vegan summer rolls taste great, especially when dipped in the peanut sauce, and are an awesome way to get rid of extra veggies you may have in the fridge that you might otherwise have to throw out. You can really throw any combination of veggies into these rolls, but Food With Feeling’s recipe is, for sure, delicious. These are perfect for meal planning, they keep in the fridge for several days, or you can just make them to go with your dinner! Get the recipe here!
9. Homemade Interest‘s Grilled California Club Sandwich
California Club Sandwiches need no introduction, but ever since we stumbled across this recipe, it’s been added to our summer dinner ideas list. So what makes this club leaps and bounds better than the rest? Melted muenster cheese and toasted bread. We’ve had plenty of club sandwiches in our day, but none that basically combine a club with a grilled cheese. Get the recipe here!
10. Reluctant Entertainer‘s Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad
The Summer Italian Spaghetti Salad is a fantastic example of a dish that can be a stand alone entree or it could complement something else like a protein. It’s light, fresh, and served cold, so it’s an amazing summer dinner idea! Get the recipe here!
11. A Farmgirl’s Dabbles‘ Margarita Grilled Shrimp Skewers
One thing we haven’t really highlighted in this list is grilling… until now! These grilled jumbo shrimp are packed full of flavors from tequila to brown sugar, fresh garlic, and many other ingredients that come together in the best way – especially with a slight char. You can’t forget to make an actual margarita to go with these! Get the recipe here!
12. Bellalimento‘s Air Fried Steak and Asparagus Bundles
Aside from the incredible presentation, these steak and asparagus bundles are SO good! It’s a great balance of steak and veggies, which is perfect for the summer since you’re probably looking for something on the lighter side. This is another one that can be an appetizer or throw several on a plate and serve them as the main course, and we love flexibility. Get the recipe here!
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