Summer Dinner Ideas
I’ve got over 40 summer dinner ideas for you here! Hosting summer dinners is something I love to do – there’s just something about the warm weather, the smell of freshly cut grass, and the long evenings that make it the perfect time to invite friends and family over for a meal.
From delicious seasonal produce to special salads and grilled meats, the summer months offer endless possibilities for menu planning. Plus, with the sun setting later in the evening, you have more time to relax and enjoy the company of your guests.
Hosting summer dinners can be a fun way to entertain, so I’ve got 40+ summer dinner ideas here to get you started and inspired!
(Psst– if you’re hosting a summer party, be sure to check out Leslie’s tips on creating a beautiful summer flower centerpiece from grocery store flowers – HEAD HERE!)
Or check out some outdoor decor for summer backyard dinners – these “firefly” lights add such a fun party atmosphere! ⬇️
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Summer Dinner Ideas
Rainbow Chicken Salad with Almond Honey Mustard Dressing
I love a gourmet salad on a summer evening, and this one doesn't disappoint!
Asian Chicken Salad
Crunchy Napa cabbage is combined with crisp veggies, aromatic herbs, and tender chicken, then topped with a sweet and spicy Sriracha dressing.
Summer Shrimp Zoodle Bowls
This fresh summer meal is the perfect thing to eat while you cool off!
Falafel Burgers
This veggie-packed falafel burger is a simple, healthy dinner. Tastes delicious topped with yogurt dill sauce!
Black Bean Burgers (not mushy!)
Big, thick, hearty, flavorful burgers can be grilled or baked! There's a trick so that the bean burgers don't end up mushy.
Chicken Gyro Bowls
Mixed greens are topped with Greek chicken, chickpeas, tomato cucumber salad, feta cheese, and a homemade tzatziki sauce. Such a great meal to eat oustide!
Crispy Baked Falafel
Falafel stuffed into pita with fresh herbs, crisp veggies, and a big slather of hummus!
Greek Orzo Stuffed Red Peppers with Lemony Basil Tomatoes
Slow roasted red peppers stuffed with greek orzo, feta cheese, and topped with fresh lemony basil tomatoes. Summer dinner perfection!
California Roll Sushi Bowls
This Asian-inspired dish is a healthy meal that's packed with flavor!
Za'atar Chicken and Veggie Kabobs
These kabobs are easy to make on the grill or in the oven, and they're made with the most delicious lemony za’atar seasoning. Serve with pita & hummus or an orzo salad.
Pesto Pasta Salad - one-dish meal!
A creamy, bright, basil dressing takes this pasta salad up a notch! Including chicken and pepperoni in this dish makes it a great one-dish summer meal!
20 Minute Florentine Butter Chicken with Burst Cherry Tomatoes
Lightly breaded chicken seared until golden in browned butter with fresh thyme, then topped with garlicky burst cherry tomatoes, lots of basil, and a squeeze of lemon. This 20-minute dinner makes great use of summer tomatoes!
Copycat Chipotle Chicken Recipe
Special marinade makes this Chipotle chicken recipe spot-on! Chop the chicken and use it in a burrito, salad, or rice bowl!
Chicken Cacciatore Recipe
Braised chicken cooked in a rich tomato sauce, with bell peppers, mushrooms, and olives. This meal is easy to prep, and it just needs to cook in a skillet untouched for about an hour, leaving you plenty of time to mingle with your guests!
Chicken Banh Mi Flatbread with Incredible Sauces
Tons of flavor in this dish - delicious sauces, quick-pickled vegetables, grilled chicken, and flatbread!
Sweet Potato Hash
This sweet potato hash uses Kinder Red Garlic Seasoning as its secret ingredient - it goes perfectly with grilled sausages!
Southwest Chicken Salad
This Southwest Chicken Salad is full of bold flavors and packed with healthy ingredients. It’s filling enough to be your entire meal!
Tips for Making Great Burgers
Burgers are one of my favorite summer meals to serve guests - check out all these tips on making the *perfect* burger!
Simple Pasta Salad
This easy pasta salad paired with your favorite grilled meat is the *perfect* summer evening dinner!
Cheesy Chicken Enchilada Stuffed Peppers
When you've got loads of fresh garden bell peppers, you'll want to make these stuffed peppers for dinner! Top with sour cream and crushed tortilla chips and enjoy!
Ziti alla Norma aka Eggplant and Tomato Pasta
Use fresh summer eggplant and tomatoes in this summery pasta dish!
Blackened Salmon with Grilled Naan and Lime Slaw.
Salmon and naan both go on the grill, and the lime slaw and cilantro sauce really top it off!
Sheet Pan Chili Lime Salmon
Chili lime salmon with fajita flavors, and a charred, roasted trio of peppers for an easy summer dinner!
Honey Mustard Chicken Salad With Bacon & Avocado
This chicken salad has chicken, bacon, and avocado, along with a crazy-good 5-ingredient dressing!
The Best Shrimp Fajitas
15-minute flavorful shrimp fajitas would be a great meal to serve friends or family!
Copycat Chick Fil A Grilled Chicken Smokehouse BBQ Bacon Sandwich
This tastes *just* like Chick Fil A's version - its simple ingredient list, easy prep, and big flavor make it a perfect summer dinner to serve company!
The Best Creamy Chicken Salad Croissants
One of my favorite summer meals is chicken salad croissants. I love the creaminess of the sour cream and mayo combined with crunchy veggies and nuts! Perfect for a backyard party!
Summer side dishes to add to your menu:
Cool & Creamy Cucumber Salad
Use those fresh garden cucumbers in this summer salad that is easy to prepare, budget friendly, and bursting with fresh flavors!
Broiled Tomatoes
Such a great way to enjoy the bounty of fresh summer tomatoes!
Fresh Corn Salad with Tomatoes
This simple salad is full of fresh corn, tomatoes, onions and parsley with a flavorful and tangy dressing.
Copycat Cracker Barrel Brussel Sprouts and Kale Salad Recipe
Shredded brussel sprouts and kale, craisins, and pecans come together beautifully with a maple vinaigrette!
The BEST Classic Deviled Egg Recipe
This classic side is creamy and flavorful and adds a bit of protein!
Grilled Vegetables
Grilled vegetables are such a summer barbecue staple! Add a drizzle of sauce on them to take them up a notch!
Classic Caprese Salad
Fresh garden tomatoes and basil scream SUMMER in the most delicious way!
Some grilled entrees for summer barbecues:
Honey Mustard Chicken
Delicious and simple grilled honey mustard chicken with the best honey mustard marinade that’s perfect for baked or grilled chicken recipes. The paleo honey mustard chicken marinade is sweet, tangy and an easy way to add moisture and flavor to any cut of chicken!
Copycat Nando’s Grilled Chicken
With this recipe and method, your grilled chicken will be SO juicy! And you can't beat Nando's bottled sauce!
Super-Simple Flat-Roasted Chicken
Follow these easy steps to flatten (or "spatchcock") a whole chicken - you can bake it OR grill it! It's sooo juicy like this!
Yogurt-Marinated Chicken Kabobs {with warm, bold spices!}
This is one of my go-to grilling recipes because the yogurt marinade makes the chicken taste so full of warm, bold flavors! Always a winner!
How to Make THE BEST Grilled Salmon
All the tips you need to make amazing grilled salmon!
Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe
Learn how to grill shrimp skewers perfectly every time, and get the best marinade for BBQ garlic shrimp skewers!
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A cold dessert salad that is fun to eat in the summer is this Honeycrisp Apple Salad!
Or check out this collection of Ice Cream Cakes!
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