48 Straightforward Summer season Dinner Concepts

Dragging open a can of anchovies. Cubing chilly, snappy greens to toss in a mustard jar French dressing. Spooning something in any respect onto toast, with pepper and cheese and salt. There’s one thing splendidly languid about making summer season dinners, the type that come half-prepped proper from the produce bag (or, okay, pasta field).

The very best aren’t simply simple, but additionally fast—even unnervingly so. “Did not I simply open the fridge?” you may say to your self, sitting all the way down to a plate of spicy shrimp pasta. Or skillet-grilled fish tacos. Or the simple genius of a salad created from cornbread.

Listed here are 48 impossibly simple, quick-to-prep dinners for the summer season, relying on simply what sort of cooking you’re feeling like doing.

1. Dilled, Crunchy Candy-Corn Salad With Buttermilk Dressing

Candy and crunchy uncooked corn is likely to be the star of this hearty summer season salad, however that does not cease a tangy, creamy buttermilk and yogurt dressing from making fairly the doorway.

2. Grilled Peach & Apricot Salad

Sizzling-off-the-grill peaches and apricots get tossed with recent kale, crumbled feta cheese, and skinny slices of prosciutto for a lightweight and simple dinner that was made for the nice and cozy climate months.

3. Summer season Farro Salad

Nutritious and healthful, farro (an historic complete grain) brings a nutty texture to this breezy salad, which calls on punchy pink onion, garlic, shiny parsley, ripe tomatoes, and valuable hunks of mozzarella to maintain all of the flavors completely balanced.

4. Vietnamese-ish Rice Noodle Salad With Shrimp, Peas & Corn

Our favourite half about this Vietnamese rice noodle salad—apart from its crunchy peanut topping and tangy home made dressing—is simply how simple it’s to riff on: You’ll be able to add grilled steak or hen, or make it completely vegetarian with out skipping a beat.

5. Chopped Kitchen Sink Salad with Yogurt Dressing & Bottarga

Bottarga, a sort of salted, cured fish roe, is the key ingredient to this crunchy inexperienced salad; the bottarga brings a brininess that performs off the creamy yogurt dressing within the dreamiest manner.

6. Heirloom Tomato & Cornbread Panzanella

Bread for dinner? We’ll by no means say no to that. Particularly when this panzanella of day-old cornbread (really easy!) and farmers market heirloom tomatoes is on the desk.

7. Forbidden Rice Salad With Thai Coconut-Lime Dressing

Vibrant and refreshing, you’ll be able to’t maintain us away from this “forbidden” rice salad with an addictive coconut milk-based dressing that doubles as a wonderful dip for spring rolls, hen skewers, and extra.

8. Roasted Cauliflower & Avocado Salad for New Mother and father

You do not have to be a mum or dad to take pleasure in this salad—however in case you are, at this time’s your fortunate day. Roast cauliflower as soon as, feed your child and your self (or your self x 2). Peak summer season laziness effectivity.

9. Skillet-Grilled Fish Tacos With Cilantro-Lime Crema

These one-pan (a forged iron pan, that’s) fish tacos could not be simpler—a lightweight and flaky fish will get seared in just some minutes, and the tortillas get warmed up in the identical sizzling skillet.

10. Grilled Shrimp With Herby Garlic Bread

On this intelligent recipe, the herby, garlicky marinade serves two functions: to season the shrimp earlier than they hit the grill and to slather on garlic bread. Collectively, these two components make a simple, summery meal in simply 20 minutes.

11. Drunken Clams with Sausage

In accordance with recipe creator, neighborhood member QueenSashy, the important thing to this ethereal, brothy dish is to scrub the clams correctly—in any other case, you would possibly find yourself with gritty bits ultimately end result.

12. Spicy Shrimp

5 components and a handful of skewers? Of all of the recipes, we would wager this spicy shrimp has the the largest payoff when it comes to taste with absolutely the least effort.

13. Miso-Ginger Noodles With Tuna & Spicy Sesame Crumbs

The tuna noodle casserole and love—reimagined. This dish comes collectively in underneath 20 minutes, due to canned tuna and a number of “wham-pow” components (sesame oil, ginger, miso, chile flakes all make an look).

14. Gradual-Cooker Carolina Pulled Pork Barbecue

There are few issues simpler than a set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker meal within the summertime. And for me, Pulled Pork Sandwiches simply scream summertime, BBQs, and picnics. This slow-cooker recipe is very simple in method and ingredient checklist, but yields a Carolina-style pulled pork that tastes nuanced and complicated.

15. Scallion & Coconut Rice With Pork

Make this satisfying and easy rice dish simply as soon as, and we guess it’s going to shortly work its manner into your weekly dinner rotation earlier than you’ll be able to say, “Seconds, please.”

16. Coconut-Lime Pork Tacos with Black Beans & Avocado

Would you consider these zesty pork tacos with creamy black beans and avocado can go from the kitchen to the dinner desk in simply 20 minutes? If you happen to do not, nicely, we advise attempting ’em for your self and washing all the pieces down with a margarita.

17. Alabama-Fashion Hen Kebabs

Over 100 critiques of this recipe affirm what we already knew to be true: These are probably the most flavorful and moist hen kebabs you’ll most likely ever feast your eyes on.

18. Greek Hen Sheet-Pan Dinner With Inexperienced Beans & Feta

We’re a sucker for a sheet-pan dinner’s ease and comfort, however much more so when the flavors are spot on, like they’re on this Greek-inspired hen winner with plenty of spices, crunchy inexperienced beans, and tangy feta cheese.

19. Roofeeo’s Easy Grilled Chimichurri-Marinated Skirt Steak

This simple chimichurri sauce is happiest when used to marinate a juicy skirt steak. However actually, any minimize of steak will do.

20. Lamb Biftekia With Anchovy, Solar-Dried Tomato & Mint

Whenever you’re feeling caught in a grilling rut (and also you merely cannot eat one other burger or sizzling canine), make these spiced lamb skewers with a pantry-friendly dipping sauce splendidly salty and herby.

21. Greek Hen Meatballs

An up to date riff on a celebration meatball (, the type with a toothpick for straightforward snacking), these never-dry meatballs with yogurt dipping sauce truly make the proper no-fuss dinner.

22. Hen Florentine by Joanna Gaines

What’s speedy, succulent, and dirties however one skillet? This hen Florentine by Fixer Higher star, Joanna Gaines. All it wants is a crusty loaf of bread to mop up all of the sauce.

23. Candy & Spicy BBQ Hen Sandwich With Pickles

The spicy fast pickles on this recipe are probably the most time-intensive part of this recipe, and fortuitously it may be made forward. Hen thighs are flavored in a super-flavorful marinade that’s candy, spicy, tangy, and acidic, like a extra nuanced barbecue sauce.

24. Grilled Eggplant & Soba Noodle Salad With Almost Nước Chấm

This fast—and vegan—noodle salad comes by means of Hetty Lui McKinnon’s new cookbook, Tenderheart. Broiling the eggplant is a quick, indoor-friendly method to mimic the charred, smoky qualities of grilling, and the mixture of salty, tangy nước chấm and recent herbs brightens the entire dish.

25. Inexperienced Minestrone With Basil Pesto

This soup, which comes collectively in underneath an hour, is full of greens, greens, beans, and pasta. In the meantime, a closing drizzle of pesto provides further richness and physique.

26. One-Pan Gnocchi With Chorizo & Artichokes

Retailer-bought gnocchi is the spine of this weeknight-friendly meal, giving super-flavorful, recent chorizo a spot to shine.

27. Creamy Asparagus, Lemon & Walnut Pasta

Take advantage of seasonal asparagus with this creamy, six-ingredient pasta. A handful of lemon zest offers these noodles successful of shiny summer season taste, whereas the chopped walnuts carry a really welcome crunch.

28. Summery Contemporary Tomato & Pistachio Pasta

This pasta incorporates a no-cook sauce and is served at room temperature, which means it’s preferrred for sweltering summer season nights. Simply keep in mind to begin macerating your recent tomatoes a minimum of half-hour earlier than you’re able to assemble the dish.

29. Chilly Sesame Noodle Salad

Vermicelli or skinny rice noodles are most well-liked on this refreshing sesame salad, however if you happen to’re in a pinch, plain outdated spaghetti will work simply as nicely.

30. Weeknight Damaged Lasagna With A lot of Greens

Meet a lighter, extra laid-back method to take pleasure in a comfortable traditional: On this damaged lasagna, you may toss the cooked, huge noodles with a lemony ricotta combination and prime the entire thing with sautéed asparagus and peas.

31. Shrimp Pasta With Tomatoes, Basil & Chile Butter

As an alternative of discarding the shells after peeling the shrimp, use them to make a fast, flavorful inventory for boiling the pasta and emulsifying the spicy tomato sauce. For the sauce, you need to use any chile paste you like, making this recipe simply adaptable relying on what’s in your pantry.

32. Sesame Noodle Salad with Seared Mushroom “Scallops”

This chilled noodle-y quantity would possibly say “scallops,” however actually it is simply seared king oyster mushrooms, which means this recipe is vegetarian-friendly. However if you would like to combine issues up with some grilled hen, pork, and even actual scallops, this salad will make them really feel proper at residence.

33. Swiss Chard Stalk Pesto with Pepitas

The following time you purchase a giant, lovely bunch of Swiss chard, do not toss the stalks! Save and blanch ’em for this tasty pesto which you could not solely toss with pasta, but additionally unfold on sandwiches or use as a dip.

34. Pasta Salad

Pasta salad is the definition of “summer season unfussiness”—toss some pickled and cured odds and ends with noodly curlicues, some greenery, and a zingy dressing, then let it sit till you are able to tuck in. This one tastes good heat, chilly, and at room temperature.

35. No-Mayo Peperonata Pasta Salad

I used to be an adamant hater of pasta salad till I got here throughout this recipe. Quite than getting slowed down by a heavy binder like mayo, this pasta salad begins with the extraordinarily concentrated acidity and sweetness from peperonata, a traditional Southern Italian facet dish of candy peppers, onions, and tomatoes melted in olive oil. The result’s mild sufficient for a heat summer season night, however nonetheless extraordinarily satisfying.

36. Tuna Toasts With Spice-Dusted Tomatoes

Not solely is that this dish tremendous fast to make (we’re speaking underneath half-hour)—it’s additionally inexpensive, due to canned tuna and spice-cabinet staples.

37. The Meals Lab’s Extremely-Smashed Cheeseburgers

This Genius-approved cheeseburger requires simply 5 easy components—a comfortable hamburger roll, good-quality floor beef chuck, American cheese, and salt and pepper—and as many condiments as your coronary heart needs.

38. Bagna Cauda Toasts with Radicchio, Egg & Avocado

Bagna cauda, a historically sizzling, Italian dish created from garlic and anchovies, anchors this dinner-worthy toast with its daring flavors. The smattering of crisp, recent greens and hard-boiled eggs are only a bonus.

39. A Tomato Sandwich Worthy of a Little Bacon

You realize it is formally summer season when you can begin consuming sandwiches with nothing however toasted bread, mayonnaise, and high-season tomatoes. And we actually would not say no to bringing a bit of little bit of crispy bacon and avocado aioli into the combination.

40. Pan Bagnat: Le French Tuna Salad Sandwich

On this Nicoise salad-turned-sandwich, tangy olives, recent herbs, and French dressing mingle with olive oil-packed canned tuna to make what one reviewer referred to as “a wonderful riot of colours, flavors, and textures.”

41. Inexperienced Goddess Hen Sandwiches

Take your ardour for inexperienced goddess dressing past salad with this grilled hen sandwich, which makes the proper automobile for this creamy, herby sauce.

42. The Fabulous, Legendary Fried Provolone & Tomato Sandwich

Who might ignore one thing each fabulous and legendary? Not us. And this pan-fried provolone and salted tomato sandwich (with mayo-slathered bread, after all) is indisputably each of these issues.

43. Chickpea “Tuna” Salad

“If you happen to’re searching for tuna salad, flip again now,” recipe developer Sarah Jampel writes. And she or he’s proper. This wholesome, healthful salad celebrates the flexibility of chickpeas by treating them like tuna salad and mixing them with Greek yogurt, tahini, herbs, and alliums.

44. Marinated Tofu Steak Sandwiches

This one takes a little bit of pre-planning, however when you pop frozen-and-defrosted tofu right into a zesty marinade, your prep work is just about performed. You will quickly be rewarded with a chewy, meaty, super-satisfying sandwich that is completely vegetarian.

45. Grilled Corn & Summer season Squash Quesadillas

These tacky vegetable quesadillas are good for a summer season night, maybe after a number of drinks al fresco. Stuffed with smoky grilled corn and candy summer season squash, plus goat cheese for tangy taste and pepper jack for a melty kick, these quesadillas are as lazy and attractive because it will get.

46. Scrambled Egg Tacos With Avocado

Hold these 10-minute scrambled egg tacos in your again pocket for whenever you’ve had a really lengthy day or come residence late from an evening in town. They’re tasty, quick, and you may eat them along with your arms, which suggests one much less factor to scrub whenever you’re performed.

47. Scallion Egg Noodles

After we say egg noodles right here, we truly imply a flat, scrambled egg pancake with scallions, cilantro, soy sauce, and mirin, that will get sliced into strips—identical to recent pasta.

48. Eggs in Purgatory with Capers & Parsley

This eggy stew with a wholesome sprinkle of chile flakes is likely to be spicy sufficient for purgatory, however you may be in heaven each time you make it for dinner.