42 Summer Dinner Ideas That Make The Most Of The Season

No matter what you’re grilling—chicken, steak, shrimp, or veggies—this garlicky marinade adds a fresh, vibrant flavor. With fresh herbs and a mild heat from Calabrian chiles, it’s a quick way to elevate simple ingredients into the perfect summer weeknight meal.

Heat up dinnertime with a juicy flank steak dinner. Whether you crank up the grill for a summer cookout or stay cool cooking indoors, this make-ahead marinade makes dinnertime easy. Its sweet and spicy flavor pairs well with your favorite garden vegetables.

This may not be dessert, but this dish is just as delectable when topped with fresh mango salsa. Try these crab cakes on your next beach vacation, or enjoy all the flavor of the islands at home and imagine you’re sunning on the sand.

This easy dinner comes together in just 25 minutes. Fast-cooking shrimp and tomatoes are cooked in a skillet while the noodles cook. Mix them together and dinner is done.

You can never go wrong with classic, crispy fried catfish on a lazy summer afternoon. Serve with lemon wedges and a basket of hush puppies.

Spend more time enjoying summer and less time cleaning dishes by making supper on a sheet pan. The sides and main all cook together.

Get out the napkins for this finger-licking good chicken. For the first step of this recipe, rub the chicken with brown sugar and spices and air fry it until charred. Then coat the chicken with a sticky, sweet barbecue sauce for a final effect that will convince you it’s grilled barbecue chicken.

These peppers stuffed with a satisfying mixture of rice, sausage, and Parmesan and baked in a bed of marinara will be the center of attention at your next meal. Use multi-colored peppers if you want to add color to your table (red peppers are sweetest).

These juicy pork chop sandwiches come together much more quickly than pulled pork, but will be just as popular at your next barbecue. Instead of the classic side of applesauce, the sandwiches get a smear of sweet apple butter and a scoop of tangy coleslaw.

This firm white fish is enhanced with a tart dressing of herbs and capers. The secret to perfect grill marks? Get the grill really hot and oil up the grates before putting the grouper on.

These marinated kebabs will have you eating your veggies with a smile on your face. We included smoked sausage alongside the okra, squash, and peppers for a bit of Southern flair. Drizzle with a fresh herb dressing when you serve.

Two of our favorite drinks, bourbon and cola, serve as a great marinade for rib-eye steaks. We recommend pairing it with our Smashed-Cucumber Salad.

When tomatoes are in season, dinner can be done in just 5 minutes without you even having to turn on the oven. This classic sandwich never disappoints, no matter the time of day.

If you’re craving barbecue chicken but don’t want to fire up the grill, this oven-baked version will save the day. Homemade sauce gives it plenty of flavor.

You don’t have to heat up the kitchen with this recipe, thanks to your trusty slow cooker. This creamy soup makes an indulgent but not too heavy meal, starring fresh corn alongside bacon, potatoes, and onion. A garnish of fresh corn and onions spritzed with lime juice brightens every bowl.

We try to use gorgeous, plump summer tomatoes in any way we can during the season, but a classic tomato pie sure is hard to beat. This one goes above and beyond, with a sour cream crust studded with bacon, layers of colorful tomatoes, and plenty of cheese and herbs to tie it all together. For best results, salt the tomatoes and drain them on a paper towel before assembling your pie.

This easy pasta made with a delicious white wine cream sauce will make any ‘ole weeknight feel like a vacation. We recommend buying fresh jumbo lump crab meat for this one. Bonus: Enjoy the rest of the wine chilled with dinner.

Did you know that Texans started this German-influenced tradition? Get the kids into the kitchen to help with this fun and nostalgic treat. We’ve perfected the buttermilk batter so you can enjoy corn dogs even when the state fair isn’t around.

Crab cakes feel like the type of dish you only order when you’re out at a fancy dinner, but they’re surprisingly easy to make at home. The Green Tomato Slaw is an unexpected topping that will allow your summer harvest to shine. This one is great for impressing guests or getting a fresh taste of the Gulf Coast on a weeknight.

This lightened up oven “fried” catfish recipe tastes just like the classic, and a bright easy slaw adds the perfect crunch. We soaked the fillets in buttermilk and covered them in panko breadcrumbs flavored with Cajun seasoning. If catfish is not available, use any firm white fish such as cod, tilapia, or grouper.

This fresh summer salad is a beautiful centerpiece for an easy family-style meal. Use a selection of heirloom tomatoes with varied color, texture, and flavor.

The brunch-y cousin of our beloved Heirloom Tomato Pie is this tomato quiche. To concentrate the sweetness of the tomato slices, these are roasted before they’re added to the egg mixture. The result? A quiche you can truly only savor in summer.

Easy, kid-friendly, and perfect for a summer cookout, we love this creative way to enjoy two of our favorite things—barbecue pulled pork and baked potatoes. Use pulled pork from a local restaurant for a real time saver.

The easiest “eat the rainbow” healthy dinner, this light, bright salad is on the table in less than 30 minutes. Bacon and fresh basil add a smoky sweetness to the dish.

Smoky, salty bacon complements buttery sweet scallops and corn in this impressive yet simple dinner. The rice simmers in chicken broth, butter, and fresh thyme to achieve the creamy texture and develop a fuller flavor.

If you’ve got a bushel of green tomatoes and you’ve had your fill of frying them, turn those bright beauties into this cool summer soup. All you need is a blender and the vegetables to complement them, like cucumber, peppers, onion, and fresh herbs.

The crabs for these sandwiches themselves are easy to prepare: dredge them in cornmeal and skillet fry them until golden brown. A drizzle (or dollop) of spicy mayo sends these soft-shell crab sandwiches over the edge of amazing.

Wondering what to do with all that zucchini? Put this vegetarian lasagna next on your list to cook. Thinly sliced strips of zucchini make this usually heavy dish low-carb, but three kinds of cheese ensure you don’t miss out on any comfort-food goodness.

When it’s too hot to even turn your oven on, let the slow cooker handle dinner and pair it with a fresh summer salsa. The pork shoulder cooks to fall-apart tenderness in a sweet and savory spice rub, and between the two, you’ve got all the taco fillings you need.

Instead of your usual Quiche Lorraine or springy asparagus-laden quiche, try a summery spin with this decadent crab version. Loaded up with spinach, leeks, and cream cheese, this indulgent pie will have you savoring every bite.

It’s not summertime without some at-home barbecue action in the smoker. This dry-rub recipe is easy enough for even the most novice pitmaster. A vinegar wash and extra sprinkling of dry rub at the end of the cooking process adds another layer of flavor.

No fryer necessary—all you need to enjoy classic fried green tomatoes at home is your trusty cast-iron skillet. Dip the tomatoes in buttermilk before breading to enhance their tartness.

Our sheet pan has come to the rescue countless nights at dinnertime, and this easy recipe will be a repeat, kid-friendly savior. You can make nachos any time of year, but it’s the fresh seasonal produce that makes them so special in summer.

Make the most of eggplant when it comes into season in July. If you’re trying to keep it low carb during swimsuit season, this fresh eggplant recipe will satisfy those pasta cravings. If you’re looking for a healthy, flavorful side, this dish will satisfy that too.

Fresh fish tacos, Asian slaw, and a quick chipotle cream sauce combine for a kid-friendly dinner that’s worth inviting friends over for. For additional toppings, try chopped tomatoes, shredded iceberg lettuce, sliced avocado, chopped fresh cilantro, and lime wedges.

These flank steak skewers are marinated in a punchy mixture of garlic, chili, cilantro, and basil. The sauce includes the same flavors, but tempered with nutty coconut cream. Start the marinade 4-12 hours in advance, and then rest easy knowing these will cook in 10 minutes on the grill.

Everything goes on the grill here, from the corn to the scallions. The chopped veggies can be spooned over top the thinly sliced steak or into tacos. Fresh-squeezed lime gives everything just the right level of zing.

This mash-up of creamed corn and a pasta dish is sure to be a hit this season. Save the boiled water from the corn cobs so you can infuse the sauce with their flavor. Pro tip: A Y-shaped vegetable peeler makes it easy to remove kernels from the cobs.

This filling but healthy salad features cucumbers, tomatoes, and rotisserie chicken dressed in fresh herbs, honey, and mustard. You can eat this dish at room temperature or chilled and as a side or main dish.

Looking for a big-batch recipe to feed your crowd? Usher your favorite hearty baked pasta into summer by lightening it with fresh squash and tomatoes. Give those veggies a few minutes under the broiler first for charred, “fire-roasted” flavor.

This quick and easy Chicken Caprese Pasta is lightly flavored with a bright pesto, which you can make fresh or buy from the deli at the grocery store. While you’re there, grab a rotisserie chicken, fresh mozzarella, and cherry tomatoes. A half cup of pasta water combines with the pesto to make a silky smooth sauce.

The mayonnaise and pickle brine marinade in this recipe results in wonderfully juicy chicken legs that don’t overcook. Prepare it the night before so the legs have time to tenderize. Other cuts may need less time, which we break down for you in our article on How Long to Marinate Chicken.