The best season of the year is here. And with summertime comes the need for some quick and easy summer dinner ideas to feed your crew so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time soaking up the sun with your family!
Indulge in all that the summer has to offer by gathering around a table full of the best grilled chicken recipes, grilled vegetable recipes, and refreshing BBQ side dishes that aren’t too heavy for the heat. From June through August, fill up on the season’s finest with these family-friendly picks, which are quick, easy, and seriously delicious — plus, many of them store well as leftovers for later. Oh, and to top things off, might we recommend one of our favorite summer drink recipes too?
This charred chicken and corn recipe makes for the quintessential summer dinner. Glass of rosé optional.
Sweet and spicy pickles and peppers make this barbecue favorite a real winner.
This protein-packed vegetarian salad stars haloumi, a salty Greek cheese that doesn’t melt over high temps. Toss it on the grill, and mix together your fave veggies and grain and dinner’s done!
Fire up the grill to char green beans and steak for the ultimate summer dinner.
Shake up your chicken routine with this easy weeknight dinner that will be on the table in just 20 minutes.
Who knew everything you needed to make your pizzas taste wood-fired was already in your backyard? Fire up your grill to give these flatbreads a beautiful char.
What more could you want in a fresh summer dish? This one has peaches, tomatoes, and basil.
Squash, mint, and lemon juice lighten up this fresh summer pasta made in under 30 minutes for the perfect weeknight meal.
Get the whole family involved in rolling these vegan finger foods. They make for the perfect light dinner, complete with a sweet and spicy dipping sauce.
Brighten up weeknight pasta with corn, basil, and scallions to satisfy your summer comfort food cravings.
Rub the steak with the spices and refrigerate overnight to truly wow your family this weekend with a flavor-packed dinner.
Bloody Mary spices (horseradish, Tabasco, and celery seeds!) take this tomato salad up a notch for a perfect pork chop companion.
Ground chicken, flavored with fresh herbs and lemon zest, gets tossed with rigatoni to make the ultimate 20-minute family meal.
Consider this tart summer’s very own version of cheesy, saucy pizza.
Pro tip: Serve these shrimp and cheesy peppers with tortillas to let your fam DIY tacos.
Tired of regular burgers? Salmon burgers are a healthier — but equally delicious — alternative and easily come together with the help of your food processor.
Take a trip to New Orleans with this flavor-packed dish, which only takes 20 (!) minutes to make.
Come summer, burgers are a go-to dinner. These seasoned chicken minis, however, are perfect for lunch too.
Get your chopsticks ready for this spicy and sweet ground pork salad.
A dash of Old Bay seasoning is the always the answer to your grilling needs.
Beat the heat with a no-cook pasta sauce. Yep, you heard that right.
A wood plank — yes, really — instantly enhances the flavor of even the most basic fish.
Tomatoes and summer go hand-in-hand. Need proof? Try this quick and easy chicken recipe.
Let’s be real: If “easy” is in the name (like this tomatoey pasta), you have to give it a go.
We bet you never thought of tossing a batch of frozen French fries into a pot of mussels … until now.
Put aside your favorite BBQ sauce (for tonight, at least) and try this tart and tangy version instead.
Get the recipe for Grilled Chicken with White BBQ Sauce »
This pizza, topped with salty ham and fresh veg, simply looks like summer (and tastes like it, too).
Your fave summer ingredients (shrimp and zucchini) become one in this lemony pasta dish.
Swap ground beef for spicy sweet potatoes for the ultimate vegetarian taco.
