Summer Dinner Ideas and Recipes

July 6, 2024

Aimee

Every July I grab a pen and paper and jot down a list of summer dinner ideas to tape to the fridge. I abandon the trusty braises and slow cooker meals that have I’ve relied on during the cooler months, and switch gears completely.

Today I’m sharing that list with you in case you need a little inspiration for fresh! simple! approachable! hot weather family food. These hero recipes are for the time-strapped, budget-conscious home cook who still wants to enjoy delicious, seasonal eats.

I’m covering quick weeknight meals to throw together when you’ve been at the beach all day, as well as more elaborate dinners for entertaining friends on a warm summer evening. Read on for your summer dinner ideas and recipes.

The Grazing Board

Whether you call these a snacking board, Ploughman’s lunch, aperitivo or meze, a grazing platter is the easiest way to feed a family on a hot summer night. It is adaptable to any group size, budget, craving or time constraints; it’s also good for, ahem, selective eaters.

Start with fresh market vegetables and seasonal fruits. Cut up a huge watermelon. Unpack crackers and cheese. Whip up a dip and open a few jars of olives & pickles. Then sit back, relax with a bev and let the snacking begin.

The Substantial Salad

A huge salad with substance is all I want for dinner on a sweltering July evening. These recipes are guaranteed to leave you satisfied. These are packable salads that travel well, so go ahead and bring them to the beach or on a hike.

Salmon Salad with avocado and feta – (pictured above, scaled up for a crowd)
Green Goddess Dressing – goes with everything
Mediterranean Lentil Salad with Halloumi – keeps 4-5 days
Rainbow Rice Noodle Salad – keeps 2-3 days
The Best Italian Chopped Salad – keeps 2-3 days before vinaigrette
Antipasto Pasta Salad – keeps 3-4 days
Middle Eastern Taco Salad with Roasted Chickpeas, Tangy Avocado Dressing

The Great Grilled Dinner

The lengthy evenings of July and August are perfect for hanging out by the grill, cooking dinner for the gaggle of kids playing outside. I look forward to this time of year, and I’m always changing up what’s on the fire. These are a few new favourites and old standby recipes featuring lamb, pork, chicken and beef; something different from the usual ‘burgers and ‘dogs.

The Practical Power Bowl

Prep ahead ingredients, pack them to go or bring outside, enjoy at room temp – power bowls are endlessly customizable, ideal summer fare.

It’s time to review How to Build Power Bowls because they are summertime eating at its finest! In the post I cover the grain base, protein, crunchy toppings, creative condiments and much more.

The Do-Ahead Option

Busy home cooks know that a freezer stash can save dinner on a busy day. Batch cooking can help simplify summertime eating, even if it is just a big jar of salad dressing shaken together ahead of time!

Batch cooking foods like meatballs, shredded chicken and taco meat can be the jump start to a well-rounded family meal. These are my suggestions for summertime:

Warm Weather Batch Cooking – tons of ideas for meal prepping ahead of time
Easy Poached Chicken – With cold poached chicken in the fridge, the meal possibilities are endless. It’s great for tucking into wraps, topping grilled pizza, bulking up a salad or finishing off a pasta
Do-Ahead Campfire Burritos – not just for the campfire, we love prepping these for quick dinners on the go
Glazed Ginger Chicken Meatballs – use for rice bowls and so much more
Spiced Taco Beef with Quinoa and Black Beans
Three Homemade Salad Dressings – Ranch, Balsamic and Garlic-Herb Vinaigrette

The Picnic Plan

I adore a picnic. There’s something so nostalgic about spreading a quilt and opening a basket. Perhaps because it signals a pause in the day; an opportunity to both feast and connect with nature.

A great picnic needs a plan, but remember: any dish that is packable and doesn’t need to be reheated can work for a picnic. On this list so far I’d recommend packing up The Grazing Board, The Substantial Salad or The Practical Power Bowl and bringing it along.

Here are a few more solid ideas. Oh, and you’ll want to review The Best Picnic Foods.

Grandma Ellen’s Cold Barbecued Chicken – baked not fried!
Yogurt Chive Potato Salad – pair with the BBQ chicken above or smoked fish
Swiss Chard, Leet & Sweet Potato Frittata – just add a side of watermelon
Citrus, Shrimp & Quinoa Salad
Antipasto Pasta Salad – add more protein for a more substantial main dish (poached shredded chicken or cubed cured sausage)

The Simple Sheet Pan Supper

A true supper saver, the one-pan meal never goes out of rotation in the Simple Bites kitchen. Summer market produce works incredibly well on a sheet pan – think slow roasted tomatoes, crisped up kale, caramelized sweet peppers and charred broccoli.

The Rainy Day Dinner

Here in Nova Scotia it is not unusual to have three straight days of rain in the middle of the summer. I love these days because they give permission for indoor activities such as curling up with a book under a quilt, baking molasses cookies, and cooking a skillet lasagne for dinner.

Vegetarian Skillet Lasagne – the absolute number one favourite for summer comfort food featuring market fresh vegetables.
Garden Green Minestrone – another comforting dish that’s packed with vegetables.
Summer Risotto with Garden Vegetables
Harvest Tortilla Soup – an August essential, made with fresh corn