20 Easy Summer Dinner Ideas

Try these easy summer dinner ideas utilizing fresh ingredients from the season. The best part? Many of these meals come together in 30 minutes or less. 

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full affiliate link disclosure here.

Summer is my favorite time of year. 

Everything is beautiful and blooming. The garden is overflowing. The kids can enjoy the long summer days outside, playing in the creek or at the pool. 

It can also be a busy time of year, too. I would rather spend less time in the kitchen and more time outdoors and enjoying the weather. 

That’s why I love to have a few easy summer meals I can easily whip up. 

Check out my list of 20 of summer dinner ideas below. If you want to hear more about what I like to make at the farmhouse in the summer, listen to my podcast episode all about what I cook in the summer months. 

Why You’ll Love These Summer Dinner Ideas

Flavorful meals that are quick and easy – You don’t have to rely on frozen dinners or boring deli sandwiches. You can still enjoy delicious meals without spending hours in the kitchen. 

Utilize fresh produce – Fresh produce is one of the best parts of summer. These meals use many of the common veggies grown in backyard gardens. 

Kid-friendly options (that aren’t hot dogs) – Most of all of these recipes have been approved by my kiddos!

Our Favorite Summer Dinner Recipes

Tacos

Tacos are so versatile and a great way to utilize fresh summer produce. We make tacos a lot in the summer, and we always use my Sourdough Tortilla Recipe. 

Here are a few ideas how to serve tacos this season:

• Grilled fish tacos with a fresh peach salsa.
• Classic ground beef tacos with fermented salsa and fermented jalapeños. 
• Pulled chicken tacos with barbecue sauce, feta, and green onions. Rotisserie chicken is great (and easy!), too. 

Easy Cheeseburger Soup

Although there is nothing like a burger fresh off the grill, especially when it is wedged between a sourdough hamburger bun, some days you need something that will come together quickly and can easily be made ahead. That’s where this recipe comes in. 

With this soup, you’ll still get all of the flavor of a good cheeseburger, but with additional veggies and nutrient-packed bone broth. It’s great to enjoy in all seasons! Yes, even on a hot summer night. 

Tuna Salad

I start by mixing up some of my homemade avocado mayo. Then I add in some tuna, diced onion, celery and fresh herbs. Tomatoes and bacon would also be great additions. 

Chicken Salad

I love to have easy meals in the fridge and ready to go. This Southwest Chicken Salad is perfect for that. Use fresh garden cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, lime juice, and herbs to mix up this creation.

Greek Chicken Orzo Pasta

Zucchini, tomato, and red onion are mixed in with chicken marinaded in an olive oil vinegar mixture to make for a flavorful, one skillet meal. This is one of my favorite recipes to make for an easy weeknight dinner. You could even replace the dried oregano with fresh. 

Fresh Garden Salads

While it is not always my kid’s favorite, I love to just throw together a big salad to enjoy for lunch or dinner. Lately, I’ve been switching between my homemade Mexican Ranch Dressing and fermented balsamic vinegar blueberry vinaigrette. 

Top with hard boiled eggs made in the instant pot and shredded chicken (I like to bake a whole chicken, and use it in a variety of meals) for some added protein.

Pizza

My whole family loves pizza. It’s a crowd pleaser, and it is such an easy meal. I use my sourdough discard pizza crust and then add seasonal ingredients to top it. Fresh tomatoes, onion, and fresh basil are always go-tos. 

Zucchini Lasagna

When you plant zucchini in your garden, you almost always hit a point when there is such an abundance of zucchini, it is coming out of your ears. Zucchini lasagna is the perfect solution. Make lasagna like you normally would, but swap out the noodles for thinly sliced zucchini. You can also make this with eggplant! 

Sausage Zucchini Boats

Yes, more zucchini recipes! This is one of our favorite garden veggies, and it usually comes in an abundance. This is another favorite recipe to use them up. The kids love to help make these fun zucchini boats, too! 

Easy Zucchini Frittata

While this may be considered a breakfast, it can really be enjoyed at any meal. Eggs make for easy dinners. We love to enjoy our farm fresh eggs for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!

Sausage and Sauerkraut Skillet

I use my homemade sauerkraut as a side to dinner often (and my fermented carrots, too). It is easy to make, and so nice to have on hand. Plus, it is filled with gut-healthy probiotics. Pair it with sausage and potatoes for a delicious meal you’ll love! This can be a meal all on its own, or you can serve with a side of freshly picked green beans. 

Sourdough Skillet – Healthy One Pot Meal 

The key to lazy summer dinner ideas is making recipes that require fewer dishes to clean after. That’s why I love this one pot meal. And even better is how you can use a variety of fresh produce from the garden or Farmer’s Market to create something that is all your own.

Use onions, zucchini, tomatoes, fresh corn and more. I top it with sourdough discard and a little cheddar cheese – parmesan would also be great, too!

One Skillet Creamy Peach Chicken

Summer is not only about the fresh vegetables. It’s also about the fresh fruits, like peaches.

Although you may think of peaches as something to make sweet treat with, like my sourdough peach cobbler, it is also delicious in savory dishes. This simple chicken recipe combines sweet and savory in one skillet. 

Pesto Gnocchi

The best way to utilize fresh herbs is to make a pesto sauce. Basil and mint are two of my favorites to use. This pesto gnocchi is a simple dinner, but is filling and, oh, so flavorful. You can also use my homemade pesto on my sourdough pasta noodles. 

Sourdough Grilled Cheese

Who says you can’t have grilled cheese for dinner? My sourdough grilled cheese is a grown up version of this nostalgic classic. Made with cheddar and homemade fresh mozzarella, it pairs great with a tomato soup made with garden tomatoes. 

Easy Stuffed Bell Peppers with Ground Beef Recipe

Like the zucchini boats, this is another fun recipe to have the kids help with. Fun to make and fun to eat! Packed full with diced tomatoes and onions, it’s about as summer as it can get. 

Easy Sourdough Ham and Cheese Rolls

During the busy summer, we all want to have dinner options in our back pocket that are simple. These ham and cheese rolls are simple, but yet will make everyone’s taste buds happy. 

Meatball Sub Recipe

You just can’t go wrong with sandwiches during the summer. I love this meatball sub recipe because it is packed full of protein and keeps everyone full and happy. 

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Hamburger Helper is a classic quick dinner. It takes 30 minutes to whip up. I promise the homemade version is way better than the kind you find at the grocery store. 

Easy Salmon Croquettes

These crispy salmon burgers make a super healthy, protein-packed meal, on the table in 15 minutes flat. They pair perfect with my sourdough discard hamburger buns and a little bit of my creamy avocado aioli. 

Want more summer dinner ideas in a pre-made meal plan?

Check out my 28-Day summer meal plan!

It includes:

• Ingredients that are easy to find.
• Weekly shopping lists.
• A focus on what is seasonally available.
• Wholesome meals that are kid approved.
• Simple recipes that can be doubled or tripled, based on family size.

Learn more and get your meal plan today.