48 Impossibly Easy, Slightly Lazy, 100% Reliable Summer Dinner Recipes
Fresh produce + your pantry = a summer love story.
ByAmanda Sims
Published On
Photo by MJ Kroeger
Dragging open a can of anchovies. Cubing cold, snappy vegetables to toss in a mustard jar vinaigrette. Spooning anything at all onto toast, with pepper and cheese and salt. There's something wonderfully languid about making summer dinners, the kind that come half-prepped right from the produce bag (or, okay, pasta box).
The best are not just easy, but also quick—even unnervingly so. "Didn't I just open the fridge?" you'll say to yourself, sitting down to a plate of spicy shrimp pasta. Or skillet-grilled fish tacos. Or the undeniable genius of a salad made from cornbread.
Here are 48 impossibly easy, quick-to-prep dinners for the summer, depending on just what kind of cooking you feel like doing.
Simple Summer Salads
Sweet and crunchy raw corn might be the star of this hearty summer salad, but that doesn't stop a tangy, creamy buttermilk and yogurt dressing from making quite the entrance.
Hot-off-the-grill peaches and apricots get tossed with fresh kale, crumbled feta cheese, and thin slices of prosciutto for a light and easy dinner that was made for the warm weather months.
Nutritious and wholesome, farro (an ancient whole grain) brings a nutty texture to this breezy salad, which calls on punchy red onion, garlic, bright parsley, ripe tomatoes, and precious hunks of mozzarella to keep all the flavors perfectly balanced.
Our favorite part about this Vietnamese rice noodle salad—aside from its crunchy peanut topping and tangy homemade dressing—is just how easy it is to riff on: You can add grilled steak or chicken, or make it entirely vegetarian without skipping a beat.
Bottarga, a type of salted, cured fish roe, is the secret ingredient to this crunchy green salad; the bottarga brings a brininess that plays off the creamy yogurt dressing in the dreamiest way.
Bread for dinner? We'll never say no to that. Especially when this panzanella of day-old cornbread (so easy!) and farmers market heirloom tomatoes is on the table.
Vibrant and refreshing, you can't keep us away from this "forbidden" rice salad with an addictive coconut milk-based dressing that doubles as an excellent dip for spring rolls, chicken skewers, and more.
You don't have to be a parent to enjoy this salad—but if you are, today's your lucky day. Roast cauliflower once, feed your baby and yourself (or yourself x 2). Peak summer laziness efficiency.
Quick Seafood Dinners
These one-pan (a cast iron pan, that is) fish tacos couldn't be easier—a light and flaky fish gets seared in just a few minutes, and the tortillas get warmed up in the same hot skillet.
In this clever recipe, the herby, garlicky marinade serves two purposes: to season the shrimp before they hit the grill and to slather on garlic bread. Together, these two elements make an easy, summery meal in just 20 minutes.
According to recipe author, community member QueenSashy, the key to this ethereal, brothy dish is to clean the clams properly—otherwise, you might end up with gritty bits in the end result.
12. Spicy Shrimp
Five ingredients and a handful of skewers? Of all the recipes, we'd wager this spicy shrimp has the the biggest payoff in terms of flavor with the absolute least effort.
The tuna noodle casserole you know and love—reimagined. This dish comes together in under 20 minutes, thanks to canned tuna and a host of "wham-pow" ingredients (sesame oil, ginger, miso, chile flakes all make an appearance).
Hearty Meat Dishes
There are few things easier than a set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker meal in the summertime. And for me, Pulled Pork Sandwiches just scream summertime, BBQs, and picnics. This slow-cooker recipe is extremely simple in technique and ingredient list, yet yields a Carolina-style pulled pork that tastes nuanced and complex.
Make this satisfying and simple rice dish just once, and we bet it'll quickly work its way into your weekly dinner rotation before you can say, "Seconds, please."
Would you believe these zesty pork tacos with creamy black beans and avocado can go from the kitchen to the dinner table in just 20 minutes? If you don't, well, we suggest trying 'em for yourself and washing everything down with a margarita.
Over 100 reviews of this recipe confirm what we already knew to be true: These are the most flavorful and moist chicken kebabs you will probably ever feast your eyes on.
We're a sucker for a sheet-pan dinner's ease and convenience, but even more so when the flavors are spot on, like they are in this Greek-inspired chicken winner with lots of spices, crunchy green beans, and tangy feta cheese.
This easy chimichurri sauce is happiest when used to marinate a juicy skirt steak. But really, any cut of steak will do.
When you're feeling stuck in a grilling rut (and you simply can't eat another burger or hot dog), make these spiced lamb skewers with a pantry-friendly dipping sauce wonderfully salty and herby.
An updated riff on a party meatball (you know, the kind with a toothpick for easy snacking), these never-dry meatballs with yogurt dipping sauce actually make the perfect no-fuss dinner.
What's speedy, succulent, and dirties but one skillet? This chicken Florentine by Fixer Upper star, Joanna Gaines. All it needs is a crusty loaf of bread to mop up all the sauce.
The spicy quick pickles in this recipe are the most time-intensive component of this recipe, and luckily it can be made ahead. Chicken thighs are flavored in a super-flavorful marinade that’s sweet, spicy, tangy, and acidic, like a more nuanced barbecue sauce.
All About the Pasta
This quick—and vegan—noodle salad comes by way of Hetty Lui McKinnon’s new cookbook, Tenderheart. Broiling the eggplant is a fast, indoor-friendly way to mimic the charred, smoky qualities of grilling, and the combination of salty, tangy nước chấm and fresh herbs brightens the whole dish.
This soup, which comes together in under an hour, is packed with vegetables, greens, beans, and pasta. Meanwhile, a final drizzle of pesto adds extra richness and body.
Store-bought gnocchi is the backbone of this weeknight-friendly meal, giving super-flavorful, fresh chorizo a place to shine.
Make the most of seasonal asparagus with this creamy, six-ingredient pasta. A handful of lemon zest gives these noodles a hit of bright summer flavor, while the chopped walnuts bring a very welcome crunch.
This pasta features a no-cook sauce and is served at room temperature, meaning it’s ideal for sweltering summer nights. Just remember to start macerating your fresh tomatoes at least 30 minutes before you’re ready to assemble the dish.
Vermicelli or thin rice noodles are preferred in this refreshing sesame salad, but if you're in a pinch, plain old spaghetti will work just as well.
Meet a lighter, more laid-back way to enjoy a cozy classic: In this broken lasagna, you'll toss the cooked, wide noodles with a lemony ricotta mixture and top the whole thing with sautéed asparagus and peas.
Instead of discarding the shells after peeling the shrimp, use them to make a quick, flavorful stock for boiling the pasta and emulsifying the spicy tomato sauce. For the sauce, you can use any chile paste you prefer, making this recipe easily adaptable depending on what’s in your pantry.
This chilled noodle-y number might say "scallops," but really it's just seared king oyster mushrooms, meaning this recipe is vegetarian-friendly. But if you'd like to mix things up with some grilled chicken, pork, or even real scallops, this salad will make them feel right at home.
The next time you buy a big, beautiful bunch of Swiss chard, don't toss the stalks! Save and blanch 'em for this tasty pesto that you can not only toss with pasta, but also spread on sandwiches or use as a dip.
34. Pasta Salad
Pasta salad is the definition of "summer unfussiness"—toss some pickled and cured odds and ends with noodly curlicues, some greenery, and a zingy dressing, then let it sit until you're ready to tuck in. This one tastes good warm, cold, and at room temperature.
I was an adamant hater of pasta salad until I came across this recipe. Rather than getting bogged down by a heavy binder like mayo, this pasta salad starts with the extremely concentrated acidity and sweetness from peperonata, a classic Southern Italian side dish of sweet peppers, onions, and tomatoes melted in olive oil. The result is light enough for a warm summer evening, but still extremely satisfying.
Dinner-Worthy Sandwiches
Not only is this dish super quick to make (we’re talking under 30 minutes)—it’s also affordable, thanks to canned tuna and spice-cabinet staples.
This Genius-approved cheeseburger requires just five simple ingredients—a soft hamburger roll, good-quality ground beef chuck, American cheese, and salt and pepper—and as many condiments as your heart desires.
Bagna cauda, a traditionally hot, Italian dish made from garlic and anchovies, anchors this dinner-worthy toast with its bold flavors. The smattering of crisp, fresh greens and hard-boiled eggs are just a bonus.
You know it's officially summer when you can start eating sandwiches with nothing but toasted bread, mayonnaise, and high-season tomatoes. And we certainly wouldn't say no to bringing a little bit of crispy bacon and avocado aioli into the mix.
In this Nicoise salad-turned-sandwich, tangy olives, fresh herbs, and vinaigrette mingle with olive oil-packed canned tuna to make what one reviewer called "a glorious riot of colors, flavors, and textures."
Take your passion for green goddess dressing beyond salad with this grilled chicken sandwich, which makes the perfect vehicle for this creamy, herby sauce.
Who could ignore something both fabulous and legendary? Not us. And this pan-fried provolone and salted tomato sandwich (with mayo-slathered bread, of course) is without a doubt both of those things.
"If you're looking for tuna salad, turn back now," recipe developer Sarah Jampel writes. And she's right. This healthy, wholesome salad celebrates the versatility of chickpeas by treating them like tuna salad and combining them with Greek yogurt, tahini, herbs, and alliums.
This one takes a bit of pre-planning, but once you pop frozen-and-defrosted tofu into a zesty marinade, your prep work is pretty much done. You'll soon be rewarded with a chewy, meaty, super-satisfying sandwich that's entirely vegetarian.
These cheesy vegetable quesadillas are perfect for a summer evening, perhaps after a few drinks al fresco. Filled with smoky grilled corn and sweet summer squash, plus goat cheese for tangy flavor and pepper jack for a melty kick, these quesadillas are as lazy and tasty as it gets.
Just Add Eggs
Keep these 10-minute scrambled egg tacos in your back pocket for when you've had a very long day or come home late from a night on the town. They're tasty, fast, and you can eat them with your hands, which means one less thing to clean when you're done.
When we say egg noodles here, we actually mean a flat, scrambled egg pancake with scallions, cilantro, soy sauce, and mirin, that gets sliced into strips—just like fresh pasta.
This eggy stew with a healthy sprinkle of chile flakes might be spicy enough for purgatory, but you'll be in heaven every time you make it for dinner.
What's your go-to summer dinner recipe? Tell us in the comments!
This article was originally published in 2021, but we updated it in July 2023 with even more summer dinner ideas.