READ MORE
25 Healthy & Easy Summer Dinner Recipes
July 30, 2024
With the summer heat in full-swing, there is nothing better than a simple, easy, and healthy dinner recipe that leaves you with less time spent in the kitchen and more time spent outside enjoying the summertime sunshine. These 25 Healthy & Easy Summer Dinner Recipes are packed with healthy ingredients and delicious flavors. From the best grill-friendly recipes, to perfectly-cooked seafood recipes, and delicious vegetarian dinners, this roundup has something for everyone!
The Key to the Perfect Summer Recipes
Share With a Friend
When it comes to making the perfect summertime recipes, it comes down to a few things. First, it needs to be light and refreshing. With the weather hot and sticky this time of year, the last thing that I find myself craving is a hearty and heavy meal. That’s why I love prioritizing recipes that are light and refreshing while still being perfectly filling, like my Summer Citrus Salad or my Easy Grilled Bang Bang Corn.
Second, the key to a perfect summer recipe is that it doesn’t take a lot of time to prepare. I don’t know about you, but with the long summer days, I find myself wanting to spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside playing with my boys. That’s why I love recipes like My Favorite Crispy Chicken Milanese or my Walnut Pesto Pasta that come together in 30 minutes or less!
The Best Grill-Friendly Recipes
In the summertime, I love breaking out the grill. These recipes are perfectly grill-friendly and are great for a backyard BBQ, Fourth of July celebration, or anytime that you’re craving tender, juicy, grilled meat.
1) Ultimate Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
There is no dish more tender and flavorful than grilled chicken that's marinated in a delicious sauce and grilled to perfection. These are the Ultimate Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers, and they are perfect for serving at your next backyard party or summertime event!
Get the recipe
2) Grilled Lemon Salmon Skewers
These are my tender and juicy Grilled Lemon Salmon Skewers and they are the only grilled salmon recipe that you need, this summer! They come together with a delicious spice blend and slices of red onion and fresh lemon for a light, refreshing, better-for-you protein.
Get the recipe
3) Grilled Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs
One of my go-to summer recipes, these Grilled Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs are tender, juicy, and practically melt in your mouth. The chicken comes together with a marinade of protein-packed greek yogurt, lemon juice and zest, fresh garlic, and a medley of delicious seasonings for a burst of flavor in every bite. And, if this recipe couldn't get any better, it can be prepared two different ways: on the grill, or in the air-fryer!
Get the recipe
Light & Refreshing Chicken Recipes
Craving a light and refreshing chicken recipes? These recipes are perfect for a weeknight dinner, and also make great leftovers for a delicious, summertime lunch (best enjoyed in the backyard with a glass of wine in hand!)
4) My Favorite Crispy Chicken Milanese
Chicken Milanese is a classic summertime dinner that pairs crispy, breaded chicken with a light and refreshing arugula salad for the perfect balanced meal. This is My Favorite Crispy Chicken Milanese, and it comes together in just 30 minutes, for the perfect Italian-inspired dinner made in minutes.
Get the recipe
5) Summertime Chicken Nachos with Corn Salsa
These crispy, loaded Summertime Chicken Nachos with Corn Salsa are gluten-free and perfect for serving a crowd… or, enjoying all on your own! This recipe is a collaboration between myself and the one-and-only "Chefbae" (aka TikTok's favorite celebrity private chef) and we know you're going to love it.
Get the recipe
6) Healthy Chicken Enchiladas
When you're craving warm and cozy comfort food, nothing satisfies more than a plate of creamy chicken enchiladas. I mean, what could be better than rolled tortillas, stuffed with melted cheese, onions, garlic, and perfectly-tender shredded chicken, and then smothered in salsa? These are my Healthy Chicken Enchiladas, and they come together with minimal ingredients and prep, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoyed a delicious, comforting meal with your loved ones!
7) Healthy Oven Baked Chicken Tacos
If "Taco Tuesday" is a staple in your household, then you will love this delicious, crispy taco recipe that is bursting with flavor… and is made with healthy ingredients. My Healthy Oven Baked Chicken Tacos are crispy, crunchy, and loaded with tender chicken and shredded cheese for a recipe that is reminiscent of your fast food favorites. Plus, this recipe is best served with my easy homemade dipping sauce that is loaded with protein and makes these tacos even more irresistible.
Get the recipe
8) One-Pan “Marry Me” Chicken Orzo
Tender chicken breasts paired with a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce and hearty orzo is such a good combination, it'll make you want to marry the person who made it for you! Introducing my One-Pan "Marry Me" Chicken Orzo, an easy, delicious take on the classic "Marry Me" chicken. This dish is the perfect weeknight dinner: it comes together with just one pan and and in a matter of minutes, making it the perfect cozy and comforting weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe
9) One Pan Saucy Coconut Chicken
Tender chicken meets a creamy coconut milk sauce for a match made in literal heaven. Introducing my One Pan Saucy Coconut Chicken, a simple, easy dinner that comes together in just 20 minutes. It's filled with tons of herbs and spices for flavor that packs a punch in every bite… and gets better with time. This is the perfect recipe to meal-prep at the beginning of the week, so you can have a delicious, better-than-takeout meal ready in minutes!
Get the recipe
Perfectly-Cooked Seafood Recipes
There’s something about seafood and the summertime that comes together like bread and butter. These seafood recipes are light, easy, healthy, and bursting with delicious flavors.
10) Easy Baja Fish Tacos (Not Fried!)
A delicious fish taco makes for the ultimate summertime meal. These are my Easy Baja Fish Tacos, and they are the only fish taco recipe that you need. Crispy flour tortillas, topped with a protein-packed homemade avocado crema, a crunchy cabbage slaw, and tender bites of seasoned baja fish, these tacos truly have it all. Plus, they're pan-fried, not deep-fried, making them a better-for-you take on the classic baja fish taco!
Get the recipe
11) Easy Salmon Piccata
This Easy Salmon Piccata is guaranteed to become your new favorite salmon recipe. Made from a tender, pan-cooked salmon, paired with a creamy lemon-butter-caper sauce, this recipe practically melts in your mouth. And the best part? It comes together in just 20 minutes, making it the simplest and easiest weeknight dinner.
Get the recipe
12) Healthy Spring Roll Salad
If you are on the hunt for the perfect summer salad, then look no further because this is it. My Healthy Spring Roll Salad is crunchy, delicious, and has all of the flavors and textures that you love about traditional spring rolls, minus the wrapper. It's the perfect salad to take on-the-go, and comes together in less than half the time it takes to make traditional spring rolls. Plus, it's naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and can easily be made vegan-friendly, too!
Get the recipe
13) Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon
Tender, juicy salmon fillets stuffed with a medley of cream cheese, spinach, and parmesan cheese is truly a match made in heaven. And, all of these ingredients come together in my Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon, aka the ultimate weeknight dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes. This recipe is such a fun and delicious way to prepare salmon that is perfect for the whole family!
Get the recipe
14) The Ultimate Shrimp Ceviche
Bright, refreshing meals that come together in 30 minutes is what summertime dreams are made of. And when it comes to a dish that checks all of those boxes, no dish does it better than ceviche. This is The Ultimate Shrimp Ceviche recipe, and is loaded with fresh herbs, zesty citrus, and juicy shrimp, for a dish that you won't be able to get enough of!
Get the recipe
15) Healthy Shrimp Fajita Bowls
A weeknight dinner that's healthy, vibrant, bursting with flavor, and comes together in only 30 minutes? Sign me up! My Healthy Shrimp Fajita Bowls are full of tender veggies, juicy shrimp, fluffy rice, and my signature spice blend that brings this recipe together. Serve it as a bowl, or wrap it up in some tortillas for a delicious taco recipe! No matter which way you go, you can't go wrong with this perfect weeknight dinner recipe.
Get the recipe
16) Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos
Juicy, perfect shrimp tucked into a warm, grain-free tortilla and slathered with a creamy mango-avocado salsa? Tell me how it could get better than that! These 10 Minute Air Fryer Shrimp Tacos are truly the taste of summer. They're packed with protein, tons of flavor, and a homemade salsa that is so good, you'll want to eat it with a spoon! This recipe is a collaboration with my friend Olivia, and we know that you are going to love it.
Get the recipe
17) 12 Minute Citrus Broiled Salmon Filet
If you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner recipe that is also packed with flavor, then look no further because this is it! My 12 Minute Citrus Broiled Salmon Filet comes together with minimal prep, and is one of the best salmon recipes you will make, this year. It's seasoned with tender baked slices of citrus, fresh herbs, and a seasoning blend that makes this salmon flaky, delicious, and practically melt-in-your-mouth. What could be better than that?!
Get the recipe
Vegetarian-Friendly Dinner Recipes
Looking for a light and easy vegetarian-friendly dinner? These recipes are packed with so much flavor, you won’t even miss the meat!
18) Walnut Pesto Pasta with Crunchy Garlic Breadcrumbs
Light and refreshing walnut pesto comes together with tender pasta and the perfect breadcrumb topping for the ultimate summer pasta recipe! My Walnut Pesto Pasta with Crunchy Garlic Croutons is simple, easy, no-fuss, and is sure to become a staple recipe in your household, this summer!
Get the recipe
19) Easy Maroulosalata Salad (Kokkari Copycat)
There is nothing better than a bright and refreshing Greek-style salad. Filled with crisp lettuces, bright herbs, and a creamy feta cheese dressing, Maroulosalata, aka a Greek lettuce salad, is the definition of just that. My Easy Maroulosalata Salad is a simple and healthy take on this traditional Greek recipe, and is a riff off of my favorite salad from famed San Francisco-based restaurant, Kokkari. It comes together in just a few minutes, and is perfect as an appetizer or as a main course!
Get the recipe
20) Summer Citrus Salad with Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette (Erewhon Copycat)
This bright and vibrant Summer Citrus Salad with Lemon-Shallot Vinaigrette is filled with oranges, grapefruit, and a blend of three crisp lettuces for the ultimate summertime salad. It's a copycat of a recipe from the popular Los Angeles health food store, Erewhon, and is perfect for cooling down on those warm summer days!
Get the recipe
21) Easy Kale Salad with Parmesan and Lemon-Basil Dressing
A refreshing kale salad is the perfect dish anytime of day. Whether you're serving it alongside a warm and cozy salmon or enjoying it on its own, a good kale salad is a classic recipe that can be enjoyed so many ways. This is my Easy Kale Salad with Parmesan and Lemon-Basil dressing, and it may just be the best kale salad that you ever eat. Plus, it comes together in just 15 minutes, making it perfect to whip up when you want a salad that's even better than that one famous salad chain (you know which one!)
Get the recipe
Healthy Meat Lovers Recipes
And in case you ARE creating a meat-centric recipe, you will love these options. From the juiciest steak to the most delicious pulled pork, there’s truly something for everyone!
22) Easy Steak Tacos with Corn Salad
My Easy Steak Tacos with Corn Salsa are truly the perfect summertime taco recipe. They come together with a juicy skirt steak and a creamy, protein-packed corn salsa that is light, refreshing, and perfect for those warm summer days. Enjoy these tacos poolside (and with a beer in-hand) for the ultimate warm weather treat!
Get the recipe
23) Easy Oven-Baked Tri-Tip Roast
If you're looking for a steak recipe that is juicy, tender, and practically melts in your mouth, then look no further than this one! My Easy Oven-Baked Tri-Tip Roast is perfectly cooked, perfectly delicious, and is seasoned with my signature spice blend that is truly crave-worthy. It doesn't get any better than this! I got this recipe from my mom, who made this all the time growing up, and I can't wait to share it with you (along with some AMAZING ways to serve it). This is a recipe you'll hang onto for ages!
Get the recipe
24) Perfectly Juicy Turkey Sliders
A buttery, golden bun, filled with tender meat and all the fixings is what makes sliders one of the best appetizers, easy dinners, or game day recipes. Introducing my Perfectly Juicy Turkey Sliders, made healthier with ground turkey and better-for-you ingredients. This is a recipe straight from my debut cookbook, LOVE TO EAT, and has become so popular with my readers that I knew I needed to share it with you, too!
Get the recipe
25) Easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches
These Easy Instant Pot Pulled Pork Sandwiches are perfect for feeding a crowd! The pork shoulder is tender, juicy, and pairs perfectly with the crunchy slaw. And, when it's topped off with a dollop of barbecue sauce and sandwiched between two fluffy brioche buns? It's the perfect, melt-in-your-mouth sandwich that everyone will enjoy!
Get the recipe
If you decide to make any of these gut-healthy recipes, please be sure to leave a comment and rating below! And since I practically live on Instagram, be sure to tag me in your creations so I can see them and repost on my IG stories! Enjoy! xx
WHAT DID YOU THINK?
Rate + Review