Beat the summertime slump and serve nutritious, delicious meals all summer long with these healthy summer dinner recipes! Each one is easy to make and formulated to be as healthy as possible without compromising on flavor one bit. They’re kid-friendly too, so they’re great for the whole family!
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Best Summer Dinner Recipes for Busy Families
Summer can be a tricky time to meal plan for several reasons. The schedule flies out the window, it’s typically too hot to cook, and the kids are snacking all day! Once our routine disappears, we start living on quick, easy meals or takeout a little too often.
Fortunately, that doesn’t have to be the case. I’ve prepared a done-for-you four-week summer dinner plan that includes everything you need to prepare healthy, fresh meals every night of the week! It features lots of fresh summer fruits and veggies and grilling recipes to ensure you’re really making the most of the season. Plus, it was created by a registered dietitian who designed each meal to be completely balanced.
Since the planning is all done for you, it’s hands-down the easiest way to eat well all summer long! Grab your copy of the summer dinner meal plan here.
Why You’ll Love These Healthy Summer Meals
- Formulated by a Registered Dietitian to be nutritionally balanced to support your family’s needs
- Tested by kids and eaters of all ages
- Lots of fresh, summery flavors to enjoy the season’s abundance
- Cool, crisp salads to avoid turning on the oven on those hot summer nights
- Break out the grill for skewers, burgers, and more
- All recipes are quick and easy to make on busy weeknights
Healthy Summer Dinner Recipes
Set yourself up for an extra delicious summer this year with these healthy summer dinners! Below, you’ll find over 50 hearty summer salads, skewers and burgers, pasta salads, and more. Don’t forget to scroll to the end for my favorite healthier summer sides for a complete meal, or grab my summer meal plan if you prefer a done-for-you option!
Main Dishes
Grilled Chicken Strawberry Salad
Strawberry chicken salad is a summer must-have! The fresh berries pair perfectly with buttery avocado and freshly grilled chicken.
Chicken Feta Burgers
Lean chicken benefits from the fat and flavor of feta, but it’s the sweet and savory flavor of roasted garlic that does it for me. It’s so good!
Healthy Tuna Macaroni Salad
The protein in this macaroni salad makes it filling enough to serve as a complete meal on a hot day. Plus, the leftovers will last for days in the fridge!
Grilled BBQ Chicken Thighs
Summer means barbecue around here, and these marinated thighs taste amazing with a little homemade barbecue sauce on top. Such an easy chicken dinner! The leftovers make great salads and sandwiches the next day, too.
Worcestershire Sauce Burgers
“Worcestershire sauce” may be hard to pronounce, but it’s an essential ingredient in homemade burgers. It adds tons of umami flavor and transforms ordinary ground beef into something quite wonderful.
Grilled Chicken Tikka Kebabs
The spiced yogurt marinade infuses these kebabs with so much flavor, and we enjoy serving the spicy chicken with a refreshing Asian cucumber salad.
Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp Skewers
The spicy-sweet-tangy flavor of these skewers is perfect for eating on the patio on a hot summer night.
Burger Salad Bowl
Instead of grilling individual burger patties, the seasoned ground beef crumbles are easy to toss with the red onion, pickles, avocados, fresh summer tomatoes, and more.
Panera Strawberry Poppyseed Salad
This fruity salad is loaded with fresh ingredients, like fresh strawberries, pineapples, mandarins, and more. Great for meal prep, too!
Turkey Zucchini Burgers
These protein-packed ground turkey burgers are a lean way to hit your protein goal, and you won’t even taste the zucchini!
Panera Chinese Cashew Citrus Salad
The miso lime dressing really complements the fresh cucumber, cashews, pineapple, and chicken together and tastes so much like the Panera version.
Greek Lentil Salad
Lentils are one of my favorite ways to add extra protein and fiber to any dish, and they soak up all the flavor from the dressing in this Greek salad.
Panera Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich
The Med Veg sandwich is one of my favorite vegetarian fast food options, and you can easily make it yourself at home with some hummus, feta, and fresh veggies.
Healthy Chicken Caesar Salad
Who doesn’t love a classic Caesar salad? This homemade version is lighter than normal, thanks to my healthy Caesar salad dressing, and has plenty of protein from the grilled chicken.
Leftover Pulled Pork Carnitas
If you make pulled pork one night, save the leftovers for the most delicious carnitas! They’re full of citrus flavor and taste wonderful in tacos, salads, and more.
Grilled Chicken Street Tacos
Grilled chicken, homemade pico de gallo, fresh herbs, and lime juice are all you need for an easy weeknight dinner. You won’t even have to turn on the stove!
Spicy Shrimp Tacos
Arrange spicy shrimp, avocado, and a crunchy slaw into a warm tortilla and call it a day. The best part? They’re ready in just 25 minutes!
Grilled Chicken Nuggets
These unbreaded chicken nuggets are high in protein and naturally low carb, yet they taste wonderful. Serve with fries and your favorite dipping sauce!
Parmesan Crusted Cod
The crispy, crunchy breading is so tasty and the perfect contrast to the tender, mild flavor of cod.
Sheet Pan Chicken Pitas
My favorite part about this easy dinner recipe is that it all bakes together on one tray. The marinated chicken flavors the veggies, and you can fill your flatbreads right from the pan!
Steak Avocado Salad
This healthy summer salad features jalapeno, sweet corn, feta cheese, avocado, and steak all topped with the most delicious avocado green goddess dressing.
Spicy Chicken Wrap Recipe
If you love ordering Thai food, skip the takeout and make these Thai peanut chicken wraps instead. They’re incredibly flavorful and easy to make, too.
Blackened Cod Recipe
If you have 15 minutes, you have enough time to prepare this simple but memorable dish. The mixture of spices is so flavorful and really brings the cod to life!
Pesto Chicken Burgers
Pesto is folded into the ground chicken mixture, infusing every bite with an intense basil flavor. The burgers are phenomenal on buns or even served over fresh summer salads.
Chicken Mango Salad
Crispy, crunchy, fruity, spicy…this refreshing salad has it all. I find myself craving it as soon as the temperatures start to rise!
Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Skewers
Pieces of chicken breast are marinated in a homemade teriyaki sauce made with soy sauce, honey, ginger, and pineapple juice for a salty, sweet, and fruity flavor. The marinade crystallizes on the grill and tastes so good!
Healthy Turkey Wrap
These wraps taste similar to a Waldorf salad with turkey, grapes, celery, dried cranberries, and pecans in a creamy dressing.
Mediterranean Chicken Kabobs
Marinated chicken and the freshest summer veggies taste like pure summer sunshine and only require 15 minutes on the grill!
Healthy Tuna Lettuce Wraps
Soaked cashews replace the mayo in the tuna salad, making it dairy-free and full of healthy fats.
Chicken Shawarma Wrap
Chicken thighs are marinated in a savory mixture of turmeric, paprika, and cumin, then baked and served as gyros with tzatziki sauce, hummus, tomatoes, and more.
Authentic Mexican Chicken Fajitas
Load up on summer produce and protein in this savory mixture of chicken, bell peppers, and onions! Serve it with small tortillas and all the fixings.
Mediterranean Salmon
Salmon is loaded with healthy B vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, and you’ll want this delicious summer dinner to be on your menu every week!
Vegan Falafel Wrap
Homemade falafel bites are a fantastic meat alternative to serve with hummus, beets, carrots, and more in these delicious wraps.
Fish with Healthy Lemon Sauce
My dairy-free creamy lemon sauce is the perfect condiment for any white fish, including cod, tilapia, halibut, and more.
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
The chickpeas make this salad so filling and satisfying, thanks to the plant-based protein and fiber. Plus, it’s ready from start to finish in just 20 minutes!
Leftover Steak Fajitas
Enjoy steaks one night then serve them the next night with classic fajitas veggies. The homemade fajita mix adds tons of flavor without all the sodium found in store-bought mixes, too.
Beef and Quinoa Taco Bowls
The quinoa replaces rice in these hearty taco bowls, adding extra healthy fats, fiber, and protein to fuel you for lots of summer fun.
Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta
Pasta can sometimes feel too heavy for the summer, but the light, summery flavors in this recipe are perfect with a glass of white wine.
Side Dishes
Broccoli Salad without Bacon
The easiest way to eat more veggies is to toss them in a creamy, lightly sweet sauce with dried cranberries, onions, sunflower seeds, and feta. This version is always a crowd pleaser!
Healthy Dill Potato Salad
Lighten up your summer side dishes by replacing the sour cream with Greek yogurt. The dill and tangy vinegar make it taste so fresh!
Fresh nectarines, arugula, feta, and walnuts taste lovely in a homemade balsamic vinaigrette.
Blueberry Walnut Salad
A homemade lemon dressing with balsamic vinegar brings the sweet and savory flavors together and makes this quick salad taste exceptional.
Mexican Macaroni Salad
The next time you need some healthy summer salads for a potluck or party, try this recipe! The honey lime dressing has just a touch of sweetness and warm Mexican spices.
Cranberry Coleslaw No Mayo
A tangy maple Dijon yogurt sauce adds so much flavor to this slaw that you won’t even miss the mayo.
Grilled Corn Avocado Salad
This recipe is a testament to how simple ingredients can take on a new life in the right recipe. The corn, cherry tomatoes, avocados, and cheese all pop with a little lime juice and fresh cilantro!
Cucumber Noodle Salad
If you need to add more veggies to your plate, cucumber noodles are an easy way to transform this summer fave.
Chick Fil A Kale Salad
This simple kale salad tastes right at home next to your summer burgers and grilled chicken.
Asparagus Couscous Salad
Pearl couscous, sun-dried tomatoes, asparagus, chickpeas, and feta are filling enough to serve as a side dish or an easy meal when the temperatures start to spike.
Tossed Green Salad
If you need a simple side salad to pair with your favorite easy summer dinner recipes, this is my go-to! It features fresh vegetables and a homemade red wine vinaigrette that tastes great with pretty much any main dish.
Greek Quinoa Salad
Sneak quinoa into your summer salads for extra fiber, protein, and healthy fats.
Quinoa Edamame Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
Marinated quinoa salads are easy to make ahead of time and serve all week long. I love the Asian-inspired flavors in this one!
Chickpea Pesto Pasta Salad
Replace the chicken in your favorite pesto pasta salad with chickpeas for plant-based protein and lots of fiber.
Grape Quinoa Salad
The homemade orange vinaigrette is the star of this dish, adding a fresh pop to the quinoa, grapes, spinach, and almonds.
Kale Salad with Cranberries
Kale + cabbage + maple Dijon vinaigrette = the easiest way to eat your greens all summer long.
Three Bean Salad with Avocado
I grew up eating marinated bean salads at summer potlucks and BBQs, and this homemade version is a fun way to reimagine a classic in a lighter way.
Easy Asian Cucumber Salad
This super simple recipe is proof that a healthy summer meal does not have to be complicated. This recipe is made with just fresh cucumbers, onions, and a simple rice wine vinaigrette!
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- Healthy Breakfast Ideas for Kids
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Did you try any of these summer dinner recipes? Leave a comment below!
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