21 Refreshing Summer Dinner Ideas (2024)

01 of 21

Creatively Topped Burgers

Nothing says summer quite like aburger hot off the grill. But don't just top them with the same old lettuce and tomato, mix it up with fun toppings like herb butter,kimchi, or tapenade.

02 of 21

Classic Cobb Salad

For a salad that transcends the category, aclassic Cobbis a full-fledged meal. It's a great use of leftover orrotisserie chickenand looks lovely arranged on a plate.

03 of 21

Tilapia Fish Tacos with Baja Sauce

Tilapiafish tacos are the perfect way to mix up your Taco Tuesday or weeknight meal situation. They’re cool, creamy, and crunchy. The fish isblackenedin the oven, then served with tangy Baja sauce and crisp cabbage slaw. A squeeze of lime juice finishes off the tacos with just the right zing for a taste of brightness.

04 of 21

Elote (Mexican Street Corn on the Cob)

Elote is salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy in every bite. It hits all the right flavor notes, especially hot off the grill in the summer months when fresh corn is at its peak and abundantly available at every market.

05 of 21

Cold Soba Noodle Salad

Cool off withchilled soba noodles, crispy veggies, and a simple sweet, spicy, tangy, and savory dressing. Pair with fish or chicken, or eat it on its own for a simple, yet tasty dinner.

06 of 21

Fried Shrimp Po' Boy Sandwiches

ThePo' boy, a classic New Orleans sandwich, can be filled with meat and gravy, fried oysters, or delectable fried shrimp. Don't skimp on theCajun seasoning.

07 of 21

Grilled Shrimp With Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce Recipe

Grilled garlic shrimp are delicious when served with an easy butter dipping sauce.The marinade takes just a few minutes to put together, and it flavors the shrimp perfectly. The dip is a flavorful combination of butter, garlic, lemon, and a touch of hot sauce and Worcestershire.

08 of 21

Crab Cakes

When you think of summertime, you might think of the beach, and soon after,seafood.Crab cakesare always a favorite, and they're easier to make than they seem. Serve with big wedges of lemon and crab cake sauce.

09 of 21

Yum Goong (Thai Shrimp Salad)

Thaishrimp salad—also known as Shrimp Yum Goong—is a refreshing dish that can be made quickly and easily. There are many varieties to these kinds of salads, but the herbs, aromatics, and dressing stay the same. Feel free to addvermicelli noodlesto this dish as it adds more body to this salad and absorbs all the juices and dressing of the sauce very well.

10 of 21

Shrimp Boil Foil Packets

Instead of cooking ashrimp boilthe old-fashioned way—all piled into a giant pot—grill or bake individual servings in foil packets. Don't forget a sprinkle ofseafood boil seasoningand a pat of butter for each parcel.

11 of 21

Perfect Grilled Eggplant

This easy recipe uses the power of salted water (or brining) to guarantee great grilled eggplant. It's easy and adds 30 minutes to this otherwise quick recipe, but it's worth it. Serve it with a drizzle ofbalsamic vinegar, a dollop ofpesto, a spoonful ofromesco, or a scattering of crumbled feta cheese and make this simple technique a recipe of your own.

12 of 21

Easy Black Bean Salad

Black beans, corn, tomatoes,avocado, and jalapeño are tossed with a light vinaigrette for a fresh, butfilling, salad. Add cubed, grilled chicken or cooked shrimp for an extra dose of protein.

13 of 21

Homemade Hot Dogs

Have you ever wanted to make your own hot dogs from scratch? Well, they aren't as difficult to make as you might think. After all,frankfurters arenothing more than ground meat with seasonings. In just an hour, you can whip up somedelicious hot dogsin your kitchen.

14 of 21

Grilled Shrimp Salad

Cook the entire dinner on the grill—including the lettuce in this delicious salad. Romaine lettuce takes on a nice nutty flavor when cooked on the grill, the perfect complement to grilled shrimp and charred corn. The homemade avocado lime dressing and a sprinkling of cotija cheese finish off this salad beautifully.

15 of 21

Burrata Salad

Made with summery produce like fresh lettuce, herbs, juicy tomatoes, and grilled nectarines, this burrata salad is centerpiece worthy. Serve with crusty bread for a light but satisfying meal.

16 of 21

Sautéed Chayote Squash

Chayote squash is a summertime squash that's native to Mexico and is popular in Creole and Cajun cuisine. It has a firmer texture than many summer squashes, making it good for sautés.

17 of 21

Turkey, Bacon, and Avocado Club

The key to a goodclub sandwichis high quality fillings: really good sliced turkey, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, fresh veggies, and toastybread. A little mayo holds the tall sandwich together.

18 of 21

Yuca con Mojo (Yuca With Garlic Sauce)

This is aversion of yuca con mojo—yucawith garlic sauce. It's a deliciousveganCuban dish, a combination of citrus, onions, garlic, spices and — of course — yuca. A staple of the Caribbean diet and very popular in African and Asian cuisine, this tuber is usuallyavailable in large U.S. grocery stores as well, either fresh or frozen.

19 of 21

Chicken Souvlaki Gyro

This Greek chicken souvlaki gyro sandwich recipe uses fresh marinated chicken which is cooked over a hot grill and then stuffed into awarm pitaand topped withhomemade tzatziki, tomato, onion, lettuce, and fresh dill.

20 of 21

Boquerones en Vinagre (Anchovies Marinated in Vinegar)

Anchovies have a bad reputation sometimes, which isn't quite fair. In Spain, these delicious and healthy little fish are prepared in a variety of ways: salt-cured, marinated, or pickled, and evenbattered and fried. This recipe for boquerones en vinagre or pickled anchovies are typically eaten as a snack and served with analcoholic drink—sometimes as the free tapa that comes with the drink, especially in Madrid.

21 of 21

Summer Seafood Pasta Salad

There's something so swoon-worthy about a big bowl of creamy pasta salad. Take the classic pasta salad up a notch by adding fresh seafood. The creamyranch dressingpairs perfectly with crab, making this cold dish a real treat. Set it out at a potluck, grill-out, or picnic.