Get ready to savor the flavors of the season with our collection of family summer dinner recipes. From quick and easy meals to refreshing desserts, we’ve got you covered for delicious and memorable summer evenings together.
We’re sharing the best summer dinner recipes for family and friends to enjoy in your home this season!
And we’re not just talking regular burgers and hot dogs! (But, those are good, too!)
These recipes feature fresh ingredients like summer vegetables, pasta, and delicious meats. And they’re perfect for busy weeknights.
We’ve also included yummy side dishes, desserts, and drinks to pair with our main dishes and casseroles.
You’ll find everything you need to craft the perfect healthy meal for your family and dishes you’ll want to share at cookouts and potlucks.
Everyone will love these easy summer dinner recipes!
Family Summer Dinner Recipes
Sandwiches, Burgers, and Wraps
When you think of family summer dinner recipes, burgers probably come to mind.
But, there are also plenty of other great sandwich ideas to enjoy for the season.
Below are some of our favorite sandwiches, burgers, and wraps, featuring rotisserie chicken, ground beef, pork, and turkey.
You’ll find recipes like healthy chicken salad to use on your favorite bread or in lettuce wraps, juicy burger recipes, and more!
These Hawaiian Turkey Burgers feature a juicy patty glazed with teriyaki sauce and topped with melted cheese and a sweet pineapple ring. It's a delicious break from the traditional burger that will leave you wanting seconds!
These Mozzarella Stuffed Burgers feature two seasoned patties stuffed with melty cheese and grilled to perfection. It's an Italian twist on the traditional cheeseburger.
These deluxe Grilled Cheeseburger Wraps feature a savory ground beef filling and all of your favorite cheeseburger toppings wrapped in a toasted tortilla. You’ll get all the flavors of a traditional cheeseburger without the mess!
This grape and apple chicken salad is a quick and easy meal that features a creamy dressing, delicious fruit, savory chicken, and an extra special crunch. It's the best chicken salad recipe ever!
If you're a fan of the iconic plate lunch, you won't want to miss these Melty Kalua Pork Sandwiches. This mouth-watering twist on a classic will transport you straight to the islands.
Layers of meat, fresh veggies, cheese, and a special sauce make this Turkey Sandwich with Avocado a scrumptious choice for your next meal!
Meats
Your family will love these yummy meat recipes, including chicken recipes like grilled chicken breast with balsamic glaze and chicken thighs with pineapple BBQ sauce.
Beef recipes like sweet and sour meatballs with bell peppers.
And fish recipes like fish tacos with mango salsa and our soy sauce brown sugar salmon.
You'll only 3 ingredients to make these tender Crock Pot Country Style Pork Ribs. They're perfectly saucy and delicious, and couldn't be easier to throw together!
Instant Pot Sweet and Sour Meatballs feature frozen meatballs, pineapple chunks, and peppers all covered in a tangy sauce. It's an easy dinner to throw together that's perfect for a crowd!
This recipe for Crock Pot BBQ Pineapple Chicken features tender thigh meat covered in a sweet and spicy sauce. You'll only need 4 ingredients to make this dump and go dinner!
These Crockpot Asian Chicken Thighs feature juicy and rich meat covered in a brown sugar and soy sauce glaze. They are bursting with flavor and so delicious!
This soy sauce and brown sugar baked salmon recipe features a flaky fillet covered in a sweet and savory glaze. It's the easiest and tastiest salmon recipe ever!
This grilled balsamic bruschetta chicken is the perfect summer dinner, featuring a juicy chicken breast topped with melted cheese, fresh bruschetta, and a delicious balsamic glaze.
This Cafe Rio Chicken Recipe is just like you would get at the restaurant! Chicken breasts are slow-cooked in a zesty dressing and Mexican spices and the finished product is perfect in tacos, burritos, or salads.
Here are some of our favorite main dish recipes like enchiladas with white sauce, creamy avocado picante chicken and rice, balsamic chicken and veggies, and more!
You’ll find recipes for the oven and skillet, along with Instant Pot and Crock Pot recipes to keep you out of a hot kitchen.
This delicious pesto tortellini recipe is the perfect meal for pasta lovers! With tender tortellini, savory pesto, and fresh vegetables, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that you won't want to miss.
Chile and Lime Chicken Enchilada Pasta features penne pasta coated in a creamy enchilada sauce. It's the skillet version of my popular sour cream enchiladas!
This Leftover Turkey and Stuffing Casserole features juicy turkey, two kinds of squash, a creamy sauce, and a crunchy cheesy stuffing topping. It's a delicious way to use up your garden produce and is a great option for Thanksgiving leftovers!
Creamy Gnocchi with Tomatoes and Spinach looks fancy, but it couldn't be more simple! You'll have this delicious Italian dish with tender gnocchi and a rich sauce on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Cheesy Chicken, Broccoli, and Rice features fluffy rice, tender chicken, broccoli, and lots of cheese. It's the perfect dinner when you're short on time and need a quick clean up!
This Creamy Avocado Picante Chicken features tender chicken pieces covered in a creamy picante sauce, topped with sliced avocados, all served over hot rice. It's an easy dinner idea that comes together in no time!
This One Pan Balsamic Chicken and Veggies recipe features tender chicken, crisp green beans, and juicy tomatoes all covered with a tangy-sweet balsamic sauce. It's incredibly flavorful and so easy to make!
This Chicken and Asparagus Pasta Bake features tender pasta mixed with asparagus, chicken, and cheese. With just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes in the oven and you'll have a tasty dinner for your family.
Italian Ground Turkey Patties with Vegetables Provencal features seasoned ground turkey with sauteed onions, tomatoes, zucchini, and potatoes. It's a filling and flavorful dish that's healthy for you, too!
Hawaiian Haystacks feature a creamy chicken sauce served over hot rice and topped with a variety of tasty fruits, veggies, and cheeses. There may be several different variations out there, but this is the best Hawaiian Haystacks sauce ever!
Sides
Our favorite summer dinner recipes call for some delicious sides!
Below you’ll find easy and tasty side dishes ranging from hearty summer salads to vegetable side dishes, pasta dishes, and more!
This easy Broccoli Cauliflower Salad with Bacon features crisp veggies and bacon tossed with crunchy mix-ins and a sweet dressing. It's a delicious salad for your summer barbeque, picnic, or holiday get-together!
This Instant Pot Potato Salad features tender potatoes, crisp pickles, hard-boiled eggs, and a creamy dressing. It comes together in no time thanks to the Instant pot and its simple flavor is a family favorite!
This Spam Fried Rice recipe features the delicious canned meat mixed with rice, vegetables, and a salty sauce. It's an easy side dish and a great way to use up leftover rice!
Coconut rice with black beans is a rich and creamy side dish that pairs well with fish, chicken, or Mexican food. The recipe is made even easier by preparing it in a rice cooker!
This recipe for Cafe Rio Rice features fluffy white rice with a delicious cilantro lime flavor. It comes together in no time with the help of your rice cooker!
Salads
Salads with protein make quick summer dinners like our Chicken Power Bowl with Sweet Potatoes or our Shredded Chicken Café Rio Salad.
And for a simple salad, try the BLT, featuring juicy tomatoes!
This homemade Cafe Rio salad recipe features juicy shredded chicken, cilantro lime rice, and beans covered in fresh lettuce, pico de gallo, cotija cheese, and tomatillo dressing. It's incredibly flavorful and delicious!
This Chicken Power Bowl features crisp lettuce, roasted veggies, almond rice, juicy chicken, and a cilantro dressing. It's a healthy and delicious dinner!
This Spinach Strawberry Salad with Almonds features fresh greens tossed with a sweet poppyseed dressing and topped with strawberries, dried cranberries, and almonds. It's a delicious and simple salad that's great for a potluck!
Cilantro Chickpea Salad is loaded with chickpeas, avocado, tomato, cucumber, and feta, all tossed with a delicious cilantro-lime vinaigrette. It's a light and fresh salad that's perfect for your summer potluck or barbeque!
Chicken Caesar Salad with Pasta features your favorite Caesar salad with seasoned chicken, tender pasta, and lots of veggies. It's a tasty and filling salad that your family won't mind eating as the main dish!
Pasta Dishes
Here are some of our favorite pasta dishes like spaghetti with olive oil and garlic or our lemon basil pasta with fresh basil.
You’ll also find tasty pasta salad recipes like our dill pickle pasta salad with fresh herbs and cheddar cheese.
Summer Rotini Pasta Salad combines rotini pasta, fresh cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, and canned tuna or chicken. The tangy dressing makes it the perfect summer dinner or side dish.
Dill Pickle Pasta Salad features ditalini pasta, cubed cheese, a creamy dressing, and plenty of dill pickles! While some may turn up their nose at the thought of pickle pasta salad, all it takes is one bite and they'll be hooked!
This Hawaiian Mac Salad features tender noodles, grated carrots, and lots of creamy dressing. It's an authentic recipe, just like they make on the island!
This Pesto Pizza Pasta Salad features curly pasta, a savory dressing, and all of your favorite pizza toppings. It's the perfect, kid-friendly side dish to take to your next potluck or barbeque!
This Italian pasta salad is perfect for a crowd! With fresh veggies, a tangy dressing, and lots of pasta, you can serve this as a side dish at your next barbeque.
This Honey Butter Skillet Corn features two kinds of canned corn in a creamy honey butter sauce. It's a quick and simple side dish that your whole family will love!
This recipe for Baked Beans with Brown Sugar features canned pork and beans, a sweet and savory sauce, and lots of crispy bacon. They are so easy to make, you'll want to take them to every barbeque and potluck this summer!
These delicious Cowboy Baked Beans with ground beef and bacon are so easy to prepare and make the perfect side dish for BBQ. A real meat lover's treat!
Scrambled eggs with zucchini features tender sauteed zucchini, fluffy, peppery eggs, and grated Parmesan cheese. This recipe is perfect for a quick and healthy side dish.
Posh Squash is a delicious take on a traditional zucchini and yellow squash casserole. With a creamy egg filling and cheesy top, your family will want seconds and thirds of this side dish.
Raspberry Pretzel Jello Dessert is a delicious 3-layer dish that features a pretzel crust, cream cheese layer, and raspberry Jello topping. It's perfect for both barbeques and holiday dinners!
This Berry Waffle Cake features layers of cake mix waffles topped with a cream cheese filling and garnished with fresh berries. It's a light and scrumptious dessert perfect for your next patriotic party!
This sweet and creamy Jello salad features simple ingredients like raspberry gelatin, mini marshmallows, and frozen raspberries With the perfect balance of sweet and tart it's the best holiday dessert for a crowd!
These Glazed Apple Streusel Bars feature a delicious shortbread crust, spiced apple filling, streusel topping, and a sweet glaze. They taste like a piece of dutch apple pie, but only require half the work!
These Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting are the ultimate sweet treat: a moist banana-bread-type bar covered in rich cream cheese frosting. The recipe makes a big pan so it's perfect for large gatherings, or to keep for yourself!
This Peach Crisp with Oats features delicious homemade pie filling that bubbles up under a crunchy cake mix topping. It's a semi-homemade dessert that's delicious all year long!
This Cherry Bars recipe features a sugar cookie-like crust covered in lots of cherry pie filling, topped with more sweet batter and a sugar glaze. It makes a large pan of bars so it's perfect for a crowd!
This sweet and refreshing Orange Julius recipe is sure to be a hit at breakfast time! Using powdered milk will give you a frothy drink and helps use up food storage.
This Banana Smoothie with ice features fresh or frozen bananas, creamy yogurt, and sweet brown sugar. It's a tasty and refreshing drink for your breakfast or brunch!
If you've never had lemonade made from Meyer lemons, you're missing out! This recipe for Meyer Lemonade is the best out there and makes the perfect drink for a hot summer day.
FAQs
What are some vegetarian or vegan-friendly family summer dinner ideas?
You can make almost any recipe vegetarian or vegan by swapping the meat with simple substitutes like tofu or chickpeas.
There are also lots of vegan meat options you can buy from the supermarket like vegan sausage, burger patties, and chicken nuggets.
Here are some of our favorite recipes that are already vegan or vegetarian:
We’ve shared some of the best summer dinner recipes, sides, and desserts.
If you like what you saw, be sure to sign up for this 4-week meal plan featuring easy and delicious Ashcroft Family Table Recipes, delivered right to your inbox!
What did you think of these easy summer dinner ideas? Let us know in the comments!
