Food Quick & Easy 45 Easy Summer Dinner Recipes By Midwest Living editors Midwest Living editors Midwest Living's experienced editors create best-in-class travel, lifestyle, food, home and garden content you won't find anywhere else. We're loudly, proudly Midwestern, and we're passionate about helping our audience explore and create through award-winning storytelling. Midwest Living's Editorial Guidelines Updated on July 12, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Carson Downing Relax and enjoy the taste of summer in these easy recipes, including fried fish, veggie gyros, grilled chicken, homemade pizza and main-dish salads. 01 of 46 Fried Trout with Cherry-Pecan Salsa Carson Downing This quick summer dinner—ready in just 30 minutes—shines because of its salsa, a zesty blend of cherries, pecans, red onions, onion, jalapeño and cilantro. Fish Recipes for Dinner Tonight View Recipe 02 of 46 Parmesan Polenta with Roots and Shoots Brie Passano The terms polenta, grits and mush generally refer to the same thing—coarse-ground cornmeal, simmered in liquid until thickened and creamy. This recipe uses a slow, no-stir soaking method, leaving your hands free to roast beets, dress them in balsamic vinegar, and rinse a fistful of summer greens and herbs. View Recipe 03 of 46 Coconut Milk Shrimp with Jalapeño-Peach Cornbread EE Berger The flavors of this dish might seem surprising, but they go together beautifully for a creative summer supper by Midwest chef Abra Berens. Michigan Chef Abra Berens' New Cookbook Showcases Midwest Fruits View Recipe 04 of 46 Chermoula Halibut Skewers Carson Downing Perfectly flaky fish, tender zucchini and not-mushy tomatoes shine in this herbaceous kebab recipe. View Recipe 05 of 46 Succotash Salad with Smoked Trout Brie Passano We paired succotash—a blend of squash, sweet corn and lima beans—with smoked fish and tender lettuce for a light summer meal. View Recipe 06 of 46 Summer Chicken Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette Carson Downing Butter lettuce, poached chicken, green beans, avocado, berries, chives and basil combine for a colorful, filling summer salad. Douse with berry-pink vinaigrette for extra zip. View Recipe 07 of 46 Rajas with Corn Tacos Brie Passano In Spanish, the word raja can mean slice. In Mexican kitchens, it's also the shorthand name for a taco filling made of charred poblano peppers, thinly cut and steeped in cream. Some cooks add corn kernels, a happy harvest-season pairing that brings sweetness to balance the smoke and spice. Sizzling Mexican and Tex-Mex Recipes View Recipe 08 of 46 Cornmeal-Crusted Picnic Chicken with Blueberry Mostarda Brie Passano Dredged in cornmeal and oven-baked, this naturally gluten-free "fried" chicken keeps its crunch longer, so it's perfect for toting on summer outings. Take along a jar of tangy mostarda—Italian fruit "mustard," or in this case, blueberries simmered with wine, mustard seeds and black pepper. View Recipe 09 of 46 Good Afternoon Burger Kelsey Hansen This recipe comes from Mustard Seed Kitchen in Chicago, where chef Erick Williams serves burgers that remind him of his childhood—thick, juicy and grilled. You'll want to make the pickle mayo on the repeat! Grill Your Biggest, Best Burger Yet with Chicago Chef Erick Williams View Recipe 10 of 46 Chipotle Shrimp Scampi Jay Wilde This south-of-the-border variation on a classic Italian-American dish has a little smoky heat. It's a quick weeknight dinner, served over hot rice. View Recipe 11 of 46 Wine-Marinated Grilled Chicken Breasts Rachel Marek / Kelsey Moylan An easy marinade that's seasoned with Italian herbs and garlic makes this chicken a must at your next backyard cookout. Fast-and-Easy Grilling Recipes View Recipe 12 of 46 Mushroom-Arugula Pizza Carson Downing Top purchased fresh pizza dough with fresh mushrooms and peppery arugula for an easy upgrade to pizza night. Homemade Pizza Recipes View Recipe 13 of 46 Birchwood BLT Carson Downing Summer's greatest hits—heirloom tomatoes, basil and sweet corn— combine in in what Tracy Singleton, owner of the Birchwood Cafe in Minneapolis, calls "a kitchen sink sandwich." View Recipe 14 of 46 Pesto Veggie Gyros Jason Donnelly Halloumi, veggie kabobs and flatbreads all get a turn on the grill and are paired with tangy pesto vinaigrette for a fast, warm-weather supper. View Recipe 15 of 46 Vietnamese Grilled Eggplant Carson Downing Eat this peak-summer dish as a side or a meatless main. Eggplant and bell peppers are grilled au naturel—all the fun comes in the finish, when the vegetables are showered in mint, basil and peanuts and drizzled liberally with a sauce called nuoc cham. Top Vegetarian Recipes View Recipe 16 of 46 Bean and Cheese Pupusas Carson Downing A papusa is a flat, pan-fried pocket of corn dough traditionally stuffed with cheese, beans or meat. Top this hearty Salvadoran staple with mild salsa and curtido (a tangy cabbage slaw). View Recipe 17 of 46 Grilled Halibut with Watermelon Salsa Brie Passano A bright and fruity salsa dresses up simple grilled fish in this easy, healthful summer dinner. View Recipe 18 of 46 Mojo Pork Chops with Fruit Salsa Carson Downing Mojo is a Caribbean marinade made with citrus and garlic. If this jumbo chop cut dwarfs your appetite, cut the meat from the bone and share. The peppy pineapple and mango salsa almost hogs the spotlight—it's good enough to eat like a salad. View Recipe 19 of 46 Fresh Tomato Tart Rachel Marek / Kelsey Moylan Team garden-ripe tomatoes with fresh basil to make this wonderfully cheesy tart. Serve as an appetizer or a meatless main dish. View Recipe 20 of 46 Grilled Watermelon and Arugula Salad Brie Passano Meat often gets all the attention during grill season, but don't discount fruits and veggies when creating summer salads. Heat from the grill draws out moisture and intensifies watermelon's sweet flavor (especially when fruit is rubbed with a sugar mixture!). Set a grilled wedge atop a bed of arugula, top with blue cheese and hazelnuts and drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil. Delicious Summer Salad Recipes View Recipe 21 of 46 Grilled Fish with Lime and Tarragon At Angry Trout Cafe in Grand Marais, Minnesota, this grilled fish is often served as a salad, atop a seasonal blend of lettuce, veggies and fruits. But the fish is equally delicious on its own. View Recipe 22 of 46 Chipotle-Maple Chicken Thighs We won't mince words: This is juicy, spicy, sticky, glorious barbecued chicken. One of the secrets? Chicken thighs. They cook fast, like breasts, but they have richer flavor and don't dry out. And nutritionally speaking, the two are more similar than you'd think. Chicken Thigh Recipes to Try Tonight View Recipe 23 of 46 Arugula-Lentil Salad with Poached Eggs Carson Downing When it's too hot for lentil soup, put the quick-cooking pulse to good use in this nutritious, meat-free salad. View Recipe 24 of 46 Laap Tofu Carson Downing For a change in routine, try this light, herby ground meat or tofu salad that's eaten across Thailand. It's traditionally scooped with rice or lettuce. View Recipe 25 of 46 Chicken Shawarma with Israeli Salad Carson Downing Tuesday can have tacos. Make Saturday shawarma night, with a warm pita wrapped around spice-crusted chicken thighs, parsley-flecked Israeli salad and a swoop of the creamiest tahini. View Recipe 26 of 46 Smoked Barbecue Ribs Rachel Marek / Kelsey Moylan Minneapolis amateur barbecue competitor David Fries shares his recipe for succulent smoked ribs. View Recipe 27 of 46 Mango Toast with Prosciutto Brie Passano Layers of cream cheese, mango, prosciutto and honey on this toast deliver an authentically sweet-savory punch. Enjoy as a light dinner or appetizer. Easy Appetizers for Summer Parties View Recipe 28 of 46 Cajun West African Grilled Chicken in Tomato Sauce Carson Downing At Okra African Grill, this chicken is served bowl-style, with sautéed or grilled seasoned bell peppers, as well as fried sweet plantains. View Recipe 29 of 46 Squash Blossom Pizza with Honey and Ricotta Blaine Moats The voluptuous blossoms that eventually turn into zucchini, pumpkins or other squash have a delicate flavor that plays well with herbs and mild cheese. Buy them at summer farmers markets or snip them in your garden to try on this beautiful, delicious pizza. View Recipe 30 of 46 Coffee and Spice Grilled Ribeye Carson Downing Take your steak to new heights with this earthy, coffee-infused rub, and fight the urge to trim too much fat away. Fat dripping into the fire triggers smoke, which gives it a major flavor boost. View Recipe 31 of 46 Lemon Shrimp Pasta with Wilted Arugula Carson Downing Packed with fresh veggies and hearty shrimp, this fast, satisfying recipe plates up nicely on a warm summer evening. Easy Shrimp Recipes View Recipe 32 of 46 Citrus-Date Salad Paul Lowe This fruit-forward salad pairs perfectly with grilled chicken or pork tenderloin. The citrus juices mingle with the oil as you eat, so you don't even have to add dressing. View Recipe 33 of 46 Tuna and White Bean Salad with Lemon Blaine Moats Pair high-quality canned tuna with cannellini beans and herbs for a summer salad as light and fresh and the Mediterranean. Great Ways to Use Canned or Dry Beans View Recipe 34 of 46 Watermelon Poke Bowl Brie Passano This version of a Hawaiian poke bowl swaps marinated watermelon for the raw fish. It's an incredibly light and fresh summer dinner—and so pretty! View Recipe 35 of 46 Chip-Crusted Chicken Tenders Tortilla chips provide the crispy coating for these kid-friendly chicken tenders. Serve with a ranch-Sriracha mixture or honey mustard. View Recipe 36 of 46 Jamaican Pork Tenderloin with Broccoli-Peach Slaw Broccoli slaw mix is the quick cheat in this colorful, weeknight-simple recipe that's festive enough to serve to friends. Our Best Pork Recipes View Recipe 37 of 46 Pineapple Chicken Stir-Fry Garden-fresh veggies and juicy pineapple give classic stir-fry a seasonal refresh. For an easy substitute, switch the chicken for thinly sliced boneless pork or peeled, deveined medium shrimp. View Recipe 38 of 46 Gazpacho Verde Andy Lyons Gazpacho Verde earns its name: Every ingredient in the recipe is green. Summer Soup Recipes View Recipe 39 of 46 Mango-Barbecue Fish Tacos Fresh fruit and bottled barbecue sauce lend sassy sweetness to low-cal, vitamin-rich grilled fish tacos. Great Taco Recipes to Try Tonight View Recipe 40 of 46 Mustardy Grilled Corn and Sausage Kabobs With just 5 ingredients and ready in less than 30 minutes, this colorful, family-friendly meal is sure to earn a spot in your summer weeknight dinner rotation. View Recipe 41 of 46 Paella-Style Rice with Ham and Shrimp Ham stands in for sausage in this one-skillet dinner inspired by traditional Spanish paella. Sop up the juices with warm crusty bread. View Recipe 42 of 46 Caribbean White Fish with Mango-Orange Relish Lightly pan-fried white fish gets a refreshing lift from a sweet confetti of oranges and chopped mango. Pair with rice or couscous for an easy meal. View Recipe 43 of 46 Sloppy Joes Skip the canned stuff and make this childhood favorite from scratch. Our simple recipe is just a starting point; try one of our variations or experiment with seasonings. View Recipe 44 of 46 Chicken Sausage and Peppers Pair this hearty meat-lovers' dish with quinoa or whole wheat couscous and a crisp lettuce salad for a well-rounded meal. Chicken-apple sausage lends a pleasant sweetness to this dish, but you can take it in a kickier, more savory direction with hot Italian or roasted garlic sausage. View Recipe 45 of 46 Vietnamese Shrimp and Noodle Bowls Jay Wilde These bowls check all the boxes with layers of flavors, textures and temperatures. Grab your chopsticks and dig in! View Recipe 46 of 46 Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken Herbed lemon marinade cooks down with honey to a glossy, gorgeous glaze in our Lemon-Herb Grilled Chicken recipe. View Recipe Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit