As the sun sets on a long summer day, the warmth lingers into the evening welcoming us to slow down and relax. But, unfortunately, you still have to make dinner, yet the thought of stepping into a sizzling, stuffy kitchen is the last thing any of us want to do when the weather gets hot. We’ve compiled 23 lazy summer dinner ideas, for when it’s too hot to cook, and when you want to keep things cool.
1. Summer Squash French Bread Pizzas
Skip the take-out with these incredibly easy-to-prepare summer squash French bread pizzas. Halve your loaf and top with thinly sliced rounds of fresh zucchini and summer squash and then sprinkle with a blend of mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Ready in just 15 minutes, we guarantee this easy summer dinner will become a part of your weekly meal rotation.
2. Spicy Corn Carbonara
Have dinner ready in under 30 minutes with this simple, satisfying spicy corn carbonara! Toss your bucatini in a dreamy, creamy sauce and then blend with a scrumptious combination of sauteed red onion, fresh corn, and crispy bacon.
3. Easy Sheet Pan Shrimp Fajita Recipe
Tossing dinner on a sheet pan can take the work out of dinner prep! Easy sheet pan shrimp fajitas is a healthy and delicious meal ready for you in just 20 minutes! Combine your seasoned shrimp and freshly sliced veggies on one sheet and bake until cooked. Serve on warm tortillas.
4. Sheet Pan Gnocchi with Cherry Tomatoes and Mozzarella
Sheet pan gnocchi with cherry tomatoes and mozzarella just screams summer with its vibrant red and oranges hues. This sheet pan dinner couldn’t be easier! Toss your uncooked gnocchi, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella in oil, and bake until cooked. Drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve on a bed of leafy greens.
5. Ten Minute Oven Baked Tostadas
Have dinner on the table in a snap with this easy oven-baked tostada recipe. Start by lightly brushing oil on pre-made corn tortillas, then bake in the oven until crisp. Top you crispy corn tortillas with your favorite tostada toppings! Enjoy!
6. Grilled Mozzarella Sandwich
Prepare these easy weeknight grilled mozzarella sandwiches right inside your toaster oven or panini maker. Spread pre-made or homemade pesto on toasted sourdough, then top with fresh mozzarella and sliced tomatoes and red peppers.
7. Honey Pineapple Salmon
Honey pineapple salmon is just as vibrant and tasty, as one would imagine! This summery meal is light and refreshing, yet packs a punch in the flavor department with its sweet and tangy notes from the exotic flavors of pineapple blended with luscious honey.
8.Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats
Looking for a simple weeknight dinner that can be prepared in minutes, that’s jam-packed with flavor? Look no further than buffalo chicken zucchini boats! Simply grab and shred a cooked rotisserie chicken, coat in a creamy, spicy buffalo sauce, then pile it in hollowed zucchini halves. Top your buffalo chicken zucchini boats with shredded cheese, and ranch dressing.
9. Grilled Cheese Hot Dogs
Grilled cheese hot dogs combine two kid-friendly weeknight dinner favorites into one delicious summery meal that everyone can agree on. Butter your hot dog rolls and sprinkle with cheddar cheese, then add your favorite grilled hot dogs to complete this tasty laid back treat.
10. Easy Rotisserie Chicken Tacos
Kick Taco Tuesday up a notch with these addicting easy rotisserie chicken tacos. Shred a cooked rotisserie chicken, and then toss in your choice of spicy, refreshing salsa. Pile the seasoned chicken into flour tortillas and sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake until crisp and melty.
11. Beef Taco Salad
Taco lovers will want to jump on this easy summer recipe! Beef taco salad is the perfect summer dinner for its simplicity, and out-of-this-world taste. Ground beef is smothered in a creamy blend of salsa and sour cream, then tossed with healthy refreshing veggies, and topped with Doritos for some crunchy goodness.
12. BLT Summer Roll Recipe With Avocado
Take a break from the heat when you enjoy BLT summer roll for dinner! This simple lettuce wrap offers a unique and refreshing twist on the traditional BLT. Bacon, lettuce, and tomato are wrapped in a rice wrapper along with tender avocado slices for a quick and easy low carb meal.
13. Healthy Chicken Salad Stuffed Avocados
Lighten up your summer weeknight dinners with healthy chicken salad stuffed avocados. Tender avocado halves are stuffed with a delicious blend of shredded chicken smothered in a luscious greek yogurt sauce for a quick and easy no-cook dinner everyone will love.
14. Zucchini Pad Thai
Enjoy a refreshing take on classic pad thai with healthy zucchini pad thai. Spiralized zucchini, yellow squash, red pepper, onion, and carrots are tossed together in a tantalizing sauce. This delicious summer main course is guaranteed to be a mega-hit with the family when it gets hot outside.
15. Perfect One-Pot Pasta For A Busy Night
Our one-pot pasta is perfect for those busy summer nights when you don’t want to dirty a ton of dishes or spend too much time in a hot kitchen. To enjoy this quick and easy pasta dish, simply throw all the ingredients into one pot and let it do its thing!
16. Simple Instant Pot Chicken Thighs (Frozen Or Fresh)
If the thought of turning on the oven during a heatwave, make you say, “Ugh!” Then turn on your instant pot instead, for a quick dinner that won’t heat up the kitchen. Our simple, instant pot chicken thighs offer up the juiciest and most tender chicken in a snap for those hot, busy weeknights. And the best thing about this instant pot recipe is that it works for both fresh and frozen chicken thighs.
17. Copycat PF Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Brittany Baxter
In the mood for an easy, healthy, low-carb, invigorating Asian inspired dish? Grab some butter lettuce, and ground chicken and get ready to say “bye-bye,” to your late-night take-out cravings. Our copycat PF Chang’s lettuce wraps combine everything you love about this iconic dish! Tender ground chicken is smothered in a deliciously addicting hoisin sauce and served atop tender, sweet butter lettuce, taco-style.
18. Easy One-Pan Caprese Chicken
Fans of the classic Italian-style entree, Caprese, or Caprese salad will adore this hearty, tasty twist on this simple summery fare. Our easy one-pan Caprese chicken is pan-seared, and placed in the oven for a melty cheesy finish and adorned with fresh Roma tomatoes, basil, and a drizzle of sweet, tangy balsamic glaze.
19. Pan-Seared Scallops
Treat yourself one lazy summer evening to an elegant dish of pan-seared scallops, paired with a glass of wine such as a light chardonnay that will complement the subtle sweetness of delicate pan-seared scallops. Before cooking these tender beauties, you’ll want to read up on some helpful tips to get the most out of your elegant scallop dish.
20. Delicious Garlic Butter Salmon In Foil
Foil pack dinners are an effortless way to feed the fam on a lazy summer evening, and our delicious garlic butter salmon in foil holds no exception. Baked in under half-an-hour this uncomplicated meal will have your family singing your praises.
21. Broccoli Cauliflower Rice Chicken Casserole
Lazy casserole or dump dishes may not be the prettiest meals, but they all have one thing in common, they’re easy peasy and perfect for a no-fuss summer meal. Check out this broccoli cauliflower rice chicken casserole! Not only is it divine, but it’s also gluten-free and low-carb, making it the perfect summer dish for those lazy nights.
22. Delicious Air Fryer Chicken Tenders
Another way to beat the summer heat at dinner time is to utilize your air fryer for quick, healthier alternative meals that won’t weigh you down. If you have a picky eater on your hands, try serving up some of our delicious air fryer chicken tenders, alongside a simple weeknight summer side dish.
23. Greek-Style Tuna Salad
Unlike your ordinary tuna salad, this Greek-style tuna salad pulls in Greek-inspired flavors without the use of mayonnaise. Instead, this gloriously simple summer salad is chockful for fresh crunchy cucumbers, plump cherry tomatoes, and kalamata olives and tossed in a light dressing of olive oil and lemon juice.
