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Healthy Summer Dinner Ideas

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These Healthy Summer Dinner Ideas are fresh, delicious, and family-approved! Whether you choose to cook these in the kitchen or fire up the grill to cook some of the ingredients, these recipes give you more time for what really matters: family, daytime trips, and pool time.

photo collage of summer dinners

Want to incorporate the very best of my recipes into a weekly plan that includes meal prep tips and a done-for-you shopping list? Subscribe to my Classic Weekly Meal Plan and I’ll help you do just that every week with fresh and healthy recipes the entire family will love.

Speaking of, let’s get on with the summer dinner ideas so you can chill out from the heavy cooking and get on with all the hot weather festivities!

Easy Summer Dinner Recipes for Families

During the warmer months, fresh produce is abundant and ready to be used in all sorts of simple meals that both taste and look impressive. No spending half the night in the kitchen with these either, each of them quick to assemble and can be prepped ahead to save you even more time. Perfect example: our first recipe, the Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa!

sheet pan of chicken topped with avocado salsa

Fresh avocado, cilantro, marinated chicken… are you thinking what I’m thinking? This is the type of recipe you’re going to want to make often, save leftovers for salads, and maybe, just maybe… make yourself a margarita.

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bowl of rice with salmon and spicy mayo

These avocado salmon bowls drizzled with spicy mayo are everything you love about eating out but made healthy at home.

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sausages and peppers on a sheet pan

Make this easy sheet pan sausage and pepper recipe for a quick weeknight dinner with easy cleanup.

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thai chicken salad pasta

 A refreshing and delicious Thai chicken salad with pasta, fresh veggies, and crushed peanuts all tossed in homemade Peanut Dressing!

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spinach bacon frittata in a round glass dish

This Bacon and Spinach Frittata is one of those no-fuss summer dinners that you can whip up in a flash, and toss in the oven for a simple one-pan dinner.

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Want to see how some of these summer recipes come together in a video? See my favorites below:

Light Summer Meals

When the summer’s heat gets turned up we all tend to crave lighter fare such as salads, sandwiches, and grilled foods. The recipes below made great additions to your menu while keeping it light and satisfying.

grilled veggie kabobs

Perfectly grilled veggie kabobs are a perfect summer recipe that’s healthy, colorful and delicious.

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cauliflower tacos with pineapple

If thinking about tacos brings up meat-stuffed tortillas that are hard to resist, I’m here to tell you that these flavorful and incredibly easy-to-make veggie-filled tacos are both filling and worthy of taking up your Taco Tuesday menu.

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bell pepper nachos

This recipe is a lighter take on the classic dine-out meal. Whether you use ground beef, turkey, or black beans to load up your nachos, this is a super simple recipe that will satisfy your craving for a loaded chip!

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sweet and spicy mango shrimp

This light mango shrimp stir fry comes together in minutes! It’s a great dinner solution for busy summer nights!

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No-Cook Dinner Ideas for Hot Days

On hot evenings when you don’t want to turn on the stove, oven, or fire up the grill, using meal-prepped ingredients to build a salad is the perfect solution. You can use pre-cooked chicken and hard-boiled eggs prepped earlier in the week, or put the microwave to use to cook up some bacon for a salad or wrap. Here are few recipes that put these practices to the test with delicious results.

chicken and vegetables on a bed of lettuce

I love this Caprese salad recipe because it’s easy to make ahead by using up leftover chicken, making the vinaigrette ahead of time, and keeping it in the fridge until the last minute where all you have to do is dice up the avocado and dress it up!

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cobb salad lettuce wraps

Full of protein and veggies, these cobb salad lettuce wraps make a cool and refreshing summer dinner the whole family will enjoy.

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blt salad in a bowl

Crunchy bacon, lettuce, fresh tomatoes with avocado and homemade ranch everyone’s favorite bacon sandwich gets revised into this filling dinner salad.

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blt wraps on a cutting board

This BLT Lettuce Wrap is a low-carb twist on your favorite sandwich. Packed with bacon and topped with an epic homemade ranch, this is an unforgettable light Summer dinner.

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Say goodbye to boring egg salad and hello to this epic avocado egg salad recipe. Pair it with bread, over crackers or eat it straight from the bowl. It’s that good.

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Easy Summer Sides

Whether you have a few pool parties to attend and need a side dish to bring along or want something quick to assemble and serve alongside those steaks on the grill, these recipes are the epitome of fresh. Everything from salads to potatoes, these ideas are crowd pleasers and can be prepped ahead for easy assembling and serving.

watermelon feta salad in a bowl

Made with fresh mint and a homemade orange dressing this Watermelon Feta Salad is the perfect pairing for your next Summer Dinner.

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  • Sweet Potato Salad
  • Carrot Fries
  • Spiralized Zucchini and Tomatoes
  • Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
  • Baked Sweet Potatoes
  • Corn Tomato and Avocado Salad
  • Mashed Potato Bites
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Healthy Summer Dinner Ideas | Baked Sausage & Peppers

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★★★★★

4.5 from 2 reviews

Make this easy sheet pan sausage and pepper recipe for a quick weeknight dinner that’s family-approved and easy cleanup.

  • Author: Laura Fuentes
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Gluten Free

Ingredients

  • 2 red bell peppers, seeded and sliced into ½-inch strips
  • 1 medium yellow onion, peeled and sliced into ½-inch strips
  • 4 cloves sliced garlic
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 links chicken sausage, about 12 ounces

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2.  Place the peppers, onions, and garlic onto the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Toss to evenly coat the veggies and create a space in the center of the pan and add the chicken sausage links.
  3.  Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until the sausage is cooked through and the veggies tender. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and allow to rest 5 minutes before slicing the sausage and serving with peppers and onion.

Equipment

Best Grain-Free Meals on the Planet

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Kid-Friendly Knives

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Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 sausage link + 1 cup peppers and onions
  • Calories: 318
  • Sugar: 4.6
  • Sodium: 910mg
  • Fat: 19.7g
  • Saturated Fat: 4g
  • Carbohydrates: 21
  • Fiber: 3.1
  • Protein: 16.3
  • Cholesterol: 49.4

Keywords: sheet pan, summer dinner ideas, family dinner idea

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @MOMables on Instagram and hashtag it #momables

More Dinner

  • Chicken Pot Pie Soup Recipe
  • Salads without Lettuce
  • Simple Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce with Cream
  • The Best Tacos Rancheros

Reader Interactions

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Sam Hak

    July 17, 2021 at 3:58 pm

    I love the look of these recipes, and the taste even more! Thank you for providing us with these amazing recipes.

    ★★★★

    Reply
  2. Kimberly

    June 22, 2021 at 9:29 am

    OMG so many yummy dinner recipes for summer! thanks for the inspiration and dinner ideas!

    ★★★★★

    Reply

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