These healthy summer recipes are perfect for hot weather! Try BBQ foil packs, salads, burgers, no-cook meals and more summer dinner ideas.
These summer dishes are my favourites to turn to when the weather gets super nice. They’re fresh and filling, and will make you want summer to last all year long.
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Healthy Summer Recipes
Summer has to be one of everyone’s favourite seasons and for good reason: the produce is plentiful, the days are longer and you can easily eat food cooked on the BBQ just about any time you want! It’s one of my fave seasons for the food alone. I just love a delicious BBQ pizza or good ole fashioned burger, and veggies in a salad just taste way fresher. Don’t knock a summer slow cooker recipe, either, to help keep the kitchen cool!
Hopefully you’ll find a couple of yummy summer meal ideas to work into your rotation. Keep reading for my favourites below and don’t forget to check out my best summer sides post for some delicious recipes to accompany these great mains!
Summer Show Stoppers
These healthy summer dinners are going to be a hit at your next outdoor gathering! I literally recommend trying every recipe. I think you’ll love them all – I know I do!
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
This Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad is perfect for summer with charred corn, black beans and a delicious creamy dressing!
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Spicy Shrimp Stacks with Mango Salsa
These Spicy Shrimp Stacks are a fun twist on the spicy California roll topped with fresh guacamole, bang bang sauce and homemade mango salsa.
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Copycat Chili’s Margarita Grilled Chicken
This Chili’s Margarita Grilled Chicken is the perfect copycat recipe topped with shredded cheese, fresh salsa and all the fixings.
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Baked Pesto Chicken Dinner {Sheet Pan}
This cheesy Baked Pesto Chicken dinner with potatoes and salad is made on a sheet pan for easy cleanup. Plus, it’s ready in 40 minutes!
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Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps
These Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps are made with tons of healthy veggies, vermicelli noodles and an easy coconut-peanut dipping sauce.
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Greek Hasselback Chicken {Low-Carb}
This Greek Hasselback Chicken is a low-carb recipe marinated in lemon and oregano, stuffed with colourful veggies then topped with feta.
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Grilled Steak Gorgonzola Flatbread
This Grilled Steak Gorgonzola Flatbread is a lighter dish made with gorgonzola cheese and fresh veggies that's ready in just 30 minutes!
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Whole Wheat Summer Pesto Pasta {One-Pot Meal}
This Whole Wheat Summer Pesto Pasta is the perfect one-pot meal that’s great for meal prep and batch cooking during a busy workweek!
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Shrimp Salad {No Cook Dinner Idea}
This Shrimp Salad is the BEST no cook dinner idea for summer – turn it into a pasta salad or serve in brioche rolls for a filling meal.
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Sticky Sriracha Meatball Lettuce Wraps
These Sriracha Meatball Lettuce Wraps are a super easy dinner that come together in 30-minutes – plus the meatballs are freezer-friendly!
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Southwest Chicken Foil Packets + Veggies {No Dishes!}
These Southwest Chicken Foil Packets with Veggies are a tasty BBQ idea. Throw everything in a foil packet and say goodbye to dirty dishes!
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Roasted Tomatoes with Pesto via The Endless Meal
These roasted tomatoes with pesto are a simple Italian-inspired appetizer or side dish. Ripe tomatoes are stuffed with basil pesto, topped with parmesan, and baked until bubbly. You only need a few fresh ingredients to make them, and they're ready in just 35 minutes!
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Hanger Steak with Salsa Verde via The Three Seasons
Steak chimichurri just met it's Italian cousin. Luscious, tender Hanger Steak is kicked up a notch with my garlicky, herbaceous Salsa Verde.
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Chimichurri Grilled Chicken via Peanut Butter & Fitness
Raise your hand if you love chimichurri! If you haven’t tasted it yet, you need to try it out. It’s got a nice bite of spice but packs some great fresh flavor that tastes incredible on grilled meats. And it was dang delicious!
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Burgers & Tacos
Burgers and tacos are fantastic options for summer meals! This list has something for everyone, including low carb and vegetarian options.
Mediterranean Portobello Beef Burgers
These Mediterranean Portobello Beef Burgers are a healthy BBQ recipe topped with garlic herb cheese, roasted red peppers and basil mayo.
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Chili’s Santa Fe Burger
This Chili's Santa Fe Burger is a perfect copycat, stacked with avocado, Monterey Jack, red onion, jalapenos, tomato, cilantro & spicy sauce.
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Indian-Inspired Chicken Naan Burgers
These Indian-Inspired Chicken Naan Burgers are a fun 30-minute dinner idea that you can throw on the BBQ, complete with a homemade spice mix.
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Copycat Applebee’s Quesadilla Burger Recipe
This Applebee's Quesadilla Burger is the perfect restaurant copycat made lighter at home, right down to the Mexi-ranch sauce!
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Low Carb Burger Lettuce Wraps
These Low Carb Burger Lettuce Wraps are made with double-stacked patties sandwiched between layers of cheddar cheese and special sauce!
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Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos
These Instant Pot Chicken Tinga Tacos are made with fire-roasted tomatoes and chipotle – they're gluten-free and ready in 30 minutes!
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Kalbi Beef Tacos with Citrus Slaw
These Kalbi Beef Tacos are inspired by Korean cuisine with a delicious kalbi marinade and pickled red onions topped with citrus slaw!
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Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos {Bonefish Grill Copycat}
These Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos are a healthier version of the Bonefish Grill favourite – you're gonna have these tacos on repeat, trust me!
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Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos
These vegetarian Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos are so delicious with a crunchy slaw, cilantro, avocado and ranch dressing!
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Easy Ground Turkey Burgers Recipe via Salt & Lavender
This easy ground turkey burgers recipe is a family favorite and makes the most tender, bright, and juicy burgers with fresh herbs! They’re on the table in just 20 minutes.
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Tacos Al Pastor via Isabel Eats
Tacos al Pastor features pork marinated in pineapple, Mexican chiles, and achiote. The perfect combo of sweet, savory, citrus, and spice!
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Salads
These summer salads are the best! They’re great for lunch or serving alongside some of your favourite mains. Want more recipes? Check out this list of 30+ meal prep salad recipes.
Ahi Tuna Salad with Sesame Ginger Dressing
This Ahi Tuna Salad is a colourful dish served with seared tuna steaks, sliced avocado, crunchy wontons and a delicious sesame ginger dressing.
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Strawberry Spinach Salad with Chicken
This Strawberry Spinach Salad With Chicken is a super easy protein-packed meal complete with fresh strawberries and a 4-ingredient dressing.
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Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad
This Healthy Buffalo Chicken Salad is an easy veggie-packed lunch – it's topped with a homemade ranch dressing that's low in calories!
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Copycat McDonald’s Southwest Salad Recipe
This McDonald's Southwest Salad is a delicious copycat, right down to the homemade southwest salad dressing and healthier crispy chicken!
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Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad {Gluten Free}
This Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad with Jalapeno Dressing is a delicious rainbow slaw with diced mango and chili lime chickpeas!
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Cobb Pasta Salad via Life Made Sweeter
This Cobb Pasta Salad is a colorful and satisfying dish that brings together the best of both worlds – the heartiness of pasta and the refreshing goodness of a salad. It features hearty pasta, grilled chicken breast, creamy avocado, juicy cherry tomatoes, and tangy feta cheese and is the perfect summer twist on the classic Cobb salad.
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Strawberry Avocado Salad via Sweet Lizzy
Strawberry Avocado Salad Recipe. The perfect summer salad recipe with a light honey lime dressing this salad is easy, delicious and a crowd pleaser!
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Refreshing Quinoa Black Bean Salad via Sweet Peas and Saffron
Refreshing quinoa black bean salad is a big batch salad you can prep ahead. Perfect for a picnic, pot luck, or meal prep lunch!
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Simple Watermelon Feta Salad with Cucumber, Basil, and Mint via Salt & Lavender
This watermelon feta salad recipe is a fast, fresh, and pretty summer salad that’s really simple to throw together for easy entertaining.
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Lebanese Tabbouleh salad { vegan } via Supergolden Bakes
This super-healthy Tabbouleh Salad is easy to make and packed with flavour – a powerhouse of plant-based goodness! I have stuck pretty close to the authentic Lebanese recipe with a couple of minor twists.
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Bowls & Foil Packs
You can stick to meal prepping in the summer thanks to these healthy recipes! Try everything from buddha bowls to grilled foil packs that you can prep earlier in the day.
Summer Buddha Bowls with Turmeric Chickpeas
These vegan Summer Buddha Bowls with Turmeric Chickpeas, marinated tofu and quinoa are just as delicious as they are nutritious!
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Build Your Own Buddha Bowl {Vegan}
Build Your Own Buddha Bowl with delicious fresh veggies that are roasted on a sheet pan. You’ll love the homemade tahini dressing!
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Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl Recipe
This easy Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl with marinated tuna, sushi rice, avocado and seaweed takes 30 minutes to make and tastes just takeout!
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Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls {Oven + BBQ}
These Chipotle Chicken Burrito Bowls are filled with corn salsa, pico de gallo, marinated chicken and sautéed veggies – extra guac included!
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Baked Greek Meatballs with Tzatziki
These Baked Greek Meatballs are so good! They're made healthier with ground chicken and served with potatoes, veggies and tzatziki.
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Cheesy Grilled Foil Potatoes {Potato Nachos}
These Cheesy Grilled Foil Potatoes are potato nachos made easy on the BBQ. Just slice the potatoes, add on your toppings and grill!
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Pineapple BBQ Tofu Bowls (Vegan) via Sweet Peas and Saffron
Pineapple BBQ Tofu Bowls are a vegan meal prep option that you can cook on the grill! Sweet, tangy, and a healthy lunch to stock up your fridge.
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Chili Chicken Burger Bowls with Avocado Pesto via The Endless Meal
The chicken burger patties are super easy to make and so flavorful. You will LOVE them!
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Chicken Fajita Foil Packets via Life Made Sweeter
Chicken Fajita Foil Packets are the perfect easy & healthy meal for summer grilling, camping, and cookouts. Best of all, they’re loaded with all your favorite Tex Mex flavors and make a low carb, paleo, and keto friendly meal.
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Spicy Salmon Recipe via Primavera Kitchen
This delicious spicy salmon recipe is made with loads of flavorful spices and yummy melted butter. Whip it up fast! Your salmon will be done baking in just 20-25 minutes. Don’t forget to turn on the broiler for a few minutes to crisp things up.
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