When dinner feels like one more thing on your list, these quick meals make it easy to pull something good together. Each recipe comes together fast, with simple steps and ingredients you probably already have. These 23 easy and fast summer dinners are ready before the sun goes down, which means more time to relax and less time in the kitchen.
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Spicy chicken gets tossed with sauce and layered over greens, wrapped in tortillas, or stuffed into a sandwich. It only takes a few steps and comes together faster than most dinners. When you’re short on time but still want something bold and filling, this is a solid pick that gets the job done before the sun sets.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
A can of tuna and some ripe tomatoes turn pasta into something warm and satisfying with hardly any effort. The flavors blend quickly, and the dish feels complete without needing much more. It’s a smart choice for nights when dinner needs to be done fast without giving up real flavor.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Shortcut Chicken Salad
Canned chicken, a bit of mayo, and some crunchy mix-ins turn into a full meal without even turning on the stove. It’s easy to scoop onto toast or toss over lettuce, and it holds up well, however you serve it. This dinner saves time without feeling like you’re cutting corners.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Pesto Salmon
Slather salmon with pesto and bake until tender and packed with flavor in every bite. It looks and tastes impressive, but the prep stays simple, and the cleanup stays easy. This meal is ready in minutes and perfect for nights when you want something fresh and filling without waiting around.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Simple Salmon Patties
Mix canned salmon with a few pantry staples, shape it into patties, and pan-fry until crisp and golden. They’re easy to flip, fast to cook, and go with whatever sides you’ve got on hand. It’s a no-fuss dinner that tastes like more than the time it takes.
Get the Recipe: Simple Salmon Patties
Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza
Spread creamy goat cheese over the crust, top with asparagus, and bake until everything comes together in a warm and crispy bite. It skips the sauce and keeps things light without losing flavor. When dinner needs to be simple and still feel special, this recipe is a good one to reach for.
Get the Recipe: Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza
Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Toss quinoa, beans, corn, and salsa into one pan and stir until everything is hot and blended. There’s no need to juggle a bunch of dishes or prep steps to get a meal that tastes this complete. It’s a filling dinner that’s ready fast and leaves you with fewer dishes to clean up.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Take rotisserie chicken, jarred sauce, and tortillas, roll them up, and bake until everything is warm and cheesy. It looks like a full-on meal, but it comes together in less time than it takes to watch your favorite show. This one’s great for evenings when time is tight but you still want something comforting.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Cook pasta and mix it with soft ricotta and warm tomatoes for something creamy and comforting without much effort. The sauce comes together fast with just a few ingredients and still tastes like you worked harder than you did. This is the kind of dinner that fills the plate and the belly before you know it.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Southwest Tortilla Pie
Stack tortillas with layers of beans, chicken, cheese, and seasoning, then bake until hot and easy to slice. It feels like a full dish but skips the long prep and extra pots and pans. This is a strong pick when you want something hearty without spending the whole evening making it.
Get the Recipe: Southwest Tortilla Pie
Honey Habanero Tacos
Ground beef cooks fast with a sweet and spicy sauce that gives every bite a bold kick. The filling comes together in one pan and slides easily into your favorite tortillas. When dinner needs to be done in a flash but still has strong flavor, these tacos deliver without slowing you down.
Get the Recipe: Honey Habanero Tacos
Pesto Tuna Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Stir canned tuna with a spoonful of pesto and chopped sun-dried tomatoes for something that tastes fresh and comes together fast. It’s great in a sandwich, wrapped in lettuce, or eaten right out of the bowl. This is the kind of dinner that saves time but still feels like a real meal.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tuna Salad with Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Sear chicken, stir in orzo and herbs, and finish it off with crumbled feta for a dish that looks like more work than it is. Everything cooks quickly in one pan and still tastes full and fresh. It’s a great option when dinner needs to happen fast, but you don’t want it to feel rushed.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken with Orzo
Orange Chicken
Skip the takeout and toss chicken in a sticky orange sauce that coats every piece in just the right amount of sweetness. The ingredients are basic, and the whole thing cooks up on the stovetop in less than 30 minutes. It’s a fast dinner with big flavor and no delivery fee.
Get the Recipe: Orange Chicken
Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Pop a tortilla into the air fryer, top it with sauce and cheese, and let it crisp into a pizza you can pick up in minutes. You don’t need to make dough or plan ahead, just grab what you already have. This is a quick dinner that feels fun without making a mess.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Chicken Fried Rice
Use leftover rice and chicken to make a filling meal in one skillet that’s done in less than half an hour. It’s easy to toss in whatever veggies you’ve got and mix it all together with a little sauce. This is a smart go-to when dinner needs to be fast and still feel homemade.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice
Asian Inspired Turkey Burgers
These burgers mix up fast with ground turkey and pantry spices that bring a fresh flavor to the table. They cook up quickly on a stove or grill and feel like something new without a lot of extra steps. This is a good pick when you want dinner to feel different but still be ready in minutes.
Get the Recipe: Asian Inspired Turkey Burgers
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Skip the wrappers and toss ground chicken and shredded veggies into a pan with sauce and seasoning for a quick dinner twist. Everything cooks in one skillet and still tastes like your favorite takeout. This is a fast and filling meal that’s ready before you have time to get bored.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Pizza Dough
Mix a few pantry basics together and you’ve got dough that’s ready to roll out before the oven even finishes heating. It’s easy to shape, quick to bake, and works with whatever toppings you like. This is a handy recipe for nights when pizza sounds good but time is short.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Dough
Cacio e Pepe
Pasta, butter, black pepper, and cheese come together in a dish that feels rich but only takes a few simple steps. It uses ingredients you already have and finishes fast without leaving behind a pile of dishes. This one is great when dinner needs to happen quickly and still feels like something worth making.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Kefta Kebabs
Mix ground meat with warm spices, shape it into logs, and cook them in a hot pan or on the grill for bold flavor fast. They pair well with salad, rice, or flatbread and don’t take long from start to finish. This is a fast dinner that adds variety without taking up the whole evening.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Creamy Pea Pasta
Boil the pasta, stir in peas and a creamy sauce, and have dinner ready before you’ve even thought about sides. The mix of smooth and sweet keeps things simple but makes every bite taste like more. This is one of those meals that saves time and still feels worth making.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Pea Pasta
Caprese Panini
Stack tomato, mozzarella, and a little pesto between slices of bread and press until warm and golden. It’s easy to build and quick to cook, but it still brings a rich, satisfying flavor. This is a solid dinner for nights when you want something quick but don’t want to settle for plain.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Panini