Some nights call for dinner that’s easy to make but still tastes like you did something special. These 35 quick recipes are perfect for when you want to keep things simple and still eat well. Each one comes together fast and doesn’t ask for much effort or cleanup. They’re just right for laid-back summer nights when less time in the kitchen sounds like a good idea.
Lemon Butter Pasta. Photo credit: Honest and Truly.
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon
This salmon cooks quickly in a pan and gets covered in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce that tastes rich without being heavy. You only need a few simple ingredients, and it all comes together in under 30 minutes. It’s one of those quick dinner recipes that are perfect for laid-back summer nights without any hassle.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon
Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Warm pasta gets tossed with juicy tomatoes and soft ricotta to make something that feels comforting but takes very little time. The sauce comes together fast and still brings a lot of flavor with just a few ingredients. It’s a delicious and quick summer dinner recipe that works even when the fridge is looking a little empty.
Get the Recipe: Simple Pasta with Tomatoes and Ricotta
Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Canned tuna turns into something much better when mixed with pesto and chopped sun-dried tomatoes. It’s ready in minutes and works well in sandwiches, wraps, or straight from the bowl. This is one of those quick dinner recipes that are perfect for laid-back summer nights when you want good food without extra steps.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Tuna Salad with Sundried Tomatoes
Honey Glazed Chicken
This dish mixes a sweet glaze with tender chicken, all done in one pan and ready to eat in less than half an hour. The sauce coats every piece and brings a lot of flavor without asking for too much. It’s a great and quick summer dinner recipe when time is tight and you still want something good.
Get the Recipe: Honey Glazed Chicken
Poached Orange Salmon
Salmon simmers gently in orange juice and spices until it’s soft and packed with flavor. It doesn’t take long to cook and goes well with simple sides like greens or rice. This is an easy and quick summer dinner recipe that gives you something fresh without making things complicated.
Get the Recipe: Poached Orange Salmon
Lemon Butter Pasta
Pasta gets tossed in smooth butter and fresh lemon for a dish that’s bright, simple, and done in no time. You only need a few pantry staples and about 20 minutes to bring it all together. It’s a fast dinner that’s perfect for laid-back summer nights when you don’t want to cook too much.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Butter Pasta
Orange Chicken
This takeout-style dish uses simple pantry ingredients and finishes in under 30 minutes right on the stove. The sauce is sticky, sweet, and coats the chicken perfectly with hardly any effort. It’s one of those delicious and quick summer dinner recipes that never feel like a shortcut.
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Caprese Panini
Tomato, mozzarella, and a little pesto get stacked between slices of bread and pressed until warm and golden. It’s quick to make and feels satisfying without needing a bunch of ingredients or steps. This is a great, quick summer dinner recipe when you want something easy but not boring.
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Asian Inspired Turkey Burgers
These burgers come together fast with pantry spices and cook quickly on the stove or grill. They bring bold flavor and make dinner feel different without being hard to make. This is one of those quick dinner recipes that are perfect for laid-back summer nights and breaking out of your usual routine.
Get the Recipe: Asian Inspired Turkey Burgers
Honey Habanero Tacos
Ground beef gets browned, stirred with a sweet and spicy sauce, and spooned into warm tortillas in under 30 minutes. The flavor is strong, but the steps stay simple, making it easy to get dinner on the table fast. It’s a quick summer dinner recipe that gives you something fun without a lot of extra work.
Get the Recipe: Honey Habanero Tacos
Pizza Dough
Stir together flour, yeast, water, and oil to make dough that doesn’t need much rising or planning ahead. It bakes quickly and holds any toppings you already have in the fridge. This is a great and quick summer dinner recipe when you want pizza but don’t want to wait.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Dough
Chicken Fried Rice
Use leftover chicken, rice, and a few vegetables to make a meal that’s fast, filling, and full of flavor. It only takes one pan and comes together in less than 30 minutes without much cleanup. This is one of those quick dinner recipes that are perfect for laid-back summer nights and using what you’ve already got.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Fried Rice
Buffalo Chicken Salad
Toss shredded chicken with buffalo sauce and serve it over greens, in a sandwich, or wrapped in a tortilla for something spicy and simple. The heat and crunch work together and make this dinner feel full without any heavy cooking. It’s one of those easy and quick summer dinner recipes that still hit the spot.
Get the Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad
Mediterranean Chicken With Orzo
Chicken and orzo cook fast in one skillet with herbs and feta that bring everything together. It’s quick to make but still full of flavor that feels just a little different. This is a smart and quick summer dinner recipe when you need something that comes together fast but doesn’t feel plain.
Get the Recipe: Mediterranean Chicken With Orzo
Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Canned tuna and tomatoes get tossed with warm pasta for a dish that’s simple, fast, and better than it sounds. It uses basic pantry items and doesn’t need much prep at all. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that makes sense when you want to eat well without thinking too hard.
Get the Recipe: Tuna and Tomato Pasta
Bacon Egg Salad
Mix chopped hard-boiled eggs and crispy bacon with mayo for a meal that comes together with no cooking. It spreads well on bread or crackers and makes dinner easy when you’re short on time. This is one of those quick summer dinner recipes that fill you up without heating anything up.
Get the Recipe: Bacon Egg Salad
Kefta Kebabs
Ground meat gets shaped and seasoned with warm spices, then cooks fast on a grill or in a pan. It pairs well with rice, salad, or flatbread and brings a little something different to the table. This is a delicious and quick summer dinner recipe that adds variety without adding extra work.
Get the Recipe: Kefta Kebabs
Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Rotisserie chicken, shredded cheese, and jarred sauce get wrapped in tortillas and baked until hot and bubbly. It takes less than 30 minutes and tastes like something that took much longer. This is a great and quick summer dinner recipe when you want something warm without spending hours on it.
Get the Recipe: Semi-Homemade Chicken Enchiladas
Southwest Tortilla Pie
Layers of tortillas, beans, chicken, and cheese go into one pan and bake up into something easy to slice and serve. It’s filling, simple to build, and done fast without needing to babysit the oven. This is one of those quick summer dinner recipes that feel like a full plate with hardly any effort.
Get the Recipe: Southwest Tortilla Pie
Pesto Salmon
Spread pesto on salmon and bake it until the fish is cooked and the flavors come together in a bold and simple way. There’s no need for a long prep list or fancy tools, and it’s ready in less than 30 minutes. This is a smart pick for a quick summer dinner recipe that looks nice and tastes even better.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Salmon
Shortcut Chicken Salad
Canned chicken mixed with mayo, herbs, and a few crunchy add-ins turns into a meal that’s fast and filling. You can serve it on bread, with crackers, or over greens, and it still feels complete. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that works when you want something fast and don’t want to cook.
Get the Recipe: Shortcut Chicken Salad
Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Pop a tortilla into the air fryer, top it with sauce, cheese, and whatever you have on hand, and you’ve got a pizza in minutes. It’s crisp, simple, and skips the need for dough or cleanup. This is an easy and quick summer dinner recipe when you need something fun and done fast.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Tortilla Pizza
Chicken Tenders
Coat chicken in crushed cornflakes and cook until crisp for a dinner that feels like a treat but doesn’t take long. These come out juicy with a crunchy bite and are great for both kids and grown-ups. This is one of those quick summer dinner recipes that are easy to love and easy to make.
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Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Stir quinoa, beans, corn, and salsa together in one pan for a meal that’s full of flavor but low on cleanup. It’s quick, filling, and doesn’t ask for much beyond pantry staples. This is a smart and quick summer dinner recipe when you want something hearty that still comes together fast.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Skillet Quinoa
Creamy Pea Pasta
Toss pasta with a creamy sauce and sweet green peas for a simple dish that’s ready in one pot. It cooks fast and brings a soft, satisfying flavor without using a long list of ingredients. This is one of those quick summer dinner recipes that save time and still feel worth making.
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Chipotle Burger with Jalapeno Mayo
Mix chipotle into your burger patties and top them with jalapeno mayo for a bold dinner that’s full of flavor. They cook fast and feel different from your usual burger night. This is a great and quick summer dinner recipe when you want something that feels fresh but takes less than 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Chipotle Burger with Jalapeno Mayo
Asparagus Goat Cheese Pizza
Spread goat cheese on a crust, top with asparagus, and bake until the edges are crisp and everything melts together. It skips the sauce and heavy toppings, keeping things simple and light. This is one of those quick summer dinner recipes that look impressive but are easy to pull off.
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Cacio e Pepe
Boil pasta, stir in butter, cheese, and cracked pepper, and dinner is ready in just a few steps. It’s rich without being heavy and uses only pantry staples. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that tastes big but doesn’t take much to make.
Get the Recipe: Cacio e Pepe
Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Brown chicken and cook it with cabbage, carrots, and seasonings in one pan for a faster version of a takeout favorite. There are no wrappers or deep frying, just simple ingredients and big flavor. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that gets done fast and still keeps things interesting.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Simple Salmon Patties
Combine canned salmon with breadcrumbs, egg, and a few spices, then shape into patties and cook in a pan until golden. These come together quickly and go well with salad, rice, or roasted vegetables. This is an easy and quick summer dinner recipe that’s simple, fast, and filling.
Get the Recipe: Simple Salmon Patties
Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Stir-cooked quinoa with spinach and parmesan for a meal that’s easy, warm, and full of flavor. It only needs one pot and comes together fast with just a few ingredients. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that feels wholesome and still keeps things simple.
Get the Recipe: Spinach and Parmesan Quinoa
Blackened Fish Tacos
Coat fish with bold spices and cook it in a hot pan for a crispy crust that packs flavor without the extra work. Tuck it into tortillas and top with whatever you have for a dinner that comes together fast. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that’s fun to make and doesn’t take much time.
Get the Recipe: Blackened Fish Tacos
Baked Lemon Butter Fish
Bake tender white fish in a simple lemon butter sauce for a dish that’s light, rich, and fast to make. It needs just a few steps and minimal cleanup, but still feels like a full meal. This is one of those quick summer dinner recipes that work when you want something easy but satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Baked Lemon Butter Fish
Alfredo Steak Pasta
Cook thin slices of steak and toss with creamy Alfredo sauce and pasta for a rich and hearty dish. It comes together fast and hits all the right notes when you’re short on time. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that feels bold and filling without extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Alfredo Steak Pasta
Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops
Coat pork chops with seasoned breadcrumbs and cook them in the air fryer until crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. They cook fast and skip the mess of frying while still bringing lots of flavor. This is a quick summer dinner recipe that works well when you want something classic but easy.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Breaded Pork Chops