The Only 29 Summer Meals You’ll Want All Season Long

When the temps rise, the last thing I want is a heavy dinner that leaves me feeling sluggish. Summer meals should be light, fresh, and packed with flavor—stuff you actually want to eat when it’s blazing out. From easy grills to no-cook winners, these recipes are basically all I’m making until fall shows up.

Super Tender Grilled Skirt Steak

Skirt steak sliced on a cutting board. — Super Tender Grilled Skirt Steak. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Infused with tequila, soy sauce, and brown sugar, this skirt steak recipe yields juicy and flavorful meat every time.
Get the Recipe: Super Tender Grilled Skirt Steak

Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone

Parmesan being added to shrimp and pasta. — Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

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This easy shrimp and spinach pasta with mascarpone is rich and creamy and can be on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Pasta With Mascarpone

Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries

A fresh spring salad with leafy greens, sliced strawberries, red onion rings, and almond slivers, sprinkled with black pepper, served in a dark bowl on a light tiled surface. — Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This strawberry spinach salad with poppy seed dressing has strawberries, fresh spinach and romaine along with pickled onions.
Get the Recipe: Light and Fresh Spinach Salad with Strawberries

Ricotta Cheese And Broccoli Pasta

A large bowl of broccoli pasta with ricotta. — Ricotta Cheese And Broccoli Pasta. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Ricotta pasta with roasted broccoli makes a perfect quick weeknight dinner. A lighter, but still flavorful, mac and cheese dish.
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Cheese And Broccoli Pasta

Bbq Pork Chops With Peach Barbecue Sauce

BBQ pork chops with peach sauce on a plate. — Bbq Pork Chops With Peach Barbecue Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This naturally sweet barbecue sauce can be made with fresh or frozen peaches and it adds a ton of flavor to tender grilled pork chops.
Get the Recipe: Bbq Pork Chops With Peach Barbecue Sauce

Taco Chicken, Chicken Marinated In Taco Seasoning

Grilled chicken breast slices topped with a creamy white sauce, served on a decorative plate with a fresh lime wedge on the side—perfect for those seeking healthy grilled dinners. — Taco Chicken, Chicken Marinated In Taco Seasoning. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

With just a packet of taco seasoning and lime juice, you can make tender and flavorful Taco Chicken. It’s an easy week night dinner you can cook on the grill for a healthy dinner. Also great if you want to make into chicken tacos.
Get the Recipe: Taco Chicken, Chicken Marinated In Taco Seasoning

Shrimp Carbonara With Grilled Corn

A skillet of creamy shrimp carbonara. — Shrimp Carbonara With Grilled Corn. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Follow these easy make-ahead steps for shrimp carbonara with grilled corn (it doesn’t have to be grilled) and bacon.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Carbonara With Grilled Corn

Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers

A serving bowl of antipasto salad. — Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This irresistible antipasto pasta salad is EASY to make with a simple homemade dressing, an Italian inspired pasta that’s great for summertime.
Get the Recipe: Cold Antipasto Pasta Salad With Pepperoncini Peppers

Stuffed Shells With Spinach And Ricotta In Meat Sauce

A stuffed shell being removed from a baking dish — Stuffed Shells With Spinach And Ricotta In Meat Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Stuffed Shells with Spinach, three cheeses, a fabulous tomato sauce, and with either Italian or chicken sausage make for an Italian meal that’s restaurant worthy.
Get the Recipe: Stuffed Shells With Spinach And Ricotta In Meat Sauce

Grilled Pork Kabobs With Fresh Peaches

Pork removed from a skewer on a platter. — Grilled Pork Kabobs With Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Tender pieces of pork are paired with juicy chunks of peaches for a fresh summertime take on classic Pork Kabobs.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Pork Kabobs With Fresh Peaches

Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing

A bowl of Greek salad with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, Kalamata olives, and crumbled feta cheese on a white surface—perfect for spring recipes. Small bowls of olives and feta are nearby. — Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Looking for a quick and flavorful salad recipe? Try our Greek Salad with refreshing cucumbers and zesty lemon dressing. Perfect for a light and satisfying meal.
Get the Recipe: Greek Cucumber Salad With Lemon Dressing

Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Tender and juicy, grilled chicken with avocado salsa is filled with fresh flavors! Marinated chicken is grilled to perfection.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa

Greek Wedge Salad Recipe

This Greek Wedge Salad Recipe creates a fresh easy to make wedge salad that is drizzled with flavorful homemade greek dressing.
Get the Recipe: Greek Wedge Salad Recipe

Easy Grilled Ranch Chicken Recipe

Grilled Ranch Chicken skewers on a patterned tray, served with a bowl of white dipping sauce and a stack of pita bread in the background. Fresh dill sprigs are placed beside the skewers. — Easy Grilled Ranch Chicken Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Fire up the grill and make some easy chicken kabobs the whole family will love. This super easy grilled ranch chicken recipe is a game changer.
Get the Recipe: Easy Grilled Ranch Chicken Recipe

Rich And Creamy Chicken Mushroom Spaghetti

A black plate holds a serving of pasta mixed with diced tomatoes, herbs, and melted cheese—an inviting choice for easy date night dinners. A vintage-style fork rests on the side atop a gray tray set on a white, hexagon-tiled surface. — Rich And Creamy Chicken Mushroom Spaghetti. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This delicious chicken mushroom pasta is a blend of tender, juicy chicken, perfectly cooked pasta, and a mouthwatering tomato-based mushroom sauce.
Get the Recipe: Rich And Creamy Chicken Mushroom Spaghetti

Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto

Delicious pesto pasta salad with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes in a glass bowl. — Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Easy to make basil pesto pasta salad with bow tie pasta is a flavorful, colorful side that’s great for summer picnics or cookouts. It’s one of my favorite easy pasta salad recipes.
Get the Recipe: Bow Tie Pasta Salad With Basil Pesto

30 Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta With Artichoke Hearts

Sun-Dried pasta with artichokes in a skillet. — 30 Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta With Artichoke Hearts. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Mix up pasta night and try Penne with Artichokes and Italian sausage. Artichokes add just the right flavor along with some sun-dried tomatoes for an easy pasta dish you can make in just 30 minutes.
Get the Recipe: 30 Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta With Artichoke Hearts

Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

A white platter full of grilled chicken drumsticks and thighs. — Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Chicken Drumsticks on Grill are cooked over indirect heat for the most tender and juicy drumsticks or thighs.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Drumsticks Recipe

Grilled Bbq Pork Tenderloin

A pork tenderloin sliced and covered in bbq sauce. — Grilled Bbq Pork Tenderloin. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This simple Grilled BBQ Pork Tenderloin recipe is super simple to make without sacrificing flavor or spending hours over a hot grill!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bbq Pork Tenderloin

Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches

A bowl of peach pasta salad with dressing in a pticher on the side. — Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This refreshing summer salad is made with fresh peach slices, sweet corn, juicy grape tomatoes, pine nuts, and your favorite pasta. It’s one of my go-to cold pasta dishes to beat the heat.
Get the Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad With Fresh Peaches

Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe

A black platter of lemony chicken pasta on a grey napkin. — Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Lemon Chicken Pasta is an easy weeknight dish with tender chicken and a lemony cream sauce. A 30 minute meal you’ll love.
Get the Recipe: Lemon Chicken Pasta Recipe

Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp

A large bowl of shrimp orzo salad. — Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This cold lemon orzo salad recipe effortlessly marries shrimp, citrus, garlic, and fragrant basil for a quick and easy summer dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cold Lemon Orzo Salad With Shrimp

Lemony Cauliflower Pasta Bake With Ricotta Cheese

A blue casserole dish with baked cauliflower pasta. — Lemony Cauliflower Pasta Bake With Ricotta Cheese. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Creamy cauliflower pasta bake has surprise pockets of ricotta cheese along with lemon and capers and a crispy topping.
Get the Recipe: Lemony Cauliflower Pasta Bake With Ricotta Cheese

Seafood Foil Packets With Old Bay

A single serving of a shrimp boil in aluminum foil. — Seafood Foil Packets With Old Bay. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Shrimp boil foil packets are an easy way to get the great flavor of a shrimp boil without standing over the stove. A terrific summertime meal, ready in 30 minutes!
Get the Recipe: Seafood Foil Packets With Old Bay

Caprese Salad Recipe With Balsamic Dressing

This Caprese Salad recipe is fresh, flavorful and delicious made with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, and garlic balsamic dressing
Get the Recipe: Caprese Salad Recipe With Balsamic Dressing

Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts

A side dish of pesto pasta next to fresh parsley. — Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

This easy parsley pesto pasta salad with walnuts is a great summertime salad and incredibly simple to make for any occasion.
Get the Recipe: Parsley Pesto Pasta Salad With Walnuts

The Juiciest Bone In Grilled Pork Chops

A grilled pork chop next to a sweet potato on a plate. — The Juiciest Bone In Grilled Pork Chops. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Perfect, juicy grilled pork chops in less than 20 minutes! You never need to have dry pork chops again! (Easy recipe!)
Get the Recipe: The Juiciest Bone In Grilled Pork Chops

Baked Spaghetti With Creamy Vodka Sauce

A close-up of a cheesy baked spaghetti casserole with tomato sauce and ground meat, topped with melted cheese and herbs, makes for one of those easy date night dinners—served with a fork lifting a gooey, delicious portion. — Baked Spaghetti With Creamy Vodka Sauce. Photo credit: Butter and Baggage.

Baked spaghetti with vodka sauce is a creamy pasta that makes an easy meal that you can prepare in twenty minutes for a hungry crowd.
Get the Recipe: Baked Spaghetti With Creamy Vodka Sauce

Grilled Bbq Chicken

A close-up of sliced barbecued chicken breast with a glaze, a piece of corn on the cob seasoned with pepper, and a fork and knife on a white plate—perfect inspiration for your next grilling recipes. — Grilled Bbq Chicken. Photo credit: Pip and Ebby.

Summer is perfect with Grilled BBQ Chicken cooked slowly on the grill for tender, juicy meat that tastes amazing. Try my homemade BBQ sauce, too!
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bbq Chicken

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