20 Refreshing Summer Dinner Ideas

Yuca With Garlic Sauce (Yuca con Mojo) — The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

As the temperature rises we like to cool down our dinners with crunchy salads, fresh seafood, and lots and lots of grilling. From burgers and hot dogs with unexpected toppings to hearty salads and sandwiches, these dinner ideas will leave you hungry for summer.

01 of 20

Creatively Topped Burgers

Milena Perrine

Nothing says summer quite like a burger hot off the grill. But don't just top them with the same old lettuce and tomato, mix it up with fun toppings like herb butter, kimchi, or tapenade.
02 of 20

Classic Cobb Salad

The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

For a salad that transcends the category, a classic Cobb is a full-fledged meal. It's a great use of leftover or rotisserie chicken and looks lovely arranged on a plate.
03 of 20

Tilapia Fish Tacos with Baja Sauce

The Spruce Eats/ Leah Maroney

Tilapia fish tacos are the perfect way to mix up your Taco Tuesday or weeknight meal situation. They’re cool, creamy, and crunchy. The fish is blackened in the oven, then served with tangy Baja sauce and crisp cabbage slaw. A squeeze of lime juice finishes off the tacos with just the right zing for a taste of brightness.
04 of 20

Elote (Mexican Street Corn on the Cob)

The Spruce / Nyssa Tanner

Elote is salty, sweet, crunchy, and creamy in every bite. It hits all the right flavor notes, especially hot off the grill in the summer months when fresh corn is at its peak and abundantly available at every market.

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05 of 20

Cold Soba Noodle Salad

Cool off with chilled soba noodles, crispy veggies, and a simple sweet, spicy, tangy, and savory dressing. Pair with fish or chicken, or eat it on its own for a simple, yet tasty dinner.
06 of 20

Fried Shrimp Po' Boy Sandwiches

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

The Po' boy, a classic New Orleans sandwich, can be filled with meat and gravy, fried oysters, or delectable fried shrimp. Don't skimp on the Cajun seasoning.
07 of 20

Grilled Shrimp With Garlic Butter Dipping Sauce Recipe

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

Grilled garlic shrimp are delicious when served with an easy butter dipping sauce. The marinade takes just a few minutes to put together, and it flavors the shrimp perfectly. The dip is a flavorful combination of butter, garlic, lemon, and a touch of hot sauce and Worcestershire.
08 of 20

Crab Cakes

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

When you think of summertime, you might think of the beach, and soon after, seafood. Crab cakes are always a favorite, and they're easier to make than they seem. Serve with big wedges of lemon and crab cake sauce.

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09 of 20

Yum Goong (Thai Shrimp Salad)

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Thai shrimp salad—also known as Shrimp Yum Goong—is a refreshing dish that can be made quickly and easily. There are many varieties to these kinds of salads, but the herbs, aromatics, and dressing stay the same. Feel free to add vermicelli noodles to this dish as it adds more body to this salad and absorbs all the juices and dressing of the sauce very well.
10 of 20

Shrimp Boil Foil Packets

The Spruce / Victoria Heydt

Instead of cooking a shrimp boil the old-fashioned way—all piled into a giant pot—grill or bake individual servings in foil packets. Don't forget a sprinkle of seafood boil seasoning and a pat of butter for each parcel.
11 of 20

Perfect Grilled Eggplant

The Spruce / Victoria Heydt

This easy recipe uses the power of salted water (or brining) to guarantee great grilled eggplant. It's easy and adds 30 minutes to this otherwise quick recipe, but it's worth it. Serve it with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar, a dollop of pesto, a spoonful of romesco, or a scattering of crumbled feta cheese and make this simple technique a recipe of your own.
12 of 20

Easy Black Bean Salad

The Spruce / Stephanie Goldfinger

Black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocado, and jalapeño are tossed with a light vinaigrette for a fresh, but filling, salad. Add cubed, grilled chicken or cooked shrimp for an extra dose of protein.

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13 of 20

Homemade Hot Dogs

The Spruce / Laura Donovan

Have you ever wanted to make your own hot dogs from scratch? Well, they aren't as difficult to make as you might think. After all, frankfurters are nothing more than ground meat with seasonings. In just an hour, you can whip up some delicious hot dogs in your kitchen.
14 of 20

Grilled Shrimp Salad

Leah Maroney

Cook the entire dinner on the grill—including the lettuce in this delicious salad. Romaine lettuce takes on a nice nutty flavor when cooked on the grill, the perfect complement to grilled shrimp and charred corn. The homemade avocado lime dressing and a sprinkling of cotija cheese finish off this salad beautifully.
15 of 20

Sautéed Chayote Squash

Diana Rattray

Chayote squash is a summertime squash that's native to Mexico and is popular in Creole and Cajun cuisine. It has a firmer texture than many summer squashes, making it good for sautés.
16 of 20

Turkey, Bacon, and Avocado Club

The Spruce

The key to a good club sandwich is high quality fillings: really good sliced turkey, crispy bacon, creamy avocado, fresh veggies, and toasty bread. A little mayo holds the tall sandwich together.

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17 of 20

Yuca con Mojo (Yuca With Garlic Sauce)

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

This is a version of yuca con mojo — yuca with garlic sauce. It's a delicious vegan Cuban dish, a combination of citrus, onions, garlic, spices and — of course — yuca. A staple of the Caribbean diet and very popular in African and Asian cuisine, this tuber is usually available in large U.S. grocery stores as well, either fresh or frozen.
18 of 20

Chicken Souvlaki Gyro

The Spruce / Maxwell Cozzi

This Greek chicken souvlaki gyro sandwich recipe uses fresh marinated chicken which is cooked over a hot grill and then stuffed into a warm pita and topped with homemade tzatziki, tomato, onion, lettuce, and fresh dill.
19 of 20

Boquerones en Vinagre (Anchovies Marinated in Vinegar)

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

Anchovies have a bad reputation sometimes, which isn't quite fair. In Spain, these delicious and healthy little fish are prepared in a variety of ways: salt-cured, marinated, or pickled, and even battered and fried. This recipe for boquerones en vinagre or pickled anchovies are typically eaten as a snack and served with an alcoholic drink—sometimes as the free tapa that comes with the drink, especially in Madrid.
20 of 20

Summer Seafood Pasta Salad

The Spruce / Diana Chistruga

There's something so swoon-worthy about a big bowl of creamy pasta salad. Take the classic pasta salad up a notch by adding fresh seafood. The creamy ranch dressing pairs perfectly with crab, making this cold dish a real treat. Set it out at a potluck, grill-out, or picnic.