Make the Most of the Season with Quick Summer Dinners

Summer is all about keeping things light and breezy — including dinner. There’s no need to spend hours in the kitchen; make the most of the long, sunny days with quick summer dinners to feed yourself and your loved ones.

These recipes are designed to be:

• Ready in 30 minutes or less
• Balanced, with plenty of fresh vegetables
• Flexible for families and picky eaters
• Light enough for warm-weather appetites

Whether you’re grilling, sautéing, or roasting everything on a sheet tray, these seven quick summer dinners make summer cooking stress-free and satisfying.

1. Chicken Sausage & Summer Veggies

This meal is the definition of a quick summer dinner. Sliced chicken sausage, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and red onion come together in just 20-25 minutes for a light, nourishing meal the whole family will enjoy. Just toss everything with olive oil and seasoning on a sheet tray, then cook until browned and softened!

Pro tip: To make this meal more filling, serve the chicken sausage and veggies with rice, pasta, or tucked into a roll!

2. Honey Soy Chicken with Cucumber Salad

Sweet-savory chicken thighs meet crisp cucumber salad in this refreshing dish. If you have some spare time, let the chicken thighs marinate for a while in the fridge to absorb even more flavor.

Pantry swap: No chicken? Try tofu or shrimp as a fast-cooking alternative.

3. Creamy Corn, Prosciutto & Zucchini Pasta

Sweet summer corn and zucchini are the stars of this restaurant-worthy pasta dish. Prosciutto adds a rich, salty component, and a bit of crème fraîche brings just the right amount of creaminess. The best part is that this quick summer dinner takes less than 20 minutes to cook!

Pro tip: Serve with a crisp green salad to balance out the pasta and make it a complete meal.

4. Buddha Bowl with Veggies & Peanut Sauce

Build your base with quinoa, then pile on sautéed and raw summer veggies — a combination of zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber. Finish with a generous drizzle of homemade peanut sauce and a sprinkling of crispy chickpeas. This meatless quick summer dinner is customizable, nutritious, and delicious. Let everyone build their own bowl for a fun, interactive meal!

Add-on idea: Serve with seared tofu or soft-boiled eggs for a boost of vegetarian protein.

5. Seared Salmon with Quinoa & Zucchini

This heart-healthy dish is perfect for when you want something light yet satisfying. Pan-seared salmon cooks in under 10 minutes and pairs perfectly with garlicky zucchini and fluffy quinoa.

Bonus: Everything comes together in less than 20 minutes, making it a quick summer dinner option.

6. Gnocchi & Summer Veggies Sheet Tray

Skip the stovetop — just toss store-bought gnocchi with olive oil, seasoning, and sliced summer veggies on a sheet tray and roast! This is one of those quick summer dinners you’ll make on repeat because it’s so easy and satisfying.

Pro tip: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the gnocchi and veggies if you like some heat!

7. Grilled Chicken with Caprese Quinoa Salad

Fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and basil pesto meet grilled chicken and fluffy quinoa in this sunny dish. Perfect for cookouts or make-ahead meals, it’s a quick summer dinner that doubles as a picnic favorite.

Prep tip: Cook a batch of quinoa at the start of the week to cut your dinner time in half.

Make Quick Summer Dinners Even Easier with Jow

If you love quick summer dinners but hate the planning and shopping, we’ve got you covered.

With Jow, you can:

• Add recipes like these to your weekly plan with one tap
• Automatically generate a grocery list
• Stay organized and avoid last-minute dinner stress

Whether you're juggling a busy family schedule or just want more time to enjoy the sunshine, Jow helps you get more quick summer dinners on the table — without the guesswork.

Try Jow today and enjoy stress-free cooking this summer and all year long.