40 Quick Summer Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes

The Modern Proper

Look outside. Do you really want to spend tonight cooking in a hot kitchen? (Nope, we didn’t think so.) These 30 quick summer dinners will be on the table in 30 minutes or less. Done. Any other problems you’d like us to solve?

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quick summer dinners chicken caprese purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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1. Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet

Why should salads have all the fun?

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quick summer dinners shrimp tacos purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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2. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

Best paired with a cold glass of white wine.

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quick summer dinners Pineapple Fried Rice

Healthy Nibbles and Bits

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3. Pineapple Fried Rice

Ten times better when you make it yourself.

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quick summer dinners mushroom poblano tacos purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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4. Poblano and Mushroom Tacos with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Ooo, the colors.

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quick summer dinners ginger parchment salmon purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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5. Sesame Ginger Salmon in Parchment

No dishes for you tonight.

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quick summer dinners Sheet Pan Chinese Cashew Tofu

Darn Good Veggies

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6. Sheet-Pan Chinese Cashew Tofu

Perfect for Meatless Monday.

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quick summer dinners thai beef bowls purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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7. Thai Beef Bowls with Rice Noodles

Cool and refreshing.

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The Minimalist Baker

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8. Penne Pasta Salad

Let’s make every dinner a picnic until August.

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quick sumemr dinners shrimp and grits purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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9. Shrimp with Cauliflower “Grits” and Arugula

If you like spicy, this is for you.

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quick summer dinners Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad

The Minimalist Baker

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10. Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad

Cut it right off the cob.

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quick summer dinners sheet pan quesadillas purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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11. Baking Sheet Quesadillas

File this under “genius.”

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quick summer dinners chickpea curry purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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12. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry

So easy, so flavorful.

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quick summer dinners Korean Beef Bowls with Veggies

Carlsbad Cravings

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13. Korean Beef Bowls with Veggies

Chopsticks mandatory.

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quick summer dinners zoodle pasta purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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14. Zoodles with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella

Let’s get your spiralizer in on the action.

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quick summer dinners Baked Salmon with Avocado Salsa

Sweet Peas and Saffron

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15. Baked Salmon with Avocado Salsa

Oh, and bonus: it’s Paleo-friendly.

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quick summer dinners mediterranean quinoa bowl with roasted pepper sauce

Pinch of Yum

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16. Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Save the extra sauce for a salad tomorrow.

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quick summer dinners Quinoa Spring Rolls with Cashew Dipping Sauce

The Minimalist Baker

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17. Quinoa Spring Rolls with Cashew Dipping Sauce

Vegan, but packed with protein. Win-win.

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The Modern Proper

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18. Huevos Rancheros

Breakfast for dinner? Don’t mind if we do.

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quick summer dinners Basil Cashew Chicken

Half Baked Harvest

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19. Basil Cashew Chicken

Surprise: this gorgeous bowl is actually ready in 20 minutes.

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quick summer dinners cacio e pepe purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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20. Cacio E Pepe Pasta

The one pasta recipe you need to know.

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quick summer dinners Garlic Butter Pasta with Herbed Pork Bolognese

Half Baked Harvest

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21. Garlic Butter Pasta with Herbed Pork Bolognese

Ditch that jar of tomato sauce.

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quick summer dinners kale avocado buddha bowl purewow

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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22. Buddha Bowl with Kale, Avocado, Orange and Wild Ride

Healthy, filling and totally Instagrammable.

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quick summer dinners shrimp scampi zoodles

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

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23. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles

Pretty much just like the original, only minus the carbs.

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quick summer dinners roasted chicken and carrots

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

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24. Roasted Chicken with Carrots

One pan, 30 minutes, can’t lose.

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quick summer dinners sesame chicken noodle stir fry

Gimme Some Oven

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25. Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir-Fry

Twirl, eat, repeat.

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quick summer dinners avocado tomato chickpea pasta salad1

Ambitious Kitchen

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26. Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad

More lemon basil vinaigrette, please.

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quick summer dinners cheaters prosciutto pizza

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

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27. Cheater’s Prosciutto Hawaiian Pizza

This is a must-try combo.

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quick summer dinners buffalo chicken sliders

PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

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28. Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Mini means you can eat more of them, right?

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quick summer dinners Saucy Pineapple BBQ Chicken Bowls1

Half baked Harvest

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29. Saucy Pineapple Bbq Chicken Bowls

Proof that that you can actually create summer in a bowl.

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quick summer dinners blackened salmon caprese skewers

How Sweet Eats

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30. Blackened Salmon Caprese Skewers

Because everything tastes better when you eat it on a skewer.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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31. Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna and Pepperoncini

Ready and on the table in just 15 minutes.

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quick summer dinners sweet potato noodles

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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32. Sweet Potato Noodles with Almond Sauce

Swoodles may be our favorite pasta alternative.

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quick summer dinners lemon chicken asparagus

Pinch of Yum

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33. Five-Ingredient Lemon Chicken Asparagus

Practically exploding with flavor.

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quick summer dinners Quinoa and Vegetable Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

Minimalist Baker

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34. Quinoa and Vegetable-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

This chimichurri sauce is ridiculously good.

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quick summer dinners cold lemon zoodles recipe

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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35. Cold Lemon Zoodles

Just one of the million amazing things your spiralizer can do.

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quick summer dinners Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes mediterranean diet meals

Minimalist Baker

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36. Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes

Basically all of our favorite foods in one dish.

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quick summer dinners chicken and veggies foil

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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37. Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies in Foil

Zero cleanup? We’re in.

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quick summer dinners One Pot Greek Oregano Chicken and Orzo with Tomatoes in Garlic Oil mediterranean diet meals

Half Baked Harvest

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38. One-Pot Greek Oregano Chicken and Orzo with Tomatoes in Garlic Oil

Giving “winner winner, chicken dinner” a whole new meaning.

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quick summer dinners Chickpea Shawarma Salad Mediterranean diet meals

Minimalist Baker

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39. Chickpea Shawarma Salad

Extra garlic-dill dressing, please.

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quick summer dinners Easy Three Cup Chicken with Zucchini

Half Baked Harvest

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40. Easy Three-Cup Chicken with Zucchini

This one’s about to enter your weekly rotation.

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40 Quick Summer Dinners You Can Make in 30 Minutes or Less

1. Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet

2. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

3. Pineapple Fried Rice

4. Poblano and Mushroom Tacos with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

5. Sesame Ginger Salmon in Parchment

6. Sheet-Pan Chinese Cashew Tofu

7. Thai Beef Bowls with Rice Noodles

8. Penne Pasta Salad

9. Shrimp with Cauliflower “Grits” and Arugula

10. Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad

11. Baking Sheet Quesadillas

12. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry

13. Korean Beef Bowls with Veggies

14. Zoodles with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella

15. Baked Salmon with Avocado Salsa

16. Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

17. Quinoa Spring Rolls with Cashew Dipping Sauce

18. Huevos Rancheros

19. Basil Cashew Chicken

20. Cacio E Pepe Pasta

21. Garlic Butter Pasta with Herbed Pork Bolognese

22. Buddha Bowl with Kale, Avocado, Orange and Wild Ride

23. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles

24. Roasted Chicken with Carrots

25. Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir-Fry

26. Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad

27. Cheater’s Prosciutto Hawaiian Pizza

28. Buffalo Chicken Sliders

29. Saucy Pineapple Bbq Chicken Bowls

30. Blackened Salmon Caprese Skewers

31. Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna and Pepperoncini

32. Sweet Potato Noodles with Almond Sauce

33. Five-Ingredient Lemon Chicken Asparagus

34. Quinoa and Vegetable-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

35. Cold Lemon Zoodles

36. Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes

37. Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies in Foil

38. One-Pot Greek Oregano Chicken and Orzo with Tomatoes in Garlic Oil

39. Chickpea Shawarma Salad

40. Easy Three-Cup Chicken with Zucchini

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