food

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

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?

Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

1. Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet

Why should salads have all the fun?

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

2. Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa

Best paired with a cold glass of white wine.

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Healthy Nibbles and Bits

3. Pineapple Fried Rice

Ten times better when you make it yourself.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

4. Poblano and Mushroom Tacos with Tomatoes and Goat Cheese

Ooo, the colors.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

5. Sesame Ginger Salmon in Parchment

No dishes for you tonight.

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Darn Good Veggies

6. Sheet-Pan Chinese Cashew Tofu

Perfect for Meatless Monday.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

7. Thai Beef Bowls with Rice Noodles

Cool and refreshing.

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The Minimalist Baker

8. Penne Pasta Salad

Let’s make every dinner a picnic until August.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

9. Shrimp with Cauliflower “Grits” and Arugula

If you like spicy, this is for you.

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The Minimalist Baker

10. Grilled Corn and Zucchini Salad

Cut it right off the cob.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

11. Baking Sheet Quesadillas

File this under “genius.”

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

12. Chickpea and Vegetable Coconut Curry

So easy, so flavorful.

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Carlsbad Cravings

13. Korean Beef Bowls with Veggies

Chopsticks mandatory.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

14. Zoodles with Tomato Sauce and Mozzarella

Let’s get your spiralizer in on the action.

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Sweet Peas and Saffron

15. Baked Salmon with Avocado Salsa

Oh, and bonus: it’s Paleo-friendly.

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Pinch of Yum

16. Mediterranean Quinoa Bowls with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce

Save the extra sauce for a salad tomorrow.

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The Minimalist Baker

17. Quinoa Spring Rolls with Cashew Dipping Sauce

Vegan, but packed with protein. Win-win.

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The Modern Proper

18. Huevos Rancheros

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

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Half Baked Harvest

19. Basil Cashew Chicken

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

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

20. Cacio E Pepe Pasta

The one pasta recipe you need to know.

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Half Baked Harvest

21. Garlic Butter Pasta with Herbed Pork Bolognese

Ditch that jar of tomato sauce.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

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

Healthy, filling and totally Instagrammable.

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PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

23. 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles

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

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PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

24. Roasted Chicken with Carrots

One pan, 30 minutes, can’t lose.

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Gimme Some Oven

25. Sesame Chicken Noodle Stir-Fry

Twirl, eat, repeat.

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Ambitious Kitchen

26. Avocado Tomato Chickpea Pasta Salad

More lemon basil vinaigrette, please.

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PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL  

27. Cheater’s Prosciutto Hawaiian Pizza

This is a must-try combo.

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PHOTO: LIZ ANDREW/STYLING: ERIN MCDOWELL

28. Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Mini means you can eat more of them, right?

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Half baked Harvest

29. Saucy Pineapple Bbq Chicken Bowls

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

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How Sweet Eats

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

31. Mediterranean Couscous with Tuna and Pepperoncini

Ready and on the table in just 15 minutes.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

32. Sweet Potato Noodles with Almond Sauce

Swoodles may be our favorite pasta alternative.

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Pinch of Yum

33. Five-Ingredient Lemon Chicken Asparagus

Practically exploding with flavor.

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Minimalist Baker

34. Quinoa and Vegetable-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms

This chimichurri sauce is ridiculously good.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

35. Cold Lemon Zoodles

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

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Minimalist Baker

36. Mediterranean Baked Sweet Potatoes

Basically all of our favorite foods in one dish.

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Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell

37. Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies in Foil

Zero cleanup? We’re in.

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Half Baked Harvest

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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Minimalist Baker

39. Chickpea Shawarma Salad

Extra garlic-dill dressing, please.

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Half Baked Harvest

40. Easy Three-Cup Chicken with Zucchini

This one’s about to enter your weekly rotation.

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Lindsay Champion

Freelance Editor

From 2015-2020 Lindsay Champion held the role of Food and Wellness Director. She continues to write for PureWow as a Freelance Editor.
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