Hot nights in summer need cool, easy dinners. You don’t want to cook for too long. You don’t want heavy food either. Light meals are best for summer.
These 15 Easy Light Dinner Recipes for Hot Summer Nightsare fresh and fast. You can make them in 30 minutes or less. Some are even ready in 10 minutes.
You don’t need many ingredients. You don’t need many dishes. Clean-up is quick too.
Let’s look at 15 easy and tasty dinners for hot nights!
1. Grilled Chicken Caprese
This dish is fresh and full of flavor. It has chicken, tomato, and cheese.
You need:
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 ball of mozzarella cheese
- Fresh basil
- Olive oil, salt, pepper
How to make it:
Cook the chicken on the grill. Put tomato and cheese on top. Add basil. Drizzle with oil. Eat warm or cold.
2. Shrimp Tacos with Mango Salsa
These tacos are sweet and a little spicy. So good!
You need:
- 1 pound shrimp
- 1 mango
- 1/2 red onion
- 1 lime
- Small tortillas
- Salt, pepper, oil
How to make it:
Cook shrimp with oil, salt, and pepper. Mix mango, onion, and lime juice. Put shrimp and salsa in tortillas.
3. Cold Peanut Noodle Salad
This is creamy, cool, and crunchy. Great for hot days.
You need:
- 8 oz noodles
- 1/2 cup carrots
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1/4 cup peanut butter
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp vinegar
How to make it:
Cook noodles, then let them cool. Mix peanut butter, soy sauce, honey, and vinegar. Add to noodles and veggies.
4. Tomato and Burrata Salad
This salad is soft and juicy. Very simple and fast.
You need:
- 2 tomatoes
- 1 ball of burrata cheese
- Olive oil
- Salt, pepper, basil
How to make it:
Put tomato slices on a plate. Add pieces of cheese. Top with oil, salt, pepper, and basil.
5. Turkey Lettuce Wraps
These wraps are light and tasty. Fun to eat!
You need:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Lettuce leaves
How to make it:
Cook turkey with soy sauce and garlic. Spoon it into lettuce leaves. Add hot sauce if you like.
6. Summer Veggie Stir Fry
Use any fresh veggies you have. Quick and colorful.
You need:
- 1 zucchini
- 1 bell pepper
- 1 carrot
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sesame oil
How to make it:
Cook veggies in a pan with oil. Add soy sauce. Serve with rice or noodles.
7. Tuna-Stuffed Avocados
This is cool and creamy. So easy to make.
You need:
- 1 can tuna
- 2 avocados
- 1 tbsp mayo or yogurt
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Salt, pepper
How to make it:
Mix tuna, mayo, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Put the mix into avocado halves.
8. Greek Orzo Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is cold and full of flavor.
You need:
- 1 cup cooked orzo
- 1/2 cucumber
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
- 1/4 cup olives
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
How to make it:
Mix everything in a bowl. Chill it before eating. Add herbs if you want.
9. BBQ Chicken Flatbread
This is like summer pizza. Easy and fun.
You need:
- 1 flatbread or naan
- 1/2 cup cooked chicken
- 1/4 cup BBQ sauce
- 1/4 cup cheese
- Red onion slices
How to make it:
Put sauce, chicken, cheese, and onion on the bread. Cook at 400°F for 8 minutes.
10. Cucumber Chickpea Salad
Cool, fresh, and full of protein. No cooking needed.
You need:
- 1 can chickpeas
- 1 cucumber
- 1/4 red onion
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt, pepper
How to make it:
Mix all in a bowl. Chill for 15 minutes. Eat alone or with pita bread.
11. Zucchini Noodle Bowl
Zoodles are noodles made from zucchini. Light and fun!
You need:
- 2 zucchinis
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup mozzarella balls
- 1 tbsp pesto
How to make it:
Spiral the zucchini. Mix with tomatoes, cheese, and pesto. Eat cold or warm it a little.
12. Grilled Veggie Wraps
Grilled veggies in a wrap taste so good.
You need:
- 1 zucchini
- 1 bell pepper
- 1/2 onion
- Olive oil, salt, pepper
- Tortillas
How to make it:
Grill the veggies with oil and spices. Wrap them in tortillas. Add hummus if you want.
13. Caprese Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Big mushrooms with cheese and tomato. So tasty!
You need:
- 2 portobello mushrooms
- 1 tomato
- 1/4 cup mozzarella
- Basil, salt, pepper, olive oil
How to make it:
Bake mushrooms at 375°F for 10 minutes. Add tomato and cheese. Bake 5 more minutes. Add basil on top.
14. Watermelon and Feta Salad
Sweet watermelon with salty cheese. So refreshing!
You need:
- 2 cups watermelon
- 1/4 cup feta cheese
- Mint leaves
- 1 tbsp balsamic glaze
How to make it:
Mix watermelon, feta, and mint. Add glaze on top. Serve cold.
15. Avocado Egg Toast
Simple and filling. Great for dinner or breakfast.
You need:
- 2 slices of bread
- 1 avocado
- 2 eggs
- Salt, pepper, chili flakes
How to make it:
Toast the bread. Smash avocado on top. Fry eggs and place them on toast. Sprinkle with seasoning.
Final Thoughts
Summer dinners should be fast and easy. These 15 recipes are great for hot nights. You don’t need to use the oven much. You don’t need fancy tools.