93 Summer Weeknight Dinners You'll Make on Repeat

Warm weather calls for no-fuss meals that are full of flavor — and fresh seasonal ingredients. Got a bunch of ripe, juicy tomatoes? Is your garden overflowing with fresh zucchini? Need to use up all that sweet corn you picked up at the local farmers market? We’ve got plenty of ideas. Whether you’re craving a summery pasta, dinner from the grill or a family-friendly chicken dish, you’ll find the perfect, easy dinner in this roundup. One of our favorites? This flavorful dish that allows you to cook frozen chicken breasts without having to thaw them first. You’ll simply pan-fry the chicken until it’s golden brown (don’t worry, the oil won’t spatter), then layer them with fresh, seasonal tomato slices and mozzarella cheese when they’re partially thawed to lock in the moisture as the chicken finishes cooking.

Nothing says summer like halibut poached in a bright and simple sauce of cherry tomatoes, white wine and butter. Shallots, fennel and charred lemons mix with the bursting tomatoes and verdant herbs to create an on-the-grill recipe that is as beautiful as it is delicious. Don’t skimp on the grilled bread — it's key to savoring every last bit of the sauce.

A quick marinade of honey, oil, vinegar, cumin and red pepper flakes coats pork chops as they rest in a re-sealable plastic bag. After an hour, remove and grill for just seven minutes. Serve wtih some pasta salad or mixed greens and you've got dinner!

From the outside burrata may look like a ball of plain mozzarella cheese, but slice into it and you’ll find a center filled with delicious velvety cream. We heated it on the grill along with cherry tomatoes to make a wonderfully gooey, creamy pasta sauce that’s packed with Italian flavor. Chicken breast is easy to grill up alongside and toss in, and a topping of crunchy breadcrumbs, lemony arugula and another ball of fresh burrata (oh yes!) make it picture-perfect.

These skin-on chicken thighs get rubbed with a homemade blend of paprika, cumin and cayenne, then cook right on the stovetop in a cast-iron grill pan until the skin turns deep brown and shatteringly crisp. It's the answer for grill-marked flavor when you don't want to fire up the outdoor gril

Ree gives rib eye steaks a deep, savory flavor by rubbing them with cocoa powder, brown sugar and spices. She cooks hers in a hot cast-iron skillet before serving with a simple, summery salad — but you could just as easily throw them on the grill if you’re cooking outdoors.

Bring the beach to your backyard with a foolproof clambake on the grill. Single-serving foil packets make it easy to scale the feast up or down depending on the size of your family. A mix of corn, potatoes, sausage, shrimp and clams makes it certain there’s something for everyone. Don’t forget the crusty bread to sop up all of the buttery juices.

This whole steakhouse dinner comes together on the grill: a garlicky Worcestershire-marinated London broil, foil-packet potatoes and skillet spinach, all finished with an herb butter. It's a one-cookout meal that skips the kitchen entirely and still feels like a night out.

A love letter to the Amalfi Coast, this dish takes fried zucchini and turns it into magic with basil and aged Provolone. Creamy, rich and humble. It's proof that the best things come from the simplest ingredients.

In the peak of summer, juicy tomatoes and sweet bell peppers are at their prime. Here, we turn them into an easy bright sauce, then toss in pillowy, herby dumplings to soak up all of the beautiful flavor.

This sheet pan dinner is loaded with summer corn, tomatoes, fennel and shrimp. The whole thing is broiled together, so you can have it on the table in a flash. Top with feta, fresh basil and a squeeze of lemon juice for the perfect summer weeknight meal.

Enjoy a steak-and-potato dinner — on a stick! The buttery fingerling potatoes and tangy balsamic steak sauce make an irresistible combination.

White pizza and antipasto salad — two pizzeria favorites that come together in a single fun dish. The grill adds a smoky flavor to the pizza crust, and as an added bonus you don’t need to heat up your kitchen. If you don’t have a pizza pan you can stretch the dough on a flat baking sheet.

This dish screams easy summertime dinner and takes advantage of peak tomato season. Juicy heirlooms are a bed for the fish and sweet cherry tomatoes are lightly charred to give the vinaigrette a subtle smoky flavor. Serve with grilled country bread rubbed with garlic, a crunchy salad or buttery corn on the cob for a memorable meal.

This hearty sandwich comes together quickly on a small portable grill, making it perfect for a tailgate or picnic. Make the balsamic vinaigrette at home and take it along in a small jar. You can purchase the Italian sausage ring (shaped like a spiral) at an Italian butcher. If you can’t get the cheese and parsley flavor, use any flavor you like. If you’d like to make this on a full-size grill, you can cook everything at once and remove the ingredients as they finish cooking.

Alex's 25-minute dinner couldn't be simpler: A quick summer pesto tops grilled shrimp and mixed greens for a meal that tastes like summer.

Using a grill-safe pizza stone on a grill is a great way to cook fajitas. It results in wonderfully charred chicken and blistered, caramelized veggies in no time. The tangy, spicy and salty marinade is super flavorful. This method for preparing fajitas might just become your new summer favorite.

Pulsing jarred sun-dried tomatoes and their oil in a food processor is all it takes for a tangy, flavorful pesto.

You can’t go wrong with Ree’s meatless marvel. She seasons tofu with salt, pepper, chili powder and soy sauce, then tosses the tofu with corn and serves in a lettuce wrap. A slice of avocado adds the finishing touch!

Shrimp blush pink in the skillet before being tossed with garlic, lemon and angel-hair pasta.

Think of this recipe as summer on a sheet pan. The warm grilled vegetables and bulgur wilt the escarole just enough to soften its flavor and texture. The balsamic reduction adds a final note of sweetness. If you are in a rush, you can use purchased balsamic reduction, but making your own takes only a few minutes. It's worth cooking up a big batch to keep on hand for drizzling on roasted or grilled vegetables, poultry, pork and fish fillets.

This cast-iron pizza is the perfect mix of salty, sweet, tangy and sharp. Crispy baked pizza dough is topped with barbecue chicken, mozzarella and cheddar cheese. A drizzle of honey with fresh cilantro and scallion finish off this cheesy chicken pizza.

Veggie bowls are a go-to on busy weeknights because they’re one and done. Take whatever veggies you have in your fridge (bonus points if it’s fridge cleaning day), toss them in olive oil, salt and pepper, place them on a baking sheet and roast until tender. For this Roasted Veggie Buddha Bowl recipe, we recommend chickpeas, red onions, sweet potatoes and cremini mushrooms. While everything is in the oven, whisk together a quick Greek yogurt-tahini-lemon dressing, cook some quinoa and slice up that fresh avocado you’ve been waiting to eat. Once the veggies are done roasting, assemble your bowl and, be sure to make one for lunch the next day, too!

Fresh watermelon makes for a summery tomato substitute in classic chicken tacos.

Shrimp and tomatoes tint this creamy sauce pink, and fresh basil and flat-leaf parsley make it extra aromatic.

Refreshing pineapple chunks, fiery jalapeno and colorful bell peppers take these grilled shrimp fajitas to the next level.

For those weeknights when you think it’s just too hot to bother, try this Healthy One-Skillet Shrimp and Quinoa. Packed full of celery, tomatoes, quinoa and shrimp, this dish isn’t only healthy, but also quick and easy to make. And, if you’re not totally sold already, the fact that the dish is prepared in one skillet, making cleanup virtually nonexistent, should be enough to satisfy everything you’re looking for in your weeknight dinners.

Glam up grilled chicken with prosciutto and fontina. The silky meat slices crisp up on the grill while the cheese melts and adds a slight nuttiness to each bite.

If you think soup's just for fall, you need to try this recipe asap! Leek, zucchini and bay leaves form the dish's hearty base while buttery chopped bread and shredded rotisserie chicken give it a delectable garnish. Make it when you need a quick refresher from the summer heat.

The thought of turning the stove on during the summer is excruciating. After hours of running around in the sun, the last thing anyone wants to do is stand over a hot stove and cook dinner. This is the time to use that instant pot you bought over the winter; it’s great for more than just chilis and soups! Try these Greek Chicken Bowls, for example, for an easy summertime meal. Just load up the pot, put it on to cook while you chop up some fresh veggies like cucumbers and tomatoes and enjoy the dish’s myriad of flavors.

Summer pasta dishes don’t have to all be mayonnaise drenched side dishes. Case in point: Rigatoni with Summer Bolognese. Making the most of sweet summer tomatoes, this homemade Bolognese highlights the beauty of fresh Farmer’s Market produce in a classic way. Great fresh or leftover, this dish will become a summer staple in your household.

Pizza is perfect for family dinners, especially when it’s made at home. Serve with a bean salad, a filling and hearty companion to the dish.

The vibrant color of curried scallops matches their bold flavor and the season's beautiful yellow squash.

For those nights when it’s raining but you still want to enjoy a juicy steak, check out this no-grill recipe. You’ll cover all the bases: protein, veggie and starch in a matter of minutes as you sear your steak in a large skillet and sauté your corn and potatoes to perfection. And don’t forget to top the dish with the recipe’s homemade garlic butter.

It takes more time to boil the water than to cook this dish. Skinny capellini reaches al dente perfection in a flash. 

These family-friendly fish tacos come together fast — and with only a handful of ingredients from your pantry. Best of all, there a few different types of fish that work well in this dish so you can feel free to ues whatever you have on hand.

Black-eyed peas add protein to this veggie-packed one-pot wonder.

Sausage and peppers always make for a good combo, especially when tender broccoli florets are added to the mix. 

Get chicken and veggies on the table in 30 minutes with this easy recipe.

Take the best late-summer veggies and turn them into a soup you'll crave year-round. This recipe comes together in a half-hour and easily feeds a family of six.

Cooking for one? Flavorful ingredients like goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes make for an exciting, perfectly portioned single serving.

Golden potatoes, juicy cherry tomatoes, and savory kalamata olives give this pork dish some Mediterranean flare.

Shishito peppers taste slightly like a cross between bell peppers and jalapenos. They’re usually mild, but about one in 10 is quite spicy — either way, they're a good match for garlicky lemon chicken.

Bobby marinates the pork for a few hours for tenderness and serves it with a delicious peanut sauce.

Use your grill to create a simple flatbread pizza inspired by the flavors of Hawaii.

Great seafood rolls don't have to be a luxury. More affordable monkfish makes a great seafood salad to top a buttered roll.

Fire up the grill for Ina’s perfect pork chops. Don’t worry about extra seasonings ­— a little salt and pepper goes a long way when you're cooking on a smoky grill.

Two tablespoons of za'atar go a long way in this weeknight dinner recipe. Use it to infuse your grilled chicken with the most incredible aroma and flavor, in just 35 minutes.

Store-bought rotisserie chicken turns time-consuming pulled meat into dinner ready in less than half-an-hour.

Crispy prosciutto adds crunch to Giada’s risotto-style orzo, a crowd-pleasing side dish that can be adapted to whatever vegetables you have on hand.

Ree dresses up canned soup with a little sherry, cream, pesto and fresh tomatoes for a summer weeknight dinner that’s on the table in just about 15 minutes.

Turn meat and potatoes into something fresh by serving them over a bed of lettuce dressed with a simple vinaigrette.

Lighten up a traditional tuna salad sandwich with an oil-and-vinegar dressing and plenty of fresh veggies.

If you had a late lunch and are looking for something a bit lighter to finish off your night, turn to these Mango Summer Rolls with Ginger-Peanut Sauce. Made with vermicelli noodles, spring roll rice papers and a vibrant array of veggies, these summer rolls are the perfect make-your-own, mix-and-match adventure after a long day at the office.

Use up leftover rose wine to make a light, refreshing sauce for seared salmon. Complete the meal with a simple lemon-dressed salad and you’ve got a summer staple weeknight dinner.

Bright yellow corn and peppery arugula bring fresh flavors and gorgeous colors to this simple chop.

Get your greens in with this fresh salad packed with west coast flavors like avocado, sprouts and a yogurt-based dressing.

Grilled greens, shrimp and chorizo add heat and a smoky flavor to light bean salad.

How about dinner with a Mediterranean theme? Take a shot at this falafel recipe. The bright flavors of cumin and parsley pair with the earthier chickpea to create a protein packed dinner you won’t be able to get enough of. Enjoy your falafel in a pita with plenty of lettuce, tomato and tahini for an added layer of freshness that only works to elevate the dish.

Salty kalamata olives add another layer of flavor to zesty oranges and peppery watercress. Topped with a fish filet, it's the perfect bright summer meal.

Summer staples like tomatoes and corn turn classic veggie curry into something more seasonal. Make a big batch on Sunday and take leftovers for lunch on Monday.

Pineapple pulls double duty in Ree’s 16-minute tacos. The juice combines with hot sauce and honey to make a sweet-and-spicy glaze for the chicken, which is later topped with broccoli slaw and fresh pineapple slices.

Use this easy pasta as a base for even more mix-ins like grilled chicken and fresh mozzarella.

Have your salad and pizza, too! After a few minutes on the grill this cheesy pizza gets topped with crunchy fennel salad and salty pancetta.

This tasty dinner comes together in less than 40 minutes ­— and it’s made from start to finish on the grill.

Ina roasts shrimp with lemons, garlic and butter for fast weeknight dinner. Don’t forget the crusty bread! You’ll need some for dipping in the garlic butter at the bottom of the pan.

Taking virtually no time to grill, these flatbreads are your quick fix in any pinch. This recipe takes simple ingredients and handles them minimally, showcasing the beautiful, fresh produce available during the summer months, while also making lighter work for you. The star of this dish? The grilled zucchini and yellow summer squash. Slightly sweet in flavor, the vegetables also adopt a bit of the charred grill flavor, also known as the delightful taste of summer.

Inspired by Moroccan tagine, this fragrant stew combines quick-cooking boneless chicken thighs and chickpeas with summer vegetables, such as zucchini, rainbow carrots and colorful cherry tomatoes. It’s served over fluffy, buttery couscous and finished with a refreshing herb and nut topping. A little fire from harissa plus a dollop of cooling yogurt packs this dish with bright flavor.

Make the most of your summer produce with Ina’s five-star pasta. She tosses fresh broccoli, arugula and grape tomatoes with pasta, Parmesan and a tangy lemon cream sauce.

Food Network Kitchen calls for cube steak, a budget-friendly cut of beef that’s been tenderized by a machine. If you can’t find it, substitute a top round steak that’s been pounded with a meat mallet.