The weather is heating up and that means one thing: it’s time for some delicious summer recipes! These recipes are perfect for hot weather, as they are all easy to make and will keep you cool. We have a variety of different recipes, including salads, appetizers, main courses, and desserts. So whether you are looking for a light lunch or something more substantial, we have you covered. So fire up the grill or get out the pots and pans; it’s time to cook up some summer goodness!
Spaghetti Fresh Veggies Salad
A light and refreshing salad that’s perfect for a summer picnic or potluck.
Ingredients
Spaghetti noodles, cucumber, tomato, red onions, parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil.
How to prepare
To make the delicious summer salad, simply cook the spaghetti noodles. Take a saucepan and fill it in half with water. Once the water is boiled put the spaghetti in the saucepan. After ten minutes, test the noodles to see if they are done. Once they are done, rinse them with cold water so they stop cooking. Drain the noodles and put them in a large bowl.
Next, add fresh diced cucumber, tomatoes, and red onion to the pasta. For extra flavor, add parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil. Mix everything and serve chilled or at room temperature.
If you’re looking for an easy and delicious meal, this spaghetti fresh veggies salad is the perfect dish. It’s light, refreshing, and can be easily made ahead of time. So the next time you’re looking for a summer meal that will keep you cool in the heat, give this recipe a try. You won’t be disappointed!
Grilled Chicken Pizza
This grilled chicken pizza recipe is perfect for summer dinner ideas.
Ingredients
Pizza dough, barbecue sauce, chicken breasts, mozzarella cheese, red onion, and cilantro.
Instructions
Preheat grill to medium heat. In a small bowl, combine barbecue sauce and chicken breasts. Grill chicken for about 15 minutes, or until cooked through. Remove from grill and chop into small pieces.
Roll out pizza dough on a floured surface. Spread barbecue sauce over the dough, then top with chicken, mozzarella cheese, red onion, and cilantro. Place pizza on grill and cook for about 12 minutes, or until crust is crispy and cheese is melted. Slice and serve immediately.
Grilled Cheese Sandwich With A Twist
This delicious recipe adds some delicious and unique flavors that will make your taste buds dance.
Ingredients
Bread, pesto sauce, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, spinach leaves, and olive oil
How to prepare
To make the sandwich, start by spreading pesto sauce on one slice of bread. Top with feta cheese, cherry tomatoes, and spinach leaves. Drizzle olive oil over the top. Place the other slice of bread on top and grill in a pan over medium heat until both sides are crispy and the cheese is melted.
Broccoli And Avocado Salad
This salad recipe is perfect for hot summer evenings. The broccoli and avocado are both cooling foods, and the lemon juice gives it a refreshing zing.
Ingredients:
One head of broccoli, cut into florets, one ripe avocado diced, and one tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper to taste.
Instructions:
Start by chopping up the broccoli into small bite-sized pieces. Add these to a large bowl. Next, cut up the avocado into small cubes and add these to the bowl as well. Pour the lemon juice over the salad and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Watermelon Gazpacho
Watermelon is a refreshing fruit that is perfect for beating the heat. This soup also has cucumber and lime, which will help to keep you hydrated. Watermelon Gazpacho is a perfect fresh fruit summer recipe that is light and refreshing.
Ingredients:
Watermelon, cucumber, lime juice, salt, and pepper.
Directions:
Blend watermelon, cucumber, and lime juice in a blender until smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste, or add more if desired. Serve chilled.
Grilled Corn Salad
This recipe is great for a summer cookout! The corn salad is healthy and flavorful, and the grilled corn gives it a nice smoky taste.
Ingredients:
Ears of corn, shucked, olive oil, salt and pepper, diced red onion, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, and lime juice.
Instructions:
Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Brush corn with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill corn for about 15 minutes, turning occasionally, until it is tender and slightly charred.
Remove from grill and let cool before cutting the kernels off the cob. In a large bowl, mix grilled corn, diced red onion, diced avocado, chopped cilantro, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste before serving. Serve chilled or at room temperature.
Grilled Shrimp And Salmon Burger
Summer dinner idea number one is a grilled shrimp and salmon burger. This is a light and healthy option, perfect for those hot summer days when you don’t want to be weighed down by a heavy meal.
To make this recipe you will need:
500g salmon fillets, 500g shrimp, zest and juice of one lemon, a bunch of fresh dills, two cloves of garlic, salt, and pepper.
Instruction:
Simply blitz all of the ingredients together in a food processor until they are combined, then shape into burgers and fry in a little olive oil. Serve on a bed of lettuce with some lemon wedges. This recipe is the best quick summer dinner idea.
Chilled Cucumber Soup
This next recipe is a refreshing and cooling soup, perfect for a hot summer’s day. It’s also a really quick and easy recipe to make – all you need is:
Ingredients:
a cucumber, a bunch of fresh mints, a clove of garlic, zest, and juice of one lime, salt, and pepper
Instruction:
Blend the cucumber, lemon juice, and water until smooth in a blender. Serve chilled soup with some crusty bread on the side.
Lamb Steak With Pea And Mint Salad
If you’re looking for an easy summer recipe that is both delicious and refreshing, look no further than this lamb steak with pea and mint salad. This dish is perfect for a hot summer day, as the mint will help to keep you cool while the lamb provides a delicious and hearty flavor. The best part about this recipe is that it can be easily adapted to your liking – so feel free to add or omit any ingredients that you don’t enjoy. This dish is sure to be a hit with everyone at your next summer dinners gathering!
Ingredients:
Lamb steak, fresh peas, mint leaves, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Instructions:
Season the lamb steak with salt and pepper, then heat a pan over medium-high heat and cook the steak to your liking. In a large bowl, combine the cooked lamb, peas, mint leaves, and olive oil. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.
Tomato Basil Soup
This recipe is for a summer classic, tomato basil soup. It’s easy to make and so delicious. You’ll need:
Ingredients:
Fresh tomatoes, basil, fresh herbs, olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic.
Instruction:
First, start by roasting your tomatoes. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Cut your tomatoes in half and place them on a baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil, salt, and pepper over the top of the tomatoes. Then, add fresh garlic cloves (peeled). For a hearty meal, double the recipe and roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes. While the tomatoes are roasting, start heating a large pot on the stove. Add olive oil, and chopped green onions. Toss in the sliced red onion and sauté until translucent.
Once the tomatoes are done roasting, add them to the pot with the onions. Add chicken broth (about four cups) and bring the soup to a simmer. Then, add fresh basil leaves (about half a cup). Let the soup simmer for a few more minutes. Now it’s time to blend the soup. You can use an immersion blender, or transfer the soup to a regular blender. Once the soup is smooth, taste it and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve with a dollop of sour cream or croutons on top. Try this recipe for your dinner tonight.
Veggie Nuggets
This veggie nuggets recipe is so easy and delicious, it will be a go-to meal all summer long! The best part? You can make them in the air fryer, oven, or even on the grill.
Ingredients:
One package of vegan chicken nuggets (I like Gardein), one cup of your favorite BBQ sauce, and
one cup of Italian dressing.
Instructions:
Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. If you are using an oven or grill, preheat to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mix the BBQ sauce and Italian dressing. Add the chicken nuggets to the bowl and coat evenly with the sauce.
Place the nuggets in the air fryer basket (no need to oil first) and cook for 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. These crispy, saucy nuggets are the perfect summertime meal. Serve them with a side of salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal. They also make great leftovers – just reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes.
Grilled Veggie Kabobs
This recipe is not only healthy, but it’s easy to make and can be done in under 30 minutes. You’ll need:
Ingredients:
One package of mixed veggies (I used peppers, mushrooms, zucchini, and onions), one tablespoon of olive oil, and one clove of garlic, minced, salt, and pepper.
Instruction:
Start by prepping your veggies. If you’re using peppers, mushrooms, and zucchini as I did, slice them into bite-sized pieces. Then, add all of the veggies to a large bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle on the garlic, salt, and pepper. Mix everything until the veggies are evenly coated.
Next, thread the veggies onto skewers (if you’re using wooden skewers, make sure to soak them in water for at least 30 minutes beforehand). Grill over medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until the veggies are slightly charred. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce.
Strawberry Basil Lemonade
This refreshing summer drink is the perfect balance of sweet and tart. You’ll need:
Ingredients:
One pound of fresh strawberries, hulled and halved, one bunch of fresh basil leaves, one cup of sugar, one cup of water, juice from two lemons, six cups of cold water, and ice cubes.
Instruction:
Start by making a strawberry basil simple syrup. In a medium saucepan, combine the strawberries, basil, sugar, and one cup of water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook for about five minutes, or until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool. Once the strawberry basil simple syrup has cooled, add it to a large pitcher along with the lemon juice, cold water, and ice cubes. Stir until everything is combined and serve over ice.
Frozen Fruit Popsicles
This popsicle recipe is so easy and requires just a few ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen. Simply combine your favorite fruits, add some juice or yogurt for creaminess, and blend until smooth. Then pour the mixture into popsicle molds or even small paper cups, insert popsicle sticks, and freeze. In just a few hours, you’ll have refreshing and healthy fruit popsicles that are perfect for a hot summer day.
Strawberry Shortcake Skewers
These light and fluffy strawberry shortcake skewers are the perfect summer dessert! Plus, they’re so easy to make that you’ll be able to enjoy them all season long.
Ingredients:
Shortcake biscuits (homemade or store-bought), fresh strawberries, and whipped cream or vanilla ice cream (optional).
Directions:
If using homemade biscuits, bake according to recipe instructions. If using store-bought biscuits, heat according to package.
Instructions:
Cut the biscuit into bite-sized pieces. Skewer the biscuit pieces and strawberries alternately on wooden skewers or toothpicks. (If using toothpicks, be sure to soak in water for 30 minutes beforehand so they don’t burn.) Grill over medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until biscuits are slightly browned and strawberries are soft.
FAQS
what to use in chicken salad?
Mayo, grapes, and celery are common ingredients in chicken salad, but you can use any combination of fruits, vegetables, and proteins that you like. Just make sure to keep the flavors light and refreshing so they won’t weigh you down in the heat.
What to use in pasta salad?
If you’re looking for something a little different in your pasta salad, try adding some chopped-up fruit. Peaches, nectarines, and grapes all pair well with the creamy dressing and crunchy veggies. This is a great way to use up any fruit that’s starting to get too ripe. Just make sure to add the fruit at the very end, so it doesn’t get mushy.
How to make mango salsa?
You will need: mangoes, diced tomatoes, diced onion, fresh cilantro, lime juice, salt (to taste), and chili powder (optional)
Instructions: Simply mix all the ingredients in a bowl and enjoy! This salsa is great with chips, on tacos, or just by itself. For a little extra spice, you can add diced jalapeños or serrano peppers.
Conclusion
The spaghetti veggie salad is a great way to get kids to eat their vegetables. The broccoli and avocado salad are healthy and delicious. The grilled corn salad is perfect for summer cookouts. The prawn and salmon burger is a healthier alternative to a beef burger. The lamb steak is perfect for special occasions. The tomato basil soup can be made in minutes with ingredients you probably have on hand. Veggie Nuggets are a fun way to get your daily vegetable serving, and the frozen fruit popsicles are a refreshing treat on a hot day. Finally, the strawberry shortcake skewers are the perfect end to any meal. Whether you’re looking for something healthy or indulgent, we’ve got you covered!