On a hot summer night, I love to lighten up my meals and try to incorporate seasonal produce. I don’t like dinners that take a ton of time to prepare, and I want them to be very flavorful. These fresh summer dinner recipes always hit the mark.
Need a summer-friendly recipe for Friday pizza night? Then take a look at Kristi Bell’s (North Little Rock, AR) Cilantro Pesto Chicken Pizza.
“My hubby loves this recipe; the kids not so much,” jokes Kristi. “On half of the pizza dough, I do cheese and pizza sauce.”
Instead of tomato sauce, Kristi creates a pesto filled with cilantro and garlic. Taco-seasoned chicken, sliced red onion, and diced tomatoes are added as toppings to add even more fresh flavor. Sprinkled with Colby Jack cheese, this is a nice summertime pizza.
Katrina Freed’s (Newark, DE) Glazed Salmon With Mango Salsa is an elegant dish that will make it look like you spent all day in the kitchen but is simple to prepare.
“I was looking for something special for a dinner party and came up with this,” says Katrina. You don’t need to be hosting a dinner party to make this easy meal.
The salsa is a kaleidoscope of beautiful colors and fresh flavors. Mango shines through with its added sweetness.
A maple glaze drizzled over the salmon adds just enough sweetness with a hint of caramel flavor. Fresh and light, this is a delicious dinner.
A veggie-packed meal option is Norma DeRemer’s (York, PA) Summer Grillin’ Vegetable & Fish Bundles.
“This has always been one of my favorite grilling dishes because it is so easy to make,” shares Norma. y in this recipe.
It’s a yummy grilled dinner in a convenient package. The fish and vegetables cook perfectly. Norma gives two sauce options – a savory herb and soy sauce mixtures. Both were quite tasty.
Preparing the fish and vegetables in a foil pack, instead of multiple pans, means fewer dirty dishes to clean.
Stephanie Beacham’s (Jacksonville, NC) Caprese Chicken Stacker With Reduced Balsamic tastes like summer.
“I just made this last weekend,” reveals Stephanie. “Salt and pepper chicken with fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic reduction. It’s one of my fave plates I’ve ever made.”
When wondering what to make with fresh tomatoes, this is a great dish.
The balsamic vinegar reduction drizzled on top is slightly thicker than if you didn’t reduce it and adds a pop of sweetness. The marriage of flavors in this easy dinner are wonderful.
If you’re not super hungry, Michelle Cater’s (Paradise, TX) Cool Cucumber Sandwiches are an option.
“I ate lunch at a restaurant called The Mustard Seed, and they had great tuna sandwiches with grapes in them,” explains Michelle. “I loved it, so I came home and added my favorite ingredients to make it perfect!”
Who would have thought dill pickles with grapes would make such a great sandwich?
The combination of flavors and textures in this sandwich is fantastic. I used tuna, but chicken would also be tasty. Serve on a croissant, with a side of chips, for a lighter summer dinner.
I plan to add one or two of these fresh summer dinner recipes to my menu this week. Let me know which one you plan on trying. Happy Pinching!