Looking for an easy summer dinner? This week’s On the Menu features 42 seasonal favorites, family meals, fresh flavors and delicious desserts.
This week’s menu is full of easy summer dinners, fresh seasonal ingredients and family favorites. From summer garden pasta and grilled salmon to a hearty Sunday roast beef dinner, you’ll find plenty of tasty inspiration for the week ahead. And don’t miss the sweet lemon treat at the end; That’s one I’m especially excited to try!
This is the kind of summer meal I look forward to making all year long! Ina Garten’s Summer Garden Pasta is full of fresh summer flavors and is one of those beautiful dishes that looks impressive but is surprisingly easy to put together.
Pasta is the star of this meal, and herb-infused Tuscan grilled chicken turns it into a hearty dinner. Add a big Caesar salad with homemade dressing on the side, and you have a fresh, satisfying menu that’s perfect for a warm summer evening.
Easy, seasonal and absolutely delicious!
Ina Garten’s Summer Garden Pasta
Herb Infused Tuscan Grilled Chicken
Caesar salad with homemade salad dressing
I’ve been making this delicious New England clam chowder for decades, and it’s one of my family’s favorite meals. Rich, creamy and full of wonderful clam flavor, it’s the kind of soup that’s hearty enough to make dinner by itself.
I like to sprinkle crispy bacon on top before serving. It adds a smoky flavor that pairs perfectly with chowder and makes this family even better.
Serve it with butter topped beer bread to soak up every last spoonful, and a fresh arugula salad with parmesan, pepitas and lemon vinaigrette to balance the richness of the soup. Together, they make a hearty and satisfying meal any time of the year.
New England Clam Chowder
Arugula Salad with Parmesan, Peanuts and Lemon Vinaigrette
Butter Top Beer Bread
Grilled salmon is one of the easiest dinners you can make and is perfect for summer. The secret is not that much. Use an instant-read thermometer and pull it from the grill every time it reaches the right temperature for moist, flaky salmon. No mesh? No problem. This recipe can easily be made in the air fryer or baked in the oven.
Creamy lemon and rosemary risotto with salmon is a wonderful side dish. The bright lemon flavor complements the fish beautifully, while the creamy texture makes the meal feel a little more special.
Add roasted portabella mushrooms to round out the menu. Their meaty texture and smoky flavor make them a delicious vegetable side and a great partner for both salmon and risotto. This is one of those restaurant-worthy meals that is surprisingly easy to make at home.
Delicious healthy grilled salmon
Creamy Lemon and Rosemary Risotto
Grilled portabella mushrooms
This is the kind of meal that sounds a little fancy but is actually perfect for a hearty family dinner. Tender pork medallions in a creamy sauce look special enough for company, yet they’re easy enough to make on a weeknight.
Caramelized onion mashed potatoes are the perfect partner for pork. Rich, creamy and full of flavor, they soak up every bit of the delicious sauce.
Add lemon garlic sauteed asparagus for a fresh, bright side that balances the richness of the meal.
30-Minute Creamy Pork Tenderloins
Caramelized Onion Mashed Potatoes
Lemon Garlic Sautéed Asparagus
I am a big fan of cod. Ever since a summer vacation on Cape Cod years ago, I have chosen to cook with cod loins instead of cod fillets. Cod loins are thick, meaty and hold up beautifully when cooked, making them perfect for this crispy air fryer recipe.
The cod is light and flaky, so I paired it with a lemon arugula pasta salad. Bright lemon dressing, peppery arugula, crunchy walnuts, and Parmesan cheese add fresh summer flavors and make this meal feel a little extra special.
This is an easy dinner that’s big on flavor and perfect for hot summer evenings when you want something satisfying but not too heavy.
Crispy Flaky Air Fryer Code
Lemon Arugula Pasta Salad
Bobby loves this simple combination of grilled sausage, onions, and peppers, and frankly, so do I. It’s one of those easy meals that is packed with flavor and comes with very little fuss.
I usually make a big pan because the leftover seeds are just as delicious the next day. In fact, I’m already planning on having lunch on Sunday!
Serve it with crispy garlic parmesan butter smashed potatoes and a fresh cucumber vinegar salad. The potatoes add plenty of comfort food appeal, while the crisp, tangy salad perfectly balances the richness of the sausage. This is an easy, satisfying meal that’s always a winner at our house.
Ina Garten’s Easy Grilled Sausage, Onions, and Peppers
Crispy Garlic Parmesan Butter Smashed Potatoes
5-Minute Cucumber Vinegar Salad
I love the idea of an old fashioned family dinner on Sunday. It’s good for all of us to slow down, gather around the table and spend time together before the new week begins.
My grandchildren love roast beef, so this is always a dinner they look forward to. Tender roast beef with gravy, creamy make-ahead mashed potatoes, and delicious cracked green beans are classic comfort foods that never go out of style.
I like to add arugula salad with parmesan, pepitas and lemon vinaigrette to bring a fresh, bright flavor to the meal. It’s the perfect balance for this hearty Sunday dinner and a wonderful way to end the weekend with family and good food.
Roast beef with gravy
Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Cracked green beans
Arugula Salad with Parmesan, Pepitas and Lemon Vinaigrette
Lemon is one of my favorite flavors, especially in the summer months. Bright, fresh and a little tangy, it always makes the dessert taste extra special.
This lemonade poke cake is a new recipe for me, and I’m looking forward to making it this week. The combination of moist cake and sweet lemon flavor is absolutely irresistible.
If you’re a lemon lover too, this might just become your new favorite summer dessert!
Lemonade Poke Cake
I love the simplicity and taste of this gorgeous French Bread Chicken Pesto Pizza.
This Mexican pizza Combines all the Tex-Mex flavors we love in one simple and family-friendly meal.
Fresh zucchini, creamy ricotta and basil make up Summer Pasta with Zucchini, Ricotta and Basil The perfect way to enjoy summer produce.
Loaded with colorful vegetables, Summer Vegetable Torta Would be lovely for lunch or a light dinner.
When local berries are in season, treat yourself Fresh strawberry cake.
Says summer comfort like a bowl of na Chicken and Corn Chowder Packed with sweet corn and tender chicken in a rich, creamy broth.
If you love a good bundt cake, this one Key lime pound cake That bright, tangy citrus flavor brings a buttery, dense crumb that’s absolutely irresistible.
Creamy sweet corn with pancetta Giada De Laurentiis recipe turns fresh summer corn into a rich, flavorful side dish you’ll want to make again and again.
This One Pot 30-Minute Creamy Tomato Basil Pasta Bake Half Baked is a weeknight dream from Harvest, which comes in just one pan with fresh basil and a tomato cream sauce.
Bold, crisp, and on the table in a flash, this 15-Minute Bang Bang Salmon There’s a recipe that makes a busy weeknight feel like a special occasion.
Fresh herbs, crisp vegetables and a creamy base make this Garden Vegetable Dip The perfect appetizer or snack to take out when the garden is blooming.
This Key lime pie bar Deliver everything you love about the classic pie in a handheld, easy-to-make bar with a buttery graham cracker crust and tart, creamy filling.
This Zucchini and Squash Casserole A gorgeous way to use garden zucchini and yellow squash is to layer and bake them in a hearty, satisfying side dish.
This classic Italian Panzanella Salad A beautiful jumble of crusty bread, ripe tomatoes and fresh vegetables tossed in a bright, tangy vinaigrette that’s pure summer in a bowl.
This Healthy salmon cake with homemade tartar sauce Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and served with a creamy homemade tartar sauce that takes them over the top.
Bright, lemony, and deeply satisfying, this Lemon Chicken Pasta It’s the kind of weeknight dinner that feels a little special without too much effort.
Tomato Pie It’s one of those wonderful summer dishes that lets garden-fresh tomatoes really shine, layered in a flaky crust with a delicious, cheesy topping.
This charming Mini Cherry Pies in a Mason Jar It’s just as fun to eat with a buttery crust, sweet cherry filling and the most adorable star cutout tops.
This festival Watermelon Feta Flag Salad A showstopper on any summer table, everyone will love the combination of sweet watermelon, salty feta and fresh blueberries in a patriotic presentation.
Gooey, chocolatey, and perfectly toasted, this Mini S’mores Bring all the magic of the campfire into a bite-sized treat that’s great for parties, cookouts, or any time a sweet craving hits.
Happy cooking, friend…
