27 Quick and Healthy Summer Meals

Looking for easy and light summer recipes?  Find 27 quick and healthy summer meals when you want something lighter on hot summer nights.

healthy meals to have in the summer; kabobs, shrimp, salads

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When summer rolls around, it can be hard to resist all the sweet treats and unhealthy foods that are everywhere, from backyard BBQs, with hot dogs and chips to carnivals with fried foods and cotton candy. It can feel impossible to try to stick to a healthy diet.

But, don’t despair because there are actually so many delicious, light, and healthy foods you can enjoy during the summer. In fact, it’s one of the best times of the year to eat healthier because of all the seasonal fruits and vegetables that are readily available.

A simple grilled chicken or kabob with a light summer salad makes the perfect summer dinner. The goal is to find quick and easy recipes that have simple ingredients with minimal prep because no one wants to spend their time standing over a hot stove after a busy day.

So, if you are looking for some inspiration for healthy summer meals that you can make when the weather starts to get warm and you want something nutritious and delicious, then these summertime recipes are for you.

Looking for more summer inspiration? Find easy recipes for summer entertaining with these summer appetizer recipes, charcuterie board ideas, and healthy summer snacks. Planning a backyard cookout this summer? Try these easy grilling recipes, BBQ side dish recipes, pasta salads, and burger recipes (healthy options with turkey, chicken, and black bean burgers).

27 Quick and Healthy Summer Meals

Enjoy these quick and healthy summer meals that include everything from light salads to pasta, wraps, and more. These deliciously simple recipes are perfect for potlucks, picnics, or busy summer nights.

1
Baked Caprese Chicken Recipe
Pumpkin ’N Spice
Baked Caprese Chicken Recipe
Baked Caprese Chicken is simple, flavorful, and ready in just 30 minutes. Chicken is topped with zesty seasonings, fresh mozzarella, and juicy tomatoes. Garnish with a balsamic glaze and fresh basil for a deliciously easy meal!
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2
Kale Chicken Salad
Piper Cooks
Kale Chicken Salad
Easy chicken kale salad with a creamy avocado cilantro dressing, the perfect refreshing and satisfying summer meal.
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3
BBQ Chicken Zucchini Boats
Peel With Zeal
BBQ Chicken Zucchini Boats
Use a rotisserie chicken and fresh garden zucchini for this quick and easy recipe!
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4
Summery Italian Pasta Salad (No Meat, Just Veggies!)
Any Reason Vegans
Summery Italian Pasta Salad (No Meat, Just Veggies!)
This quick and easy Italian pasta recipe uses no meat, making it a lighter alternative. It comes together quickly and also works well for meal prep.
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5
Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
Champagne Tastes
Basil Pesto Pasta Salad
This basil pesto pasta salad includes tomatoes, artichoke hearts, and nutritional yeast. It's ideal as a make-ahead camping or road trip meal.
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6
Quinoa Salad with Avocado
Jumble Kitchen
Quinoa Salad with Avocado
This simple Quinoa Salad with Avocado is prepared in just 20 minutes and impresses with a delicious taste. Thanks to the included avocado, the summer salad becomes beautifully creamy and is also completely vegan!
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7
Plant Based Burrito Bowl
FitLizKitchen
Plant Based Burrito Bowl
So satisfying and flavorful, this Plant Based Burrito Bowl makes for a fun Tex-Mex twist on Taco Tuesday (or enjoy any night of the week)! Set up a build-your-own bar for the whole family, or prep most of the components in advance for meal prep and enjoy easy meals all week long.
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8
Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps
Juggling Act Mama
Pulled Pork Lettuce Wraps
Light and flavorful, these pulled pork lettuce wraps are perfect all year long, but especially during the summertime since this pulled pork can be made in the slow cooker. This is a great kid-friendly meal because everyone gets to add their own toppings.
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9
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
Craving Something Healthy
Pesto Tortellini Pasta Salad
This colorful pesto tortellini salad is packed with grilled summer vegetables, Italian meat, cheese, tortellini, and it's drizzled with a pesto vinaigrette. It's easy to make and tastes even better the next day.
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10
Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos with Pico de Gallo
The Rustic Foodie
Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos with Pico de Gallo
These Sheet Pan Shrimp Tacos are full of fresh flavors and ready in 30 minutes! They're roasted in the oven and topped with homemade Pico de Gallo and lime crema.
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11
Simple Seared Tuna Salad With Miso Dressing
No Frills Kitchen
Simple Seared Tuna Salad With Miso Dressing
This fresh and fast seared tuna salad is perfect for those hot summer evenings when you don't have time to make a long recipe! Ready in about 20 minutes, this salad is dressed in an umami-rich miso vinaigrette and topped with beautifully seared, sesame-crusted tuna!
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12
Grilled Shrimp Pineapple Skewers
Urban Bliss Life
Grilled Shrimp Pineapple Skewers
Grilled Shrimp Pineapple Skewers is a healthy meal that can be prepped and cooked in about 15 minutes. Perfect quick lunch or dinner for summer!
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13
Summer Quinoa Salad
Recipe Runner
Summer Quinoa Salad
Summer Quinoa Salad is a healthy and easy to make salad that’s full of summer’s best vegetables!
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14
Easy Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Marinade
Farmhouse Harvest
Easy Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Marinade
Whip up these grilled chicken kabobs, loaded with fresh veggies and protein, for an easy and healthy summer dinner!
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15
Couscous Chicken Salad
Neils Healthy Meals
Couscous Chicken Salad
Couscous chicken salad. This is a quick and easy to make delicious healthy salad which is perfect as a warm dinner salad or cold packed lunch!
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16
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl
Cooking on the Weekends
Shrimp Quinoa Bowl
This dish bursts with fresh, bright, tropical flavors. This light lunch or dinner is super satisfying, healthy, and pretty!
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17
Tuscan Bean Salad
The Feathered Nester
Tuscan Bean Salad
This Tuscan bean salad is a refreshing dish filled with vibrant vegetables and creamy white beans. The bold flavors are complemented by a zesty vinaigrette, making it perfect as a standalone meal or a flavorful side dish.
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18
Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
The Pasta Project
Lemon Ricotta Pasta (Pasta al Limone)
This creamy spaghetti al limone with ricotta is a no-cook sauce recipe. In other words, only the pasta needs cooking. It makes a perfect summer dish. Just 5 simple ingredients and only 30 minutes to have ready to serve
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19
One Pan Chicken Green Beans and Potatoes (Ready in 30 Minutes!)
Kim and Kaylee
One Pan Chicken Green Beans and Potatoes (Ready in 30 Minutes!)
One pan chicken green beans and potatoes baked with garlic and lemon is a healthy, delicious, and easy to make meal!
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20
Summer Quinoa Salad
Living Lou
Summer Quinoa Salad
Make a delicious summer quinoa salad with tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a delicious red wine vinaigrette. This light and fresh summer salad is a delicious side dish or add some chickpeas for a hearty meal.
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21
Pesto Pasta with Summer Vegetables
Creative Simple Living
Pesto Pasta with Summer Vegetables
This summer vegetable pesto pasta dish is loaded with garden fresh vegetables such as yellow squash, zucchini, carrots, onions, and tomatoes.
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22
Quick Flatbread Pizza Margherita
Happy Kitchen
Quick Flatbread Pizza Margherita
This delicious Margherita flatbread pizza recipe is going to be your new favorite flatbread pizza. It’s delicious and easy to assemble which makes this naan pizza a perfect light summer lunch or dinner meal for when you don’t feel like cooking.
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23
Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp
Garden in the Kitchen
Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp
This 10-minute Sheet Pan Mediterranean Shrimp recipe features lightly seasoned shrimp and colorful vegetables all cooked on the same pan. With maximum flavor and minimal effort, it’s perfect for quick, easy, and healthy weeknight dinners!
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24
Thai Zucchini and Chicken Skillet
The Roasted Root
Thai Zucchini and Chicken Skillet
30-Minute Thai Zucchini and Chicken Skillet is a fresh and flavorful low-carb dinner recipe, ideal for any weeknight! Boneless chicken thighs, zucchini, onion, carrots, garlic, and cabbage all come together with a sweet and savory peanut sauce for a hearty flavorful dish. Make a double or triple batch to meal prep for dinners throughout the week!
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25
Pasta With Fresh Tomatoes
The-Bella-Vita
Pasta With Fresh Tomatoes
This pasta recipe with fresh tomatoes is a dish really tasty and fast, ideal for those who want to bring to the table something tasty.
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26
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad {Vegan}
Planted 365
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad {Vegan}
Mexican Street Corn Pasta blends creamy pasta with charred corn, tangy lime, and spicy chili for a delightful twist on the classic elote. Perfect for a zesty meal!
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27
Mexican Rice Bowl
One Clever Chef
Mexican Rice Bowl
Ready in 30 minutes and very easy to make, this recipe is also perfect as a weeknight dinner for the whole family. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, and nut-free.
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Looking for easy dessert recipes with fresh summer fruit?

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