Summer has finally arrived so we’re making the most of seasonal vegies and alfresco dining weather with this collection of delicious, low-fuss summer dinner ideas and recipes. From finger-lickin’ good chicken wings to spectacular salads, we’ve rounded up the best recipes of the season.
While winter dishes are all about comfort and warming you up from the inside, we don’t have that problem in summer. It’s already hot enough outside that we’re leaning more towards fresh salads, lighter meals that don’t leave you overly full and you don’t have to wait an hour before a post meal dip in the pool or ocean (even if mum told you growing up it would give you a stitch).
Scroll through our summer dinner ideas collection and find some inspiration for your midweek meals, weekend dinners and entertaining worthy dishes too.
Looking for more pasta dishes for the warmer months or more spring salads?
Julie Goodwin’s barbecued corn fritters
A quick and easy barbecue dinner.
Julie Goodwin’s tandoori chicken skewers
Serve with yoghurt sauce and roti.
Rump steak with flavoured butters
Of the many cuts of steak you can cook on the barbecue, rump is a good-all-rounder, not to mention a little more budget-friendly than some of the others.
Lemon parmesan pan chicken
Serve this delicious weeknight wonder with creamy mashed potato.
Julie Goodwin’s prawn and mango salad
The perfect summer salad.
Thai beef salad
It’s deceptively easy to make.
Prawn, rosemary and corn risotto
This classic risotto has been given with a corn and seafood twist to create a hearty and fragrant dinner.
Miso chicken with broccolini and asparagus
This tasty chicken and rice salad is good for your gut (and your taste buds).
Classic roast chicken with gravy
This classic roast chicken comes complete with moist and succulent meat and beautifully crispy, browned skin.
Super-simple chicken parmigiana
Classic pub grub in the comfort of your home.
Miso and sesame salmon with soba noodles
Snow peas give this hearty noodle bowl a delicious crunch.
Peanut and sesame tofu with stir-fried greens
Test out this tasty vego dish.
Pasta primavera with poached salmon
Bust this spring pasta out for the ideal light meal that really satisfies.
Quinoa salad with zucchini and fetta
This healthy quinoa salad is great for weekday lunches. You’ll love the added crunch thanks to roasted hazelnuts.
Quiche primavera
This spring vegie quiche will soon become your new go-to lunch.
Spicy buttermilk chicken
Add some spice to your dinner.
Chicken caesar salad with asparagus and kale
A hearty caesar salad.
Pork and veal san choy bow
Fresh and flavour-packed, try this on for a midweek dinner or easy workday lunch.
Spring greens and fetta bruschetta
Move over tomato and basil there’s a new bruschetta in town.
Smoked paprika chicken with tomato and chickpeas
A meal the whole family will enjoy.
Zucchini ‘spaghetti’ with tomato and fetta
Oodles of zoodles.
Spiced lentils and beetroot with dill yoghurt
Great as a side dish or main event.
Quinoa, zucchini and fetta salad
A satisfying and healthy meal.
Miso eggplant and noodle salad
A quick and tasty lunch.
Teriyaki salmon with edamame and cucumber rice salad
Salmon fillet, marinated in this homemade Japanese-style sauce, is perfectly paired with a low-GI rice salad full of edamame and cucumber.
Grilled fish with mango salsa and coconut rice
Looking for fresh, flavoursome dinner ideas?
Salad Niçoise
You’ll love this classic French salad.
Salmon yakitori with sweet rice miso sauce
Everything tastes better on a stick.
Miso chicken and stir-fried greens
Love that umami flavour!
Almond-crumbed chicken schnitzel with fennel & nashi salad
If it sounds nuts, it’s because it is.
Zucchini, black bean and corn enchiladas
Meat-free Mondays start now!
Spiced fish tacos with slaw and avocado cream
For a lighter taco, try fish!
Spaghetti with chilli garlic prawns
A perfect marriage of flavours!
Mega mushroom burgers
The ultimate low-carb hack.
Loaded asparagus and ricotta galette
The perfect spring dinner.
Prawn and vegetable japanese hash browns
These modern Asian inspired hash browns are the best tasting yet
Fetta and olive greek meatloaves
Satisfy your tastebuds with these Greek-style mini meatloaves.
Pea and barley risotto with garlic prawns
This simple pea and barley risotto with garlic prawns will delight the family.
Dukkah salmon patties with zucchini and asparagus salad
Get your little ones eating more seafood with these super tasty salmon patties with dukkah coating for a lovely flavour and crunch.
Cavolo nero fritters with pickled beetroot
Packed full of healthy ingredients, these tasty fritters make for a super tasty way to up your vegetable intake.
Asparagus and salmon pasta salad
Take one tin of salmon and a few fresh ingredients for this tasty pasta salad. It’s an easy packed lunch that you’ll actually look forward to!
Vietnamese lemongrass chicken bowl
Fragrant, flavoursome and so delicious! You can’t go wrong with this quick and easy Vietnamese lemongrass and chicken bowl for dinner tonight!
Sesame chicken katsu salad
Crunchy crumbed chicken makes a perfect addition to this fresh salad with Japanese flavours
Pineapple huli huli chicken wings
Tangy, sticky, sweet pineapple huli huli chicken wings! These beauties are quick, simple, and the perfect choice for dinner tonight!
Tomato, prosciutto and mozzarella tart
This simple tomato and prosciutto tart is taken to the next level with a zesty olive-based green sauce.
Lamb and bean nachos with salsa fresca
Take your taste-buds to Mexico with these cheesy lamb and bean nachos and zesty salsa fresca – easy to make and super delicious!
Healthy kumara and turkey burgers
This delicious recipe from The Australian Women’s Weekly’s ‘The Sustainable Cookbook’ proves that healthy eating can be tasty. This recipe uses sliced kumara as an alternative to buns, and free-range mince.
Kale and quinoa frittata
This kale and quinoa frittata recipe is featured in Dr Joanna McMillan’s book – Brain Food. This dish is an excellent way to load up on healthy green veggies, loaded with Vitamin A and caretenoids for eye health.
Balsamic-glazed chicken breasts with tomato and basil couscous
The sweet and acidic flavour of a balsamic glaze pairs deliciously with the soft, mild flash of a properly cooked chicken breast.
The botanist bowl
Packed full of almonds, kale and avocado, it’s a nutritious, easy lunch for any day of the week.
Spiced vegetable, chickpea and ricotta salad
These golden caramelised vegetables, tossed with baked ricotta and chickpeas are best served warm. But if you have any leftovers, they make a great work lunch. And they’re suitable for diabetics, too.
Lemon tuna couscous salad
Salad ingredients can easily be added and substituted – use your imagination!
Mushroom and spinach tarts with tomato salad
Fresh and tasty, these mushroom and spinach tarts are simple to make and sure to impress any guests. They’re also vegetarian.
Prawn cutlets
Prawn cutlets make an ideal first course or light meal. This is a particularly crisp, tasty batter thanks to the panko crumbs, parmesan and herbs. Serve as soon as they are cooked.
