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Are you tired of spending hours in the kitchen during hot summer days? Look no further! I’ve gathered over 30 easy and delicious light dinner recipes that are perfect for summer. From fresh salads to grilled chicken, these recipes are not only light and healthy but also quick to make.
You can enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal without spending too much time in the kitchen. Whether you’re looking for a vegetarian option or something with lean protein, there’s a recipe for everyone. So why not beat the heat and try out some of these mouth-watering summer recipes today?
In this post, you’ll discover a variety of recipes to suit any taste buds, ranging from salads and light soups to delectable chicken dishes. Perfect for health-conscious individuals who prioritize their weight and well-being, these light, healthy dinner ideas are simple to prepare and are sure to satisfy.
Maintaining a healthy diet can be a challenge for many, particularly during the summer when hectic schedules leave little time for cooking.
But this post will help you discover that you can enjoy some delicious light dinner recipes without struggling too much.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Light Ingredients That Are Good For Healthy Summer Recipes
- Vegetables – we all know that vegetables are one of the main ingredients that are light, healthy, and also extremely delicious. Broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, zucchini, and tomatoes are a few examples of healthy ingredients that are great for light recipes.
- Fresh Herbs: Basil, mint, cilantro, and parsley add flavor to any dish and are rich in antioxidants.
- Healthy Fats – Whether we are talking about light ingredients, you can also include some healthy fats in your recipes. Avocado, nuts, and olive oil are some great ideas.
- Lean Protein – chicken meat, fish, or turkey breast are among the best sources of lean protein to add to your light recipes.
- Grilled Vegetables: Grilling veggies like zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, and mushrooms bring out their natural sweetness and make for a great side dish.
- Nuts and Seeds: Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and sunflower seeds add crunch and healthy fats to salads and sides.
How To Make Easy Light Weeknight Dinners
- Focus on fresh produce: Use fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables as the main ingredients in your dishes. Not only are they nutritious, but they also add bright colors and refreshing flavors to your meals.
- Grill or roast your proteins: Grilling or roasting lean proteins like chicken, fish, or tofu is a healthy way to add flavor without adding extra fat. Plus, it’s a great excuse to enjoy the outdoors and the warmer weather.
- Experiment with salads: Salads don’t have to be boring. Mix and match different types of greens, add fruits or nuts for crunch, and toss with a homemade dressing for a light and flavorful meal.
- Use herbs and spices: Salads don’t have to be bland or boring. Try mixing things up by experimenting with different combinations of greens, fruits, nuts, and homemade dressings.
- Keep things simple: You don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to make a delicious and healthy meal. Stick to simple recipes with a few key ingredients to save time and energy.
- Stay hydrated: Don’t forget to drink plenty of water or other hydrating beverages to keep your body cool and refreshed during the hot summer months.
Easy Shredded Chicken Tacos
Let me show you how to make the best shredded chicken tacos recipe of your life. Not only is this stovetop shredded bbq chicken tacos super easy and quick to make, but it's also packed with flavor and delicious.
Check out this recipe
Grilled Chicken Breast
Whether you keep them on hand for quick lunches or serve them for dinner tonight, a juicy Grilled Chicken Breast is the perfect way to upgrade any meal.
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Grilled Chicken Salad
This Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing is an easy summer salad recipe with so much flavor! Complete with crisp, fresh veggies and deliciously creamy buttermilk ranch dressing, you can make this simple salad using freshly grilled chicken or leftovers.
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Sizzling Skillet Chicken Fajitas
Enjoy sizzling chicken fajitas, made in one skillet in just 30 minutes! Fajitas are always an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.
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Cashew Chicken Stir-Fry Recipe (20 minutes!)
This easy cashew chicken is definitely better than take-out and ready in just 20 minutes. Make the best stir-fry chicken with roasted cashews, onion, red peppers, all coated in a sticky soy sauce.
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Lemon Butter Chicken
Lemon Butter Chicken is a must try recipe! I’m all about lemon chicken so when you add a butter pan sauce to the mix you know it’s going to be unbelievably tasty.
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Cilantro Lime Grilled Chicken with Avocado Salsa
This Cilantro Lime Chicken is incredibly juicy, tender, and flavored. Enjoy a grilled chicken recipe that's served with a fresh and delicious Avocado Salsa. A healthy 30-minute dinner recipe that's super easy to make for a summer meal.
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Chinese Lemon Chicken
This scrumptious Chinese Lemon Chicken has an incredibly tasty and crispy coating, served with a delicious lemon sauce and is ready in just 30 minutes! This is a classic Chinese takeout recipe, but can be easily made at home!
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Easy Chicken Piccata
This Lemon Chicken Piccata is a quick dinner consisting of pan-seared breast smothered in a lemony, buttery, caper sauce. The breasts are tender, and the sauce it’s perfectly tangy. Serve this family-favorite meal topped with silky sauce or on top of zucchini noodles.
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Easy Skillet Mediterranean Chicken
Ready in under an hour, this Easy Skillet Mediterranean Chicken recipe makes a great healthy dinner any night of the week yet it's dressy enough for weekend entertaining!
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Baked Chicken Legs
Learn how to make perfectly crispy baked chicken legs with just a few ingredients and 5 minutes of prep. These oven roasted chicken drumsticks are incredibly tender, moist, and the skin is crispy and flavorful from the spice rub.
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Shrimp Tacos
Shrimp Tacos with lightly charred tortillas, crisp salt and pepper coated shrimp, crunchy slaw and spicy, creamy shrimp taco sauce!
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20 Minute Grilled Shrimp Skewers with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce
This Grilled Shrimp Skewer is a delicious, quick to make shrimp recipe that's ready within minutes. Shrimp is marinated, then grilled until perfectly golden. Cook this simple grilled shrimp recipe on the stove or an outside grill. 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off
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Easy Grilled Salmon
Here’s how to make the absolute best grilled salmon! It’s perfectly tender and flavored with a magic seasoning blend that takes it to new heights.
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Air Fryer Salmon
This air fryer salmon recipe is quick to make, tender, moist, and super flavorful. Ready in just 15 minutes, this is seriously the best way to cook salmon in the air fryer. Weeknights dinners can’t get any easier!
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Grilled Chicken and Peach Salad
This Grilled Chicken and Peach Salad is perfect for summer! Balsamic grilled chicken, grilled peaches, avocado, and feta are the most delicious sweet and savory toppings for this hearty salad. Serve it with the homemade balsamic vinaigrette that doubles as the chicken marinade!
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Easy Wedge Salad Recipe
This wedge salad recipe si super crunchy, refreshing, and topped with a rich blue cheese dressing, bacon crumbles, and cherry tomatoes. It’s an easy salad recipe perfect for a quick meal or appetizer.
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Kale Caesar Salad With Cajun Shrimp
There's nothing like a classic Caesar salad, and this cajun shrimp salad is a zesty and healthier take on a traditional Caesar. Chopped kale replaces romaine lettuce; sliced radishes add some crunch and the homemade spicy Caesar dressing is completely keto-friendly. The juicy shrimp have an intense cajun flavor that pairs well with the creamy avocado. Overall, this is a bold salad with a bit of a kick!
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Antipasto Salad
Learn how to make the most FLAVORFUL antipasto salad recipe you have ever tried. Ready in only 10 minutes, this salad is easy to make and customizable, and it can be made ahead of time for those busy days.
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Greek Chicken Souvlaki Recipe With Tzatziki
This homemade chicken souvlaki recipe takes you to the streets of Athens! Complete with the best souvlaki marinade; instructions for indoor or outdoor grilling; and what to serve with your souvlaki. Be sure to see the video tutorial below.
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Easy and Juicy Grilled Chicken Kabobs with Vegetables
These grilled chicken kabobs are delicious, colorful, and easy to make. The chicken is incredibly juicy, and the veggies are grilled to perfection. Enjoy a light and flavorful dinner that can also be made in the oven.
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Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Quick and easy Asian Lettuce Wraps are delicious! Made with ground chicken, shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts with a spicy hoisin sauce.
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Chicken Shawarma
This Chicken Shawarma recipe is marinated in a delicious oriental mixture of spices, then grilled until perfectly cooked. Loaded with flavor, serve chicken shawarma in a wrap, topped with yogurt sauce, and your favorite vegetables for the best culinary experience.
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Paleo & Keto Chicken Wraps
Fresh yet hearty, these paleo and keto chicken wraps make for a perfectly delicious easy-peasy meal. Think bold Mediterranean flavors, all wrapped up in my (2g net carb!) keto flatbread.
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Stuffed Zucchini Boats
These stuffed zucchini boats are the perfect way to enjoy a delicious and fresh recipe filled with a tasty beef meat sauce all covered in melty mozzarella cheese. This zucchini recipe has plenty of Italian flavors, the zucchini is tender, and the meat is extremely flavorful.
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Mediterranean Zucchini Boats
These Mediterranean Zucchini Boats are stuffed with herb seasoned ground beef and garnished with cherry tomatoes, pine nuts and feta. They're a light and fresh version of this low carb favorite.
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Sheet Pan Oven Roasted Chicken Breast and Vegetables
Roasted Vegetables and Chicken is a healthy, flavorful recipe, that's super easy to whip up. The veggies have a perfect texture, the chicken is juicy and perfectly tender. It's an ideal recipe for meal prep.
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Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon and Vegetables
This easy, delicious Sheet Pan Teriyaki Salmon and Vegetables (I seriously devoured this, it was THAT good) is made all on one sheet pan and ready in 20 minutes!
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Keto Mexican Bowl
This Keto Mexican Bowl is a delicious, low-carb breakfast option, but it’s perfect for any meal of the day. It’s filled with fresh and colorful veggies, hearty flavored beef meat, cheddar cheese, and sour cream. You will love this healthy Mexican Bowl that is perfect for a busy day and can be made with their favorite toppings.
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Low Carb Greek Chicken Bowl
A classic Greek salad contains chopped vegetables, olives, and cheeses drizzled with Greek vinaigrette. It’s fresh, fork busting, and fairly irresistable.
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Easy Keto Vegetable Soup – Seriously Good Low Carb Soup
This keto vegetable soup is loaded with vegetables, comforting, filling, and super easy to make. Just chop all the vegetables, simmer for a few minutes, and enjoy a big bowl of warm homemade low carb vegetable soup.
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Creamy Keto Tomato Soup
This Creamy Keto Tomato Soup recipe requires just a few ingredients, one-pot and a blender. Perfect keto soup recipe that will warm you up in fall & winter.
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30+ Light Dinner Recipes For Summer
Prep time 19 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Yelds 6 servings
Description
Are you tired of spending hours in the kitchen during hot summer days? Look no further! I've gathered over 30 easy and delicious light dinner recipes that are perfect for summer. From fresh salads to grilled chicken, these recipes are not only light and healthy but also quick to make. You can enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal without spending too much time in the kitchen. Whether you're looking for a vegetarian option or something with lean protein, there's a recipe for everyone. So why not beat the heat and try out some of these mouth-watering summer recipes today?
Keto during holidays?Get my e-book!
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 lemon
- 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast cut into strips
- 1/2 sweet red pepper julienned
- 1/2 green pepper julienned
- 1/2 yellow pepper julienned
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp Fajita seasoning
Instructions
- To prepare this tasty chicken fajita recipe, start by combining the chicken, fajita seasonings, 1 tbsp of oil, and lemon juice in a large bowl. Toss well to ensure the chicken is evenly coated with the seasoning mixture. Then, place the bowl in the refrigerator and let it marinate for around 30 minutes.
- Next, slice the onions and peppers into long strips. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Add the sliced peppers and onions and sauté them for 4-6 minutes until they’re slightly cooked, but still crisp-tender. Once done, remove the vegetables from the pan and keep them warm.
- Using the same skillet, cook the marinated chicken for 5-10 minutes or until it’s no longer pink. Add the cooked peppers and onions back into the pan, toss with the chicken, and cook for another 2 minutes until everything is well combined.
- Finally, serve the chicken fajita mixture over low-carb tortillas and top it with your favorite toppings such as salsa, sour cream, avocado, or any other toppings you prefer. Enjoy your healthy and delicious dinner!
Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving.
Calories
188kcal
Total Carbs
4g
Net Carbs
3g
Protein
25g
Fat
8g
Fiber
1g
Sugar
2g
How do we calculate the nutrition info?
These nutrition facts listed are determined using nutrition information from the USDA Food Database. Our nutrition facts are accurate, but if you are using different products, please make your calculations. Net carb count is calculated by subtracting both fiber and sugar alcohols because they don’t raise blood sugar.
Tried this recipe?Mention @LowCarbSpark or tag #LowCarbSpark!
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