Looking for dinner inspiration? We’re here for you! Check out our week’s worth of summer dinner menus that are family tested and approved. From Meatless Monday to Taco Tuesday to Sunday night supper, we have summer favorites that you’re going to love.
Slap Your Mama It's So Delicious Southern Squash Casserole
“WOW, WOW, WOW!!!!! I made this tonight and it was absolutely amazing! This was so easy to prepare and definitely a regular on my table! This would be a great Company side, TY for sharing!” - Marvin
Sweet n' Spicy Black Bean Salad
“This is one of my favorite bean salads ever. Sweet, spicy, and FRESH. I love it!” - Theresa
Eggplant Rollatini
“Thanks for the tasty recipe - it was wonderful! I made this last night with rice and salad. I added some basil & parsley along with the oregano and really enjoyed it! It's a keeper! Next time I make it I will use a little more ricotta because I had eggplant slices left over once the delicious filling ran out. I breaded them anyway and baked them up with sauce and cheese!! Yummm! Just a side note...you may need to add the olive oil between rounds in the skillet. The breaded eggplant really drinks it up and the oil is necessary to get the good golden brown on the outside.” - Chris
Easiest No-Bake Cheesecake
“Every time I bake a cheesecake recipe in the oven, the top cracks open and the recipe never works out for me. This is the easiest recipe and it DOES work! Fabulously delicious!” - Robyn
Slow Cooker Shredded Taco Chicken
“I fixed this for a family gathering last week. Eaters ranged from 2-1/2 to 70 and they all loved it! I doubled the recipe for 13 people and had only a tiny bit of leftovers. Definitely a real keeper!” - Terri
Easy Mexican Rice
“As good as the rice from your favorite Mexican restaurant, Easy Mexican Rice is simple to make and full of flavor. It compliments any Mexican or Tex-Mex entree from quesadillas to fajitas to or simple tacos.” - Paula
Street Corn - Casserole Style
“Street corn is delicious but it can be very messy to eat. We love Martha's casserole version - it has all the flavor of street corn without the mess. We opted to use frozen corn in ours to get that fresh crisp taste and texture. But, canned corn can be used too. Once baked, this is creamy, tangy, and cheesy. Chili powder on top brings a little heat, so adjust to suit your taste. We think this would be good as a dip too with some tortilla chips.” - Kitchen Crew
Easy Fresh Salsa
“Easy Fresh Salsa is such a cinch to make you will never buy the stuff in a jar again. Adjust the spiciness to taste and you will not be able to stop dipping, trust me.” - Debbie
Holy Guacamole!
“I've spent years perfecting my guacamole. It's always a hit at parties. I feel shallots complement the avocado more than onions. Also, mashing the shallots, jalapeno, and garlic with rock salt brings out their juices and oils and it infuses the guacamole nicely. I've been asked how you can tell if an avocado is ripe. I say make a fist and press into the flesh between your thumb and index finger. That's what an avocado should feel like if it's perfectly ripe. Any harder and it needs a few days to ripen. If it's really hard, it may never ripen.” - Jacinda
Fruit Crisp
“This is a fast and easy dessert! Everyone thinks I spent all day putting it together. Little do they know how easy it is and of course I will never tell!” - Debbie
Blackened Salmon with Avocado Salsa
“Salmon seasoned with a tasty cajun spice blend and pan fried until crispy served topped with a cool and creamy avocado salsa!” - Kevin
Orzo and Spinach Salad
“Want something a little different in a summer salad? Well, here it is. This salad is bursting with flavor and is so quick and easy.” - Grace
Cucumber & Tomato Salad
“Just tried your recipe to accompany a quiche I made using our garden vegetables and it was a big hit! It's such a simple recipe and I have made something similar many times, however, never thought to add the fresh dill. It really brings out the flavors!” - Julie
Tropical Pineapple Coconut Rum Cake
“A fantastic summer dessert. This is a delicious rum cake with a tropical flair. Crushed pineapple and cream of coconut in the cake help to make it very moist. You taste the rum, but it's not an overpowering flavor. The pineapple rum glaze is buttery and soaks into the cake adding even more moisture. A bit of pineapple does not soak into the cake so when you flip it over it's on the bottom. That was one of our favorite parts. Sounds crazy, but the flavors remind us of butter rum hard candies.” - Kitchen Crew
Simple Honey Balsamic Grilled Chicken
“Chicken breasts are a healthy summertime dinner but since they are such a lean meat, it’s easy to overcook and dry out the chicken. The key is to marinate the chicken breast. This fantastic honey balsamic marinade that tenderizes the meat and adds tons of flavor.” - Kitchen Crew
Caprese Salad with Balsamic Glaze
“This salad is very simple to make but it is also beautiful and impressive to serve. This salad can be assembled ahead of time and then drizzled with olive oil and balsamic glaze right before serving.” - Debbie
Cheesy Baked Asparagus
“This asparagus recipe is awesome!! My husband and I loved it. Thank you for sharing. A company side dish, for sure. Had it with Grilled Salmon fillet. YUM.” - Nancy
Giant Zucchini-Corn Fritter
“This was delicious! My family ate it all up! Will make it again and again. I didn't have a cast iron skillet, I used a casserole bowl. Turned out great!” - Krissy
Southern Banana Pudding
“This is the only recipe my family uses for banana pudding. From the time I can remember reaching the stove to help my grandmothers stir theirs to now, it is just a comforting dessert.” - Janet
Luby's Fried Fish and Tartar Sauce
“The crust on this cod sticks perfectly, fried up golden brown and crisp. We've never had fried fish from Luby's so we can't speak to its authenticity... but we can say this is mighty good fried cod. There are not a lot of seasonings in the recipe, so the flavor of the fish shines. The homemade tartar sauce is the perfect complement to the fish. This makes a lot of tartar sauce. The recipe can easily be cut in half and you'll still have enough for dinner.” - Kitchen Crew
Southern-Style Hush Puppies
“I made these last week and we loved them! My husband loves hot, hot food, so half the batch I put jalapenos in them. Great recipe!” - Anne
Grilled Fresh Green Beans
“This bean and veggie combination is even more delicious cooked outside on the grill. Leave the bacon out for a healthier/vegetarian dish.” - Lynn
Best Oven Baked Fries and Potato Wedges
“The best thing about this recipe is that you don't have to turn the fries in the oven. It is made with only 1 TBS of oil, and it tastes fabulous. You won't even know these are oven fries. You owe it to your heart to try this healthy recipe for French fries. I bet you won't even miss the ones at the golden arches.” - Bonnie
Peachy Peach Cobbler
“Cobblers are an easy dessert to fix when company is coming over or when you need to bring something to a potluck. This recipe has a classic peach cobbler taste. Adding the peach drink amps up the peach flavor. Once baked, it has a crispy top but the inside is creamy and gooey bursting with peaches.” - Kitchen Crew
Fried Zucchini
“I love using up my fresh garden zucchini, which seems to always be more than I can keep up with. These fried zucchini strips go fast, so make plenty and serve 'em up while it's good and hot. I love to make a variety of sauces to go along with the fried zucchini, a few of which I've shared at the end of the recipe.” - Holly
Gouda Bacon Cheeseburger
“Bacon, Gouda cheese, and a creamy sauce... what more could you want on a burger? We loved the smoky Gouda cheese with the applewood bacon. The sauce is absolutely delicious and perfect on the burger. It's like Thousand Island dressing with a nice kick. A nice treat if you normally just put ketchup on your burger. If you're not a huge raw onion fan, then leave it of the dressing mixture. It will be just as delish!” - Kitchen Crew
Chipotle Salmon Burgers with Guacamole
“Fresh homemade chipotle salmon burgers grilled to perfection and topped with cool and creamy guacamole!” - Kevin
8 Cheese Baked Macaroni
“This is really cheesy goodness! I loved that it didn't have egg in it....so many baked macaroni and cheeses do. This has been asked to be repeated here at my house.” - Lynette
Fruit Salad to Die For
“Oh this is a good one! I make this one a lot. People just rave about it & always ask for the recipe for the ‘dressing.’ So simple but so delicious! Thanks for posting. This one is family tested & approved!!” - Jan
Spicy Apple Baked Beans
“These beans were a big hit when I made them for the family!! A keeper!!” - Sheila
Key Lime Pound Cake
“This is my mother's recipe for Key Lime Pound Cake that was a staple in our house every Easter and throughout the summer. Moist, dense, and delicious! I hope you enjoy it!” - Gayle
Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta Recipe
“A perfect recipe for a quick and easy appetizer or snack, Strawberry Goat Cheese Bruschetta Recipe is fresh, fruity, light and healthy bruschetta with succulent strawberries and tangy goat cheese.” - Paula
Honey Mustard Shrimp on the Bar-B
“What a light and fresh grilled shrimp recipe. They are slightly sweet, with a touch of tang. This shrimp recipe is great on a hot day when you don't want to heat up the kitchen. The marinade is super easy to whip up and the shrimp take no time to cook on the grill. Serve with a fresh green salad and you have a quick and easy dinner or a great cookout snack.” - Kitchen Crew
Chimichurri Grilled Steak
“A quick and easy marinated flank steak that is perfectly grilled, sliced thinly and served topped with a tasty chimichurri!” - Kevin
Grilled Corn on the Cob Three Ways
“Corn on the cob is a summertime staple that is best served grilled. Using foil is a no-fail way to grill the corn resulting in the easiest and tastiest summer side dish. Just slather the corn with a little seasoned butter, wrap the ear in foil, and toss it on the grill. The slathered corn first steams inside the foil. After it soaks up the butter, the corn roasts bringing out its natural sweetness. Grilled corn is so delicious, try one of these three seasonings when hosting a barbecue this summer. This will be one vegetable your kids will definitely eat.” - Kitchen Crew
Watermelon Mozzarella Salad
“Watermelon Mozzarella Salad is very easy to make, flavorful, and crowd-pleasing. It is perfect for your BBQ parties or any other summer gatherings.” - Grishma
BBQ Asparagus With Parmesan and Lemon Zest
“Another easy, dish-free, veggie side 'pouch' often used at our house. The lemon zest adds a great finish. Enjoy!” - Brad