This month, we're getting into summer for weeknight dinners and cooking with as many fresh and seasonal ingredients as possible. Summer produce is at its peak and there are Fourth of July parties, backyard barbecues, and weekend getaways on the horizon. What does it all mean? That July is a great month for delicious food.
While weekends are sure to be full of platters of grilled meat, fresh vegetables, and glorious sheet cakes, during the week you need dinner to be fast. We're sharing 20 dinner ideas (one for every weeknight of the month), and all take less than an hour of mostly hands-off time. Some recipes will be much faster than that, and we'll even suggest what you can do to prep ahead and cut down on weeknight work.
To create summer weeknight meals that are simple to make, tempting and flavor packed, our strategy is to lean on what's freshest at the market for plant-based meals and also for vegetables that play a stellar supporting role to a protein like chicken or fish in a main-dish salad or a one-pan dinner.
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Grilled Shrimp Boil
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We're starting on the month and the holiday weekend with a celebratory meal that everyone will enjoy. Unlike a regular stovetop seafood boil, this version lets the cook get outside and enjoy a summer evening.
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Hawaiian Turkey Burgers
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Looking for something different to grill this July 4th? Made with ground dark meat turkey plus fresh ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil, these turkey burgers are super flavorful. Adding epic toppings such as grilled pineapple, Havarti cheese, and a jalapeño mayonnaise makes for a fabulous holiday meal.
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Blistered Green-Bean and Corn Frittata
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Breakfast for dinner? Yes, please! This family-friendly meal uses plenty of seasonal summer produce. There are green beans, and fresh corn in the easy frittata and juicy cherry tomatoes with fresh parsley for a side.
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Ginger-Pork Salad
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In 40 minutes, you can have this hearty, colorful dinner salad on the table. It's made with pan-seared pork chops over brown rice, broccoli, and shredded red cabbage.
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Pasta with Zucchini, Mint, and Pecorino Recipe
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Here's a weeknight pasta dish that's a great way to use up the bounty of summer squash that are everywhere right now. The recipe calls for two whole pounds of zukes, which cook down to form the sauce. Mint is a classic pairing with zucchini—give it a try.
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Broiled Fish with Summer Salad Recipe
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We're using the broiler tonight for this ultra-fast, lively, and light dinner. If you've got 15 minutes, you can prepare this meal. Feel free to use any kind of fish with thin fillets, such as flounder, fluke, or lemon sole.
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Pressure-Cooker Corn Risotto
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When creamy risotto meets fresh corn, the result is a luscious summer weeknight meal. This recipe can be made in a pressure or multi-cooker and comes together in 30 minutes. When you make risotto on the stovetop it needs constant tending, but in one of these handy appliances, it's mostly hands-off. As an added bonus, this cooking method keeps the kitchen cool, too.
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Sheet-Pan Chicken Fajitas
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We only suggest you turn the oven on during the summer for good reason, and this tasty weeknight dinner is one of those reasons. It's colorful, delicious, and ready in 40 minutes. It starts with boneless skinless chicken breasts and uses store-bought salsa. The hardest part about this meal might be getting a ripe avocado so plan ahead for that!
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Shrimp Skewers with Chopped Zucchini Salad
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We're heading to the grill for dinner tonight. Thread shrimp onto skewers, then grill vegetables alongside the shrimp, and serve everything over couscous. It's a healthy (and slightly smoky) 35-minute meal.
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Bucatini with Roasted and Fresh Tomatoes
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The combination of roasted and fresh tomatoes is a welcome pairing in this weeknight pasta. Each portion is finished with a dollop of fresh ricotta, which creates a silky sauce with the tomato juices. Garlicky croutons and fresh basil finish the dish and bring crunch and color.
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Fish Chowder
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Fast to make and satisfyingly luxurious to eat, this chowder is also easy-going: Use whatever firm-fleshed white fish—cod, bass, or red snapper—looks freshest at the market.
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Rice and Bean Salad Bowl with Tahini Sauce
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Made with canned chickpeas plus black and kidney beans, this hearty and nutritious rice bowl is a flavorful, and filling option for a Meatless Monday dinner.
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Poached-Chicken Cups with Ginger-Scallion Oil
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This recipe calls for just a handful of ingredients and the flavors really shine. It's a fresh, vibrant pairing of tender, perfectly cooked chicken served in crunchy lettuce cups with quick-pickled carrot ribbons (no carbs here!). And once you have the ginger-scallion oil down you'll be making it all the time. It's super versatile and so delicious.
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Steak-and-Avocado Sandwich
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When hoagie rolls are filled with seared skirt steak, sliced tomato and avocado, and a spoonful of black beans the result is a satisfying main course. This take on a Mexican street-food favorite, the pepito, is delicious served with a salad of baby lettuces, arugula, or any salad greens you have on hand.
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Creamy Corn-and-Spinach Pasta
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You probably love a one-pan pasta as much as we do so you'll jump on this, our latest one-skillet wonder dinner. The secret ingredient is a touch of cream cheese for the pan sauce.
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Lamb, Tomato, and Mint Kebabs
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This is a total winner of a dinner, easy and delicious. If you haven't grilled lamb before, you'll really be pleased with these juicy chunks. Mint is the perfect partner and gives these skewers a Greek flair. Serve with a big leafy salad and plenty of rice or pita bread.
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Grilled Vegetables and White-Bean Fattoush
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This colorful vegetarian meal brightens the start of the week. Brush an array of bell peppers with olive oil and harissa powder, then grill until charred. Arrange them alongside escarole, canned beans, feta cheese, and plenty of fresh herbs and serve with homemade chips made from grilled pita.
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Lemon-Ginger Chicken and Green Beans
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Here's another 30-minute dinner. It starts with skinless, boneless chicken breasts: They're seared first, then finished in a poaching liquid flavored with fresh ginger, which helps keep them moist. Serve with a fast side of couscous and a crunchy cucumber-tomato salad.
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Pasta with No-Cook Puttanesca Sauce
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This is a dish you'll be making on repeat this summer, a 20-minute pasta with a no-cook sauce. Fresh tomatoes meet briny olives and capers in this clever take on the classic Italian dish. Toss with a touch of pasta water and Pecorino Romano once the noodles are ready, and dinner is served.
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Curried Lentil-Salmon Salad
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If you're short on time, make this 30-minute dinner salad. It starts with cooked lentils (vacuum-packed or canned are fine) and salmon filet. The fish is seasoned with soy sauce and honey then broiled—so fast! A big swirl of strained yogurt, plus baby arugula and sliced cucumbers, bring it all together.
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Grilled Vegetable Pizzas
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Using flatbreads makes it easy to prepare pizza for dinner. Choose a hearty blend of vegetables such as shiitake mushrooms, zucchini, Lacinato kale, and red onions to grill for toppings. There's no red sauce needed but there is plenty of mozzarella and the pizzas are drizzled with vinaigrette as they come off the grill.
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