There's nothing like a warm night, good food, and good company to make a summer night a dream come true. The long evenings and balmy weather pair well with a dinner for two, and making just the right amount of food for you and your plus-one is the only thing you have to do before you can sit back and sip on a chilled glass of rosé. If you're wondering what the most idyllic summer dinner is, you've come to the right place. Complete with seasonal pasta salads, hearty entrées, and mouthwatering meals, there's something for everyone on this list whether they're gluten-free, vegan, or just craving the finest flavors of the season.
From veggie-filled salads that'll fill you up for days to a melt-in-your-mouth delicious salmon supper, these recipes are all you need to make any summer night complete. Fit for the beach or a barbeque, you can whip up these effortlessly easy meals for two in no time. Cheers to summer!
The perfect barbecue side, this grilled chicken and corn salad will make hot dogs take a back seat. Top it off with crumbled feta, if you so please. It also works as a great entrée, so just make sure you whip up enough!
You can't go wrong with salmon on the menu, and this recipe is a dinnertime winner. You just need a handful of ingredients to concoct this easy meal, and before you know it, you'll be ready for more. Tweak the recipe for two people by noting the number two where it says "yield."
Watch out! The best summer veggies of all teamed up to make this colorful and healthy salad. With crumbled feta cheese and chopped cilantro, you'll be scraping your bowl for more. Feel free to make as much as you want, and enjoy!
Light, refreshing, and full of flavor, this spin on the traditional salad is as good as it gets. Complete with hard-boiled eggs, creamy avocados, ripe cherry tomatoes, sweet corn, chives, crispy bacon, and blue cheese, this pasta salad is as tasty as it sounds. Topped off with a super light red wine vinaigrette, be sure to whip this up before your next picnic.
Make lasagna easier than ever with the help of this divine recipe. Italian sausage, zesty spices, fresh tomatoes, red wine, and cheese work together to make this one-pot wonder a dinner you won't soon forget. This recipe is easy to tweak, so just type in the amount of people you want to feed, and your work here is done.
This easy-to-make pasta salad is full of flavor, and damn, is it good. It's quick to throw together, and the ingredients can be tweaked to include anything you'd like. Feel free to toss in different cheeses, seasonal veggies, fruit, and more. To adjust the recipe for two people, just toggle the slider on the part of the recipe where it says "servings."
Take your dinner to a place it has never been before with this Thai chicken curry recipe. Made with coconut milk, peanut butter, red curry paste, and more, you'll enjoy an array of flavors like never before. Pair it with white rice for best results.
Colorful, healthy, and packed with flavor, this rainbow salad will make anyone fall in love with just one bite. did we mention how good the honey-citrus vinaigrette is?
Summer is made for barbecues, refreshing cocktails, and macaroni salad. This Hawaiian dish is made without tuna, but feel free to add it if you want some extra protein. Bring this to your next outing, and be ready for everyone to dig right in. You can make the perfect amount for two people by adjusting the number "2" to where it says "servings."
Make teriyaki chicken in the comfort of your own home when you chef up this delicious dinner. The slow cooker does most of the work, meaning all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy a mouthwatering dinner. Type in the amount of servings you want to make where it says "yield," so you don't end up with too many leftovers!
This strawberry avocado pasta salad is an inventive take on the traditional pasta salad that's usually served at summer barbecues. A balance of avocado, feta, strawberries, and poppy seed dressing create a light dish that will have you coming back for seconds. Dig in!
Take tacos to the next level when you whip up these baked bad boys. Easy, simple, and totally foolproof, this recipe can be made in no time at all. If you're looking to heartily feed two people, we suggest making about four or five tacos so you can both indulge.
Healthy and easy to make, this recipe is hard not to love. Filled with asparagus, peas, chickpeas, pine nuts, and a green goddess dressing that's made with rich pesto, this recipe will wow you with every bite. To adjust the serving size to feed two people, just hoover over the number and scale it back to two where it says "Serves."
This rich pasta captures the best Mediterranean flavors, and wow, is it good. You can whip it up in minutes, meaning it makes for a great easy dinner idea. With crisp eggplant and fresh basil, you can serve this hot or cold depending on your preference. This recipe serves four, so you can either make the full batch and save some for later or simply cut down the recipe to make the amount you want. The choice is yours!
Take your taste buds to the tropics when you whip up this delightful salad. It has a lovely coconut-lime dressing that will make you forget about every other kind. Since this recipe was made to feed four to six, just cut it in half and you'll have enough for two people.
Who's hungry? This recipe will make your mouth water, so read with caution. Since the pasta cooks directly in the sauce, these noodles are rich and perfectly flavored. Mixed with skim milk, butter, garlic, Parmesan, and Italian seasonings, you'll be enjoying this meal in no time. To make the right amount of food for two people, you can easily adjust the recipe where it says "yield."
This summer salad is colorful, fresh, and full of seasonal flavors. Complete with sharp cheddar cheese, cucumbers, and an Italian salad dressing, this pasta is the ideal picnic pairing. This recipe can feed six to eight people, so you can either cut it in half and save the rest for later, or make a big batch and nosh on it throughout the week.
If you like mushrooms, you'll love this recipe. It's a healthier take on the classic artichoke dip due to the greek yogurt, so you can enjoy it without getting too full. Topped with warm mozzarella and baked to perfection, these are too good to pass up. We suggest making four total for you and a partner. You can adjust the recipe to your needs, so if you want to feed two people, just type that in where it says "yield."
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
You'll get fork-fulls of fresh fruit, glorious mint, and crunchy nuts when you bite into this dreamy summer salad. Pair it with a glass of ice-cold sweet tea for best results.
If you've never topped a salad with mint, you're missing out! This fresh herb adds the extra flavor you need, meaning you won't be able to get enough. Because this was made to serve four people as a side, you'll have the perfect amount for two people to enjoy as an entrée.
Rich, delicious, and the dinner of your dreams, this vegan mushroom stroganoff tastes as good as it sounds. Made with juicy mushrooms, tangy spices, rich almond milk, and a dash of wine, you'll want to eat this every night of the week. To adjust how many servings you'd like to make, simply type in the amount of people you're trying to feed where it says "yield."
Take your salad to the next level when you incorporate fresh pineapple into the mix. Juicy and oh-so sweet, this fruit will make your salad shine. To adjust the recipe for two people, just toggle the slider down to the number "2."
There's nothing quite like homemade tortilla soup, is there? This recipe is packed with all the best ingredients like chicken, beans, corn, and more. The best way to make this is by cooking up a big batch and freezing the rest for later.
With a nod to one of summer's favorite ingredients, this grilled corn salad is even better than it looks. You can easily adjust the recipe to feed two people by sliding the slider down until it gets to the number "2."
This simple dish requires only five ingredients and is vegetarian. While the original recipe serves six, you can cut the recipe in thirds to serve two.
This avocado and bell pepper salad is a fresh and crunchy side to have on hand for every barbecue. It's also incredibly easy to put together — red and green bell peppers are cut up using a spiralizer, making preparation a breeze! Since this recipe was made to feed four, just cut it in half and you'll have the perfect amount for two people.
If you had a heavy lunch, balance it out with this light salad. You'll get juicy grapes, tangy arugula, and a black pepper vinaigrette with every forkful.
This herb-roasted turkey breast is only 190 calories a serving and takes just a few minutes to prepare for roasting. You can serve it with a small side salad or pair it with hearty mashed potatoes. The choice is yours!
Red and yellow cherry tomatoes are the star of this healthy salad. Cucumbers, avocados, and chickpeas work together to give this as much flavor as you could wish for. We suggest making extra because trust us, this will go fast.
This Japanese macaroni salad is coated in a creamy, zesty, and sweet dressing that will make your taste buds swoon. Eggs, cucumbers, and ham work together to make this recipe taste unlike any other macaroni salad you've had. Since this is served as a side, we suggest making four servings for two people so you have enough to munch on.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
Looking for a salad that won't bore your taste buds? This vegan farro salad is just what you need. The citrus vinaigrette will take your taste buds to places they've never been before. This recipe was made to serve eight, so chop the ingredients in half, and you'll have enough for leftovers.
Refreshing and flavorful, this Asian salad has notes of sesame and soy dressing that make it almost too good to be true. If you want to take this recipe to the next level, pair it with freshly grilled chicken breast or roasted tofu. We suggest making a big batch because it tastes even better the next day.
Having a barbecue? Not without this salad, you aren't! With lime juice, cilantro, and chili powder, it's the dish of everyone's dreams. The best part is, you can warm it up the next day so feel free to make as much as you please.
This spaghetti squash recipe is unlike any other, and that's due to the creamy goat cheese-based cream sauce that it's made with. With the rich flavors of pesto and a dash of garlic, this hearty spaghetti squash will fill you up. Feel free to add mushrooms, basil, or even a hint of rosemary if you want to shake things up. Cut this recipe in half, and you'll have enough for two, plus some leftovers.
For a lighter lunch, you could eat this black bean and corn salad as is or eat it with a pita, tortilla chips, or extra protein. It tastes great cold, so we suggest making a big portion and munching on it during the week.
If you like corn, this salad will be your new favorite creation. It's the perfect barbecue dish since it's light and fresh, and it pairs exceptionally well with a burger or grilled chicken. You can't go wrong with making too much because it's even better cold, so the bigger the better!
Basil and mint are already a dynamic duo, and when you pair these two ingredients with strawberries, it's even better. This pasta features a rich pesto base that ties together all the flavors with ease so enjoy! To feed two people, just toggle the bar where it says "Serves," and lower it to two.
This ravishing salad is about as gorgeous as they come. With light cucumbers, hearty chickpeas, and juicy tomatoes, you'll want to eat this for every meal of the day. It makes enough for four people, so just whip up the whole batch and save what you don't eat for later.
Craving takeout but not in the mood to go pick it up? This is the recipe for you! It's lighter and healthier than the traditional lo mein, but it still has all the great flavors. The best part about this recipe is that you can easily tweak how many people you want to feed, so if you're serving two, just note it in the recipe and watch as it updates the ingredient list.
Juicy shrimp and sweet strawberries marry together to make this mouthwatering salad. Top it off with sliced nuts or even a hint of basil, and you'll be in heaven.
Goat cheese and basil vinaigrette — what could be better? This delicious green salad is made with roasted beets, zucchini, watercress, summer squash, and corn, and the flavors are as fresh as summer itself. Pair it with a cold cup of sweet tea or a light cocktail for best results. This recipe is easy to adjust, so just add in how many servings you want to make, and the recipe will update depending on that number.
Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Anna Monette Roberts
These finger-licking pops are juicy and divine. Let's just say that the mint-pistachio pesto that's on top of the lamb pairs wonderfully with buttery white wine. Yum, yum, yum. These go hand-in-hand with a salad and a veggie, so feel free to get creative with your sides.
If you want a meal that'll fill you up, try this chickpea pasta salad. Made complete with rich feta, crunchy cucumbers, juicy tomatoes, salty olives, and a tangy lemon dressing, this salad is too good to be true. Serve it cold for best results.
