Recipes and Cooking Healthy Recipes Healthy Dinner Recipes 12 Healthy Summer Recipes You'll Want to Keep on Repeat By Kelsey Ogletree Kelsey Ogletree Instagram Twitter Website Kelsey Ogletree has more than 12 years of reporting experience covering wellness, food, travel, and lifestyle topics. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process and Karla Walsh Updated on February 20, 2023 Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Fact checked by Marcus Reeves Marcus Reeves is an experienced writer, publisher, and fact-checker. He began his writing career reporting for The Source magazine. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Playboy, The Washington Post, and Rolling Stone, among other publications. His book Somebody Scream: Rap Music's Rise to Prominence in the Aftershock of Black Power was nominated for a Zora Neale Hurston Award. He is an adjunct instructor at New York University, where he teaches writing and communications. Marcus received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Learn about BHG's Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Blaine Moats Celebrate the season with our healthy summer recipes, including satisfying salads, grilled meats, one-pan dinners, and a vegetable-packed soup full of summer's bounty. While they certainly don't taste like it, each of these meals has fewer than 500 calories per serving, and with plenty of protein and fiber, they're sure to satisfy and fuel you (and the family). 01 of 12 Indian Cauliflower Fried Rice View Recipe Jason Donnelly Even fried rice can be good for you when you substitute cauliflower rice, which boosts the nutrition, while lowering the calories in this meal loaded with vegetables and warm Indian spices. Toss in plenty of fresh peas and cilantro to showcase some of the season's best produce. 02 of 12 Beef Kabobs with Corn and Orzo Salad View Recipe Carson Downing "This was a perfect summer night meal! We marinated the steaks for a couple hours prior to putting them on skewers, which helped keep the steaks juicy and tender," raves one BHG home cook about this healthy recipe. Follow her lead, or simply rub the sirloin with the spice mixture just before grilling. Either way, you'll be treated to succulent skewers of lean meat that are elevated by a produce-packed pasta salad. Buy It: OXO Stainless Grilling Skewers, Set of 6 ($15, Bed Bath & Beyond) 03 of 12 Burrito Bowls View Recipe Blaine Moats As much fun as it is to try new healthy summer recipes, sometimes you just want to stuff your face with a big old fast-food restaurant burrito bowl. Our version is built on a bed of cauliflower rice and studded with corn (try fresh, not frozen), avocado, and lean chicken or pork. It's one "burrito" you can actually feel good about eating, even with extra guac. 04 of 12 Zoodle Bowls with Tomato Sauce and Sausage View Recipe Blaine Moats Zucchini noodles are one of our best tips for extending healthy dinners that can fill even uber-hearty appetites. Here, we dress up oodles of zoodles (seriously, 24 cups, so turn to this dinner when you've got one of those arm-sized summer squashes) in an easy fresh tomato-basil sauce. To pump up the protein, add chicken sausage or any other leftovers. 05 of 12 Sheet-Pan Chicken with Peaches and Tomatoes View Recipe Melanie Acevedo Gather a bounty of fresh peaches, garden-ripe tomatoes, and the chicken breasts that are probably already in your fridge. Arrange it all on a sheet pan and dress it in a super-simple vinaigrette. Dinner's done, and you've used only one pan. You can serve your family this easy, healthy summer meal even on the hottest and most hectic of evenings. Buy It: OXO Nonstick Pro Half Sheet Pan ($15, Target) 06 of 12 Grilled Shrimp Panzanella View Recipe Blaine Moats We've overhauled panzanella, a traditional Italian salad featuring dry bread and tomatoes. For our healthy summer recipe, which features a wider range of vitamins and minerals, and even more color, we call for extra-fresh, seasonal produce, like bell peppers and zucchini. This dish can be a light dinner for as many as 10 people (talk about the perfect choice for summer potlucks). 07 of 12 Chicken Cobb Pitas View Recipe Carson Downing When you're struggling to choose between chicken salad or a sandwich, turn to this quick, healthy summer meal that combines both. Ready in just 25 minutes, this high-protein recipe is filling, thanks to shredded leftover or rotisserie chicken, hard-boiled eggs, a bit of crispy bacon, blue cheese, and avocado. Fresh tomatoes, green onions, and a completely no-cook game plan will help you keep your cool. 08 of 12 Chicken, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad View Recipe Andy Lyons Summer-fresh tomatoes and cucumbers add bright, in-season flavor to this lettuce-free entrée salad recipe. Briny, healthy, fat-filled olives and protein-rich chicken make it surprisingly satisfying, considering its calorie count—just 336 calories per serving. 09 of 12 Turkey Meat Loaf with Peach-Barbecue Glaze View Recipe Jacob Fox Top-rated among our favorite quick, healthy summer recipes, this isn't your grandma's meat loaf. Filled with cheese and mixed vegetables, then slathered in a peachy barbecue sauce, these turkey pockets are everything you want in a comforting meal. And, quite possibly the best news—they can be on your table in 30 minutes. Trendy Noodle Bowls 10 of 12 Sloppy Turkey and Veggie Sandwiches View Recipe Scott Little If you're seeking a lighter twist on a comfort food classic, try our turkey and veggie riff on sloppy joes. Don't forget the creamy yogurt and goat cheese sauce—it lends just enough richness to balance out all the produce. That way, this 25-minute healthy summer dinner idea doesn't taste at all like "health food." 11 of 12 Creamy Farro-Smothered Portobellos View Recipe Karla Conrad Farro, an ancient grain with a chewy, nutty texture, stars alongside Swiss chard, dried tomatoes, and goat cheese in our simple stuffed portobellos. At under 220 calories per serving—but 12 grams of protein—this entrée proves it can be delicious as well as healthy. 12 of 12 Grilled Honey-Orange Chicken Salad View Recipe Blaine Moats Prepare the marinade for this sweet citrus salad in the morning and let the chicken marinate all day long. Not only will this shorten your evening prep time, but it'll give the chicken time to absorb the irresistible flavors. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit