5 Family-Friendly Summer Dinner Ideas

5 Family-Friendly Summer Dinner Ideas

Running out of family-friendly recipes to make this summer? I know I am!

We are a family that loves cooking at home and we especially love to grill in the summertime.  There is something about eating outside on a warm summer night that just makes my Vegas-raised heart so happy.  Three out of five of these recipes are grill-friendly and perfect for outdoor nights.  

My favorite summer dinners are fairly light and not too greasy or heavy on the tummy.  But with that being said, Sid and I both are fans of tacos, burgers, wings, and pizza.  So one of my favorite things is to adapt those yummy recipes and make them a little more health conscious.

I hope you love them and please tag me on IG (@dthompsy) if you make them and let me know what you think!  Happy grilling!

Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos

You’ll Need:

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 avocados, ripe
• ½ cup cilantro, chopped
• 12 tortillas (we love corn tortillas)
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 limes (1 juiced, 1 sliced)
• ½ red onion, chopped
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• ½ cup queso fresco
• Black pepper
• Red pepper flakes
• Sea Salt or Pink Salt
• Cumin

How To Make It:

1. In a mixing bowl, combine lime juice, minced garlic, salt, pepper, cumin, red pepper flakes, cilantro, and olive oil into a bowl and whisk thoroughly. Add the chicken and toss with tongs to coat. Cover tightly and marinate at least 30 minutes (ideally overnight).
2. Grill your marinated chicken thighs on your grill or stove until fully cooked (160 degrees Fahrenheit).
3. Remove the chicken from the grill, place on a cutting board or platter, loosely tent with foil, and allow to rest at least 5 minutes.
4. Slice the chicken, then sprinkle with additional lime juice to taste and additional chopped fresh cilantro. Portion into corn tortillas and serve with your favorite toppings.

Greek Grilled Chicken Kebabs

You’ll Need:

• 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt 
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• zest of 1 lemon
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 6 medium garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 2-inch pieces for skewers

• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 medium red onion, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 6-8 skewers (if using wooden skewers soak in water for 30-minutes before grilling)

How To Make It:

1. Combine greek yogurt, EVOO, lemon juice and zest, balsamic vinegar, garlic, salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes in a large ziplock bag. Seal and massage the bag to combine all the ingredients.
2. Add the chicken to the bag turning to coat. Marinate for 4-24 hours. Turn the bag a few times while marinating.
3. Strain the marinated chicken when you’re ready to grill. Build chicken pieces onto the skewers alternating with peppers and onions. Grill until the chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes on each side or until juices run clear.
4. Serve with torn pita bread and your favorite hummus!

Margherita Pizza

You’ll Need:

• Pizza dough (homemade or store-bought)
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Garlic
• Canned San Marzano tomatoes
• Salt
• Mozzarella
• Fresh basil
• Pizza stone

How To Make It:

1. Heat oven to 550 degrees and let pizza stone rest in the oven for 1 hour.
2. Saute olive oil and garlic in a pan until browned.
3. Add tomatoes to the pan, cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
4. Divide dough into 2 equal portions. Stretch and shape each into an oval.
5. Spread about 1/2 cup sauce over one crust, sprinkle with half the mozzarella.
6. Slide onto pizza stone and bake until the crust is golden brown and cheese is melted.
7. Repeat with the second crust.
8. Sprinkle pizzas with fresh basil.

Lighter Buffalo Chicken Wings

You’ll Need:

• 3 lbs. chicken wings
• 1 Tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. sea salt or pink salt
• Frank’s Hot Sauce

How To Make Them:

1. Preheat the oven to 250℉. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Place a baking/cooling rack on the baking sheet and set aside.
2. Place chicken wing parts in a large bowl. Sprinkle the chicken with baking powder and sea salt. Toss well to coat.
3. Arrange chicken on the baking/cooking rack in a single layer so that pieces are not touching one another (use a second pan with rack, if needed).
4. Place the pan in the oven and cook chicken for 30 minutes.
5. After 30 minutes, turn the oven temperature to 425℉ and continue cooking for another 20 minutes.
6. After 20 minutes, rotate the pan and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until chicken is crispy and lightly browned.
7. Transfer cooked chicken pieces to a shallow container and toss in buffalo sauce.
8. Serve with ranch and veggies!

Lettuce Wrapped Burgers and Sweet Potato Fries

You’ll Need:

• 2 sticks (8 ounces) cold unsalted butter
• 3 poundground beef
• 1 tablespoon pink salt
• 1 head lettuce
• Onion
• Tomato
• Ketchup
• Mayo
• Mustard
• Cheese (if you like a cheeseburger!)

How To Make Them:

1. Grate the butter using the large holes of a cheese grater.  Butter burgers are the BEST.
2. Form 8 patties using the ground beef and your shredded butter.
3. Season all patties in a baking dish with the pink salt.
4. Heat your grill to medium-high.
5. Grill for about 4 minutes on each side.
6. If using cheese, place a slice on each patty during the last minute of grilling.  
7. Serve as a lettuce wrap with your favorite toppings and a side of chips or sweet potato fries!