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Lighter Dinner Ideas

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As the weather warms up I'm looking into lighter dinner ideas. When it is 75°F and sunny the last thing I want to be eating is hot soups or hearty casseroles. I want light, crisp and refreshing. If you are looking for lighter dinner options save this page and use it to plan your weekly meals.

Close-up photo showing a large bowl of Chicken Margherita pasta from the side, highlighting the melted cheese over the chicken and the contrast with the bright red roasted tomatoes.

I remember the hardest part of getting dinners on the table when my kids were growing up was the daily "what should I make?" question. I hope this list of lighter dinner ideas helps give you inspiration for great recipes that are simple and effective for getting a quick dinner on the table.

1
A bowl of pesto gnocchi.
Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce
Make restaurant quality gnocchi with pesto sauce in just 15 minutes! This recipe features tender potato gnocchi, crisp asparagus, and fresh basil pesto.
Gnocchi with Pesto Sauce Recipe
2
A plate of salmon alftedo.
Salmon with Alfredo
This elegant salmon with alfredo recipe is ready in just 30 minutes with minimal ingredients. Enjoy the taste of restaurant quality food at home!
Salmon with Alfredo Recipe
3
Caprese flatbread with garnish on a white platter and basil leaves.
Margherita Flatbread
This flatbread pizza margherita features tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and balsamic glaze-serve it as an appetizer, lunch or light summer dinner.
Margherita Flatbread Recipe
4
A close-up, overhead shot of three buffalo chicken wonton cups on a wooden cutting board. They are garnished with blue cheese and green onions, and there are sauce drizzles on the board.
Buffalo Chicken Wontons
Crispy, cheesy with a bit of heat from buffalo sauce-these Buffalo Chicken Wonton cups will be your new favorite appetizer!
Buffalo Chicken Wontons
5
A close-up, eye-level shot of four Italian sub sliders on a red-and-white checkered paper. A red basket with more sliders is in the soft-focus background.
Italian Sliders
Italian slides are a hit when you want to make a big spread- hand held sliders filled with sauce, meat and cheese will keep you coming back for more!
Italian Sliders Recipe
6
Square format close-up of a serving of Chicken Margherita on a bed of spaghetti, surrounded by red cherry tomatoes and green basil leaves. The chicken breast is topped with sliced tomatoes and cheese.
Chicken Margherita with Pasta
A one pot pasta dish with chicken to get you through the busiest of weeknights. Savory chicken, creamy cheese and tangy tomatoes.
Chicken Margarita with Pasta
7
a plate of cast iron chicken recipe.
Cast Iron Chicken Thighs
Our Cast Iron Skillet Chicken recipe is the easiest way to get juicy, crispy, golden brown chicken every time. Dinner is ready in less than 30 minutes.
Cast Iron Chicken Thighs Recipe
8
a spoonful of fried rice with veggies and chicken.
Easy Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl
This easy teriyaki chicken rice bowl recipe is ready in just 15 minutes using store-bought shortcuts! Tender chicken, crisp veggies, and savory teriyaki sauce over fluffy rice make this the ultimate weeknight dinner when you're short on time. No fancy ingredients or complicated steps needed.
Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl Recipe

Looking for more hearty options?

More Soups

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