"Every summer, I have big dreams of hosting the most aesthetic outdoor dinner parties all season long. In my head, these parties feature adorable custom menus with delicious summer recipes, a steady stream of fruity cocktails, friends impeccably dressed according to the theme, and good times had by all. Unfortunately, every year, when summer comes and goes, my summer dinner party fantasy still solely exists on my Pinterest boards and never comes to fruition. After all, planning a dinner party takes much more work than curating a mood board, and I never get past that step. However, I’m pledging that this is the summer I finally host the dinner party I have always wanted.
If you are anything like me and are committed to putting on the event of the summer, I’m here to make your planning that much easier by rounding up the best summer dinner party recipes. Whether you’re going for coastal chic or garden party galore, these recipes will check “decide on the menu” off your to-do list.
1. Strawberry Arugula Salad
A side salad is an essential summer dinner party recipe, and the fresher, the better. This recipe combines sweet strawberries, bitter arugula, radishes, red onion, basil, jalapeño, and sunflower seeds for a perfectly balanced blend of flavors. It’s so good it might steal the spotlight from your main course.
2. Parmesan Lemon Chicken
This parmesan lemon chicken looks and tastes fancy—thanks to the crisp, juicy chicken and creamy lemon garlic sauce—but it only takes 30 minutes to make. It’s an amazing entree for when you want to impress your guests but need to budget time efficiently to get the rest of dinner on the table.
3. Summer Cheese Board
Charcuterie boards are the best appetizers for a large group because there’s something for everyone. Plus, you don’t have to make anything from scratch. Simply head to the grocery store, fill your basket with plenty of cheeses and meats, artfully arrange everything on a platter, and add some seasonal fruits for a pop of color. This recipe makes it super easy to create a stunning cheese board, and you can customize it to your preferences.
4. Marinated Goat Cheese Strawberry Crostini
Crostinis are easy to throw together but have some serious tablescape appeal. Beyond how good these look on a plate, they are also the perfect pairing of savory herbs with sweet berries and honey.
5. Lemon Pasta
Lemon pasta is a summer staple and a great main course option if your guests are vegetarian. It’s made with simple, fresh ingredients and creates a zesty, flavorful dish just right for a summer dinner party.
6. Strawberry Mojito
No dinner party is complete without a signature cocktail, and this strawberry mojito is ideal for summer. All you need is white rum, strawberries, lime wedges, fresh mint, and ginger beer, which adds a fun twist. No matter your typical alcohol of choice, you are guaranteed to love this drink.
7. Tomato Galette
Tomato girl summer is upon us, and this beautiful tomato galette is the perfect way to enjoy some seasonal produce. With buttery pastry, tangy goat cheese, and heirloom tomato filling, this dish is sure to impress your guests. It can be served as an appetizer, a side, or even an entrée.
8. Lavender Lemonade
It’s always nice to provide guests with a non-alcoholic drink option other than water so everyone can enjoy a fun bevy. Lemonade is such a quintessential summer drink, and the addition of lavender makes this classic even better.
9. Ceviche
Ceviche is an incredible appetizer when you want something light and fresh that won’t fill anyone up too much before the main meal. This recipe features white fish marinated in lemon and lime juices, then mixed with diced tomatoes, cucumber, avocado, and cilantro for a delicious ceviche dip.
10. Firecracker Salmon with Peach Avocado Salsa
This recipe spices up your usual weeknight salmon recipe with a homemade spicy marinade and peach avocado salsa to make it summer dinner party-worthy. Serve it on a bed of rice or quinoa or alongside a few tasty sides for a well-rounded meal.
11. Watermelon Peach Salad
IMO, you can’t have a summer dinner party without some sort of watermelon on the menu. It’s a must when celebrating the season. This watermelon peach salad combines sweet, ripe fruits with cucumbers, salty feta, mint, and an oregano vinaigrette for a perfectly summery salad.
12. Strawberry Shortcake
A showstopping dessert is a hallmark of a successful dinner party, and this strawberry shortcake will definitely check that box. Crumbly shortcake biscuits filled with strawberries and homemade whipped cream? Say no more.
13. Shrimp Scampi
You might be surprised at how easy this shrimp scampi recipe is. It definitely feels fancy enough to be the star of a dinner party, but it’s actually not too difficult to make. This recipe breaks it down seamlessly and will leave you with a delicious dish in only 35 minutes.
14. Steak Kabobs
Grilled kabobs give off the ultimate summer vibes, making this a great summer dinner party recipe. For these kabobs, you’ll marinate the steak in a mouthwatering concoction, then stack the meat on a skewer with mushrooms, bell pepper, and red onion. With just a few minutes on the grill, you’ll have a juicy, flavorful dish.
15. Lemon Raspberry Cookies
Cookies are always a wonderful dessert, and swapping classic chocolate chip for this lemon raspberry combo creates a summery sweet treat. They will be the cherry (or, in this case, raspberry) on top of your summer dinner party.
