40 Low Calorie Summer Recipes for Dinner

These 40 Healthy Low Calorie Summer Recipes for Dinner are all under 500 calories and packed full of nutrition.

With summer meals made on the barbecue, slow cooker, and stove top, these easy summer meals won’t heat up the house.

Plus they can be made quickly so you can spend more time enjoying summer. And less time in a warm kitchen.

These summer dinner ideas will be updated as I create new easy summer recipes which is why the article states 40 + recipes… so keep coming back for more low calorie summer dinners.

I’m constantly adding new Summer Recipes for Dinner! All are under 500 calories and packed full of nutrition too!

Over 40 Healthy Low Calorie Summer Recipes for Dinner

I want to get right to the healthy summer meal ideas, so we will start the list here.

You can click on the recipe card or the photo for each of the summer meals ideas… it will bring you right to the recipe!

1. Rigatoni Pasta Recipe with Pesto

When it comes to quick and flavorful summer food, a 15 minute pesto pasta is always on the list.

But what makes this summer pasta recipe really great is that it’s just 377 calories!

I love this pasta dish alone, but it you want to round out the meal, try it with our 82 Calorie Caprese Salad. The two dishes together are just 459 calories!

2. Healthy Chicken Burrito Bowl Recipe

These summer recipes with chicken are only 399 calories and the summer dish has 34.8 grams of protein! 

This filling and hearty summer dinner recipe takes 35 minutes, though it can be meal prepped ahead of time for super quick summer dinners.

You can cut the carbs and calories even further, and swap out the rice for this Low Calorie Cilantro Lime Cauliflower Rice!

3. Grilled Pork Tenderloin Recipe

This 15 minute grilled summer dinner recipe is easy and packed full of flavor. Plus it won’t heat up the house!

Plus, this summer recipes dinner main dish is just 228 calories! Leaving you lots of leftover calories for yummy sides (see ideas below!)

Because this low calorie summer dinner main is so low in calories, you can enjoy extra sides (or seconds!) I love serving this pork loin with Low Calorie Grilled Corn, and Skinny Grilled Baby Potatoes… all 3 dishes together are just 445 calories!

4. Healthy Mango Salad Recipe

For easy and light summer meals, a hearty salad is great! And this mango avocado salad with blue cheese takes just 10 minutes… plus it’s a no cook dinner!

At just 276 calories, these vegetarian summer recipes are both filling and healthy.

I love this no cook summer dinner salad alone. But if you want to round it out with some yummy protein, 3 strips of our Air Fryer Chicken Strips are just 132 calories… Making the full summer dinner meal just 408 calories!

5. Healthy Fish Taco Bowl

I LOVE fish tacos! But sometimes we don’t want the added carbs and calories that come with the tortillas.

These fish taco bowls are just 293 calories, and are packed with 28g of protein!

If you’re on a Keto diet, or just want to add more healthy fats and nutrition. Try adding some of our Healthy Homemade Guacamole, it goes great with these summer bowls for dinner. The two together are just 423 calories!

6. Healthy Chinese Sesame Chicken Recipe

Make summer meals easy, with this 15 minute PF Chang’s copycat recipe!

This healthy summer dinner main is just 273 calories per cup. Compare that to PF Changs 870 calories and this is a fantastic healthy option!

Serve 1 cup of this sesame chicken over 2 cups of my Low Calorie Cauliflower Rice. This Homemade Cauliflower Rice article will show you how to make it 4 ways (with a blender, knife, cheese grater, or food processor.) The two recipes together is just 307 calories!

7. Healthy Steak Sandwich Recipe

This leftover recipe is great after backyard barbecues. Make an extra steak (or just use leftovers) to make these 10 minute no cook summer sandwiches the next night… or just cook a fresh steak for these yummy sandwiches.

At just 283 calories, this healthy summer dinner sandwich is filling and yummy. Plus it comes with 5 sauces to add to your yummy sandwich.

To keep with the theme of leftovers reworked for summer dinners, we paired this with our Leftover Grilled Corn Salad! The two together are just 435 calories!

8. Healthy Grilled Tilapia Recipe

This 3 ingredients BBQ summer dinner recipe takes just 8 minutes to make!

And at just 190 calories, you can have 2 servings and stay well under your calorie goals.

This low calorie summer dinner is so low in calories that I recommend having 2 servings of tilapia along with this Easy Grilled Asparagus. Two servings and tilapia and 1 serving of asparagus is just 407 calories!

9. Portobello Mushroom Burger Recipe

This healthy summer dinner recipe can be made on the grill or on the stove top. Plus, it takes just 15 minutes!

At just 343 calories (yes with the bun and toppings!) this vegan summer dinner idea is an all in one meal.

Meant to be an all in one meal, this meal takes summer recipes vegetables based dinners to a whole new level. You could try it with some Skinny Homemade Sweet Potato Fries, though you would need your oven for that… so we leave it up to you.

10. Healthy Vegan Rice Bowls

Another “all in one” vegan summer dinner recipe… this vegan rice bowl takes just 30 minutes to make.

This summer meal recipe is 438 calories for 3 cups (that’s a huge serving!) And you can easily meal prep this yummy summer dinner recipe.

At 438 calories, this is a one recipe meal. But don’t let that fool you, it’s 3 cups and that’s quite the HUGE meal!

11. Green Shakshuka with Feta

With all the wonderful summer greens available, you’ll want to make this green shakshuka recipe! It takes just 30 minutes to make and goes great with pita bread or a shared baguette.

At just 149 calories you can have 2 servings of this yummy summer meal recipe, and still have enough calories available for bread.

Because this one pan meal is so low calorie, I recommend you pair it with pita bread, a couple slices off a baguette, or double the servings for a 298 calorie dinner.

12. Cheese and Spinach Smothered Chicken in Crockpot

Don’t shy away from using your slow cooker in summer. It’s great for “set it and forget it” meals that will be ready when you come home. And that won’t warm up your house more. This recipe takes just 5 minutes to prep- then it cooks while you’re at work.

At just 304 calories, this protein packed (and Keto friendly) recipe is filling and healthy.

At 304 calories this is a very filling meal. I find that a side dish is not necessary, this Panzanella Salad is great with the chicken dish. And the two together are just 495 calories.

13. Ranch Chicken Skewers Recipe

These 3 ingredient chicken skewers take just 20 minutes to make.

And at just 88 calories, it’s a great main course for summer dinners. Or atop a summer salad.

I love the ranch chicken skewers with this Meal Prep Summer Salad… Best of all, you can make the salads ahead of time (great for soccer nights!) The two together are just 381 calories!

14. Grilled Teriyaki Salmon on Skewers

If you prefer a fish skewer, these salmon skewers take just 30 minutes to make.

Plus, this recipe is just 207 calories… and I’ve found you a healthy side dish to round out the meal too!

Round out this easy asian inspired summer dinner with Cauliflower Fried Rice. The two recipes together are just 303 calories!

15. The Best Vegan Taco Recipe

If you want to get creative and use up all your goods from the farmer’s market or vegetable garden, these 30 minute vegan tacos are perfect!

Each packed taco is just 173 calories… so you can have 2 and stay well under 500 calories.

I love tacos… so go ahead and have 2 for just 346 calories. I’ve also supplied you with a Homemade Salsa Recipe to serve with a few chips or veggie sticks.

16. Cherry Tomato Pasta Recipe

This 15 minute vegan (or vegetarian) pasta recipe is both healthy and easy! (It’s amazing with protein pasta!)

And at just 219 calories (with regular pasta!) this simple and quick summer pasta dinner can be doubled or served with a salad.

So low in calories, I like to double the summer recipes pasta dish for a quick and easy 438 calorie dinner that takes just 15 minutes to make.

17. Healthy Chicken Shawarma Wrap Recipe

These prep ahead summer meal ideas take just 5 minutes to prep and 15 minutes to cook and assemble… But there is some marinate time. So you can meal prep it!

At just 392 calories, this huge summer dinner sandwich wrap is a whole meal wrapped up.

This “all in one” meal needs no accompaniment… it’s filling and satisfying all in one.

18. Grilled Chicken Kabob Recipe

Here’s more quick to prep and cook summer food ideas that require some marinating time. So meal prep this simple dinner (10 minutes prep) and then quickly cook it in just 15 minutes

At just 331 calories these flavorful and filling veggie and chicken kabobs are a full meal all in one… though I have supplied you with a side dish below.

I love this chicken summer dinner recipe with some Homemade Cilantro Lime Rice. The two together make a 396 calorie summer dinner meal.

19. Grilled Hanger Steak Recipe with Chimichurri Sauce

Another marinate and set summer food ideas is this 10 minute prep and 10 minute cook hanger steak recipe.

Topped with a homemade low calorie chimichurri sauce, this summer steak recipe is just 336 calories.

I like to serve this as an elevated weekend summer dinner, and get extra fancy with this grilled zucchini with pine nuts and feta. It’s all so impressive that it’s shocking how easy this meal really can be. Both recipes together are just 417 calories.

20. Chicken Banh Mi Sandwich Recipe

This 35 minute summer dinner sandwich is easy and packed full of flavor.

At just 296 calories (with the bread!) we make healthy summer recipes easy and travel-able.

This filling and satisfying sandwich is enough to fill you up for dinner… But since it’s under 300 calories, you can “afford” some Homemade Fries. It will mean you have to turn on the oven, so we leave that choice up to you. The two recipes together are just 444 calories!

21. Strawberry Spinach Salad Recipe with Chicken

I’m really excited to share these salads for summer recipes. This summer salad takes just 5 minutes to make!

And at just 188 calories per 1.5 cups, you can have 3 cups of this salad for just 376 calories!

This chicken salad uses pre-cooked chicken… like a cooked rotisserie chicken from the store, or leftovers from last night. I like to serve this as a big salad (3 cups!) for just 376 calories.

22. Perfectly Grilled Pork Chops Recipe

This 25 minute dinner makes great grill summer recipes. It’s easy and fast, and I’ve supplied you with a yummy grilled side as well.

At just 304 calories, this pork chop recipe is healthy and perfect for summer dinners.

I love this summer recipe with grilled asparagus. And the two together are just 331 calories!

23. BBQ Grilled Salmon In Foil Recipe

This 15 minute healthy summer recipe for dinner is easy and mess free!

And at just 119 calories it’s extra healthy and will fit into all your diet needs.

There are 5 different flavors you can make with this recipe (Lemon Pepper, Honey Mustard, Bourbon Honey Barbecue, Orange Brown Sugar, Miso Orange) so picking a side dish is a bit harder… So I supplied you recipes for the 10 best sides to serve with salmon.

24. BBQ Grilled Shrimp Skewers Recipe

This simple summer meal takes just 21 minutes to make, including prepping, marinating, and cooking!

Plus, this healthy summer dinner is just 114-116 calories! For 6 shrimp!!

Since there are 5 different flavors of shrimp in this recipe card, I have supplied you with the best shrimp sides. This recipe page will give you lots of yummy shrimp dinner recipes for the summer.

25. Homemade Veggie Burger Recipe

This summer supper recipe is a little different. It comes with a vegan burger patty recipe. And includes a topping guide… so you can choose lots of yummy sides.

So giving you the full burger calories is harder, though I can tell you that these veggie patties are just 86 calories, and take just 25 minutes to make and cook.

Make sure to check out these burger side recipes. All low calorie and healthy.

26. Healthy Carne Asada Taco Recipe

These tacos take just 5 minutes to prep and 20 minutes o cook. You will want a bit of marinating time though, which makes this a great meal prep summer dinner.

At just 174 calories per taco, you can have 2 for just 348 calories.

I like to have 2 carne asada tacos, and 1 serving of the Low Calorie Mexican Corn Salad . The two together are 500 calories.

27. Easy Chicken Piccata Recipe

When you need a quick and light meal that also adds a “comfort food” aspect, this 22 minute chicken piccata makes a great stovetop summer dinner.

This lemony chicken dish is just 113 calories, and protein packed. Making it a healthy summer dinner idea.

I love to pair this chicken dinner recipe with Low Carb Mashed Cauliflower. Serve two servings of chicken piccata and one serving of mashed cauliflower for just 269 calories.

28. Healthy Shrimp Tacos Recipe

You can make these easy shrimp tacos in just 20 minutes, start to finish!

Plus, these healthy tacos are just 179 calories each!

I find that 2 of these shrimp tacos (at 358 calories) is filling and just the right amount. But if you are looking to add more, some chips and Low Calorie Guacamole is a great option.

29. Easy Recipe for Waldorf Salad

This simple vegetarian summer dinner recipe takes just 10 minutes to make!

And this 342 calories summer salad has no mayo and no oil! Making it healthy and light.

If you’re not vegetarian and want to add even more protein to this healthy meal, try shredded chicken. You can get a rotisserie chicken from the store, or make this Meal Prep Shredded Chicken.

30. Easy Beef Teriyaki Recipe

This 15 minute, stove top summer dinner recipe is easy and fast. And great for busy nights.

And at just 200 calories you can have seconds and still be under 500 calories!

I recommend either doubling the servings for a 400 calorie dinner that’s low carb. Or 1 serving of this teriyaki recipe with 1 cup cooked rice, for a 406 calorie dinner.

31. Healthy Spicy Pasta with Shrimp Recipe 

This quick 20 minute summer dinner is filling and flavorful. And a great date night summer dinner!

And at just 222 calories, you can have seconds, or serve with bread without going over your calorie goals.

I like to serve this spicy pasta with shrimp many ways. It’s great with protein pasta (I like chickpea pasta), and with traditional spaghetti.

And because it’s such a beautiful meal, I often serve it with either sliced baguette, or double the serving size per person for just 444 calories.

32. Easy Chicken Fajita Recipe

This delicious summer dinner takes 25 minutes to prep, and 20 minutes to cook. Though you will need some marinating time. Which makes this a great meal prep dinner.

One cup of this chicken fajitas recipe is just 71 calories, and it’s packed full of metabolism boosting ingredients.

I like to serve this chicken fajita summer dinner with mini tortillas (street taco size) and we do prefer the flour tortillas, though corn is a great option as well. 2 cups of chicken fajita and 4 small tortillas is just 442 calories. Add some hot sauce and dig in, it’s that good!

33. Vegan Buddah Bowl Recipe

This epic vegan summer dinner takes 40 minutes, and the veggies and quinoa can all be prepped ahead (except the avocado).

This huge summer dinner is just 376 calories, and is a full meal in it’s own. No sides needed.

There’s no need for side dishes, these vegan summer recipes bowl is HUGE!

34. Homemade Beef Stroganoff Recipe

This 30 minute meal is cooked stovetop, and won’t heat up the house in summer. And it’s great when you want something in the “comfort food” realm, without all the work and the oven.

One cup is just 376 calories, and this all natural recipe is just as flavorful as the traditional recipes.

I like to serve this beef stroganoff over 1/2 cup of egg noodles for a 486 calorie dinner.

35. Hidden Veggie Sloppy Joe Recipe

This 40 minute stovetop dinner uses lots of summer veggies to add nutrition and lower calories. It can be made ahead as a meal prep dinner too!

At just 311 calories (including the bun!) these healthy sloppy joes are healthy and kid approved.

I like to serve these summer recipes for dinner with a crunchy and quick Cucumber Salad. The two together are just 356 calories!

36. Low Calorie Shakshuka Recipe 

This 25 minute vegetarian dinner recipe is easy and impressive!

And at just 135 calories, you can have 3 servings for just 405 calories… or you can choose some more traditional sides below.

I like to have 2 servings of this shakshuka recipe with either pita bread or sliced baguette.

37. Low Calorie Turkey Burger Recipe 

This 26 minute recipe for homemade turkey burgers is one of the best healthy grill summer recipes.

And at just 397 calories (including the bun and toppings!) this is a wonderful low calorie option for summer meals.

Though I love these turkey burgers alone, sometimes you just need some crunchy sides to go with a bbq burger. These Crunchy Zucchini Bites are just 42 calories, making the two recipes together just 439 calories.

38. Easy Marinated Steak Kabobs Recipe

This 10 minute prep time and 15 minute cook time recipe does need some marinating time. Making it a wonderful meal prep dinner recipe.

At just 381 calories, you can have a healthy steak main dish, while boosting metabolism with fat burning veggies.

I like to serve this steak kabob recipe with our Chipotle Copycat Cilantro Lime Rice. The two together are just 496 calories!

39. Homemade Tuna Poke Bowl Recipe

This 20 minute summer meal is quick and easy, and perfect on warm summer nights.

These filling poke bowls are a full meal, and at just 403 calories, and healthy summer meal for dinner.

There’s no need for sides with this filling summer dinner bowl.

40. Low Calorie Fish Tacos Recipe 

Above, I made these tacos into a low carb taco bowl. But this original recipe can’t be overlooked… it’s amazing and takes just 15 minutes to prep and 10 minutes to cook. Though it will take some marinating time…

Two tacos are just 274 calories, and they are very filling too!

I love these summer tacos so much, I wouldn’t dream of sharing my plate with a side dish. So I like to have 3 of the tacos for just 411 calories.

Healthy Summer Recipes for Dinner Printable Guide

The 40 Healthy Low Calorie Summer Recipes for Dinner have all been gathered into this handy card.

Inside you can click on the recipe you want to make tonight, and it will bring you to a shopping list, printable recipe card, nutrition label and more for your choosen summer dinner ideas.

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Article History:

• Originally written and published on June 25, 2022 by Audrey Johns
• Updated on March 23, 2023 by Audrey Johns
• Updated April 4, 2023 by Audrey Johns