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There’s something about summer that makes me crave simple, easy meals—bonus points if I can toss everything in one dish and call it dinner! Whether you’re hosting a casual dinner party or just trying to get something on the table for your hungry crew, one-dish wonders are your best friend.
Less time cooking, less cleanup, more time for good conversation (and maybe a chilled glass of wine 🍷).
Here are 11 of my favorite easy one-dish meals that work just as well for a relaxed dinner party as they do for a busy weeknight family dinner.
(Some of the images in this post were created with the help of AI tools to inspire you and bring these tips to life. They’re here to give you a little visual inspiration, real-life results may (and should!) look delightfully imperfect. This post also contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them (at no extra cost to you). Thanks for your support!)
1. Pasta Salad Bar 🥗
Pasta + toppings + dressing = done
Set out a big bowl of gluten-free pasta and a buffet of toppings—think cherry tomatoes, olives, cucumbers, feta, grilled chicken, salami, roasted veggies, and a few dressing options. Everyone builds their own bowl. Zero stress, tons of fun.
Base: 1 lb pasta, cooked and cooled (amount depends on the number of people)
Toppings: your favorite store-bought sauce or this easy Italian red sauce. Top cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, feta, grilled chicken, salami, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts
Dressings: Italian, balsamic vinaigrette, lemon vinaigrette
👉 How to serve: Toss pasta with a little olive oil. Arrange toppings and dressings buffet-style so everyone can build their own. Add a Simple Salad to the Side
2. Fajitas with Grilled Chicken 🌶️
(My personal fav!)
Sizzle up some grilled chicken (or steak, shrimp, tofu—whatever you love), sauté some bell peppers and onions, and serve with tortillas and ALL the toppings: salsa, guac, cheese, sour cream. One big platter + one stack of plates = magic.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts or thighs
- 3 bell peppers, sliced
- 1 large onion, sliced
- Fajita seasoning (or mix cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper)
- Tortillas
- Toppings: guac, salsa, sour cream, shredded cheese
👉 How to make:
- Grill or pan-cook chicken with seasoning, slice into strips.
- Sauté peppers + onions until soft and slightly charred.
- Serve on a big platter with warm tortillas and toppings.
3. Mediterranean Bowls 🥒
Quinoa or rice as the base, pile on fresh veggies (cucumbers, tomatoes, artichokes, roasted red peppers), add grilled chicken or salmon, olives, feta, and a drizzle of tzatziki or lemon-tahini sauce.
Base: Cooked quinoa or brown rice
Toppings: cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, olives, artichokes, roasted red peppers, feta, grilled chicken or salmon
Sauce: Tzatziki or lemon-tahini sauce
👉 How to serve: Layer base + toppings in bowls, drizzle with sauce.
4. Sheet Pan Sausage + Veggies
Slice up chicken or turkey sausage, toss with chopped zucchini, bell peppers, onions, and potatoes. Drizzle with olive oil and seasoning. Roast on a sheet pan—done! Serve with crusty bread or over rice.
Ingredients:
- 1 package chicken or turkey sausage, sliced
- 2 zucchini, chopped
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
- 1 red onion, chopped
- 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
- Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder
👉 How to make:
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Toss veggies + sausage with olive oil + seasoning.
- Spread on a sheet pan.
- Roast for 25–30 min, tossing halfway through.
5. Build-Your-Own Tacos 🌮
Put out seasoned ground beef or pulled chicken, tortillas, and toppings galore (lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, salsa, guac). Everyone makes their own. Great for feeding a crowd or picky eaters.
Base: Seasoned ground beef or pulled chicken
Toppings: tortillas, lettuce, tomato, onion, cheese, salsa, guac
👉 How to serve:
- Cook beef or chicken with taco seasoning.
- Set out toppings and let everyone build their own tacos.
6. Summer Grain Salad
Cook up farro, quinoa, or wild rice. Toss with arugula, peaches or nectarines, fresh herbs, nuts, goat cheese, and vinaigrette. Add grilled shrimp or chicken if you like. Light, fresh, and super pretty on a platter.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked farro, quinoa, or wild rice
- 2 cups arugula
- 2 peaches or nectarines, sliced
- ¼ cup fresh herbs (mint or basil)
- ¼ cup nuts (almonds, pecans, or walnuts)
- ¼ cup goat cheese
- Vinaigrette (olive oil + balsamic vinegar + Dijon mustard + honey)
👉 How to make:
- Toss all ingredients with vinaigrette and serve chilled or at room temp.
7. Baked Ziti or Pasta Bake
Assemble ahead: gluten-free pasta, marinara, mozzarella, ricotta, and Italian sausage or ground turkey. Bake till bubbly. Serve with a green salad and garlic bread. A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients:
- 1 lb regular or gluten-free pasta
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup ricotta
- 1 lb Italian sausage or ground turkey (optional)
👉 How to make:
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cook pasta until al dente.
- Brown sausage/turkey if using.
- Mix pasta with sauce + meats.
- Layer in a baking dish with ricotta + mozzarella.
- Bake for 20–25 min until bubbly.
8. Big Summer Salad with Grilled Protein
Start with a big bowl of mixed greens. Add seasonal fruits (berries, peaches), avocado, nuts, seeds, and your protein of choice (grilled chicken, steak, salmon). Offer a couple dressing options on the side.
Base: Mixed greens
Toppings: berries, peaches, avocado, nuts, seeds, grilled chicken/steak/salmon
Dressing: balsamic vinaigrette or citrus vinaigrette
👉 How to serve:
- Grill protein.
- Toss greens with toppings + dressing.
- Slice protein and layer on top.
🍋Try On of these: Summer Cobb Salad I Strawberry Quinoa Salad I Pear and Gorgonzola Salad I Salmon Cobb Salad
9. Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowls 🍚
Serve grilled or baked teriyaki chicken over rice with steamed broccoli, carrots, snap peas, and edamame. Sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve with chopsticks for fun.
Ingredients:
- 1 ½ lbs chicken breasts or thighs
- ½ cup teriyaki sauce
- 3 cups cooked rice
- Steamed broccoli, carrots, snap peas, edamame
- Sesame seeds
👉 How to make:
- Marinate chicken in teriyaki sauce, grill or bake until cooked, slice.
- Assemble bowls: rice + veggies + chicken + sesame seeds.
10. Grilled Individual Pizzas
Grilled pizzas are one of my favorite interactive summer dinner ideas. Set out crusts and toppings, fire up the grill, and let everyone create their own masterpiece. It’s fun, a little casual chaos (in the best way), and great for getting everyone involved—perfect for both dinner parties and an easy family night on the patio. Here is a video to help you make them!
Ingredients:
- Pre-made gluten-free or regular pizza crusts or naan
- Olive oil
- Pizza sauce
- Shredded mozzarella
- Toppings: pepperoni, prosciutto, veggies, arugula, olives, fresh basil
👉 How to make:
- Preheat grill to medium-high.
- Brush crusts with olive oil.
- Grill crusts for 1–2 min per side until lightly charred.
- Add sauce, cheese, and toppings.
- Return to grill (indirect heat or use top rack if possible) and close the lid for 3–5 min until cheese melts.
- Slice and serve!
👉 Fun idea: Set up a DIY pizza bar and let everyone build their own personal pizza. Great for kids and adults.
11. Build-Your-Own Nacho Bar
Lay out tortilla chips, seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken, beans, cheese, jalapeños, guacamole, salsa, sour cream. Everyone builds their plate and digs in. Perfect for casual summer hangouts.
Base: Tortilla chips
Toppings: seasoned ground beef or shredded chicken, beans, cheese, jalapeños, guac, salsa, sour cream
👉 How to serve:
- Warm meat + beans.
- Set out chips + toppings.
- Let everyone build their own nacho plate and pop under the broiler if they want melty cheese.
Why I love one-dish meals for summer:
👉 They’re easy to prep and clean up.
👉 They make hosting low-key and fun.
👉 They let everyone customize their plate.
👉 They double as weeknight family meals (win-win!).
So the next time you’re planning a casual dinner party—or just trying to feed your crew on a hot summer night—try one of these one-dish wonders.
Pro tip: many of these ideas are great for serving buffet-style, which takes the pressure off the host (you). Just pour yourself a drink and enjoy the evening.
