69 Healthy Summer Recipes To Keep You Feeling Good All Season Long
Warm weather favorites that won't weigh you down.
If you've been dreaming about backyard BBQs, picnics in the park, and getting your grill on all winter long, don't let a certain diet or trying to eat healthier derail your plans. We’ve got tons of healthy options so you’ll never be left out and can indulge in warm weather favorites all season long too. We know health looks different to different people, so we’ve included options for every diet, like low-carb, vegan, pescatarian, gluten-free, and even low oil. Don’t let summer pressures stop you from enjoying your favorites—remember, EVERY body is a beach body, and it’s way more important that the food you put into it makes you feel good. Check out our list of 69 healthy summer recipes, and you can live your best life in the sun this year.
We all know the most successful “diets” are about celebrating the foods we can eat instead of rueing the loss of the ones we can’t, right? Instead of avoiding our favorites altogether, we prefer to make simple swaps. Take hamburger or hot dog buns—if you’re avoiding carbs, they’re a big no-go. Try one of our many lettuce wraps, our cheeseburger cabbage wraps, our zucchini bun hot dogs, or our pineapple bun burgers. Trying to eat less meat? You won’t miss it with killer meals like our Thai-inspired grilled cauliflower steaks, our Caprese eggplant steaks, or our falafel chickpea vegetarian stuffed peppers. Avoiding oil? You know what we’re going to say—try making your faves in your air fryer. You can make everything from chicken wings to orange chicken in there without having to touch a pot of hot oil. The name of the game here is really to get creative—use our recipes for inspiration, but play around with different flavors. You might just like what you discover even like them better than the originals.
For more summertime inspiration, check out our top vegetarian BBQ recipes, our best low-carb cocktails, and our favorite air fryer vegetable recipes too.
Skillet Eggplant Parm
This dish has all the eggplant Parm flavors you love, lightened up a bit for summer. Instead of breading each slice of eggplant, you'll top the entire skillet with panko bread crumbs, making it easy enough for a weeknight dinner that won't weight you down.
Get the Skillet Eggplant Parm recipe.
Shroomami Burger
We here at Delish love a regular burger, but something about a flavor-packed veggie burger can be SO satisfying in its own way. This mushroom-based version is a symphony of salty, complex flavors. Paired with a bright citrus slaw and spicy vegan mayo, it might be our favorite plant-based burger ever.
Get the Shroomami Burger recipe.
Taco Salad
When it comes to hearty summer salads, none are more hearty than a taco salad. Load it up with veggies, cheese, and ground beef for the perfect satisfying summer meal. We love this classic version, but if you want to get fancy, feel free to swap in and out your fave toppings.
Get the Taco Salad recipe.
Bruschetta Chicken
This bruschetta grilled chicken is one of our favorite ways to celebrate fresh summer flavors all season long. When you've got extra homemade bruschetta on hand, try using it as an extra-flavorful boost to your main course—starting with this cheesy, fresh dish.
Get the Bruschetta Chicken recipe.
Air Fryer Cauliflower Tacos
To get extra crispy "fried" cauliflower, you gotta use your air fryer. This recipe is basically the vegan version of our favorite fish tacos. The finishing touches? A quick and easy pickled slaw for a bite of freshness and a spicy mayo for a touch of heat.
Get the Air Fryer Cauliflower Tacos recipe.
Grilled Honey-Chipotle Salmon Foil Packets
Grilling fish can be intimidating, but with foil packs, there's no need to stress. Rather than worry about the fish sticking to the grates or flipping the flaky flesh, you'll fold the salmon up in tin foil instead. It's not just fish inside, either—there's a medley of zucchini and yellow summer squash with a smoky honey-chipotle sauce. 😍
Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps
With tangy lime juice, a kick of cumin, and a fresh herby zing from the cilantro, these quick-cooking shrimp pair perfectly in crisp lettuce wraps. When you're looking for low-carb lunch gold, these won't let you down.
Get the Cilantro-Lime Shrimp Wraps recipe.
Taco Tomatoes
We're all for a genius low-carb hack—and these tomatoes totally deliver. We had never thought to stuff them with taco meat, cheese, and sour cream, but we'll do anything in the name of ditching a tortilla for a low-carb meal. You can change up the fillings for cheeseburger tomatoes too.
Get the Taco Tomatoes recipe.
Steak Grain Bowl
A double-purpose chimichurri acts as a marinade for the steak and a finishing sauce for these bowls; the not-too-spicy jalapeño sauce provides a tangy, creamy counterpoint—plus, its versatility means it can go on anything and everything (read: make extra, and put it on everything).
Get the Steak Grain Bowl recipe.
Grilled Baked Potatoes
Sure, a baked potato in the oven is great, but have you tried them on the grill? Use this method for your backyard grill or even when you're out camping. The potatoes cook up just as fluffy as they do in the oven, but have the bonus of smoky flavor.
Get the Grilled Baked Potatoes recipe.
Rainbow Roll
This inside-out sushi roll (or uramaki) has rice on the outside, while the sheet of nori on the inside holds the avocado, cucumber, and crab in place. Top your rolls with sushi-grade fish, or get creative and try thinly sliced avocado, roasted red peppers, or smoked salmon.
Get the Rainbow Roll recipe.
Peach Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Grilling fruit brings out its juicy sweetness, and while you can always go the dessert route with your grilled peaches, they're just as good paired with this sweet and tangy balsamic chicken.
Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas
This recipe is a quick route to a delicious, crowd-pleasing dinner. Simply build a base of flavor with aromatics and spices in a coconut milk broth, then poach your shrimp in it. Add your peas and spinach to heat through, and you're ready for dinner!
Get the Coconut Curry Shrimp & Peas recipe.
Ratatouille Casserole
Ratatouille, a classic end of summer dish from the South of France that features our favorite late-season produce, takes on a new form in this beautiful spiraled casserole. For the most stunning result, try and find zucchini, eggplant, and tomatoes that are around the same size.
Get the Ratatouille Casserole recipe.
Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps
No bread? No problem. Doubling up on romaine leaves ensures a mess-free lunch, sans the carbs. If you're looking for more lettuce cup recipes try our easy Thai chicken lettuce cups next!
Get the Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps recipe.
Firecracker Salmon
If you're looking for a new way to bring on the heat at dinnertime, this firecracker salmon recipe is here to blow the roof off your mouth. The sweet and spicy firecracker sauce combines three fiery elements—sriracha, chili flakes, and fresh ginger—for a layered approach to heat.
Get the Firecracker Salmon recipe.
Philly Cheesesteak Cabbage Wraps
We’re kind of obsessed with Philly cheesesteaks, but what if you’re avoiding gluten or carbs (maybe on that low-carb or keto life)? Don’t worry, we’ve got you too. Try these Philly cheesesteak cabbage wraps—they’re everything you love about the OG, without the bread.
Honey Mustard Chicken, Tomato & Zucchini Foil Packs
Smothered in sweet honey mustard sauce, these chicken breasts are grilled to super-tender and juicy perfection inside foil packets. Honey mustard sauce can be as simple as just two its two titular ingredients, but we amped up its flavor with two mustards (grainy and Dijon) and cooked it slightly to thicken it into a glaze.
Get the Honey Mustard Chicken, Tomato & Zucchini Foil Packs recipe.
Curried Chickpea Salad
A well-crafted tuna salad or chicken salad can really hit the spot, and a curried chicken salad is an amazing twist on the classic formula. Unfortunately, vegans and vegetarians are often left out to dry when it comes to most mayo-based salads. This curried chickpea salad is a simple, fast, meatless way to satisfy that itch!
Get the Curried Chickpea Salad recipe.
Slutty Vegan's One Night Stand Burger
If you think that vegan burgers can't rival meat-based ones, think again. Atlanta-based chain Slutty Vegan's One Night Stand Burger puts the argument to rest with this loaded burger. It's topped with all the fixings, including caramelized red onion, vegan bacon, melty vegan cheese, and a smoky chipotle-lime mayonnaise. 😍
Camille Lowder is the digital food producer at Delish, otherwise known as our resident queen of recipe galleries. Previously, she attended the Natural Gourmet Institute for culinary school and worked at/managed a number of New York restaurants. She loves anything vegan, foods masquerading as other foods (hello, cauliflower), and a well-used Oxford comma.
