Summer dinner parties have a certain kind of magic. The seasonal ingredients can’t be beat, you can eat dinner outside, and the time of year gives a laid-back, casual vibe. It’s the perfect time to invite your friends over—so, if you’re looking for summer party ideas, you’ve come to the right place.
As someone who doesn’t exactly love the summer season (hear me out: the DC humidity is stifling), I am looking forward to summer dinner parties. Choosing a theme for your gatherings is one way to add a little more fun to your hosting, and I personally think it makes planning a bit easier too. To help get you started, here are 6 summer party ideas that you and your friends are sure to remember long after summer’s over.
Image above by Michelle Nash.
Tomato-Girl Summer Party
At the top of our summer party ideas list? Tomatoes! Making the tomato the star of your summer party is not only delicious, but beautiful too. Create a tomato-forward menu with summer spaghetti and tomato salad and decorate your table with a mix of heirlooms and tomatoes on the vine. You could even ask your guests to wear red! August is when tomato season peaks, and the beauty of this in-season fruit (yes, fruit) is that the recipes are simple. You don’t have to do much for a tomato to really shine.
Toast with Tomatoes, Feta, and Za’atar
Romanticize your toast.
Watermelon Tomato Caprese Salad
Harry Styles-approved.
Tomato Salad
Six simple but stunning ingredients.
Simple Tomato Pasta
Highly addictive.
Summer Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Burrata, & Basil
Summer perfection on a plate.
Summer Happy Hour
An at-home happy hour is always a good idea, but a summer-themed one has to take the cake!
Choose a fun signature cocktail and serve simple food that your guests can eat with their hands. Happy hour is the ultimate kick-back-and-relax kind of gathering, so dips, boards, and toasts are great for guests to graze on. Technically, I’m not sure if happy hour has dessert—but if it were up to me, I’d always have a little something sweet! Who wouldn’t love to dig into a strawberry cake with mascarpone cream?
Salty Dog Cocktail
Shake things up.
Spicy Mezcal Paloma
It’s worth a shot.
Limoncello Spritz
Crisp, citrusy, and so refreshing.
The Perfect Dip for All of Your Summer Crudités
The ultimate grazing board.
Ricotta and Plum Bruschetta
Tomatoes, step aside.
Summer Cheese Board
Picture perfect—get your cameras ready!
Strawberry Cake With Mascarpone Creme
Simple and delicious.
Backyard Movie Night
Gathering friends for dinner, then settling in for an outdoor movie night once the sun sets is pure summer magic. Fire up the grill and enjoy grilled chicken thighs or shrimp skewers. Set up a projector, cozy up your space with pillows and blankets, then flip on a movie just in time for dessert. Pass around cups of fruit and meringue and enjoy your film under the stars. You could even center your menu and decor around the film!
15-Minute Grilled Chicken Thighs
Say goodbye to dry chicken.
Loaded Sweet Potato Fries
Eyes on the fries.
Cauliflower Nachos
Vegan and veggie-loaded.
Simple Potato Salad with Smoked Chili Aioli
Fast. Easy. Delicious.
Shrimp Skewers
Easy, breezy, colorful.
Summer Fruit Salad With Meringue
The ultimate dinner party dessert.
Summer Solstice Dinner Party
Our summer party ideas wouldn’t be complete without a sit-down dinner. The summer solstice is on June 20th this year—imagine gathering with friends and chatting over a table with flowers and candles. Everyone sips on a Lillet spritz and the menu is a love letter to the season—watermelon salad, blackened salmon and gorgeous strawberries and cream pavlova for dessert. If you believe summer is worth celebrating, then a summer solstice dinner party would be the perfect excuse to throw a gathering!
The Lillet Spritz Is Here to Level Up Your Happy Hour
Aperol, who?
Blackened Salmon With Tropical Pico
A go-to summer meal!
Farmers Market Steak Salad
Crisp veggies, garlicky steak, and an addictive shallot vinaigrette to tie it together.
Spicy Watermelon Feta Salad
It pairs with literally everything.
Strawberries and Cream Pavlova
More than a recipe—it’s a whole summer vibe.
Pizza Night
Whether you have a fancy pizza oven or not, a summer pizza party just hits differently! Homemade pizza is a fun way to interact with your guests as well—allow them to pick their toppings and personalize it themselves. Have plenty of ingredients and dough on hand for a fun, creative evening. Camille is a pro at homemade pizza and there are tons of pizza recipes on the site—here are a few of our favorites!
Peach, Pesto, and Balsamic Pizza
In pizza, we crust.
Caramelized Onion and Prosciutto Pizza
Prepare to drool over this flavor combo.
Sausage Burrata Pizza
Simply the best.
Bacon, Apple, & Sweet Potato Pizza
It’s the crispy sage that does it for me.
Taco Night
If you give me a spicy marg, a few tacos, and time with the girls—I am unstoppable. Summer and tacos just go together so well, don’t you think? Make it easy on yourself and pick 2-3 tacos to serve and batch the margaritas in a big pitcher. Also, having a big bowl of homemade guac is an instant crowd pleaser.
Spicy Margarita
Two words: Tajín rim.
Guacamole
Keep it simple.
Chimichurri Fish Tacos
Always in the mood for beach vibes.
Lime-y Chicken Tacos with Jicama, Avocado, & Mint
These might be my last meal.
Carne Asada Tacos
Fire it up.
Shrimp Tacos
Hands down, these are the best shrimp tacos of your life.