“Dinner Bites” Are My Summer Menu Secrets – Steal My Secrets

Summer is great for laid-back gatherings, but we can all agree that standing over a hot stove outside in 100-degree heat is not a good idea. Enter my summer savior: what I like to call “dinner snacks.” This is my favorite solution for any spontaneous summer night, whether it’s an impromptu pool party or a relaxing Friday night with the family. When cooking feels like a chore—and let’s be honest, that relaxed summer vibe calls to me most nights—dinner snacks are always my go-to. It’s simple, casual yet festive and captures the essence of summer with almost no effort.

To help you create snacks for your dinner menu, I teamed up with Target to share my go-to recipes and serving tips for a crowd-pleasing summer meal. It’s easy to create spreads that look and taste amazing using a variety of delicious, store-bought ingredients from Target’s Good & Gather line.

Dinner snacks are the no-cook summer cooking strategy you need

Why do I love dinner-style snacks so much? In addition to being a breeze to assemble, it’s also incredibly elegant to bring a bunch of simple dishes to the table and let guests help themselves. It feels distinctly European, focusing on seasonal flavors and incorporating a variety of textures, flavors and colors into one meal. There’s nothing better than when the experience is elevated with gorgeous, rustic platters and tableware.

Next, let’s take a look at a menu of dinner snacks that my family is loving this summer, all made with Good & Gather ingredients. Enjoy it however you want, but I can guarantee I’ll be soaking up the sun and all these delicious treats next to a cool body of water.

My dinner snack recipe

Making a dinner snack menu is easy. Toast bread, lay out the grazing board, toss salads, and an excellent dessert. The core concept is artfully arranged delicious, store-bought ingredients that are quickly assembled. It’s also a great way to get everyone involved. When I invite people over, guests can help assemble, turning it into a fun group activity.

While this recipe is foolproof, I like to strategically cut corners by relying on high-quality store-bought ingredients. No one does it better than Target’s Good & Gather line of trusted staples and delicious selections. (Hello, Manchego cheese, roasted garlic hummus, and more.)

From an Instagram-worthy grazing plate to a fresh and bright citrus salad to an ice cream sandwich I can’t stop eating, read on for my menu of summer dinner snacks.

Grazing plate with salami, manchego cheese, pistachios, crackers, fruits and olives

I always rely on grazing boards to keep a variety of seasonal ingredients and snacks front and center. While easy to assemble, grazing boards requires some thoughtful planning ahead of time to ensure you get the right balance of texture and flavor. (As much as I love olives, I needed something to tone down their intense saltiness.) Here’s how I do it.

Use a large board. The visual presentation is just as important as the edible components of the grazing board. I choose a board that is large enough to feel rich. This wooden dinner plate allows me to stack ingredients at will and create a truly stunning scene. I also like the dual handle design that makes it easy to transfer this board from the kitchen to the table.

Start with the cheese. I like to grate my boards with a special, standout cheese. Here, I chose Good & Gather’s Manchego cheese, which has been aged for six months. It’s nutty and salty, with the perfect tangy flavor to rival the other ingredients on your board.

Add marinated meat. You want your board to feel enthusiastic and fulfilled. Layer it with slices of your favorite cured meat—I used salami here—to make sure your guests are full.

Contrast sweet and salty flavors. Adding fresh fruit (strawberry slices, bunches of grapes, and blackberries) not only adds a splash of color to your plate, but also provides a delicious foil to the plate’s savory ingredients.

Boost with herbs. I sprinkled a few sprigs of fresh herbs from the garden both to bring more flavor to my board and to infuse it with as much flavor as possible. Anything from thyme to rosemary and even edible flowers will work perfectly.

Finish with some crunching. Cookies or bread (or both!) allow guests to bite into layers of whatever ingredients they want. While it’s easy to overlook how delicious it all is, I chose pancake cookies baked with a variety of seasonings to ensure this board contained as much flavor as possible.

Hummus Toast with Tomato, Feta and Za’atar

IYKYK: Toast has gotten a major PR upgrade in recent years, and it’s now everyone’s favorite way to pack tons of color, flavor and nutrients into a single, handheld bite. This toast couldn’t be simpler, but the end result is so beautiful. I just spread a thick layer of roasted garlic hummus on my favorite country sourdough bread (why make your own when store-bought hummus is so good?). From there, arrange an array of sliced ​​tomatoes. Heirloom, cherry and grape tomatoes in all colors make such a beautiful presentation. After that, a bit of salty crumbled feta and fresh basil are the perfect final garnish. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and you’re good to go.

Citrus salad with almonds and herbs

Together we expanded our ideas on what constitutes a salad, and I became fascinated by all the innovative recipes flooding the internet. My favorite part of the shoot? This easy citrus salad. It only requires five ingredients and the demonstration couldn’t be more beautiful. Once you’ve mastered the art of slicing citrus (a sharp knife is key), all that’s left is to sprinkle with Marcona almonds, chopped red onion, and fresh herbs. As always, finish with a drizzle of olive oil, salt and pepper. Oh, and documents – trust: everyone will ask for the recipe.

Citrus water and pink wine

With a streamlined but still special summer menu, I love simplifying my drink selections. I always offer at least two drinks: a couple of bottles of my favorite rosé and a refreshing non-alcoholic drink. To me, rosé is synonymous with al fresco dinners that last well into the night. I like a bottle that is crisp and clean with a refreshing finish.

I also included citrus water in this menu. Just infuse a pot of water with citrus slices (orange, grapefruit, anything will do) and a few sprigs of fresh mint. This is much more progressive than just drinking a glass of water and complements the meal perfectly. Serve drinks in stemware to bring a relaxed, organic vibe to the table.

Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Sandwich

If your team thinks dessert is the best part of any meal, I’ve got you. Sure, I love baking sweet treats, but in the summer, when I’m too lazy to use the oven, I turn to simple store-bought options. These cookies and cream sandwiches are a step up from previous ice cream novelties while still retaining all the fun and whimsy of eating ice cream as a kid. To make it feel fancier at the end of your meal, I like to take the sandwich out of the wrapper and place it between strips of parchment paper. Who can say no?

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