Summer meals everyone will love
Summer makes it easy to create fresh and flavorful meals teeming with veggies. Farmers markets are in full swing, the days are longer, and the weather invites us to sit outside for meals. Summer brings back memories of simpler times. In that vein, we’ve put together a list of our favorite easy recipes, so you can spend more time enjoying your family and friends and less time in front of the stove.
Classic French tuna niçoise salad
This tuna niçoise salad is one of our favorite summer meals, mainly because many of the ingredients, like green beans, tomatoes, and fresh herbs, are at their peak. It’s also perfect for al fresco dining on those longer, warmer evenings. Serving the salad on a shared platter means less cleanup, giving you more time to linger with that glass of sauvignon blanc.
One pan honey garlic chicken
This honey garlic chicken recipe is one of the most popular easy summer dinners, and it’s so simple to make. Honey and garlic come together with mango to make the amazing pan sauce and keep the chicken juicy. We love one-pan meals for easy cleanup.
Baked feta pasta
Can a recipe that is this easy to put together really be delicious? It can! This dish went viral a a couple of years ago because it takes less than 10 minutes to prepare. After 30 minutes in the oven, this creamy pasta will be at the top of your list for lazy summer dinner ideas.
BBQ chicken quesadillas
We eat Mexican food a couple of times a month, and these quesadillas are made with six ingredients and are ready in just 15 minutes. They make a great entrée with a side salad or the perfect appetizer when unexpected company calls. Yay for easy summer meals!
Beet salad with feta
Beets add an earthy flavor and sweetness to this salad. When paired with feta and our delicious homemade balsamic vinaigrette, our beet and feta salad recipe can’t be beat for an easy summer dinner. We bought prepared beets from the produce department, cutting prep to under 10 minutes. Save the leftover marinade for drizzling on veggies later in the week.
Thai chicken curry in a crock pot
Summertime is the perfect season for making use of that slow cooker. Fill it with these fresh veggies, chicken, and a three-ingredient sauce in the morning and set for six hours. You’ll whip up a two-ingredient flavor booster at the end and this Thai chicken curry will be ready when you are. (The leftovers are delicious too!)
Grilled bruschetta chicken
For my family, easy summer dinners often go on the grill. (If you have a Green Egg, you might want to try these savory recipes.) We especially love this bruschetta chicken in the warmer months as tomatoes are so good. Seasoned chicken, balsamic vinegar, a slice of mozzarella, and a tomato slice is all it takes to make a meal everyone will devour.
Spinach and strawberry salad
One of our favorite salads, we combine fresh spinach with juicy strawberries, goat cheese, and crunchy pecans. Topping this salad with our delicious red wine vinaigrette really brings out the sweetness of the strawberries and creaminess of the goat cheese. Add a piece of grilled salmon, shrimp, or chicken to this salad for a boost of protein.
