Quick and Easy Meal Ideas for Summer
Summer is the perfect time to enjoy the outdoors and soak up the sun, but it can also be a season filled with fun activities and family gatherings. That’s why quick and easy meals become essential. We all want to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the warm weather with loved ones.
During summer, the days are longer, and our schedules often fill up with outdoor adventures, vacations, and spontaneous get-togethers.
I’ve been resting more and enjoying a slower pace this summer. Having quick and easy meals I can put together in no time is ideal. I also try not to heat up the kitchen too much. With the cost of everything continuously rising, we are trying to conserve on our electric bill as much as possible which means not running the air conditioner as cold as I would like. So heating up the kitchen just makes it harder to cool the house.
Preparing quick meals not only helps keep the kitchen cool but also allows us to savor the season’s simple pleasures without the stress of lengthy meal preparation. Light and refreshing dishes are perfect for warm days, offering nourishment without weighing us down.
Quick and Easy Meal Ideas for Summer
Embracing quick and easy meal ideas means more time for what truly matters—creating memories, exploring nature, and connecting with family and friends in what could be this year’s old-school summer!
Quick and Easy Meal Ideas for Summer
One-Pot Cherry Tomato & Basil Pasta
This one-pot cherry tomato and basil pasta dish is super easy and quick to make, taste so amazing, and looks beautiful. You can have this dish on the table in 15-20 minutes. Serve it with a green salad and some fresh bread, and you are good to go.
Black Bean Burger
This easy black bean burger recipe transforms plant based patties into a wholesome meal packed with flavor! Plus, they come together in less than 30 minutes.
Tagliatelle Pesto Pasta (Tagliatelle Al Pesto)
This Tagliatelle Pesto Pasta is ready in just 15 minutes! It's light and healthy but packed with flavor from the homemade pesto. Serve with a generous sprinkle of parmesan and garlic bread on the side!
Arayes (Meat Stuffed Pitas)
These meat stuffed pitas are so easy and so flavorful. Use ground beef, turkey, lamb, or veggie crumble to make this fast dinner.
Chicken Tinga
Chicken Sundried Tomato Pasta Recipe
Creamy, rich, and delicious, this sundried tomato pasta is a 30-minute dinner dish that the family can enjoy on any weeknight.
Best Grilled Fish Tacos with Mango Salsa
Lemon Artichoke Pesto Pasta
Get ready to savor the goodness of our super easy and quick vegan lemon artichoke pesto pasta! It's fresh, flavorful, and so easy to make you'll have a meal ready in less time than it takes to decide on a Netflix show.
Pollo Asado
This Pollo Asado recipe is quick, easy, and incredibly flavorful! It is full of bright and zesty flavors. This easy chicken recipe is a great way to make chicken.
Beat the 5pm Panic: Teriyaki Baked Salmon and Vegetables
On the table in 20 minutes this baked teriyaki salmon and veggie sheet pan meal is perfect.
CREAMY SUNDRIED TOMATO PASTA
Sun Dried Tomato Pasta: Flavorful sausage tossed in a decadent sun dried tomato cream sauce. This pasta is lick your plate clean good!
Yellowfin Tuna Recipe
This yellowfin tuna recipe is quick and easy to make! The fish comes out so juicy, tender, and hearty.
Smoked Salmon Pasta
Tender linguini pasta in a light cream sauce with smoked salmon.
Cast Iron Salmon
Crispy-skinned, juicy cast iron salmon is quick and easy to make! This recipe yields perfectly crispy salmon.
Pineapple Chicken Stir Fry - A hit with my family
Bright and colourful this pineapple chicken stir fry is quick and easy to make.
Satay Chicken Noodles
Satay Chicken Noodles is a vibrant and easy main dish brimming with colors and textures! This dish features thick rice noodles mixed with red pepper, broccoli, and carrots, all stir-fried in a rich peanut sauce. Elevate the flavor with a topping of crunchy peanuts, scallions, cilantro, lime, and hot chili pepper.
Famous Eggplant Tofu (Panda Express Copycat Recipe)
This copycat recipe of Panda Express Eggplant Tofu features crispy tofu, fried eggplants, and red peppers coated in a sweet, sticky, and spicy sauce.
Easy Bruschetta Chicken Pasta With Balsalmic Glaze
Bruschetta Chicken Pasta: Flavorful chicken and tender pasta, topped with a balsamic glaze. Your favorite appetizer in an easy 30 minute meal.
Easy Blackened Chicken Tacos - Bless This Meal
Boldly seasoned blackened chicken, seasoned to perfection, nestled in warm tortillas and topped with fresh toppings. These blackened chicken tacos have an explosion of flavors in each bite.
Shredded Chicken Tacos with Pico de Gallo
These chicken tacos with shredded chicken are quick to prepare and bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors. Ideal for easy weeknight dinners!
Tofu Buddha Bowl with Peanut Sauce (Vegan)
Tofu Buddha Bowl is a fresh, healthy, and delicious lunch or dinner you can make in around 30 minutes! It features crispy tofu, rice, an abundance of vegetables, and a spicy and nutty peanut butter sauce.
Baked Chicken Tacos
These baked chicken tacos are the best tacos EVER! Taco shells loaded with refried beans, rotisserie chicken with salsa, cheese, and all the toppings. An easy dinner for the whole family, ready in under 30 minutes!
Pesto Chicken Burgers
These pesto chicken burgers can be made on the grill of stovetop in just 20 minutes. Serve with an easy salad for a quick meal this summer.
Grilled Chicken Thigh Skewers by Chef Rick Gresh
Enjoy a burst of flavor with these grilled chicken thigh skewers, seasoned with togarashi and glazed with a brown sugar soy sauce. The togarashi adds a spicy kick while the brown sugar soy glaze provides a perfect balance of sweet and savory.
15 Minutes Salmon Tacos
These easy Salmon Tacos are a great make-ahead family meal! Full of flavor, they only take 15 minutes to put together and are easily customizable to suit everyone’s tastes!
Caprese Chicken
This easy flavor-filled Chicken Caprese recipe is golden brown chicken breasts topped with sweet mozzarella, sun-ripened tomatoes, and fresh basil, drizzled with a mouthwatering balsamic reduction sauce.
One Pot Pappardelle Pasta Primavera
This one pot pappardelle pasta primavera is packed with vegetables in a light lemony cream sauce. It takes less than 30 minutes and everything cooks in one pan.
Creamy Lemon Salmon Pasta
Perfect for those evenings when you desire something gourmet but don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen, this creamy lemon salmon pasta combines succulent salmon with a creamy lemon sauce. It's made with just a few ingredients and only takes 30 minutes to make.
Quick Pesto Tortellini Salad
Pesto Tortellini Salad is a light, refreshing Italian dish perfect for summer, featuring tender tortellini pasta tossed in a vibrant, homemade pesto sauce. Make our 20-minute recipe for an effortless and delicious meal that captures the essence of fresh, seasonal ingredients!
Carolina Grilled Chicken
This Carolina BBQ chicken recipe is smoky, juicy, and bursting with sweet and tangy flavors, making it ideal for your next cookout. Ready in just 12 minutes, it's a perfect choice for a delicious meal any day of the week!
Corn Zucchini Fritters
With just a handful of basic everyday ingredients, you can whip up these crispy fritters in no time. It's a versatile recipe that can be served as a tasty appetizer, a side dish, or even a light main course.
Pasta with fresh tomatoes, corn, and peppers
An easy, light pasta dish perfect for hot summer days. Fresh, seasonal vegetables are barely cooked, then tossed with pasta, olive oil, and mozzeralla cheese.
BBQ Chicken Flatbread
This BBQ Chicken Flatbread is just as healthy as it is flavorful! With a tangy BBQ sauce, crunchy red onions, and plenty of chicken, this super easy flatbread pizza will be a family favorite. Made in less than 30 minutes, this is a seriously tasty recipe that is perfect for lunch, dinner, or just because.
30-Minute Taco Casserole
This 30 Minute Taco Casserole is made healthier with the use of brown rice and fat-free beans. It comes together easily and quickly, and tastes absolutely delish! Nobody will realize it's on the healthy side.
Blackened Mahi Mahi (15 Minute Recipe)
This Blackened Mahi Mahi only takes 15 minutes to make and is packed with flavor. It’s healthy and such a fresh meal for summer.
More Ideas for This Summer
- Tips for Meal Planning in the Summer
- Old School Summertime: Ways to Bring it Back
- Simplifying Your Summer Routine: Tips for Busy Moms
- Easy Summer Entertaining on a Budget
I hope you enjoy these recipe ideas! Have a happy summer!