The best parts of summer happen when you have those unhurried moments, where you can truly enjoy the beautiful summer weather and take a step back from the hustle of life. Those moments seem more fleeting these days, especially with how connected our devices keep us to the rest of our lives.
But, it’s still possible to aspire to it! And let’s be honest, when you live in a climate that gets four seasons, you want to soak up every minute you can outside – before it starts to (dare I say it) get cold again.
When it comes to those nights – the nights you’d rather be outside – there are some summer dinner ideas that make it easy. Easy to put together a balanced meal without requiring that you have to be behind the stove for a good chunk of the evening.
Here’s a round up of our favorite summer dinner ideas that are fast(ish), healthy, and of course, delicious.
Zesty Lime Shrimp and Avocado Salad
Source: Skinnytaste
I saw this recipe on SkinnyTaste and just had to try it. This is basically summer in a bowl. I don’t usually cook shrimp, but I had some frozen so I gave it a try – and it was so easy! (I used this recipe to cook them while frozen.) It took me just a matter of minutes to throw it together. The next day, it tasted just as fresh – perfect for a mid-summer treat.
Favorite Pizza Pinwheels
Source: Yummy Toddler Foods
For those with toddlers or picky eaters, I love these Favorite Pizza Pinwheels from Yummy Toddler Food. They are super easy to put together. Once assembled, you just have to stick them on a baking sheet and cook for a bit. Like most recipes from Yummy Toddler Food, they have some great healthy ingredients inside. Plus, the pinwheel shape make it fun for anyone to eat!
Recovery Quinoa Salad Recipe
Source: BigOven
I have been eating this recipe for Recovery Quinoa Salad for years. It first appeared in a cookbook by Shalane Flanagan (one of the greatest female marathon runners of our time) and Elyse Kopecky.
It’s not just for runners, either! The recipe does require some prep, but once you make a batch (or two), it keeps really well in the fridge. The flavors work so well together, it feels a bit like a summer treat.
(I usually skip the pumpkin seeds and the kalamata olives. For some extra protein, I’ll add some chicken on top!)
Watermelon Feta Chicken Salad
Source: Jar of Lemons
For those who are looking for something quick and easy, and with some protein too boot, the Watermelon Feta Chicken Salad gets it done! It’s light on ingredients, but maximizes the flavor so you can feel like it’s summer on a plate. Seriously, just try it.
The Best Pasta Salad
Source: Pinch of Yum
We would be amiss if we didn’t share a cold pasta salad recipe as one of our top summer dinner ideas – I mean, could we even claim that we are from the Midwest without it!? Pinch of Yum has some of my favorite recipes, and this one is no exception!
The Italian flavors in this salad are purely delightful. Some might say, the best ever. And, the best part, you can modify the ingredients to work with whatever you have in your kitchen. It’ll still be a hit, promise.
Summer Charcuterie Board
One of the easiest dinners known to mankind: charcuterie.
But some how, the name makes it sound like it’s so fancy. The best part about the charcuterie board approach is that you can add whatever you have in the fridge.
Add in your favorite proteins, cheeses, some crackers, maybe some veggies and fruits, and wah-lah, you have a beautiful dinner on a platter.
Salsa Verde Street Corn Chicken
There are so many great Crockpot meals floating around on Instagram these days. And the thing I love about them: they are usually pretty healthy and pretty easy. This one is no different!
I’ve made this a few times (and sadly don’t have a great picture to share!), and I love that you can set it in the crockpot and forget about it. The second thing I love about it is that you can use it in so many different ways for dinner. Maybe one night you make a power bowl and have it over rice. The next, you could grab some corn tortillas and make tacos with some additional toppings. You could even eat it plain, just like it is!
Here’s the recipe for Salsa Verde Street Corn Chicken:
Ingredients
- 1 lb chicken breasts (or thighs work well too!)
- ½ cup salsa verde
- ¼ cup Greek yogurt
- ¾ cup corn
- ¼ cup cilantro
- ½ tsp cumin
- ¼ tsp salt
Add the chicken, salsa, cumin, and salt to the crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours. Shred the chicken. Stir in the yogurt, corn, and cilantro. Continue to cook in the crockpot until it’s cooked through. (I’ve also used frozen corn, which works totally fine!)
Lazy Summer Dinner Ideas & Meal Planning Tools
There you have it! The best lazy summer dinner ideas to get in rotation this summer. But before we go, a reminder that one of the ways to make your summer even more hustle-free comes from having tools and systems in place to support you. Your summer roadmap start with summer dinner ideas, but the right meal planning tool can make it come to life.
That’s where Weekly Table comes in! You can easily add the recipes in this blog post and start your 14-day trial to see how it ends the mental load of what’s for dinner for your family.
Ready to get started? Sign-up for your 14-day trial now.
