The birds are chirping, the sun is shining, and the days are getting longer. Summer is finally here, which might mean more activities for your family and less time to worry about cooking. Here are five easy summer meals that require minimal planning and effort that your whole family will enjoy!
5 Easy Summer Meals
1. BLTs
Nothing says summer to me like a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. We eat these year-round, but the fresh, bright red tomatoes you can find in summer make them that much more delicious.
Ingredients:
- bread of choice
- bacon
- shredded lettuce
- tomatoes
- mayo
Instructions:
- Make your bacon. You can do this in a pan or oven, but my favorite way in the summer is in the air fryer. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees. Add bacon in one layer and air fry for ten minutes total (flipping halfway).
- While the bacon is air frying, cut your tomatoes into thin slices.
- When the bacon is almost ready, toast your bread.
- Assemble your sandwiches by adding a generous layer of mayo on both slices of bread. Add desired amount of bacon, lettuce, and tomatoes.
- Slice and enjoy! Serve with fries or chips and fruit.
2. “Fried Chicken” Salads
My absolute favorite meals are the kind that seem like they took hours of prep work but really, you just opened a bag and put it in a bowl. If you need that kind of recipe, look no further. “Fried Chicken” Salads can be in front of your family in about 15 minutes!
Ingredients:
- packaged salad kit (you can find these in the produce section of most grocery stores in many varieties like Asian, Southwest, Bacon Ranch Crunch, Sweet Kale, etc.) These kits include all toppings and dressing!
- chicken nuggets of choice (our family loves the Just Bare brand from Costco)
Directions:
- Bake your chicken nuggets according to the directions. My favorite way to make chicken nuggets is in the air fryer. If you’re using the air fryer, preheat it to 400 degrees. Add your chicken and bake to desired crispness (usually about 15 minutes). Be sure to shake the basket every five minutes or so.
- While your chicken is baking, assemble the salad by pouring it into a bowl and adding toppings and dressing.
- When the chicken is finished, you can add it directly on top of the salad or cut the nuggets into smaller pieces.
Sometimes, my toddlers will eat salad, but on nights they don’t want it, I will serve them nuggets with a vegetable (or fries) and some fruit.
3. Pizza Quesadillas
I have been eating pizza quesadillas since high school. My best friend got a quesadilla maker that came with a bunch of different recipes and we latched onto the pizza version and never looked back. This is a fun twist on pizza without the takeout price tag and will be ready in a fraction of the time!
Ingredients:
- large tortillas
- pizza sauce
- shredded cheese (I like mozzarella or pizza blend)
- favorite pizza toppings (We usually do pepperoni but sometimes like to kick it up a notch with veggies or other meats)
Directions:
- Preheat a large skillet or electric griddle.
- Add butter or cooking oil and place one tortilla on the hot surface.
- Add a thin layer of pizza sauce, layer of cheese, desired toppings, and another layer of cheese.
- Add another tortilla to the top.
- Flip the quesadilla carefully when one side is golden brown (usually just a few minutes).
- Cook until the other side is golden brown and move to a cutting board.
- Cut the quesadilla into pieces and serve with more pizza sauce (or ranch!) for dipping.
4. Burger Bowls
This recipe is quick, easy, and is actually Whole30 approved if you follow the recipe linked here. To make things easier and faster for busy nights, I use store bought fries or sweet potato fries and bacon bits!
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef, turkey, or chicken
- frozen fries, sweet potato fries, or tater tots
- mixed greens
- favorite burger toppings (I use cherry tomatoes, avocado, red onion, pickles, and bacon bits)
- Optional: Burger Sauce (1/3 cup mayo, 1 tablespoon dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons ketchup, 1 tablespoon chopped pickles, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder)
Directions:
- Make fries/sweet potato fries/tater tots according to package. I use my air fryer at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes).
- While the fries are baking, brown ground beef and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder to taste.
- Prepare your toppings while ground beef is browning.
- Assemble the bowls by adding mixed greens, ground beef, fries, and desired toppings.
- Top with burger sauce and enjoy!
5. Fish Tacos
There are plenty of fish taco recipes out there, but this is fast and super simple. It’s a go-to for a fun spin on Taco Tuesday!
Ingredients:
- small flour tortillas
- breaded fish sticks or frozen breaded fish of choice
- prepackaged dry coleslaw or broccoli slaw (you can find these bags in the produce section)
- mayo and vinegar for slaw (optional, but really kicks up the flavor)
- pico de gallo (I buy the pre-made kind that can be found in the produce section)
Directions:
- Bake the fish sticks according to the package. (Surprise, surprise…my favorite way is with the air fryer! Bake at 400 degrees for 8 minutes. Flip and bake for 2 more minutes.)
- While the fish is baking, prepare the coleslaw mix by combining 1/4 cup mayo and 1 tablespoon of vinegar. Add to dry coleslaw mix and mix until well-coated.
- Assemble tacos by adding coleslaw mix, fish sticks, and pico de gallo to a tortilla (optional: mix mayo and sriracha to make a spicy mayo).
- Serve with fries, rice, or chips and salsa.
I hope these lazy recipes gave you some inspiration for easy summer meals. Happy cooking!
And for more on meal planning, see What’s for Supper? Making a Weekly Meal Menu.
What are some of your favorite easy summer meals? Let us know in the comments below!
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
