In the summertime or even just the start of the warm weather no one wants to cook hot meals and we are so busy doing things outside to have a lot of time to make them, so here are some quick meal ideas for summer I put together for you to save time and not heat up your house!
If you have a little one like I do then it is hard to make dinner on top of everything else, I have a two year old and he is super clingy some days and I don’t have a moment to do anything. These recipes were made for those of you that have this problem and also for anyone that just wants super quick meal ideas that tastes amazing.
Quick Meal Ideas For Summer
Here are some easy meal ideas to try when you don’t know what else to cook this summer! You can easily modify them to fit your family’s likes and nutrition needs and still have a quick go to meal when you simply don’t feel like cooking.
Foil Pack Sausage and Veggies
This is a super easy summer dinner recipe and you can adapt it however you like to suit your needs. We are trying to eat healthier so we have been eating more meat and veggies and the only way to get anyone to eat them is to add them into dinner somehow.
Try out this quick meal idea for yourself and see if you can get your family to love veggies cooked this way. You may be on to something if it works.
Ingredients
- 1 Zucchini- sliced
- 1 cup of Green beans- cut off ends and cut in half
- 1 small bundle of Asparagus- cut off ends and then cut in half
- 1 Green Pepper- diced
- 1/2 Onion- diced
- 3 Sausages- Sliced into small pieces
- 4 Potatoes
- Butter
- 2 pinches of Salt
- 1 Pinch of Pepper
- 1 tsp Season Salt
- 1 tsp Garlic
- Sharp cheddar cheese- can be any kind
Instructions
You can use whatever veggies you like for this recipe, I used fresh asparagus, zucchini, green beans, green pepper and onion for mine. You can use any kind of sausage for this as well I had Italian on hand so that is what I used and precooked (boiled it for 15 min)it so it needed less time on the grill. I also had 4 large potatoes that I precooked (microwave for 6 min) and cubed so they would be done all the way in 20 minutes. This is such an easy summer dinner recipe that can be done in many different ways by changing up your ingredients a little, the biggest thing is to precook some of it for faster cooking time.
In a big bowl add in all ingredients diced up and season it with salt, pepper, garlic and season all then pour some olive oil about a drizzle and stir well. Use foil to make a little pack and pour ingredients into three or four packs and add a sprinkle of sharp cheddar and a dab of butter to them then seal and get your grill ready. Cook on medium about 350 or 400 for 20 minutes and serve.
You can do this recipe on your grill or in your oven which is nice but you probably don’t want to heat up your house so the grill is better.
Taco Lettuce Wraps
This is a simple and easy summer dinner recipe that I adapted from my regular taco recipe, the only difference is that I used lettuce to wrap the taco instead of tortillas and added no shredded lettuce. Doing this adaptation makes it a bit less filling so you don’t feel sick if you eat many of them, great for super hot summer days!! It truly is a quick meal idea for those busy nights you have no time to make a lot.
Ingredients
- 2 lb of Ground Beef
- Romaine lettuce- small ones so you can use them for boats
- Tomatoes-Sweet little cherry tomatoes work best
- Onions- I use the yellow sweet ones
- Salsa
- Cheese Shredded
- Jalapenos (if desired)
- Taco Seasoning- I love the old Elpaso brand when in a hurry or use my homemade version but whatever you prefer is fine
Instructions
Cook the ground beef until brown and drain the grease then add in 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of taco seasoning and bring to a simmer. While the meat is finishing up cut up all of your toppings and place in containers for assembly. Remove leaves from romaine lettuce and wash them well set aside for use as tortilla boats. When the meat is done place in a container and serve.
Dinner is done! Super easy summer dinner idea
BLTT Sandwiches
This is short for Bacon, Lettuce, Tomato, and Turkey sandwiches lol also another easy summer dinner recipe that barely takes any time to make. The only make-ahead thing I would suggest is to *cook the bacon early in the day so you don’t make your house super hot.
*Here is an easy secret to making bacon without the mess: Place foil onto a cookie sheet or even a couple of cookie sheets depends on how much bacon you have and while you are preparing to preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place bacon onto cookie sheets and cook for 25 min or until nice and crispy.
Take out and let cool and place on a paper towel to absorb excess grease. Let grease cool and then roll up the foil and throw away. Leaves less clean up and mess.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Bacon
- Large Tomatoes on the vine-These are just the best tasting tomatoes in my book
- Turkey sliced- I use lunch meat but you can use whatever you wish
- Lettuce
- Mayonnaise- You can use miracle whip if you like I prefer mayo
- Toaster
Instructions
Toast your bread and while it is toasting slice up your tomatoes and get lettuce leaves ready. When toasted add mayo or miracle whip to bread then put on the bacon, lettuce, Turkey and Tomatoes. I say it in this order because having the bacon and tomatoes against the mayo just gives the sandwich a much better flavor lol. Think I’m just picky but you be the judge!
I want to add that you can put anything you want on this sandwich even cucumbers and onions for more flavor, the adventure is up to you but for the sake of the name BLTT I had to stick to those main ingredients.
I pair this with a nice potato salad that you can either make or buy. Here is a great recipe for Potato Salad that I use when I have time to make it!!
Crockpot Ribs
This is one of those great quick meal ideas to get started on a day you will be to busy to prepare much like going to the zoo or water park or even beach, just put it in the crockpot with the seasoning on both sides add a splash of water and some barbecue sauce and cook for 6 hours on low.
When it is done warm up your grill, place it on tin foil and add more sauce to get it nice and caramelized. This goes great with potato salad and corn or even a fresh salad and corn. Whatever you desire to make that is easy.
I usually do the potato salad and corn or baked potato and corn.
Ingredients
- A large rack of ribs depends on your family size
- Barbecue sauce of your choice, we love sweet baby rays
- Seasonings
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- Sprinkle of salt and pepper
- Brown sugar
Instructions
- Season Ribs on both sides and place in a crockpot with barbecue sauce on low with 1/4 cup of water for 6 hours
- Prepare sides
- Warm up your grill and place sides on first if doing corn or potatoes then halfway through add Ribs
- Using tin foil on the grill so ribs that are loose won’t fall through, spray with cooking spray
- Add ribs and brush sauce on them then cook on 400-degree heat until caramelized, add more sauce in between if desired
Remove ribs and enjoy a fabulous summer meal with little effort!!
Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork
This is one of the simplest quick meal ideas that make great sandwiches, we love eating this at least twice every few weeks and you can freeze the leftovers if you have any!! In your crockpot place pulled pork and season then cook for 7 hours on low until falling apart, remove and place in a dish and pull apart with forks. Add your sauce and you are done!!
Ingredients
- 2 lb Pork loin
- Barbecue sauce-your favorite one
- 2 TBS water- pork has a lot of its own juices so I don’t like to add much
- Buns-I like brioche or pretzel buns myself, whatever you have is great
- Seasoning- I seem to use these same seasonings in a lot of my recipes plus or minus a few
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp paprika
- Sprinkle of salt and pepper
- Brown sugar
Instructions
- Open pulled pork and drain liquid and season
- Place in crockpot on low for 7 hours until falling apart
- Remove pork to a separate container and shred then add sauce
- Serve on sandwiches
You can use Coleslaw on your sandwich if you want a different flavor and freshness and have broccoli salad and potato salad to go with it or whatever sides you like, just a few ideas!
Easy Grilled Shish Kabob Recipe
This is one of those planned out quick meal ideas that you need to marinate beforehand for at least 8 hours for the best flavor but once this is done it is super easy to make and turns out awesome. To make this one I use the already chopped up stew meat and marinate it in my own recipe I throw together along with the veggies (use whatever you like to eat I just listed what I used).
Ingredients
- 1 or 2 LB stew meat or steak that you love cut up into bite-size pieces
- Skewers or metal ones that come with grill kits work well too
- 2 Red Peppers
- 2 Green Peppers
- 1 Sweet Onion
- A marinade of your choice
- 1 TBS Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tsp Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 TBS A1 Sauce
Instructions
- Cut up meat if it isn’t already and all veggies into pieces enough to fit on a skewer
- Prepare marinade
- Soak meat and Veggies in separate containers for at least 2 hours but best up to 8
- Soak Skewers for a few hours beforehand
- Assemble Skewers with meat and Veggies staggered how you want
- Prepare sides
- Warm up grill
- Add sides for grilling first before skewers as they don’t take as long as corn or potatoes
- Cook at 400 for 8 min a side or to your liking
- Rotate every few minutes to get all sides
Remove from grill and serve right on the skewer with your sides and enjoy!!
Final Thoughts on Quick Meal Ideas
One of my favorite hacks for summer food is to make more than enough and freeze the rest so all you have to do on those nights when you don’t want to make anything is to take it out of the freezer, thaw it and warm it up in the microwave or on the grill.
Summer meals don’t have to be hard, all you need is something to throw on the grill and a couple of sides that are simple to make or already made and dinner is done.
If you have any other quick meal ideas I would love to hear them, I am always up for new ideas on easy summer dinners!!
I hope you enjoy these 6 recipes as much as we do and save yourself some time in the kitchen this summer enjoying what you love to do instead of cook.
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