What We’ve Been Consuming: 12 Simple Summer season Dinners

I’ve actually been having fun with summer season dinners this yr. Our days are full, however the evenings really feel rather less rushed, which suggests I’ve had extra time to cook dinner, experiment, and construct meals round no matter is contemporary. And with the youngsters at these ages, it doesn’t matter fairly as a lot whether or not dinner is prepared at 6:00 PM or 7:30 PM. Plus, the backyard produce—particularly the tomatoes—has been so flavorful that even the only dinners have felt further particular.

I do know fall will look very completely different. Our schedule shall be full of sports activities, actions, co-op days, and loads of dinners eaten shortly or on the go. However we aren’t there but! So whereas we’re nonetheless summer-loving, listed here are among the meals we’ve been having fun with currently.

These aren’t all elaborate recipes or completely deliberate dinners. They’re merely 12 straightforward summer season meals that tasted good, labored for our household, and made probably the most of this slower, produce-filled season. You probably have a favourite summer season meal you’ve been having fun with, please share it with me! 🙂

BBQ Hen Candy Potato Bowls

These have been one in every of our favourite dinners of the summer season: roasted candy potatoes topped with shredded BBQ rooster, black beans, corn, avocado, and ranch. I like a build-your-own meal as a result of everybody can customise their bowl, and it makes leftovers particularly straightforward. I normally use already-cooked rooster to maintain this one easy on a busy evening. It’s filling by itself, so I don’t usually serve a lot alongside it.

Why we beloved it: Simple, customizable, and nice for leftovers.
Make it simpler: Use rotisserie rooster and frozen corn.

Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Okra

This was a kind of easy dinners that got here collectively with out a lot planning: marinated and roasted sliced pork tenderloin with roasted okra on the facet. I didn’t add a standard carb as a result of we had simply devoured a giant bowl of popcorn throughout a film, which felt like reminder that summer season dinners is usually a little footloose and fancy free. The pork was satisfying and the okra was contemporary from my backyard membership haul.

Why we beloved it: Easy, flavorful, and never overly heavy.
Make it simpler: Marinate the pork and trim the okra earlier within the day.

Greek Hen Rice Bowls

Rice bowls proceed to be one in every of my favourite methods to feed everybody as a result of they’re straightforward to prep and straightforward to customise. For these, I paired Greek-marinated rooster with rice, tzatziki, and Greek salad and let everybody assemble their very own. They felt contemporary and summery whereas nonetheless being hearty sufficient for dinner.

Why we beloved it: Contemporary, filling, and customizable.
Make it simpler: Prep the rooster and greens forward of time.

Mackerel with Onions, Tomatoes, and Garlic over Rice

This meal won’t win the award for prettiest dinner, however it truly tastes fairly good and it’s serving to me with my omega-3 targets. I sautéed mackerel with onions, tomatoes, and loads of garlic, then spooned all the things over rice. I additionally like so as to add slightly pepper vinegar sauce. It got here collectively shortly and was a pleasant change from our ordinary rooster and floor beef rotation.

Why we beloved it: Nutrient-dense, flavorful, and fast to make.
Make it simpler: Use canned mackerel and leftover rice.

Lemon Orzo Skillet Hen with Backyard Tomatoes

My lemon orzo skillet rooster has been a repeat favourite for good motive. It’s creamy, vivid, and comes collectively in a single pan, which is at all times appreciated. I served it with sliced Cherokee Purple tomatoes on the facet as a result of when tomatoes are this good, they don’t want rather more than slightly salt. However the ladies nonetheless like after I add slightly drizzle of balsamic.

Why we beloved it: Cozy however nonetheless contemporary sufficient for summer season.
Make it simpler: Slice the tomatoes whereas the rooster and orzo cook dinner.

Floor Beef Burritos

Floor beef burritos aren’t revolutionary, however they’re reliable—and generally that’s precisely what dinner must be. I seasoned the meat, set out the tortillas and toppings (refreid black beans, guac, salsa, pico, bitter cream, rice), and let everybody construct their very own. It was a straightforward meal that happy everybody with out requiring a lot thought or cleanup. Hero model now has tortillas measurement!

Why we beloved it: Acquainted, satisfying, and family-friendly.
Make it simpler: Prepare dinner a double batch of floor beef and freeze half.

Smoked Pork with Selfmade Pickles and Caprese Salad

David smoked the pork for this dinner, and I dealt with the sides: selfmade pickles and a caprese salad. The wealthy, smoky pork paired so effectively with the acidity of the pickles and the juicy tomatoes and mozzarella. It felt like a really summer-on-a-plate form of meal, particularly with the facet of watermelon!

Why we beloved it: Smoky, contemporary, and filled with summer season flavors.
Make it simpler: Smoke further pork and use the leftovers for sandwiches, tacos, or bowls.

Potato, Zucchini, and Onion Sauté with Fried Eggs

This was a garden-inspired meal made with sautéed potatoes, zucchini, and onions topped with fried eggs. The runny yolks created their very own sauce, and the potatoes made it filling sufficient to depend as dinner. It was cheap, comforting, and an effective way to make use of produce we already had.

Why we beloved it: Easy, budget-friendly, and surprisingly satisfying.
Make it simpler: Cube the potatoes small so that they cook dinner extra shortly.

Lemon Dill Salmon with Rice and Cucumber Salad

This was such a contemporary summer season dinner: lemon dill salmon served with rice and a cool cucumber salad on the facet. The intense lemon and herbs labored so effectively with the salmon, whereas the cucumber salad saved the entire meal feeling mild and refreshing. It was straightforward sufficient for a weeknight however nonetheless felt slightly particular.

Why we beloved it: Contemporary, balanced, and filled with vivid summer season taste.
Make it simpler: Combine the cucumber salad forward of time and use microwave rice.

Bean, Rice, and Veggie Floor Beef Taco Bowls

These taco bowls included rice, beans, and floor beef cooked with loads of greens. They have been hearty, colourful, and one more straightforward technique to provide everybody some selection at dinner. I particularly like meals like this as a result of the leftovers can change into lunch bowls, quesadillas, or burritos the following day.

Why we beloved it: Filling, versatile, and full of greens.
Make it simpler: Use microwave rice and canned beans.

BLTs with Avocado on Selfmade Sourdough

Few meals style extra like summer season than a BLT made with a extremely good tomato. We added avocado and piled all the things onto slices of selfmade sourdough, slathered in mayo, which made a easy sandwich really feel further particular. That is the form of dinner I stay up for all yr.

Why we beloved it: Contemporary, nostalgic, and all in regards to the tomatoes.
Make it simpler: Prepare dinner the bacon earlier within the day and reheat it briefly earlier than serving.

Grilled Hen with Blistered Shishito Peppers, Tomatoes, and Selfmade Onion Rings

This dinner was a mixture of contemporary and indulgent in the very best approach. We served grilled rooster with blistered shishito peppers, ripe tomatoes, and selfmade onion rings. The rooster saved it easy, the greens introduced the summer season taste, and the crispy onion rings made the entire meal really feel enjoyable.

Why we beloved it: Slightly contemporary, slightly indulgent, and filled with taste.
Make it simpler: Prep the onion rings earlier than beginning the grill.

I do know our meals will begin wanting loads completely different as soon as fall arrives and the calendar fills up, however I’m actually having fun with this season of slower evenings, contemporary produce, and dinners that don’t should be rushed. These meals weren’t fancy, however they have been scrumptious, sensible, and precisely proper for this time of yr. I’d like to know what has been on repeat in your kitchen this summer season—particularly if it includes a extremely good tomato!