Dinner

5 Weeknight Dinner Recipes for Summer

Summer days seem to come in two varieties. It just has this fantastic way of speeding everything up, up, up or slowing everything down, down, down. Which of these do you identify with more?

1. The Action-Packed Summer Day: You’ve been busy all day long running errands, staying occupied outdoors with hiking/sports/swimming/etc., or spending a long day at work and then commuting home in 90-degree weather. Maybe your kids are home, too. You’re hot and tired, and you don’t want to cook.

2. The Long, Lazy Summer Day: You’ve had a restful day at home spent reading, catching up on housework, watching Netflix, or napping. You’re hot and tired, and you don’t want to cook.

Okay, so either way maybe you’re not exactly looking forward to cooking dinner on a summer weeknight. Even I don’t enjoy putting dinner together in the summer as much as I do in cooler seasons, and that’s saying a lot because I’m often the person who will choose a recipe that takes a couple hours rather than a 20-minute meal. I just loooooove to be in the kitchen. But summer tends to change that.

5 Summer Weeknight Dinner Recipes {The Savvy Plate}

Regardless of the situation you’re in, here’s a list of five simple weeknight dinners for summer that are quick and easy to throw together!

Red Cabbage Stir Fry

This recipe will take about 30 minutes, maybe even less if you use the fabulous little shortcut I’ll describe to you! Hint: It has to do with grabbing a bag of Trader Joe’s Cruciferous Crunch. But don’t worry, I’ll give you some other simple options to substitute with if you don’t shop at TJ’s. When is stir fry ever a bad idea?

BBQ Fajita Nachos

Throw some pork in the slow cooker in the morning. Come home to the house smelling like barbecue. Preheat the oven. Chop up some toppings. Pop it all in the oven for five minutes. Easy as that. Plus who’s complaining about the words “barbecue” and “fajita” and “nachos” all being in one dinner?

Garlic & Herb Burgers

I don’t think I could put together a list of summer meals without including a burger recipe! You can mix up the burger ingredients in about five minutes, then pop the patties in the freezer for about ten minutes to hold their shape while you heat up the grill. We like to eat this with sautéed mushrooms and a fresh salad, but buns are great too!

Ratatouille & Polenta

This is a new recipe around here, but we think it’s just perfect for summer because that produce will be at its peak! Technically this one will take a little longer because you’ll bake it for about an hour, but prep time is a breeze!

Red Curry with Veggies

I’ll eat Thai curry any day of the year, but since it leans toward the soup-like side of things, that might not be your favorite idea. The solution? Save this one for a rainy summer day! Rainy days are a great time to enjoy cozy & comforting recipes, and this one comes together in about 30 minutes!

If you found some great ideas here, be sure to share it with your friends on PinterestFacebook, or Twitter!

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Savvy Meal Planning: A Space For Weekly Meal Planning Inspiration

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