Is it just me, or are Summer days just longer when you’re a parent, tasked with entertaining, feeding, and, sometimes, simply tolerating children? The idea of cranking up the oven and creating a gourmet meal at the end of a day spent carpooling to camp, chasing toddlers around a pool, and slathering on sunscreen, is just plain overwhelming… and overwhelmingly hot. Instead, whip up one of the following 28 easy-to-make – and, in many cases, easy to clean up – meals that will please the whole family and help you keep your Summer sanity.
From foil-pack dinners that eliminate pots and pans to slow cooker wonders that mean dinner’s ready when you finally drag your kids away from the beach, these meals are Summer friendly and all busy mom approved.
Grilled Barbecue Chicken Bowls
These grilled barbecue chicken bowls are an easy meal to prep in advance and throw together at the last minute.
Grilled Caprese French Bread Pizza
Who would love grilled Caprese French bread pizza, topped with juicy grilled tomatoes, creamy mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil pesto? Everyone.
Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken
This juicy slow cooker barbecue chicken is as easy as it gets. Serve it with creamy coleslaw on soft buns for a sandwich the whole family will flip for.
Easy Italian Sausage Stuffed Peppers
These easy stuffed peppers are filled with a mixture of Italian sausage, tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and plenty of seasoning, then baked to perfection.
Simplest Zucchini Parmesan Pasta
The quick and easy recipe for the simplest zucchini Parmesan pasta uses zucchini and yellow Summer squash to create a buttery pasta sauce without using any cream. Delicious!
Grilled Avocado Balsamic Chicken
Grilled avocado balsamic chicken is the perfect Summer dinner, made with a sweet and tart balsamic vinegar marinade, melted mozzarella cheese, grilled chicken, creamy avocado, fresh basil, and a balsamic drizzle.
Perfect Tuna Salad
Sandwiches are a perfectly acceptable Summer meal, especially when they’re as good as those made with perfect tuna salad, loaded with crunchy extras like carrots, pickles, and nuts.
