Easy Summer Meals for a Busy Week

Each of the recipes in this weeks plan is perfect for a busy family. All the meals make great leftovers for lunches too. As the summer days stretch on, we like to spend less time in the kitchen and more time outside enjoying the beautiful weather. These recipes are easy to follow and take little time to prepare. That makes them perfect for a busy family enjoying the dog days of summer.

This is the perfect meal to ease you into the week. Everything gets put into a 9x13” baking dish and cooks all together at one time. Not only does it smell amazing in the kitchen, but tastes even better. Juicy chicken thighs cook up with Mediterranean favorites like olives, artichokes, tomatoes and feta cheese. Serve this with a simple side salad for a healthy and easy meal.

This salmon salad hits all the marks for summer. The salmon roasts quickly in the oven or air fryer. It gets tossed with crisp romaine lettuce and hearty roasted potatoes. Diced cucumbers give the salad a nice crisp bite. The main star, however, is the homemade dressing. Dill, mayo, and lemon juice combine to create a cool and refreshing dressing that compliments the salmon and potatoes. Everything can be roasted in the oven, or made in the air fryer for even faster cooking.

This recipe is amazing for summer because it allows you to enjoy Italian flavors without standing over a pot of boiling water. Everything gets tossed on a sheet pan and cooked all together in the oven. The tomatoes burst and create a wonderful sauce that thickens with the starchy gnocchi. Precooked Italian chicken sausage is the winner here. It cooks up quickly and is more healthy than traditional pork sausage.

Tender three cheese tortellini mixes with marinated grilled chicken, crispy lettuce, salty pine nuts, and creamy feta cheese. Everything gets drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Not only is it so satisfying, but it’s a stunning dinner salad that is filling and can impress dinner guests. The cold leftovers, if any remain, are wonderful for a lunch the next day.

These burgers are so juicy and flavorful you won’t miss the beef. They are cooked up like giant meatballs over the stovetop, no grill required. Top them with your favorite hamburger toppings or enjoy them over lettuce with a dollop of guacamole for a low carb option. Serve these with sweet potato fries.