With summer on the horizon, you’ll need to start planning how you’ll spend those longer, warmer evenings with family and friends. Summer living should be worry-free, and so should your summer menu. Here at Oola, we’ve got you covered with 15 simple, refreshing recipes that will help you relax and enjoy the taste of summer.
1. Grilled Chili Lime Chicken Fajita Salad
This incredibly flavorful summer salad features a chili lime marinade that doubles as a delicious dressing for a combination of avocados, peppers, and chicken. Serve this grilled chili lime chicken fajita salad with a dollop of sour cream and cilantro and your favorite wine.
2. Simple Vegan Potato Salad
Move over, mayo! This delicious minimalist salad is tossed in a creamy garlic and herb cashew sauce instead of a traditional mayonnaise dressing. This unique twist not only gives this hearty salad some zesty flavor, but it also keeps it light and healthy. Vegans and non-vegans alike will be begging you for this fantastic vegan potato salad recipe!
3. Watermelon Feta Salad With Balsamic Reduction
Watermelons abound during the summer months! Why not incorporate this juicy summer treat into a delightful meal? Watermelon feta salad is both sweet and tangy. Pieces of watermelon are drizzled with balsamic reduction and sprinkled with salty feta. The salad has bright and refreshing notes from fresh basil and a squeeze of sliced lime. You can prepare this salad in a few minutes and enjoy it as a side or as a light meal.
4. Garlic Butter Salmon In Foil
Salmon is an excellent, healthy alternative to other proteins — it’s considered a superfood! It has a bold, rich flavor with a buttery texture. Adding a savory garlic butter sauce will kick your salmon up a notch, intensifying the taste and vibrancy. Delicious garlic butter salmon in foil is a no-hassle recipe that will soon become your summertime favorite.
5. Instant Pot Pork Ribs
Too busy to fire up that grill? Don’t fret! You can prepare some incredibly tender, fall-off-the-bone pork ribs in your instant pot. Forget fussing with the grill or spending hours tending to your smoker, and make this classic summer dish in under an hour. Instant pot pork ribs are the best way to enjoy ribs on a hectic weeknight.
6. 3-Ingredient Chicken Tacos
Three ingredients and a slow cooker are the only things you’ll need to prepare this incredibly simple meal. Simply place a few chicken breasts in your slow cooker, along with a packet of taco seasoning and some salsa. Set it and forget it! Return home, and you’ll have the beginnings of some top-notch tacos. Live life to your tastes by customizing these quick and easy three-ingredient chicken tacos with your favorite toppings.
7. Summer Squash French Bread Pizza
This summer squash French bread pizza will please even the pickiest eaters. Zucchini and yellow squash adorn oven-toasted French bread. The crusted bread is then sprinkled with a generous layer of fresh mozzarella cheese — and some Parmesan and garlic for extra zing!
8. Moo Shu Pork (Or Chicken)
Moo shu pork is an Asian-inspired dish with bright, refreshing flavors. Tender strips of boneless pork are seasoned with an array of oils along with hoisin, oyster, and soy sauce. The pork is mixed with crisp vegetables and then served on a flour tortilla or lettuce cup.
9. Honey Barbecue Chicken Wings
As the temperatures increase, thoughts of barbecue do, too! These delicious and tangy honey barbecue wings are coated in a tasty spice rub and tossed in barbecue sauce. You can prepare these sticky, sweet wings in under an hour, and they will delight any hungry crowd.
10. Veggie Burgers
For a flavorful, healthy spin on the traditional hamburger, try experimenting with homemade veggie burgers. Choose from several delicious patty options, including black bean patties, sunflower patties, sweet potato patties, and tofu patties. No matter what kind you prefer, you can achieve unique flavor and texture by incorporating different seasonings and ingredients.
11. Perfectly Seasoned Grilled Steak
With summer around the corner, it’s time to dust off that grill! What’s better than a juicy steak on the grill on a Saturday night? A perfectly seasoned grilled steak with some good old-fashioned sides. Learn how to season your steak to perfection with this handy guide.
12. Jerk Chicken With Pineapple Black Bean Salsa
This simple and summery recipe is sizzling with Jamaican-inspired flavors. The chicken is coated in a jerk spice and topped with sweet pineapple salsa, and black beans add flavor and heartiness. This quick and savory meal will be a hit at your next backyard get-together.
13. Taco Pizza
Taco pizza is an uncomplicated, tasty weeknight meal that even the pickiest eaters won’t be able to resist. This fun dinner consists of a few simple ingredients, including crescent rolls that serve as the pizza crust. The crust is coated with a blend of rich cream cheese and sour cream. Spicy taco beef and vegetable toppings complete this delicious summer meal.
14. Sheet Pan Garlic Butter Shrimp
Are you dreading cooking a meal for a large group? Look no further than this simple five-ingredient sheet pan garlic butter shrimp! Prepare tasty oven-baked shrimp on a single sheet pan and have it ready in mere minutes. Pair it with a healthy vegetarian side, and you’ll have yourself a lovely summer dinner. This dish will be a hit with the seafood lovers in your family.
15. Grilled Eggplant And Pesto Sandwiches
If you haven’t had an eggplant sandwich before, now is the time! The eggplant is a tender, juicy, hearty vegetable that makes fantastic sandwich layers. These grilled eggplant and pesto sandwiches on lightly toasted ciabatta buns are brushed with olive oil, topped with fresh mozzarella cheese, and slathered with homemade pesto sauce.
Don’t hit the drive-thru after an action-packed summer day. These recipes are a great way to kick off a busy summer. Each recipe on this list is simple to prepare, delicious, and the perfect way to end a long day of activities. You can serve these dishes with your favorite beer brands or pair them with jello shots or mixed drinks for a summer bash to remember.
