15 Lazy Summer Meals for Easy Dining
The warm and sunny summer days are winding down again. Instead of cooking in scorching heat, I would prefer gardening, walking with my family, or just sitting in the lounge doing nothing.
Everyone wants easy, healthy, and lazy summer meal options when it’s too hot to cook! And yes, that’s delicious too.
Want the best and subs for a crowd? You’re at the right place.
This is the list of Lazy Summer Meals, including meatballs, kabobs, and kinds of seafood infusing traditional regional Turkish, Indian, Pakistani, and Italian spices—all the best I’ve ever had, perfect for summertime.
Once you try these, you will add these quick and simple lazy summer dinner ideas to your meal plan and never miss a single one.
1- Meatballs without Breadcrumbs
Use this easy recipe to make the most delicious homemade gluten-free turkey meatball you’ve ever had!
How do you serve them? These meatballs are great as an appetizer, with jarred or homemade marinara, over vegetable noodles/cauliflower rice, on top of spaghetti squash, etc.
Do you want a substitution? Omit the turkey or sausage with ground beef, or use all Italian sausages instead.
Per Serving
- Calories: 378kcal
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Protein: 27g
- Fat: 27g
2- Greek Chicken Kabobs
Marinated in a light and lemony souvlaki-inspired marinade- these chicken kabob skewers make an excellent easy meal prep or make-ahead for lazy summer days.
The versatility of colorful veggies gives it a vibrant rainbow hue.
Its various serving suggestions include covering it in pita bread, over a salad in a wrap, or sliced tomatoes, making it the perfect feel-good meal even picky eaters will love.
Per Serving
- Calories: 286
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Protein: 38g
- Fat: 12g
3- Goala Kababs
Each bite of these delicious gola kebabs introduces your palate to a perfectly tender, juicy, and smoky-flavored satisfying dish.
The family and kids would ask you to prepare these cylindrical beef Gola kebabs with balanced spices, delivering a subtle and savory taste.
Are you worried about large servings? Gola kebabs easily come out in large batches, letting you feed large crowds and serve at parties with these perfect goodies.
4- Shrimp Kabobs
Once you try these Shrimp skewers with juicy pineapple and green onion, brushed with a sweet and spicy glaze, they will be an all-time family and kids’ favorite.
You’ll need shrimp and pineapple with garlic, barbecue sauce, and a bit of chili paste to make the glaze.
Add one tablespoon of honey to enhance the natural sweetness. Thinly cut extra vegetables, like zucchini, asparagus, or bell peppers, are great additions, making it perfect for weeknight meals or gatherings.
Per Serving
- Calories: 204
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Protein: 24g
- Fat: 1g
5- Baked Salmon
Nothing can be more colorful and flavorful than these poke rice bowls, packing lots of crunchy veggies loaded with honey miso baked salmon and a zingy sweet-sour dressing.
I prefer using this baked salmon version on busy weeknights because every element stays at least four days in the fridge.
These are a brilliant one to prep ahead of time, perfect for family and friend takeaway ideas for busy weeknights.
Per Serving
- Calories: 599
- Sugar: 24.7g
- Sodium: 476.6mg
- Fat: 21.5g
6- Smash Prawn
This recipe is fun and simple, like blitzing your prawns with lovely aromatics, then spreading them onto mini tortillas and pan-frying until golden.
They’re super quick to cook since it takes less than five minutes, and you can prepare the topping in advance to save time.
Want some summer entertainment? Why don’t you cook them on an outdoor grill? That’s EVEN faster.
Per Serving
- Calories: 458
- Sugar: 3.6g
- Sodium: 1708.3mg
- Fat: 22.4g
7- Lemon Pepper Chicken
This easy, quick, and delicious recipe with minimal ingredients will impress your guests at family gatherings.
Zesty, tangy, and refreshing- chicken gravy marinated with lemon juice, yogurt, and black pepper boasts the most refreshing flavor.
Fancy for more flavorful and savory chicken? Make deep cuts to infuse flavor throughout the chicken pieces. Green chilies and ginger slices garnishes make it more appealing.
8- Aloo Gobi Matar Recipe
Are you looking for a classic Indian and Pakistani vegan recipe infusing traditional Indian spices? This is the go-to recipe for spicy lovers.
Bursting with flavors and tangy taste, making it the best for Lazy Summer Meals.
Want variety? This recipe lets you make more alterations by adding pickles or vinegar for a citrus flavor or chilies and soy sauce for an extra savory taste.
9- Lemon Pepper Pasta
When it comes to lazy summer meal ideas, our zesty lemon pepper pasta is unbeatable. With its light, refreshing, and tangy lemon juice-based sauce, this pasta is perfect for quick cooking and is best eaten on hot summer days.
Asparagus or spinach makes a perfect filling meal.
Do you want something more? Add nutritional yeast and vegan parmesan to bring a subtle, cheesy flavor that perfectly complements the tanginess of the lemon juice.
Per Serving
- Calories 168
- Carbohydrates 13g
- Protein 7g
- Fat 12g
10- Chicken Enchiladas Recipe
I tried this Mexican Chicken Enchiladas recipe, which uses juicy shredded chicken wrapped in corn tortillas and cheese and smothered in homemade red enchilada sauce.
Since then, my kids have always requested that I prepare these goodies on weekends.
Top it all with crumbly white cheese, and you are done with this flavorful dish everyone is going to love.
11- Three Bean Chili Recipe
Who else gets excited after getting three-bean chili loaded with layers of flavors? Ready for a delicious bowl of 3 Bean Chili? There you go.
With this recipe, the combination of chili powder, jalapeno peppers, Mexican chorizo, and hot sauce gets you some good spicy heat.
Swap green bell peppers instead of jalapenos or milder chorizo brand with the hot sauce for milder spices.
Per Serving
- Calories: 460kcal
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 34g
- Fat: 19g
12- Air fryer shredded chicken
Air fryer shredded chicken is a quick, convenient, and delicious meal, perfect for a lazy summer when you don’t want to cook anything.
Do you worry about serving it? Shredded cooked chicken is a wholesome, versatile kitchen staple with hearty protein.
It’s perfect to cover in gravies and sauces, add to salads, and load onto buns, wraps, and tacos.
Per Serving
- Calories: 327kcal
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Protein: 48g
- Fat: 13g
13- Garlic Parmesan chicken thighs
Do you want something delicious and easy to be a regular on your weekly meal plan?
Follow this recipe for making fabulous garlic Parmesan chicken thighs in the air fryer, which is elegant and economical in under 30 minutes.
Parmesan cheese perfectly pairs with earthy garlic, offering a salty and nutty taste. The juicy, flavorful chicken with crispy skin- you can’t say no to this rustic comfort food meal.
Per Serving
- Calories: 408kcal
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Fat: 33g
14- Italian Sliders
Italian Sliders are mini hot Italian-style sandwiches that are just as cute as they are delicious. These appealing side dishes are easy to prepare and will make perfect crowd pleasers.
Pile these slider buns with various deli meats, including ham, turkey, chicken, salami, and pepperoni. Provolone cheese is the best for perfect ooey-gooey cheese for these sliders.
Per Serving
- Calories: 290kcal
- Carbohydrates: 19g
- Protein: 15g
- Fat: 17g
15- Instant Pot Kısır
Kısır is a Turkish appetizer or salad leaning towards the variety of a bit spicier, featuring southern standbys like cumin.
Cooking it in the Instant Pot yields a consistently awesome result without worrying about its burning or sogginess or to keep watching it over the stove.
Cracked wheat has the perfect amount of chewiness and adds texture to each bite after being properly cooked, making it appealing. Pomegranate molasses adds a bit of sweetness.
Per Serving
- Calories: 413kcal
- Carbohydrates: 76g
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 11g
