Summer has a way of filling the calendar, too. Baseball games, county fairs, vacations, evenings outside, and gardens that suddenly need picking all compete with dinner. When the temperatures climb, the last thing most of us want to do is heat up the kitchen.
This week, instead of asking, "What's for dinner?" ask yourself:
"How can dinner help me beat the heat?"
These five dinners (plus one cool bonus) were chosen to help you keep the kitchen cooler while still putting a satisfying meal on the table.
Keep the House Cool
Pick this... if you'd rather cook outside than heat up the house.
Sometimes it's easier to cook outside for ten minutes than heat up the whole house. Grill extra while you're at it—leftovers make salads, wraps, and grain bowls easy later in the week.
✔ Why it works: Keeps the heat outside and gives you leftovers for later.
Let the Slow Cooker Do the Work
Pick this... if you want dinner waiting for you.
Summer has a way of sending everyone in a different direction. Start this one in the morning and let the slow cooker handle dinner while you're busy with the rest of the day. When everyone finally gets home—even if it's at different times—dinner is ready.
✔ Why it works: Dinner is ready when your family is.
🍽 Serve It With
- Sour Cream Potato Salad
- Fresh Cantaloupe
- Instant Pot Iced Tea or Sun Tea
💡 Shortcut: Buy the potato salad at the deli if you're short on time.
Make It Quick
Pick this... if you can handle ten minutes at the stove but don't want the oven on.
Stir fry cooks up quickly meaning less heat in the kitchen and less hands on time for you. Plus, this version uses frozen veggies meaning you get to hit the easy button!
✔ Why it works: Dinner is on the table in about 30 minutes.
🍽 Serve It With
- Fresh Peaches
- Steamed Rice or slow cooker rice
💡 Use microwave rice if you're short on time.
Feed Everyone on their Own Schedule
Pick this... if everyone won't be sitting down to eat at the same time.
Some summer evenings have people coming and going all night long. A hearty salad like this holds up well, so the first person can eat at 5:30 and the last person at 7:00 without anyone feeling like they're eating leftovers.
It's also one of my favorite ways to use all those summer vegetables while keeping the kitchen cool.
✔ Why it works: Easy to serve whenever people are ready to eat.
🍽 Serve It With
- Tortilla Chips
- Grilled Chicken
- Fresh watermelon
🌟 Bonus Idea - add some chicken that you already grilled!
One Pan, Done!
Pick this... if you need dinner without a sink full of dishes.
Confession: sometimes I choose dinner based on how many dishes it'll leave behind.
✔ Why it works: One pan means less cleanup.
🍽 Serve It With
- Crusty Bread
- Fresh Fruit
Cool Down with Dessert
Pick this for dessert if... you want cool, delicious & easy.
Because if we're trying not to heat up the kitchen, dessert shouldn't either! Use any kind of berries you have on hand. Make them ahead of time and let them chill.
Resist the urge to crawl in the fridge with them...you know you want to! 🤣
Seasonal Pick
Sweet corn is finally here. Grab extra ears this week.
Use them up alongside:
- Grilled Chicken
- Mexican Chopped Salad
- Pork Stir Fry
If you have more than you can eat, freeze some sweet corn for later. Future You will be thrilled in January.
Save This Recipe For Later
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later!
🛒 This Week's Shopping Guide
Want everything organized by department?
See this week's Shopping Guide.
Produce: Sweet corn, tomatoes, bell peppers, peaches, watermelon, lettuce, fresh herbs
Protein: Chicken, pork, Italian beef roast, kielbasa
Pantry: Rice, olive oil, tortilla chips, potatoes, bread
One Small Dinner Thought
Summer doesn't ask us to slow down. It just asks us to spend our time differently.
So if dinner can happen outside, let it.
If the slow cooker can do the work, let it.
If fresh sweet corn is all anyone really wants, serve it proudly and call it dinner.
Dinner doesn't have to impress anyone. It just has to fit the day.
Life changes. Dinner can too!
Made with love,
Deanne
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