5 Quick Meals for Busy Summer Nights

Perfect for eating outside.

By
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva
Micah Siva, RD
Micah Siva is a trained chef, registered dietitian, recipe writer, and food photographer, specializing in modern Jewish cuisine. She runs Nosh with Micah, her personal blog.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published July 28, 2025
Micah Siva
Grilled steak slices topped with avocado chimichurri and garnished with herbs

Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

I blinked and it's nearly August?! I’m not quite ready for the end of summer!

We have a rotating door of friends and family visiting us over the next week, so I’m making dinners that are easy to prepare for a crowd, family-friendly, and summer-worthy. Garlic knot salmon cooks up quick but feels fancy enough for company, white bean salad and pasta salad are ideal for packing up and enjoying outside, and veggie tacos are crowd-pleasing and summery. And my dad simply wouldn't stand for a meal without meat, so steak it is!

  • Garlic Knot Salmon

    Overhead view of a blue plate of three salmon fillets topped with garlic butter, panko, and parmesan mixture and sprinkled with parsley next to several lemon slices

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    Our friends are our first visitors, and they love salmon. I’m going to prepare this buttery, garlicky salmon and serve it with a garlicky rice pilaf and green salad. I love the breadcrumb topping, which makes this dish so special. It’s the perfect combination of flavors and textures.

  • Quick and Easy White Bean Salad

    A bowl of white bean salad with chopped onions and herbs

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    We’re taking a family day-trip to the beach, so I’ll be packing dinner to eat picnic-style by the water, including this simple, herby bean salad. I like to toss mine with spinach, which will wilt as the bean salad sits and the flavors meld together. For an added zing, I’ll add feta right before serving. It’s a simple but delicious meal on the go.

  • Grinder Pasta Salad

    ginder pasta salad in a bowl at a table setting with glasses of water, serving utensils on a table napkin, and a stack of plates

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    I have a confession. I actually don’t like sandwiches, so when I can get a sandwich flavor in a bowl form, I’m excited to dig in. My parents are visiting, and we’ll be eating outside every day, catering to different dietary preferences and needs. I’m going to make this pasta salad using vegetarian salami and bean-based pasta to satisfy meat and veggie lovers alike. In true form, I’ll toss it over arugula for more color.

  • Summer Veggie Tacos

    Overhead view of three vegan tacos with vegetables visible in the tacos.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Warm summer nights call for tacos! Instead of using vegetarian mock-meat, I’ll use local summer squash for a hearty but simple taco filling. I love to add a can of drained black beans to the mixture and top it with avocado slices. I’ll double this recipe and use the filling for a lunchtime salad topping the following day.

    Continue to 5 of 5 below

  • Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri

    Quick and Easy weeknight skirt steak sliced across the grain and covered with avocado chimichurri on a white plate

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

    When my dad visits, he wants beef, beef, and more beef. And as a good host (and daughter), I’m happy to take his request. But when there’s a big appetite in the house, I want something affordable, like a skirt steak, which cooks quickly and can soak up the flavors of whatever you marinate it with. I’ll top it with herby avocado chimichurri (which I’ll double and serve with grilled tofu as well), grilled asparagus, and baked potatoes.

Explore More: