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Summer Dinner Ideas
Summer is the easiest season to cook in and the hardest one to plan. The produce does most of the work, but the nights are long, everyone is out of routine, and 5:30 still arrives.
What follows is how I actually cook through it: a lot of grill, a lot of raw, one pan wherever possible.
Dinners worth cooking right now
Steak au Poivre
Peppercorn Pan Sauce · Crispy Frites
Classic · Sear, 35 Minutes
Shrimp Tacos
Pico de Gallo · Crisp Cabbage · Chipotle Crema
Classic · Skillet, 25 Minutes
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio
Broccolini · Blistered Sungold · Toasted Breadcrumbs
Plant-Based · Skillet, 25 Minutes
Za'atar Cauliflower
Za'atar · Tahini · Pomegranate
Plant-Based · Roast, 35 Minutes
Chickpea Coconut Curry
Sweet Potato · Spinach · Coconut
Plant-Based · One-Pot, 35 Minutes
Heirloom Tomato Pizza
Vegan Mozzarella · Basil · Olive Oil
Plant-Based · Bake, 30 Minutes
Heirloom BLT & Gazpacho
Heirloom Tomato · Herb Aioli · Gazpacho
Classic · Assemble, 25 Minutes
Chicken Gyro Bowl
Tomato · Feta · Red Onion · Tzatziki
Classic · Skillet, 30 Minutes
Sweet Corn Enchiladas
Roasted Poblano · Salsa Verde · Lime Crema
Plant-Based · Bake, 45 Minutes
Smash Burgers
Special Sauce · American Cheese · Griddled Onion
Classic · Griddle, 25 Minutes
Watermelon Salad
Cucumber · Mint · Pistachio · Chili-Lime
Plant-Based · No-Cook, 15 Minutes
Baja Shrimp Skillet
Sweet Corn · Poblano · Avocado · Lime Crema
Classic · Skillet, 20 Minutes
Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta
Bell Pepper · Sweet Corn · Creole Cream
Classic · Skillet, 30 Minutes
Carnitas Sopes
Refried Beans · Avocado Salsa Molcajete · Cotija
Classic · Instant Pot, 45 Minutes
Corn & Tomato Farroto
Sweet Corn · Sun Gold Tomato · Baby Spinach
Plant-Based · Stovetop, 40 Minutes
Cherry Tomato Pasta
Burst Cherry Tomatoes · Basil · Chili · Torn Burrata
Classic · Stovetop, 35 Minutes
Baja Fish Tacos
Grilled Cod · Cabbage Slaw · Peach Salsa · Fire-Roasted Poblano Crema
Classic · Grill, 30 Minutes
California Esquites Bowl
Sweet Corn · Black Beans · Avocado · Pickled Onion · Smoky Pepita Crema
Plant-Based · Grill, 30 Minutes
Stone Fruit Panzanella
Heirloom Tomatoes · Stone Fruit · White Beans · Torn Sourdough · Basil
Plant-Based · No-Cook, 20 Minutes
Whole weeks from this stretch of the year
August 10 - 16, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
August 3 - 9, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
July 27 - August 2, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
July 20 - 26, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
July 13 - 19, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
July 6 - 12, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
June 29 - July 5, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
June 22 - 28, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
June 15 - 21, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
June 8 - 14, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
June 1 - 7, 2026
Ten dinners, one shopping list
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