A June Summer Menu Plan

To start, we’re sharing three main dishes with busy weeknights in mind—all of which come together in about 30 minutes. From there, we’ll highlight two flavorful side dishes, a berry-infused dessert, and of course, something fun to sip throughout the weekend. We know summer schedules can be hectic, but let’s take meal planning off your list.

summer menu plan

WEEKNIGHT MENU FAVORITES

recipe & photo via Half Baked Harvest

Rosemary Peach Chicken with a White Wine Pan Sauce

This recipe has become our standby for a reason. We’ve made it on countless occasions, but it’s always best in the height of peach season. Here’s the gist: seasoned chicken breasts, sliced peaches, torn mozzarella, fresh rosemary, and a splash of Sauvignon Blanc for good measure. It’s one of those main dishes that’s worthy of serving guests, but it’s just as easily whipped up for a casual family meal.  We like to pair it with grilled vegetables and brown rice, and lots of pan sauce drizzled on top.

recipe & photo via Love & Lemons

Coconut Rice Stuffed Peppers

It’s bell pepper season, and we’re more than ready to embrace it. But before we delve into this recipe, you should know these aren’t your granmther’s stuffed peppers. They’re bursting with flavor thanks to an aromatic filling of herbs, mango, sautéed veggies, and coconut rice. Love & Lemons has made this recipe vegetarian with the addition of tofu, but you can swap in another protein option if you so choose. Our biggest piece of advice is to grab herbs FRESH from the garden to let those flavors shine.

recipe & photo via Butter Be Ready

Caribbean Jerk Salmon Bowls

If you’re going to the effort of weeknight cooking, it’s always a major bonus to have some leftovers on hand. Enter: this jerk salmon bowl developed by Quin of Butter Be Ready. Each component of the bowl (salmon + rice + veggies and toppings) is prepped separately, so things won’t be a soggy mess if you save extras for lunch the next day. You can customize the toppings to your heart’s content, and don’t forget to marinate the salmon ahead of time for a serious flavor kick.

ON THE SIDE

recipe & photo via What’s Gaby Cooking

Charred Carrots with Herbs

Carrots are highly underrated, in our opinion. Sure, supermarket baby carrots are fine for snacking, but it’s rainbow carrots straight from the farmers market where the real magic lies. All it takes is a little time in a cast iron skillet or grill for their deep flavors to be released. From there, top them with high-quality olive oil, a pinch of sea salt, and this basil mint dressing for summertime perfection.

recipe & photo via The Modern Proper

White Bean Salad with Anchovy Vinaigrette

We’re constantly on the lookout for summer salads that don’t involve lettuce. Don’t get us wrong, leafy greens have their place, but let’s just say they’re not our absolute favorite. Luckily, food bloggers like The Modern Proper share our affinity for salad alternatives, just like this white bean Mediterranean side dish. The key here is to opt for canned Italian butter beans versus the navy or cannellini varieties. Or, take it one step further and freshly cook dried white beans after they’ve soaked overnight. 

SOMETHING SWEET

recipe & photo via Inspired With a Twist

Summer Berry Galette

If you’ve never made a galette before, this recipe is the best place to start. You’ll skip the complicated dough creation with a frozen puff pastry that tastes just as great. Once again, it’s all about the freshness of your berries, which will be sweetened up with a little honey and sugar. Once the galette is assembled, it’ll bake for about 25 minutes, and we recommend serving it straight out of the oven.

TO SIP

recipe & photo via Hello Glow

Peach Basil Kombucha Sangria

Hot summer nights and homemade sangria go hand-in-hand. But we like to keep things simple with recipes that are easy to whip up whenever friends or neighbors pop over on the fly. All you’ll need are: two peaches, a few sprigs of basil, chilled white wine, a drop of honey, and a bottle of kombucha. Mix everything together, gently smash the peaches, and serve.