Cheap summer meals for dinner become almost necessary once the weather starts getting hotter. The last thing I ever want during summer is to stand over the stove for an hour while the kitchen feels hotter than outside. I also don’t want to spend a fortune on groceries for meals that disappear in five minutes and still leave everyone asking what else there is to eat after dinner.
Summer meals just hit differently when they’re simple and low effort but fresh and tasty. A lot of the time I end up wanting meals that are easy to throw together, don’t use a million ingredients, and still taste good enough that nobody complains. Bonus points if the kids actually eat it without acting personally offended by vegetables.
The nice thing about summer cooking is that you can make really good dinners without spending much money at all. Fresh produce is usually cheaper this time of year, simple meals somehow taste better when it’s hot outside, and you can get away with lighter dinners that still feel filling. Things like pasta salads, sheet pan meals, tacos, rice bowls, sandwiches, grilled chicken, and easy skillet dinners end up on repeat around here once summer starts. Also check out 15 lazy summer dinner recipe ideas for those days when you really don’t feel like cooking.
I also feel like summer is the season where nobody wants complicated recipes. You want meals that are quick, affordable, and don’t leave you with a sink full of dishes afterward. Some nights you barely want to cook at all, which is exactly why easy summer dinners become lifesavers during busy weeks.
In this list, you’ll find 21 cheap summer meals for dinner that are easy, budget friendly, and actually practical for hot evenings. These meals are perfect for busy nights, lazy weekends, picky eaters, or honestly just those evenings when you cannot deal with another expensive takeout order.
Make sure to try all of these recipes this summer!
21 Cheap Summer Meals for Dinner
Baked ZITI – Balanced Healthy Meals
Baked ZITI is an Italian pasta casserole that is made with pasta, meat sauce, cheese and marinara sauce. This is a favorable quick meal idea as it is easy and very fast to prepare with easy to get ingredients. It is made with pre-prepared marinara sauce which is a combination […]
Check out this recipe
Sausage And Potato Skillet – Balanced Healthy Meals
Sausage And Potato Skillet is a hearty meal that originated in Europe and America. It is a one-pot meal the is rustic and uses very affordable ingredients that are easily found in the stores. You can use any kind of sausage depending on your taste preference. This meal is suitable […]
Check out this recipe
Creamy Egg Cashew Curry – Balanced Healthy Meals
This amazing Creamy Egg Cashew Curry is a rich mild spicy meal that is made with boiled eggs. It has a smooth cashew nut gravy that is sweet and creamy. This is a meal that is family dinner friendly as it simple and quick to prepare. You can substitute the […]
Check out this recipe
Shepherd’s Pie Recipe – Balanced Healthy Meals
Shepherd’s Pie is a meal made with minced lamb or beef and topped with a layer of creamy mashed potatoes. I have made this with minced beef. Shepherd’s Pie is a traditional British and Ireland dish, that was developed as a fugal dish that would use the left over roast […]
Check out this recipe
Grilled Summer Vegetable Tacos – Making Thyme for Health
Grilled Summer Vegetable Tacos- summer’s best veggies grilled and served with seasons black beans. Topped with a creamy cilantro sauce and just 30 minutes to make! (vegan + GF option) I feel like tacos are one of the easiest foods to make plant-based yet there are still so many restaurants that seem to struggle with it. […]
Check out this recipe
Egg Chow Mein – Balanced Healthy Meals
Quick and easy Egg Chow Mein made with simple ingredients, tossed in a savory sauce for a flavorful, takeout-style meal ready in no time
Check out this recipe
Baked Macaroni with Minced Beef & Creamy Sauce – Balanced Healthy Meals
If you’re in the mood for something cozy, filling, and full of flavor, this baked macaroni is just what you need. Made with seasoned minced beef, chicken sausage, and a creamy homemade sauce, it’s the kind of dish that brings everyone to the table. The melted mozzarella on top adds […]
Check out this recipe
Chinese Fried Rice – Balanced Healthy Meals
Chinese Fried Rice is one of the most popular and versatile dish which is enjoyed all over the world as a side dish or even as a main course. It is good to remember that the main ingredient, rice should be one day old, or when cooked on the same […]
Check out this recipe
Delicious Pizza Pasta Bake – Balanced Healthy Meals
If you’re looking for a dish that combines the comforting flavors of pizza with satisfaction of pasta, try this Delicious Pizza Pasta Bake.
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Crunchy Slaw – foodiecrush
These pulled pork sandwiches topped with coleslaw feed a crowd. The pork tastes better the next day, so it’s make-ahead friendly!
Check out this recipe
Upgrade Plain Old Hot Dogs By Baking Them and Topping Them With Cheese
Cheesy Baked Hot Dogs! Take a perennial kid favorite—hot dogs—to the next level by adding cheese and baking them in the oven to crispy, gooey perfection. Some onions and relish help, too.
Check out this recipe
Feta With Chorizo Quesadillas – Balanced Healthy Meals
Feta With Chorizo Quesadillas made with smoky chorizo, salty feta, and melty cheese in a golden tortilla, an easy, flavor packed meal
Check out this recipe
Red Chicken Curry – Balanced Healthy Meals
Easy red chicken curry made with coconut milk and red curry paste is a cozy, flavorful curry that comes together quickly and is perfect.
Check out this recipe
Pasta Primavera
This restaurant-quality pasta primavera has a delicious herb cream sauce with penne pasta and a ton of fresh vegetables. This is the best way to get your family to eat their veggies! Be sure to try my Tomato
Check out this recipe
Osso Buco – Balanced Healthy Meals
Osso Buco is a dish made using shank from the hind leg of a cow. Osso Buco, is packed with celery, carrots, tomatoes, garlic and ginger
Check out this recipe
