8 Easy Dinners for Hot Summer Nights
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Summers are a blessing, but there are some days that are just too hot to handle. The last thing I want to do on such days is sweat myself crazy in front of the stove or the oven for hours on end. It seems like an impossible task, especially during dinner when everyone is home and hungry. But as soon as the hot summer days become more and more frequent, my lazy, creative self awakens and puts together a list of recipes that are ready easily and require minimal prep time. These 8 recipes turn out to be a whole bunch of lifesavers during hot summer days.
Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Balsamic vinegar is my absolute favorite marinade of this season. Just 30 minutes with chicken breast pieces, and it gives such a rich, tangy flavor to the chicken that we just can’t get enough of it. Most of the time required for this is spent on marination, but if you do that one day ahead, this dinner takes only 10 minutes of cook time on a grill or a grill pan. Full Recipe: Balsamic Grilled Chicken
Vegetable Fritters
The easiest way to make a quick dinner is to mix up whatever vegetables you have – tomatoes, zucchini, peppers – add some flour and seasonings, and fry them in small batches. There! A healthy dinner is ready in just about 25 minutes. Full Recipe: Vegetable Fritters
Cherry Tomato Pasta
The main ingredients are in the name – cherry tomatoes and pasta. A quick saute of cherry tomatoes in onion and garlic brings out the rich, sweet flavor and juicy texture of cherry tomatoes. Toss cooked pasta into it for a complete dinner. The best part? It comes together in just 15 minutes. Full Recipe: Cherry Tomato Pasta
Roasted Tomato Pasta
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If you haven’t yet tried roasting tomatoes, this is your sign to do so. Roasted tomatoes give a distinct rustic vibe when they become extra juicy and tender. Once the tomatoes are roasted, combine them with cooked pasta and top with your favorite herbs for an ultimate summer pasta dinner. Full Recipe: Roasted Tomato Pasta
Sun Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Pasta
A condiment that is always in my pantry is sun-dried tomato pesto. On days when it’s too hot to stay in the kitchen for long, I toss some sun-dried tomato pesto into cooked chicken as pasta, and top it up with some basil and cheese. In just 20 minutes, you can put together a meal that looks like it took hours to make. Full Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Pesto Chicken Pasta
Greek Spaghetti
Experience the rich Mediterranean flavors with just a 15-minute labor. This Greek spaghetti dish used fresh tomatoes, olives, onions, and garlic, all sauteed and tossed together with cooked pasta. To add a little something extra, I sprinkle some basil and feta cheese on top for added flavor and texture. Full Recipe: Greek Spaghetti
Udon Stir Fry
In a mood for some takeout-level stir-fry but don’t have the energy to put in the work? Well, good news! You don’t have to put in any extra work. With just a few minutes for chopping veggies and about 10 minutes of cooking time, you can put together Udon stir fry dish that would make you forget that takeout even exists. Full Recipe: Udon Stir Fry
Santa Fe Salad
Do you wish for a dinner that is healthy, flavorful, and requires zero cooking time? Well, bring out your magic lamp because your wish is about to be granted. This Santa Fe salad checks all the boxes of a perfect veggie salad – crunchy, healthy, balanced, flavorful – and all you need is to collect the ingredients and mix them in a bowl. No stove, no hassle! Full Recipe: Santa Fe Salad
