🍽️ Easy and Cheap Summer Meals: 7 Delicious Recipes on a Budget

Summer is here — and while we love the sunshine, the relaxed schedules, and backyard fun, meal planning can start to feel like a hot mess (literally!). Whether you're trying to cut grocery costs, feed picky kids, or just keep your kitchen cool, this post is for you.

Here are 7 easy, budget-friendly summer meals that are light, tasty, and totally doable — even on a tight schedule or budget.

1. 🌮 No-Cook Taco Salad

Cost per serving: ~$1.75
Prep time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 bag chopped romaine or iceberg lettuce

• 1 can black beans (drained + rinsed)

• 1 cup corn (frozen or canned)

• Crushed tortilla chips

• Shredded cheese

• Salsa or ranch for dressing

Instructions:
Layer everything in a bowl. No stove required! Add avocado or shredded chicken if you have it on hand.

Upgrade: Add 5 minutes and you can cook hamburger or chicken (roughly $2/serving) in a skillet with salt and pepper or seasonings on hand that tickle your fancy. Add this protein to the jar for a heartier meal.

Tip: Serve in mason jars for make-ahead lunches.

2. 🍳 Egg and Veggie Skillet

Cost per serving: ~$1.25
Prep time: 15 mins

Ingredients:

• 4 eggs

• 1 zucchini (sliced)

• 1/2 onion

• 1 bell pepper

• Salt, pepper, olive oil

Instructions:
Sauté veggies in oil until soft. Crack in eggs and scramble together. Serve warm with toast or tortillas.

Bonus: Great way to use garden veggies to save even more per person!

3. 🥪 Cold Chicken Pasta Salad

Cost per serving: ~$2.00
Prep time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked pasta (any kind)

• 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken

• 1/2 cup chopped cucumbers or cherry tomatoes

• Ranch, Italian dressing, or Greek yogurt-based dressing

Instructions:
Toss everything together and chill for 1 hour. Great for meal prep or potlucks!

4. 🌭 Grilled Hot Dogs + Veggie Packets

Cost per serving: ~$1.75
Prep time: 5 mins, grill 10 mins

Ingredients:

• Hot dogs + buns

• 2 cups chopped summer squash, zucchini, or potatoes

• Olive oil + seasoning

Instructions:
Wrap veggies in foil with oil + seasonings. Grill with the hot dogs. No oven needed, and cleanup is a breeze!

5. 🧁 Breakfast-for-Dinner Smoothie Bowls

Cost per serving: ~$1.50
Prep time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 frozen banana

• 1/2 cup frozen berries

• 1/2 cup milk or Greek yogurt

• Toppings: granola, nuts, coconut flakes, chia seeds

Instructions:
Blend banana + berries + liquid until thick. Pour into bowls and top with your faves!

6. 🍕 Homemade Pita Pizzas

Cost per serving: ~$2.25
Prep time: 10 mins

Ingredients:

• Pita bread

• Jarred marinara or pesto

• Mozzarella cheese

• Veggies or pepperoni

Instructions:
Layer ingredients on each pita. Bake at 375°F for 8–10 minutes (or air fry!). Let the kids build their own.

7. 🥗 Savory Sesame Garlic Noodles (Nut-Free)

Cost per serving: ~$1.50
Prep time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

• 8 oz spaghetti or ramen noodles

• 2 tbsp low-sodium soy sauce

• 1 tbsp sesame oil (or olive oil)

• 1 tsp garlic (minced)

• 1 tsp rice vinegar or lemon juice

• 1 cup shredded carrots, cabbage, or cucumbers

• Optional: green onions, sesame seeds

Instructions:

1. Cook noodles and rinse under cold water.

2. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and vinegar.

3. Toss sauce with noodles and veggies.

4. Chill or serve immediately.

Tip: For extra protein, top with scrambled egg, rotisserie chicken, or tofu (if allergy-safe).

🧺 Final Tips for Summer Meal Planning

• Batch prep veggies ahead of time

• Stick to cold or stovetop recipes to avoid heating the kitchen

• Use pantry staples and what you already have

• Let kids help — summer is a great time to teach simple cooking

“She provides food for her family…” — Proverbs 31:15