Summer Family Meals That Keep It Easy, Fresh, and Off the Stove

Summer cooking hits different — mostly because I’m trying not to melt. The oven? Basically retired. My energy? Limited. The goal? Feed the family with good food without spending hours in the kitchen or a fortune at the store.

Here’s how we’re eating these days: fresh, fast, and actually fun (especially when someone else is in charge of the grill 😏).

We lean all the way into summer produce. Everything’s fresher, cheaper, and way easier to prep when you’re not roasting or sautéing. My daughter and I love Googling salad recipes together — we try new combos, adjust them to what we have, and sometimes invent our own.

One of our all-time favorites? Salad greens, apples, dried cranberries, chopped nuts, topped with a creamy strawberry dressing (trust me, it’s a game-changer). The crunch? Unreal. The flavor? Sweet, fresh, and satisfying. No one complains. No one is hungry 15 minutes later. Summer win.

Grill nights are a staple in our house. The grocery stores make it easy — they’ve got brochettes, chicken skewers, sausages, and ready-to-go marinades that take zero thought on my end. The system: my husband mans the grill like a champ, and my daughter and I handle the sides — a fresh salad and a simple carb like rice, potatoes, couscous, or pasta salad.

It’s quick, collaborative, and we actually get to eat outside some nights. No fighting over dishes. No one’s stuck in a hot kitchen. Just easy food and fresh air.

This time of year, meals don’t have to be perfect. They just have to happen — with a little joy and a lot less pressure. What I love most is that we cook as a team, and that changes everything.

My daughter gets creative. My husband gets fire and tools. I get less stress. And somehow, that salad and skewer combo feels like a little summer magic. Simple, but not boring. Easy, but still ours.

Whether you’re team BBQ, team salad, or team “cereal again, sorry not sorry,” you’re not alone. Feeding people is hard. Feeding yourself? Even harder. But right now? This rhythm works — and I’ll take it.

-Fabi