31 Quick and Easy Dinner Ideas – The Chows Kitchen
/Welcome to the Chows Kitchen! Having a menu plan has been the biggest lifesaver for our family. Especially now that we are a family of 5. And as a person who would rather hold a paint brush than a ladle, I try to plan healthy(ish) and easy meals to get us through the week. Not only does having a menu plan make the cooking process less dreadful, but it saves us $$$ and keeps us eating healthier.
Most of these meals contain chicken, turkey or fish. I cannot eat red meat or pork, so we stick to those. And if any recipe calls for either of those, I substitute it. I also try and replace dairy items with non dairy items as much as possible. There is a really good non dairy heavy whip that I use all the time. I am not the biggest fan of vegan cheeses so when it comes to those, I try and substitute with parmesan or feta as much as possible. They aren't as harsh on my stomach. If I cannot substitute it, I either leave it out or just deal with the consequences ;)
And now for the meals; here is what we are having in July:
Popcorn Chicken Bacon Ranch Pasta Salad - If you make anything off this list, let it be this one. It is absolutely delicious and perfect for summer. It definitely needs a little crunch, so don't skimp on the bacon {we didn't have any turkey bacon last time so I left it out...it needs that little crunch}. I use less mayo than it calls for. And last things....avocado! Add some avo in there and it is perfection.
Skillet Ham & Rice - I like this one because the whole family enjoys this. It's easy and makes great leftovers.
BBQ Pineapple Chicken Kabobs - The perfect summer dish! My plan is to pair it with some baked beans and an easy side salad.
Bacon, Egg & Avocado Sandwiches - We have made these so many times…so easy and so good! Pork is something I cannot have so we substitute that with turkey bacon. It fills us up a la carte, but it would pair nicely with a salad.
Taco Salad - There are so many variations you can do with this and it is perfect for a family with a variety of types of eaters.
Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet - There is pasta in this dish so you literally do not need to make any sides to go with it. It doesn't get better than that.
Pizza, Wings & Caesar Salad - Sprouts has a perfect take & bake pizza, and it’s healthy because it’s from Sprouts, right? ;) We love these Foster Farms Wings because the buffalo sauce comes on the side! Costco is the best place to get them, but we’ve also seen them at target. Sprouts also has the best caesar salad kit…our girls love it!
Joanna Gaines’s Spring Vegetable Risotto - This is one of my favorite meals. Because this one takes a little time to make, I like to get a whole roasted chicken from the store to pair with it.
Spicy Buffalo Chicken Wraps - Perfect for a busy summer night and everyone can build their own to their liking.
Instant Pot Lemon Garlic Parmesan Shrimp Pasta - I am always down for anything in the instant pot. This is a go to when I don't know what to make.
Parmesan Spinach Mushroom Pasta Skillet - Full of so much flavor. I typically add either chicken sausages or chicken to give it some protein. And I always add more spinach than it calls for.
Green Enchilada Skillet Casserole - We love this one! It was this recipe that got us starting to make our own tortilla chips...so easy.
Orecchiette with Artichokes - This one is really good and full of flavor. I add some cut up chicken breasts.
Turkey Pad Thai - Trust me, it's good! And easy.
10 Minute Oven Baked Tostadas - Another meal that can be customized and perfect for a family with a variety of eaters.
Creamy Spinach Mushroom Tortellini with Caramelized Onions - I suggest caramelizing the onions ahead of time, it makes the dinner prep less chaotic. It's not terrible if you do them at the same time, but dinner time can get chaotic as is; I caramelize them earlier in the day during nap time. This meal also makes great leftovers.
Baked Brown Rice Risotto with Buttered Mushrooms - I was nervous about this one. But it was really good. It is a great spin off of risotto.
Cranberry Avocado Spinach Salad with Chicken and Orange Poppy Seed Dressing - The perfect meal for July!
Skillet Chicken Parmesan with Artichokes - I was impressed with this one the last time we had it...hence why it is added to the menu again ;)
Potsticker Noodle Bowls - Yum! I am excited to try this one this month
Pesto Pasta Salad - This is perfect for summer. To make it a full meal, I'd pair it with some BBQ chicken.
Creamy Tuscan Salmon - This is a favorite of ours. Our go to is to serve over bowtie pasta.
Summer Tortellini Salad - I haven't tried this one yet, but I am excited because it looks delicious.
Apple Gouda Stuffed Chicken Breasts With Roasted Sweet Potatoes - I made this years ago and it was good, but I didn't cook it correctly. I am excited to try this again.
Breakfast Crunchwrap - I love these types of meals...all in one!
Glow Bowls - Grilled Chicken and Quinoa Grain Bowls
Grilled Flatbread Pizza with Artichoke, Ricotta and Lemon - Perfect for a busy night!
Greek Lemon Chicken Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce - This one will take a little more time to make, but it looks too good not to try.
Chicken Nugget Dinner on a Stick - So easy that the kids can help make them...I'm here for it. Perfect for a Friday movie night
Easy, Cheesy BBQ Chicken Wraps - Easy peasy lemon squeezy
Summer Pesto Pasta Salad with Grilled Chicken & Veggie - This looks delicious and I cannot wait to try it.
A menu plan for the win! I hope this helps and makes meal planning a little more easy for you. If you try something, let me know and tell me which one is your favorite! In need of more menu plan ideas?? Click here!
Thank you for being here. Mean it! Have a delightful rest of your day.
