This week’s menu plan features 48 seasonal summer recipes, from grilled favorites to berry cakes, perfect for easy weeknight dinners.
Summer is in full swing, and roadside stands throughout Lancaster County are overflowing with seasonal fruits and vegetables. I like to plan my shopping around what I’m making that day, planning to cook it the same morning so that each dish tastes its best.
My herb garden is lush and abundant this time of year, and I find myself bringing in a handful of whatever sounds good, even if a recipe doesn’t call for it. This week’s menu plan is full of bright, seasonal dishes that make the most of everything summer has to offer, so let’s get right to it.
Our DC kids and grandkids are here with us all week, and I love every minute of cooking for this crew. My daughter Jacqueline is a better cook than I am, so I’m excited to cook together.
Zucchini is growing like a weed in our area right now, and this Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Casserole is a cheesy, delicious way to put it to good use. For a little sweetness on the side we’re pairing it with Grilled Sweet Italian Sausage and Nuts About Berry Salad.
🌿 Tip Box: If your zucchini is on the large side, scoop out the center of the seed before cutting. It keeps the casserole from getting watery and keeps its shape beautifully.
Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Casserole
Grilled Sweet Italian Sausage
Nuts about berry salad
My gang loves chimichurri sauce, and I’ll let Grandboy pick fresh herbs from the garden for it this time. This grilled lemon chicken is bright and juicy right off the grill, and the homemade chimichurri adds depth of flavor and a hint of season. We’re preparing the meal with Nani’s fried rice and my favorite summer salad, panzanella salad, which never disappoints.
🌿 Tip Box: Let the chimichurri sit for at least ten minutes before serving. The flavors blend beautifully and taste even better after blending.
Grilled Lemon Chicken
Nani’s Fried Rice
Chimichurri sauce
Panzanella Salad (Tuscan Bread Salad)
With the family here for the week, grilling night is one of our favorite ways to gather everyone on the patio. We’re getting the first of the local corn now, and Mac’s Farm Market is close enough that I can pick it up the same day I plan to make it, so it’s really just picked. This honey glazed salmon is a wonderful main for the occasion, and we’re serving it with fresh garlic parmesan corn on the cob and a cucumber salad with fresh herbs to keep things light.
🌿 Tip Box: Corn is sweetest the day it is picked, so try to buy it the same day you plan to cook it. Soon after harvest, the sugar begins to convert to starch, softening the fresh, sweet taste.
Honey glazed salmon
Garlic Parmesan Corn on the cob
Cucumber salad with fresh herbs
What a fun way to serve dinner! This Caprese grilled chicken salad turns into a beautiful board for the night, and I plan to grill the chicken and flank steak, then add some extra veggies to round it all out. A side of grilled garlic bread is the perfect item to have on hand to scoop up every last bite.
🌿 Tip Box: Adjust the board before serving so the tomatoes and mozzarella stay fresh and the bread stays crispy. It also makes for a beautiful presentation that everyone can get into.
Caprese Grilled Chicken Salad
Grilled Garlic Bread
When we’re all together, pizza night here is standard Friday fare, and my son-in-law Jonathan is a fabulous pizza maker, so he happily takes over. He’s making this spicy Italian flatbread, and we’re rounding out the table with a Caesar salad with homemade dressing and wings from Costco, which are huge and delicious. We like to air fry them and keep them warm in the oven until ready to eat.
🌿 Tip Box: Keep the air-fried wings warm in a low oven around 200 degrees while you finish the rest of the dinner. They stay crisp instead of softening like in the microwave.
And of course, no-bake butterfinger pie awaits dessert
Spicy Italian Flatbread
Caesar salad with homemade dressing
Frozen wings from Costco
No-Bake Butterfinger Pie
Tonight I’m trying a new stovetop recipe for white chicken chili, and our family loves a good soup, especially with fresh bread. I have a delicious crockpot version White Chicken Chili If you let the slow cooker work. Even if your own recipe is a family favorite, it’s always fun to try something new. We’re serving it with the best super moist cornbread ever, so delicious, and a bowl of garden tomatoes.
🌿 Tip Box: If you like a thicker chili, mash a portion of the beans before adding them to the pot. It gives body to the chili without altering the flavor at all.
White Chicken Chili
The best super moist cornbread
Garden tomatoes
We are planning a cookout for friends this weekend using these easy, delicious recipes. If the weather cooperates, we’ll eat on the patio, where a group of golfers can chat, or more likely, golfers arriving on the seventh tee. This grilled Korean flank steak is full of flavor and always a hit with the crowd, and we keep things simple with fried rice and a ramen noodle salad on the side.
We’ll serve it with this week’s sweet treat.
🌿 Tip Box: Grilled Korean flank steak is even better made ahead. Marinate it the night before so all you have to do is grill and slice when your guests arrive.
Grilled Korean Flank Steak
Fried rice
Ramen Noodle Salad
This cake looks as good as it looks, and I may make it twice this week, once for our family at Commencement and at a cookout for our golf buddies. This summer berry cake is bursting with fresh summer berries and looks just as beautiful, making it a wonderful centerpiece for a gathering.
🌿 Tip Box: This cake is best made the day you plan to serve it, but the berries can be washed and prepared to save time. That way, assembly comes quickly when you’re ready to bake.
Summer Berry Cake
There are tons of recipes I look at every week when I’m looking for great dinner recipes. And some are very tasty to look and sound. I just couldn’t pass them up without sharing them with you!
Super easy lemon bars Bright, tight, and the perfect treat to keep on hand all summer long.
You will want a larger bowl The best potato salad you will ever make At your next cookout, there’s no question about it.
Even the simplest baked bread or vegetable becomes something special with one batch Simple herb blend butter.
Summer ripe strawberries become something wonderful in this Strawberry Lemon Pound Cake with Lemon Glaze.
For a sweet breakfast or lunch, Glazed Lemon Zucchini Bread Hard to beat.
On the hottest days, a cool bowl Easy Gazpacho Soup Just the refreshment you need.
The sweetest personalized dessert for any summer gathering comes in a small jar Easy Cherry Pie in a Mason Jar.
Rich, comforting, and a dinner your whole family will be asking for again, this is it smothered chicken is a guard.
Heat from the oven with a little butter, The best sour cream scones It is impossible to resist.
Few dinners come together as easily, or taste as well as the classics Pasta carbonara.
Slice it hot and slather on the butter, because Simple and delicious beer bread That’s the kind of bread.
Your garden’s summer harvest finds a happy home in this Sweet Corn and Zucchini Pie.
Pack a few Easy Puff Pastry Ham and Cheese Hand Pie For a picnic or a quick weeknight dinner.
Save yourself the drive-thru and make this Taco Bell Copycat Mexican Pizza Instead at home.
Topped with a bright berry sauce, Easy Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Sauce A beautiful way to celebrate summer fruits.
Flaky layers and juicy summer tomatoes come together in this one Tomato Ricotta Phyllo Tart.
For a meatless dinner that still feels satisfying, try these Summer Vegetable Torta.
Drizzled with hot honey, this Watermelon mosaic salad with warm honey vinaigrette A fresh take on a summer favorite.
batch of Neiman Marcus Cookies Cookie jars never last long around here.
Brunch gets a little more special with it Quiche with Hashbrown Crust on the table.
This coleslaw orzo salad A nice change from traditional coleslaw and holds up well for a crowd.
cool and elegant, Lobster salad A lovely choice for dinner on a warm evening.
When you want to get dinner on the table quickly, a No-Cook Black Bean Taco Bowl Assembles in minutes.
Zucchini and Yellow Squash Au Gratin A comforting side dish that makes the most of summer squash.
This caprese chicken casserole Brings all the flavors of caprese salad into a warm, satisfying bake.
I hope you pick your favorites from this week’s lineup. Make them, share them with the people you love, and pin the ones you want to save for another week!
Have an amazing week, friend!
