A little birdie told us your schedule is packed this summer. Between camp drop-offs, beach days and pool hangs, who has time to squeeze in cooking dinner? Don’t fret, friend: We have seven easy, impressive meals to cook this week that will be on the table in 30 minutes or less. (Heck, some only need 15 or 20.) Not only are they easy enough for beginners to tackle, but they’re also seasonal and kid-friendly, if we do say so ourselves.
Here’s What to Cook Every Night This Week (July 17 – 23)
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Published Jul 12, 2023
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Shopping List
Produce
7 garlic cloves
3 lemons
3 pounds zucchini (or spiralized zucchini noodles)
3 tomatoes
1 pint cherry tomatoes
3 large yellow onions
7 ears corn
3 ounces spinach
1 stalk celery
1 carrot
Two 1-inch pieces ginger
2 limes
1 watermelon
1 European cucumber
1 avocado
1 bunch parsley
2 bunches basil
3 bunches scallions
2 bunches microgreens
1 bunch asparagus
1 bunch cilantro
Meat
1½ pounds large, tail-on shrimp
8 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (about 6 ounces each)
One 5-ounce can tuna
6 fresh bratwursts
Dairy
1 stick unsalted butter
6 ounces fresh mozzarella cheese
3 slices mozzarella cheese
Grains
12 ounces spaghetti
12 ounces pappardelle
2 slices thick white, rye or sourdough bread
Hot dog buns, for serving
Canned and Packaged Goods
3 ounces dry white wine
9 ounces basil pesto
5 ounces raw cashews
Pickled ginger, for serving
4 ounces peanuts
Three 12-ounce bottles Miller High Life (or lager of your choice)
Sauerkraut, for serving
Pickles, for serving
Pantry Ingredients: extra-virgin olive oil, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, balsamic vinegar, smoked paprika, Buffalo sauce, ranch dressing, soy sauce, rice vinegar, peanut oil, sesame oil, sriracha, sesame seeds, honey, cumin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, spicy brown mustard
Monday: 20-Minute Shrimp Scampi Zoodles
This lightning-fast meal is packed with protein and veggies. Carbs need not apply, since traditional pasta is swapped for spiralized summer zucchini. Serve with a spritz of lemon, a flourish of chopped parsley and a glass of white wine. (Better yet, treat yourself after making dinner in 20 minutes flat with something sweet that pairs well, like a Talenti Alphonso Mango Mini Sorbetto Bar.)
Tuesday: Baked Caprese Chicken Skillet
Even picky eaters will love this cheesy, herbaceous chicken main, which uses store-bought basil pesto for a low-lift boost of flavor. Swap the breasts for thighs or add fresh corn kernels to the mix: Just be sure to use the prettiest farmers market tomatoes you can find.
Wednesday: Creamy Sweet Corn Pappardelle
Taryn Pire
Thursday: Buffalo Tuna Melt
Have 15 minutes and a can of tuna? You’re already halfway to dinner. Easy bottled Buffalo sauce and ranch dressing take over for mayonnaise, while diced celery and carrot add crunch—and another layer of wing-inspired deliciousness. Sub American, cheddar or provolone cheese for mozzarella if you’d prefer.
Friday: Watermelon Poke Bowls
Plant-based eaters will be charmed by this fish-free spin on poke. Instead of raw tuna, watermelon stars in the well-balanced bowl, alongside a nutty, zingy dressing that brings the produce to life. Did we mention it’s no cook?
Saturday: Honey-Lime Chicken and Veggies in Foil
Weekends are for flexing your grill skills. Wow your guests (or your roommates) with ginger-kissed chicken breasts, charred corn on the cob and tender asparagus, cooked in foil packets that make cleanup refreshingly painless.
Taryn Pire is PureWow’s associate food editor. A former bartender and barista, she’s been writing about all things delicious since 2016, developing recipes, reviewing restaurants and investigating food trends at Food52, New Jersey Family Magazine and Taste Talks. When she isn’t testing TikTok’s latest viral recipe, she’s having popcorn for dinner and posting about it on Instagram @cookingwithpire.
