Easy Summer Recipes Under $10

If you are like us, summer brings a lovely sort of chaos. Although our speed slows and we spend hours idly lounging with no real objectives, we also seem to have bursts of running to and fro from one summer activity to another. The trickiest part of this for me is we have no set schedule. Camps or clubs are only a week at a time and when I finally get a handle on the rhythm, we’re onto the next week. Dinner presents particular difficulty  (why do I feel like dinner time just sneaks up and ambushes me in the summer?) and I often default to breakfast-for-dinner or fend-for-yourself night because I didn’t plan very well. Or even worse, we’re ordering take out and fast food on a regular basis, blowing right through our grocery budget.

In an effort to preemptively prevent a revolt from my family, I’ve determined I need to make a change. Naturally, I want to feed them well, make it easy for me, and keep it on the inexpensive side. Hello, summer eating challenge! Thanks to some other great blogs and sites though, I’ve discovered a lot of help available for me.

Here’s a round up of my favorite easy summer recipes under $10!

All of these meals promise a 30 minute timeframe (or less) as well as an under $10 cost. Consider adding a light salad to any to add a more complete meal or just to force your family to eat even more fruits and veggies.

Gnocchi, Sweet Corn And Arugula in Cream Sauce

Gnocchi is a huge hit at our house in the winter, but potato pasta sounds too heavy in the summer. Try this incredible, white sauce version from BHG for a lighter fare. Delicious!

Kale, White Bean, and Sausage Soup

Our farmers market is loaded up with kale right now and we happily use it as much as possible. Soup is still a huge hit around our house too, even in the summer. Though this recipe from Serious Eats could easily feel hearty with a thick slice of homemade bread, we usually skip it in the summer and just finish off dinner with a bowl of fresh fruit.

Salmon Cakes Over Mixed Greens

Thank you Costco for providing salmon at reasonable prices. While I often cheat by using canned salmon too, this recipe from Nourished Kitchen makes for an easy summer recipe that feels much more decadent than it costs!

Italian Sausage Heroes With Peppers And Onions

I really love a fancy sandwich dinner night in the summer. Paired with watermelon and a roasted vegetable, it’s a lovely meal. This italian sausage sandwich from Food and Wine is an easy favorite that pleases the whole family.

 Grilled Jamaican Jerk Drumsticks

Let’s face it- no summer recipe list is complete without a grilled option. This yummy Jamaican jerk drumstick recipe from My Recipes is great for a crowd and most of the ingredients are pantry staples so the cost is minimal. Add a fresh pineapple, summer salad and call it a feast!

These easy summer recipes under $10 are how I plan to get back on track with my own family dinners in the coming weeks. I also cannot wait to use this coupon for 50% off at The Good Cook. Have you heard of this book club yet? It’s a book club for cooks where members get big discounts on incredible cook books.  It’s amazing- but be warned, you may lose hours of your life once you start browsing!

Have any easy summer recipes to share? Please let me know on our Facebook page!