Simple and easy dinner ideas for a beach vacation?

[Just Kate]

My brother owns a beach house and offered me one specific week to use it this summer - the last week of June. Of course, I’m taking him up on this offer, but neither my husband nor son can join us, so it will likely be just my dd(16) and me (although she may end up bringing a friend). Also, dd and I will just be getting back from a trip to NYC, so I have decided that this will be a super low-key beach trip. Since the kitchen is fully stocked, we will order groceries and cook at the house. 
 

Any ideas for some very simple, easy dinners that I could make for the two (maybe three) of us? We will probably just have sandwiches and chips or fruit for lunch. I’m trying to think of a few meals that require very little prep (I don’t want to spend a ton of time cooking) but might be something different for us. Honestly, I’m not a big cook at home, so I just need simple suggestions to get me thinking here. Oh, and summery foods would be a plus. I know there’s a nice produce stand nearby so I could get some fresh produce. Thanks!!

[Tiberia]

-You could get salad in a bag and then fix a nice couple of steaks, or some chicken, or a protein of your choice.

-Alfredo sauce in a jar,  add shrimp or chicken, boil some noodles; plus bag salad for greens, and get some nice bread to go with it

-grilled cheese, but use fancy cheeses to make it fun, plus tomato soup or soup of choice

 

[bolt.]

Pasta without anything significant -- like a jarred sauce, or a mix that is already mixed in, or a 'hamburger helper' type of meal if you need meat.

Something from eggs -- however your family likes them, either made-to-order or as a shared dish like a frittata or quiche.

Ham (it's cooked, so it only needs warming) -- with cold sides like deli salads, and/or corn on the cob.

Frozen stuff -- like pierogis, or lasagna, or pizza.

Higher end sausages, grilled (if you have one) -- it's like making hot dogs, but tastes better. You could serve them with crusty bread.

Your sides can basically always be the same: salad ingredients fixed in a variety of ways, finger veggies, deli salads, breads and butter, maybe a big pot of rice, warmed again serving by serving.

[wintermom]

It would help to know whether you'll be within a town environment or remote and what the expected temps are. When my family go on beach vacation (LBI, NJ), we do simple breakfast and lunch at 'home' and then go out for dinner (pizza, sub sandwiches, etc.). It's often too hot to cook by the evening.

[regentrude]

Simplest summer meal are salads. Pick grain plus veggies plus a protein plus dressing

1.Farro, couscous, quinoa, pasta

2.Cucumbers, tomatoes, roasted veggies, greens

3. Chick peas, grilled shrimp, chicken

4. Vinaigrette, hummus, lemon tahini, yogurt and herbs.

Lots of combinations and very quick.

Edited June 9 by regentrude

[HomeAgain]

One of our favorite quick meals is tortellini w/pesto and fresh bread.  Fruit and cake for dessert.  It came from when we were caught in a quick storm while vacationing in Rome.  The streets were flooded, so rather than go out to eat we stopped over at a small grocery across from our apartment for food, then headed in our door for showers and dry clothes.  It's now a go-to for vacation.  Quick, we never know how we'll feel at the end of the day, and perfectly relaxing.

DS14's favorite: grilled chicken wraps.  I get chicken, spinach wraps, mango, avocado, and shredded red cabbage.  The avocado gets mashed with salt and pepper, slathered on the wrap, and then the rest is added as filling.  Of course, he'll also settle for tacos, baked potatoes, or kababs any day of the year.

Oldest ds would go with a stir fry and rice.  He's down with getting a bag of frozen peppers &  onions, a protein, and a bottled sauce.  Throw it over rice and it's a full meal for him.  Add some grocery store egg rolls and he's in heaven.

[alisoncooks]

Is there a grill? Burgers/hotdogs/chicken on the grill are summery. Corn on the cob and zucchini grill well. Make a big fruit, veg, or pasta salad and eat it over a few meals. Loaded baked potatoes. Easy charcuterie plate meal. These are things my girls and I would eat. 

[Kassia]

I like frozen stuff or easy crockpot meals - put something  in the crockpot in the morning and it's ready for dinner without heating the kitchen up and you don't have to prepare something after a day at the beach.  It's been a long time since we had a beach vacation, but I remember doing a big batch of chicken in the crockpot one time and the kids ate from that for a few days.  You could do pulled pork or a roast for sandwiches, too (although maybe it would be easier to just get prepared foods for those kinds of foods - even the chicken could be substituted with rotisserie chicken). 

A chef salad would be good too and you can each pick your own ingredients.

Edited June 9 by Kassia

[Just Kate]

5 minutes ago, wintermom said:

It would help to know whether you'll be within a town environment or remote and what the expected temps are. When my family go on beach vacation (LBI, NJ), we do simple breakfast and lunch at 'home' and then go out for dinner (pizza, sub sandwiches, etc.). It's often too hot to cook by the evening.

Very touristy area, not remote at all (South Carolina). The house will be cool, so cooking will be fine. We normally go out to dinner when vacationing at this beach, but meals are typically expensive and many places, just so-so. I usually don’t mind because - vacation! And I don’t want to cook. But we will be coming back from our previously planned trip to NYC that will cost $$$, so the only way I agreed to go was if we didn’t spend a ton on eating out. 

[Annie G]

I would grill before I left (or have dh do it if you won’t be back in time) and take grilled chicken, steak, and whatever else you like grilled, and use fresh produce to work around that. Honestly we’d be fine w chicken all week.

Slice it cold and have it on a big salad.  Cut some strips and add it to pasta and jarred Alfredo.  Slice and sauté zucchini and add sliced grilled chicken, pesto, and a package of fresh cooked filled pasta like tortellini. It’s a 15 minute meal, and delicious. 

Edited June 9 by Annie G

[KungFuPanda]

Don’t forget to do a charcuterie night. It’s easy and fun. Also, don’t plan out the last 24-48 hours because you’ll probably buy too much food and need a “buffet” day to eat the leftovers. 

Paninis are nice too. You can press them using any skillet weighted with a tea kettle. Kabobs are good and make nice salad leftovers for the next meal. 

I’d definitely plan before you go so your not purchasing spices you already own

[Bootsie]

Boiled shrimp--quick and easy to cook and light for a hot summer day.  Serve with a salad and some fruit.  You can also make a shrimp pasta.

Chicken salad can be made without much prepwork and eaten for several meals.  

[Ottakee]

Black bean tacos

1 can black beans

1 can corn

1 can petite diced tomatoes 

1 packet taco seasoning mix

serve on flour tortilla with lettuce and cheese or as a taco salad topping.  Takes 5 minutes to mix and warm up

[Kassia]

41 minutes ago, KungFuPanda said:

. Also, don’t plan out the last 24-48 hours because you’ll probably buy too much food and need a “buffet” day to eat the leftovers. 

 

My kids used to love the last day when we had to eat everything up!  

[math teacher]

Reuben sandwiches

Kebabs 

pasta salads

appetizer trays

 

 

[ScoutTN]

Fresh seafood, plus a starch (baked potato, corn on the cob, rice, pasta) and a salad. We would do this 3 nights. 

Tacos/mexican
Grill burgers
Rotisserie chx
 

Last night is leftovers or order pizza.
 

 

[Carol in Cal.]

I’d bring down some frozen stuff, in wide mouthed pint sized canning jars, which would also serve as ice packs in your cooler.

Chili, black bean soup, spaghetti sauce.  Then I’d make Red Lobster cheese garlic biscuits to go with the soup, and a bagged salad with the chili.  I’d buy tortellini there to eat with the spaghetti sauce.

One night I would cook a steak, so I’d bring a rub or lemon pepper seasoning for that.  I’d steam haricots verts or asparagus for a side dish.

Super easy chicken—saute 4 chicken thighs briefly (just to white, not browned) in a heavy pot.  Pour two cans of condensed cream of chicken soup over this.  Cover and cook slowly until done, maybe half an hour or so.  Make white rice in parallel because this makes its own gravy.

I’d get some kind of local shellfish for one evening.

I’d make sure to bring along olive oil, a vinegar or two (red wine and rice, for variety), Dijon mustard, jarred garlic, mayo (the Kewpie packets are great for trips like this), Herbes de Provence (for salad dressing and maybe the steak), Italian seasoning (for salad dressing and maybe the spaghetti), fig newtons, costco brownie mix, and a can of corn for veggie variety.

 

[Frances]

You could put chicken breast in a crockpot with a jar of salsa then use for tacos one night and eat with rice and beans another night or two. What I usually do when we are going to be driving and staying for three or more nights in a rental is to make a big batch of something like chili or lasagna in advance and take it along. Then have it every night for dinner with different easy sides. Chicken pot pie or any favorite casserole would also work. So convenient and easy. We always do eggs and fruit or plain yogurt and fruit for breakfast with either toast or some local bakery items. Lunch is usually the one meal per day we eat out while out and about.

[Melanie32]

When we are on vacation our go to is a simple, quickly grilled protein with a yummy salad. Honestly I just buy the pre bagged salads so I don’t have to buy all the salad ingredients or bother with chopping and washing and all that jazz. I’m there to enjoy vacation not spend time in the kitchen. 
 

We grill burgers, chicken breasts, thin pork chops or steak. Sometimes I do tin foil packet meals on the grill as well. Those require a bit more prep up front but then you’re done. I just place a protein, some veggies and some type of sauce in them and dinner is done. 
 

 

[mmasc]

This pasta recipe is easy, yummy, and summer-y. Perfect for the beach!

This salad is delish and keeps really well in the fridge. 
 

[Carol in Cal.]

If you can find those marinated fresh mozzerrella balls at your store, they are amazing mixed with tiny grape tomatoes.  Chopped fresh basil is good on this but not crucial.  Very refreshing but also filling.  Basically a meal.

[mommyoffive]

17 hours ago, Frances said:

You could put chicken breast in a crockpot with a jar of salsa then use for tacos one night and eat with rice and beans another night or two. What I usually do when we are going to be driving and staying for three or more nights in a rental is to make a big batch of something like chili or lasagna in advance and take it along. Then have it every night for dinner with different easy sides. Chicken pot pie or any favorite casserole would also work. So convenient and easy. We always do eggs and fruit or plain yogurt and fruit for breakfast with either toast or some local bakery items. Lunch is usually the one meal per day we eat out while out and about.

How far can you drive with something like that food safety wise?  Also do you do anything to not have it spill in the car?

[cjzimmer1]

1 minute ago, mommyoffive said:

How far can you drive with something like that food safety wise?  Also do you do anything to not have it spill in the car?

Not who you addressed but I travel with ALL my food for 5-7 days easily before I need to refill anything.  First I do a combination of fresh and frozen foods. Frozen foods get packed tightly in their own cooler than doesn't get opened. It's good for about 3 days before it's fully thawed (unless you leave it in a hot car, that speeds up the thawing a lot). Use up fresh foods first than switch to the frozen items. I use those pyrex glass dishes with plastic left lids to store food and also freezer zip lock bags. I've never had problems with things spilling.

 

For quick light food, I'd be doing salads, charcuterie, sandwiches, pita/hummus or taco type of things. 

[pinball]

I’d try to make a big batch of different recipes in the beginning and make it last thru a few meals.

Dinner: I’d make some long lasting salads at the beginning of the week like 3 bean salad, coleslaw, and a tomato, cuke, onion salad (fire & ice versions are really good)

Then grill different meats and/or veggies for dinner. Steak, Greek seasoned chicken, burgers, etc

For breakfast: make a 13x9 egg dish. This would probably last 2 woman most of the week. There are lots of recipes for these. Add fresh fruit and bagels or English muffins.

Lunch…a big container of gazpacho. Serve with grilled pitas w/cheese or garlic bread with cheese.

now I want to go on vacation and make all this stuff… hahaha

[Bootsie]

My daughter would want her favorite--frito pie.  When I make the chilli, I make a lot and freeze in smaller portions.  For a reasonable lemgth trip, it would remain frozen or cold enough in a ice chest to reach my destination without spoiling.  Or, if I don't take my own chilli, I can buy canned chill, fritos, and shredded cheese at my destination for a simple (not quite-as-good as homemade) frito pie.