5 Easy Summer Meals & One Simple Grocery List

Week 2: The Capsule Meal Plan

Let’s be real: cooking in the summer hits differently—but not always in a good way.

I don’t mind planning well-rounded meals or cooking big dinners most of the year.
But in the summer? I’m just not that into it.

I want to be outside—enjoying the long evenings, working in the garden, sitting on the porch, spending time with family.
Not standing over the stove. And definitely not doing dishes.

Summer is too short to spend it overthinking dinner.

Between the heat, the changing schedules, and the please-don’t-make-another-decision-today feeling that creeps in after 4 PM, meals can start to feel more chaotic than comforting.

If your mental load is maxed out and your grocery list keeps growing, it might be time to reassess your approach.

This week, we’re building your Capsule Meal Plan—a small but mighty system of 5 go-to summer meals and one grocery list you can reuse all season.

Because the secret to better dinners isn’t a new recipe.
It’s a better rhythm.

You’re probably:

• Tired of standing in front of the fridge at 6:30 PM with no clue what’s for dinner

• Wasting time (and money) buying ingredients that don’t match up

• Overwhelmed by recipes that look great on Pinterest but take 10 steps too many

• Hoping to eat well... but also not spend all night cleaning up

• Just plain over it

The Capsule Meal Plan doesn’t give you 50 new dinner ideas.
It gives you five reliable recipes—plus shortcuts, swaps, and a done-for-you grocery list that makes dinner one less thing to overthink.

The 5 Go-To Summer Meals (Real ingredients. Repeat-worthy. No oven required.)

1. Grilled Chicken & Corn Salad Bowls
Rotisserie chicken, grilled corn, tomatoes, avocado, and lime vinaigrette.

2. Turkey Burgers & Sweet Potato Wedges
Pre-made patties, frozen sweet potato fries, and a side of watermelon.

3. Mediterranean Snack Platter Night
Hummus, pita, olives, cheese, cucumbers, grapes, and hard-boiled eggs.

4. Pasta + Protein Toss
Cooked pasta tossed with cherry tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and rotisserie chicken or beans.

5. Sheet Pan Shrimp & Veggies
Toss frozen shrimp and chopped peppers/zucchini in olive oil + garlic. Roast for 15 minutes.

📝 You can print this list and pin it to your fridge, or keep it in Notes on your phone—whatever makes it easier to say "yep, I’ve got dinner covered." Sign Up for the Summer Capsule Email Series.

The Simplified Grocery List

Instead of making a new list every week, group your ingredients like this:

Produce:

• Cherry tomatoes, corn, cucumbers, greens, sweet potatoes, zucchini, watermelon, lemons/limes

Proteins:

• Rotisserie chicken, shrimp (frozen), turkey patties, eggs

Pantry/Other:

• Hummus, pasta, olive oil, canned beans, pita bread, seasoning blends

Dairy:

• Mozzarella, feta or goat cheese, milk or creamer

Optional Swaps/Shortcuts:

• Use pre-chopped veggies

• Swap shrimp for tofu or chicken

• Choose bagged salad kits for quick greens

How to Use This Capsule Plan

• Pick 3–4 meals for the week (rotate weekly if you want)

• Keep the grocery list the same—refill your basics

• Set a 15-minute “prep power session” 1x per week (boil eggs, chop fruit, make dressing)

You don’t need to plan every detail. Just reduce the friction. This is meal planning that flexes with your life.

Get the Printable: Week 2 Capsule Meal Plan

👉 Get the Email series – includes the complete grocery list and meal builder cheat sheet with an additional week of meal planning!

What’s Your Summer Dinner Strategy?

Are you a prep-once-a-week person or a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pantry kind of cook?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to know what helps you simplify mealtime.

There are so many variations available for Mediterranean Snack Platter Night.

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