Summer should mean spending more time outside—not stressing over what’s for dinner. This week’s meal plan is full of fresh, family-friendly dinners that are easy to make after a day at the pool, a trip to the park, or a busy evening outside. From homemade pesto ravioli to juicy pulled pork and pineapple chicken, these meals celebrate summer flavors without keeping you in the kitchen for hours.
This Week’s Menu
Ravioli with Homemade Pesto
Pineapple Chicken with Rice & Broccoli
Pressure Cooker Pulled Pork
Creamy Corn Pasta
Pulled Pork Quesadillas
I intentionally planned pulled pork early in the week so the leftovers become quick pulled pork quesadillas later. One dinner does double duty, which means less cooking and less waste.
Why This Week Works
One meal creates leftovers for another dinner
Two one-pot meals
Great use of seasonal summer produce
Easy cleanup
Family-friendly
Nothing says summer quite like fresh pesto. If you’ve never made it from scratch, don’t worry—it comes together surprisingly quickly, and you can swap ingredients based on what you already have. I love tossing it with ravioli because it turns a simple dinner into something that feels a little special without much extra effort.
Anytime I can serve both fruit AND vegetables as a main course is a win in my house! This easy pineapple chicken dish uses just one pan + your rice cooker and is ready to serve! Plus, you’ll end up with lots of pineapple for snacking all week!
Normally if you hear pulled pork, you think… sweating in a kitchen for hours. But, this pressure cooker pulled pork will get you mouth-watering juicy pulled pork (and lots of it) within 1 hour! It’s a bit lengthy for a weeknight however you can also set it and forget it earlier than needed and just keep it warming. Or, simply make it on a weekend and reheat during the week as needed!
My family loves a cheesy pasta, but the corn and lime juice really brighten this one up. If you aren’t afraid of spice, you can even add some Fresno chiles! This pasta dish comes together in just one pot and one bowl – very easy cleanup to manage during a busy weeknight, which is why I love it. I also requires very minimal prep work.
This is one of my favorite ways to use the pressure-cooker pulled pork! You can put it here directly or use your leftovers for these easy quesadillas a few nights later.
Link to last week – Game Day Favorites Plan featuring:
- Pumpkin Turkey Chili
- Chicken Alfredo
- Mexican Bowls
- Pork Chops with Apple Chutney and Mashed Sweet Potatoes
- Burgers and Brussels