Credit: Sally Vargas
It’s finally happening! The days are getting longer, flowers are starting to bloom, and the birds are chirping to their hearts’ content, which means we can finally spend some time outside. The change in weather means a change in what you’re making for dinner—think light, easy, and quick. With recipes like Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Chorizo Sloppy Joes, and Cajun Shrimp Bowls, you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the outdoors.
01 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sara Haas, RDN
Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Chicken Caesar Salad
“There isn’t a ton of prep with this dish, but if you want to get ahead of the game, you could cook the chicken and croutons up to 1 day in advance. Let the chicken cool before storing it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Keep croutons in an airtight container on the counter.” —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer
02 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe
Get Recipe: 15-Minute Salmon Piccata
“This salmon piccata is indeed saucy, but not overly so. I love serving it over farro, orzo, or garlicky sautéed spinach, which catches extra sauce drippings but doesn’t steal any away from the fish itself. The result is a lighter, brighter, and extra-speedy dinner that’s fit for busy weeknights and impromptu weekend gatherings alike.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer
03 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Robby Lozano / Food Styling by Julian Hensarling / Prop Styling by Claire Spollen
Get Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Salad
“Since there’s no cooking happening here, it’s totally okay to use pregrated cheese from the grocery store. (If you cook with pre-grated, it often won’t melt well due to the anti-caking agents that are usually added to the tub.)” —Marianne Williams, Recipe Developer
04 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes
Get Recipe: One-Pan Ravioli With Sausage
“I love a one-pot or one-pan meal, and if I can make it quickly, even better. This recipe is the perfect example of minimalism, using just five ingredients, one pan, and 15 minutes start to finish. The combination of cheesy ravioli, tender spinach, and meaty sausage keeps me coming back for more.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer
05 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer
Get Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Bowls
“These Cajun shrimp bowls are easy, flavorful, and fast to make. They need just a few store-bought ingredients and one spicy 3-ingredient sauce that’s easy to stir together. It’s a colorful dinner that’s sure to please.” —Danielle Campbell, Recipe Developer
06 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek
Get Recipe: Greek Grilled Chicken Salad
“My favorite aspect of this recipe is how quickly it comes together—in just half an hour, to be exact. After you whisk together a simple vinaigrette, you use half to quickly marinate the chicken and save half to dress the salad. The dressing makes the chicken extra juicy and moist, and gives the salad a bright, garlicky, herby flavor.” —Rebecca Fennel, Recipe Developer
07 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Samantha Seneviratne
Get Recipe: 15-Minute Couscous Skillet
“The secret ingredient is couscous, which has the superpower of only needing five minutes in hot liquid to become tender and plump. If you are unfamiliar with couscous, it’s easy to think it’s a kind of whole grain, like quinoa or rice. It’s actually a tiny pasta made from semolina wheat.” —Robin Asbell, Recipe Developer
08 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Molly Adams
Get Recipe: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio with Green Olives
“I wake up some garlic in olive oil, then add chopped olives, red pepper flakes or Calabrian chiles, fresh parsley, and a splash of wine. Toss spaghetti in the quick sauce with a little pasta water, and you have a delicious dinner that pairs perfectly with a glass of crisp white wine. What I love most: It’s a restaurant-worthy meal in less than 15 minutes and for less than 10 bucks.” —Molly Adams, Recipe Developer
09 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sheela Prakash
Get Recipe: 4-Ingredient Chili Crisp Chicken Salad
“Conventional chicken salad is generally not something I veer towards. I find most versions unnecessarily heavy and not all that flavorful. This iteration is anything but boring thanks to savory, spicy chili crunch. I mix it with enough mayo to provide creamy richness but not so much to take this chicken salad into goopy territory.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer
10 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm
Get Recipe: 5-Ingredient Tuna Niçoise Melts
“I tapped into my memory of traveling in the sunny south of France, where I fell in love with tuna Niçoise salads. I took my favorite parts of this French classic—good-quality canned tuna, ripe tomatoes, and briny olives—and mixed them up for a light salad topping. The juiciness of the tomatoes meant I didn’t need any mayonnaise here.” —Ivy Manning, Recipe Developer
11 of 20
Credit: Lisa Lin
Get Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps
“Sometimes, you just want a light, fresh meal that comes together quickly and doesn’t require a whole lot of work. These teriyaki chicken lettuce wraps fit the bill exactly. I like using butter lettuce as wraps, but any kind of lettuce works. You can even use collard greens or Swiss chard.” —Lisa Lin, Recipe Developer
12 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Nick Evans
Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Shrimp and Asparagus
“Sheet pan recipes are all the rage these days and with good reason: They’re quick and easy, and the cleanup is a breeze. This shrimp and asparagus version is a great weeknight dinner option that can be served over spaghetti, brown rice, quinoa, mashed, or roasted potatoes, and it only takes 15 minutes in the oven. Yes, just 15 minutes!” —Nick Evans, Recipe Developer
13 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Sarah Tane
Get Recipe: No-Cook Tomato Basil Pasta
“It’s important to squeeze out the watery guts before you mash the tomatoes to prevent making an overly runny or watery sauce. Once you’ve combined all the ingredients, let it sit covered in the fridge for up to 8 hours. The longer it sits, the more time the flavors will have to get to know each other.” —Sara Tane, Recipe Developer
14 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: 15-Minute Dumplings with Peanut-Chili Sauce
“This quick and easy, five-ingredient dumpling dish comes together in just 15 minutes. This recipe may be short and sweet, but it does not compromise on flavor and color. It’s as beautiful as it is delicious: pops of white from the dumplings, vibrant reds from the chile oil, latte-brown peanut sauce, and fresh green cilantro.” —Frank Tiu, Recipe Developer
15 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Fred Hardy II / Food Styling by Ana Kelly / Prop Styling by Shell Royster
Get Recipe: Chorizo Sloppy Joes
“These easy, saucy, salty, crunchy, flavor-packed sandwiches are what dreams are made of. Skillet sauces, like Frontera, are a fantastic way to add flavor quickly. Pick your favorite flavor profile, mix it with chorizo, and enjoy the easiest sloppy joe in the world!” —Sara Bir, Former Senior Editor
16 of 20
Credit: Sally Vargas
Get Recipe: Easy Fish Tacos
“Cod, tilapia, or halibut are my go-to choices for fish tacos, but you could really use any white fish fillets. It doesn’t really matter if the fish is a firm variety or more flaky; you break up the cooked fish into the tacos anyway, so perfect presentation isn’t really important.” —Emma Christensen, Former General Manager
17 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Frank Tiu
Get Recipe: Burger Bowls
“Ground beef, frozen fries, and classic burger toppings make an inexpensive family meal that costs a fraction of takeout, tastes better because I control what goes into it, and—most importantly—satisfies my hankering for burgers.” —Kris Osborne, Recipe Developer
18 of 20
Get Recipe: Sheet Pan Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
“There are near-endless options to enjoy this recipe. On multiple occasions, I’ve simply carried the sheet pan to the dinner table, along with crusty Italian bread or pillowy focaccia and a simple green salad. We each scooped up what we liked and swiped the pan juices with the bread.” —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer
19 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Stephanie Ganz
Get Recipe: Ground Beef Hummus Bowls
“Whenever I’m feeding multiple people (so, every night), I find that including a choose-your-own-adventure element in the meal is my best bet for success. Everyone wants to have their own thing, and, with hummus and ground beef as a jumping-off point, this dish lets them do just that.” —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer
20 of 20
Credit: Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh
Get Recipe: Tuscan-Style Chicken Thighs
“Deciding what to make for dinner shouldn’t be that hard, so I fall back on simplicity. You don’t need much to make a great meal—just a handful of hardworking ingredients and a shortcut or two. This four-ingredient chicken dinner is a great example.” —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer
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Dining and Cooking