Ever been on vacation, enjoying the sun or a cool breeze or a beautiful view and you hear the dreaded, “I’m hungry!” And suddenly, you’re on duty. You gotta retire to the kitchen, however grudgingly, and figure out a full dinner. Nope, nope and no thank you. Instead, let’s gather some easy, fuss-free, delicious dinners the whole family can enjoy! No complicated recipes. No long grocery runs for tons of different ingredients. No time consuming kitchen work. We’re talking casual, affordable, family-friendly recipes that require minimal ingredients and no specialty items. From quick skillet dinners to one-pan wonders, crock pot meals to cozy casseroles, these ideas are designed to maximize relaxation and minimize stress. It’ll leave you with more time to kick back and enjoy your time with family and friends. Whether you’re renting a beach house, staying in a cozy cabin, or exploring a new city, easy dinners are the key to unwinding with loved ones at the end of the day. So let’s explore some easy vacation eats that will keep everyone happy and well-fed. First up, some general ideas to get your wheels turning. Below that, check out some specific recipes that fit the bill, followed by some final tips and tricks to make your entire vacation as low-key as possible. At least as far as eating goes. 😉 Let’s dive in.
Vacation Meal Ideas:
Slow Cooker Meals - set it and forget it Casseroles - can be prepped ahead and oh so cozy Sheet Pan Meals - load up one or more sheet pans, put them in the oven and you are done Chili or 1-pot Meals - everything cooks all together Family Favorites - such as tacos or spaghetti, whatever everyone loves so there’s no whining Grilling - throw everything on the grill (if there is one) and call it a day Breakfast for Dinner - easy for the adults, feels special for the kids Assembly Meals - less cooking, more just putting together Store Bought - pick up premade burgers or marinated chicken, frozen pizza, frozen chicken tenders, frozen lasagna, tater tots or fries, bagged salads, canned soups, etc.
Hopefully that sparked at least a few ideas of things you could add to your menu for the week. But of course, I’m going to give you lots and lots of recipe options. Browse them below, see what strikes your fancy and then print or save the recipes and you’ll be ready to go. (You can use your saved list before you go on vacation to make a grocery list and plan out the week ahead of time so you have it all ready to go for yourself. I think of it as a present to my future self. 🙂 ) Cheers to low key vacation eating!
Easy Vacation Dinner Recipes
Skillet Dinners
Southwest Chicken Skillet Dinner This quick and easy southwest chicken skillet dinner uses rotisserie chicken, fresh veggies, canned beans and simple spices for a delicious meal that’s ready in just 15 minutes! Healthy Chicken and Zucchini Skillet with Corn Chicken and zucchini skillet with corn is a one-pot wonder full of southwestern flavors, colorful veggies and juicy chicken. It’s a gluten-free and low-carb recipe that’s perfect for meal prepping. Ground Turkey Skillet with Rice and Veggies Ground turkey, rice and veggie skillet with beans, corn, tomatoes, zucchini and bell peppers is an all-in-one dinner with tons of flavor that’s ready in just 30 minutes. It’s easy to make and customize and sure to be a family favorite! Italian Ground Turkey Skillet Italian ground turkey skillet with white beans, diced tomatoes and spinach is an easy, flavorful all-in-one-pan dinner that’s ready in just 25 minutes! Chicken Fiesta This one-pot Chicken Fiesta is a Mexican-style chicken and rice dish with peppers, black beans, diced tomatoes, green chilies and cheese. It’s a flavorful and easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love! Ground Chicken and Mushroom Skillet Ground chicken and mushroom skillet with peas, pimientos and two cheeses is an easy, flavorful all-in-one-pan dinner that’s ready in just 25 minutes! Chicken with Beans and Spinach This easy 5-ingredient recipe is ready in just 15 minutes and you can dress it up with toppings if you like. This is my family’s original “one pot wonder” and my dad’s go-to meal if he has to cook for himself. You can make endless combinations by changing up the seasonings, the type of beans and the type of greens (or other veggies) you use. 15-Minute Lemon Chicken Skillet lemon chicken has tender strips of chicken breasts in a delicious lemon sauce. Plus, it’s just 5 basic ingredients and ready in 15 minutes!
Sheet Pan Dinners
Sheet Pan Southwest Chicken and Veggies Southwest sheet pan chicken and veggies is a flavorful, easy, hands-off dinner the whole family will enjoy. Add your favorite toppings, serve with rice or tortillas, and dig in! Sheet Pan Turkey Sausages with Sweet Potatoes and Okra Sheet pan turkey sausages with sweet potatoes and okra is an easy, hands-off dinner that’s perfect for a busy weeknight! Sheet Pan Salmon and Potatoes with Green Beans One-pan salmon and potatoes with green beans is an easy sheet pan dinner with wild-caught salmon, baby red potatoes and green beans, all roasted and topped with feta cheese and a lemony vinaigrette.
Slow Cooker Meals
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Slow cooker honey garlic chicken is just 5 ingredients and minutes to prep and smells amazing as it cooks! You’ll want to drizzle this delicious sauce over your whole plate! Slow Cooker Cream Cheese Chicken Slow cooker cream cheese chicken is just a few basic ingredients and quick to prep, with a deliciously creamy sauce that coats every piece. Perfect for an easy, hands-off family dinner! Slow Cooker Mexican Shredded Chicken Slow cooker Mexican shredded chicken is just 3 easy ingredients and minutes to prep, but has such delicious flavor! Use it for tacos, nachos, grain bowls, sliders, salads and more! Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Easy Slow Cooker Pulled Pork is 3 ingredients and uses pork tenderloin for a lighter version. It’s juicy, flavorful and great for sandwiches or sliders! Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is perfectly seasoned, cooked until tender and juicy and coated in a rich, deeply flavored BBQ sauce. This recipe is easy to prep and there are so many ways you can serve it up! Crock Pot Crack Chicken Crock pot crack chicken is a flavorful creamy chicken mixture with cheese, bacon and green onions on top for an addictively delicious meal. And it’s only 6 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep! Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken is easy to prep with just a few ingredients for a simple weeknight dinner that has big flavor!
Tacos, Fajitas, Nachos, Oh My!
Baked Shredded Chicken Tacos Baked shredded chicken tacos are crispy, melty and seriously delicious. They’re ready in less than 30 minutes and perfect for a dinner the whole family will love. Easy Chicken Fajitas Easy chicken fajitas with bell peppers and onions are just 5 ingredients and ready in about 20 minutes. These skillet fajitas are great for a quick weeknight dinner the whole family will love! Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas Sheet pan chicken fajitas with bell peppers and onions are just 5 ingredients and ready in about 30 minutes. These baked fajitas are great for a hands-off dinner the whole family will love! Loaded Chicken Nachos Loaded chicken nachos with black beans and plenty of cheese are made in a double layer to ensure tons of good stuff on every chip. Add ALL your favorite toppings and dig in! Chicken Enchiladas Chicken enchiladas are full of a perfectly seasoned chicken mixture, topped with enchilada sauce and cheese, and baked until bubbly for a delicious and hearty dinner the whole family will love.
Grilled and Stuffed Chicken
Cheesy Fiesta Grilled Chicken Cheesy fiesta grilled chicken is quick and easy to make with just 3 ingredients, comes out so juicy and flavorful, and can be dressed up with fun toppings! Grilled Lemon Chicken Grilled lemon chicken is marinated in just 5 simple ingredients but comes out incredibly flavorful! Serve as is or use for wraps, grain bowls and salads. Adobo Grilled Chicken Adobo grilled chicken is just 2 ingredients and no marinade time needed, but has really deep, smoky flavor. It’s a great, easy way to add big flavor to grilled chicken. Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Prosciutto, Spinach and Mozzarella These flavor-packed chicken breasts stuffed with prosciutto, spinach and mozzarella cheese make for an easy but elegant dinner! Topped with paprika and Parmesan cheese, this stuffed chicken is sure to be a hit! Pizza Stuffed Chicken Pizza stuffed chicken breasts with melty mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices and marinara sauce are easy to throw together on a busy weeknight and make for a fun family dinner! Spinach Stuffed Chicken Spinach stuffed chicken is loaded with melty mozzarella cheese and sautéed spinach and then roasted with a paprika and Parmesan top for an easy and irresistible chicken dinner!
Soups & Chili
Healthy White Turkey Chili Easy, healthy White Turkey Chili with ground turkey, white beans, wild rice, corn and green chilies comes together in about 30 minutes with simple pantry ingredients. Add your favorite chili toppings and dive in! Chicken and Black Bean Soup This quick and easy chicken and black bean soup has a great depth of flavor but is ready in about 15 minutes! It’s great for a cozy, healthy dinner that’ll warm you right up! Turkey White Bean Soup with Kale Turkey white bean soup with kale is full of ground turkey, creamy white beans, tomatoes and wilted, tender kale for a simple but hearty and delicious soup.
One Pot Pastas and Burgers
One Pot Creamy Chicken & Mushroom Pasta with Peas Creamy chicken and mushroom pasta with peas is an easy, cheesy, one-pot pasta dinner that’s ready in about 30 minutes! One-Pot Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Spinach and Peas One pot pasta with chicken sausage, spinach and peas is a creamy, tender all-in-one pasta dinner with big flavor that’s ready in just 25 minutes. BBQ Chicken Burgers These BBQ chicken burgers require just a few basic ingredients and come out so juicy and flavorful! Serve with coleslaw for a delicious summer meal! Fiesta Turkey Burgers Fiesta turkey burgers have just 4 basic ingredients but create a little flavor explosion in your mouth! Add your favorite taco toppings and dig into these juicy, fun and delicious burgers!
Stir Fry or Fried Rice
Easiest Ever Stir Fry This quick and easy chicken stir fry with veggies uses just a few ingredients and is perfect for a busy weeknight. No more takeout needed! Quick and Easy Chicken Fried Rice Easy chicken fried rice is made in just one pan and ready in 20 minutes for a delicious dinner that’s even faster and better than takeout! Mexican Fried Rice Mexican fried rice is a fun twist on fried rice and a delicious all-in-one dinner with ground turkey, onions and peppers, black beans and corn, salsa and rice.
Miscellaneous
Mom’s Chicken Divan Chicken divan is a classic chicken casserole that’s creamy, cheesy, full of chicken pieces and broccoli florets, and is perfect served with some steamed rice for a cozy family dinner. Honey Butter Chicken Honey butter chicken is an easy, hands-off and family-friendly recipe that’s perfect for a weeknight dinner! It takes just a few simple ingredients but comes out with so much flavor! Breakfast Pizza Breakfast pizza has fluffy, scrambled eggs, cooked, crumbled bacon and plenty of cheese for a warm, melty and seriously fun breakfast! Hash Brown Breakfast Casserole Hash brown breakfast casserole is loaded with shredded hash browns, savory pork sausage crumbles, eggs and plenty of cheese to tie it all together. This hearty, comforting casserole can be baked right away or made a day in advance and it’s always a crowd pleaser! 15-Minute Paprika Chicken This super easy paprika chicken recipe uses on-hand ingredients and is ready in just 15 minutes! It’s perfect for a quick weeknight dinner with big flavor. Chicken Penne Pasta with Broccoli Chicken penne pasta with broccoli and marinara sauce is an easy all-in-one dinner that’s family friendly, just a few simple ingredients and ready in 30 minutes! Easy Baked Chicken Thighs Easy baked chicken thighs use a few basic seasonings and are ready in just 30 minutes for a delicious main course that’s so juicy and flavorful! So many recipes to browse and try out to make your vacation dinners a breeze! Also, if it’s summertime and/or you’re at the beach, check out these 10 ideas for no-recipe summer dinners. OK, some final thoughts for you.
Additional Tips:
Use make-your-own bars when possible so everyone can customize their own plate and meal. For instance, a taco bar or homemade pizza bar or stuffed baked potato bar where you can choose your protein and toppings. You can also do burrito bowls or wraps and paninis. Cook once, eat multiple meals. It helps to make staples that can be repurposed. Some of our favorites include BBQ chicken, pulled pork, Mexican shredded chicken, extra grilled chicken, etc. It helps to have leftovers for lunches or for making into new meals another night. Store bought is your friend. I know that I love making my own whenever possible - homemade taco seasoning or salad dressings for instance - but sometimes, you just gotta cut those corners and pick up something at the store. YOU get to have a vacation, too! Share the load. Designate different people to be in charge of different meals throughout the day or to take a turn at dinner. Stick to what you know. Making tried-and-true recipes, family favorites and familiar flavors will be much less stressful than trying to tackle brand new ingredients or techniques. (Unless that’s your thing, then have at it!)
I’m sure I could go on and on. If you haven’t been able to tell, I feel strongly about ALL members of the family getting to kick back and relax on vacation. Including whoever happens to be the chief meal planner/organizer/cook. (And I know from experience that too many times, I’ve put pressure on myself to cook like I would at home and make full meal after full meal. I end up stressed and miserable. No more.) Last thing, sometimes it’s helpful to pack some kitchen items from home. That way you know you’ve got what you need for the trip. To note, most of these are only feasible if you are traveling by car, like for a beach vacation or mountain vacation that’s not far from home.
Things to Bring from Home:
Slow cooker Waffle maker Other favorite special appliances (Instant Pot/Air Fryer, etc) Good chef’s knife with a cover Spices Speciality items (for allergies) Hard to find favorites (quinoa, special pasta shape, etc) Pre-made favorites (chicken salad, potato salad, pancakes, oatmeal jars, etc)
I hope you have found this helpful. And if you have some vacation meals you love, please leave a comment and share below. We can also use more ideas! Safe travels and happy vacationing! XO, Kathryn
