20 family summer meals

Make the most of the summer sunshine with our top 10 family barbecue recipes, best family picnic recipes and easy family camping recipes.

1. Roast puttanesca aubergines with tomato rice & feta

This flavourful veggie rice dish is packed full of delicious summer veg and ideal for a casual summer supper or al fresco lunch. You can barbecue the aubergines if you like – cut them into long slices, brush with the oregano and oil as directed, then barbecue or griddle until charred and tender before piling on top of the baked rice and scattering with the feta and tomato mixture.

Check out more vegetarian summer recipes.

2. 15-minute chicken & halloumi burgers

Need a speedy summer supper that the family will love? Look no further than these satisfying fried chicken and halloumi burgers which take just 10 mins to cook. With a mild chilli sauce, creamy hummus, roasted red peppers and crunchy cabbage slaw, these perfect patties deliver layer upon layer of flavour.

We've got plenty more juicy burger recipes to enjoy outside.

3. Baked ratatouille & goat’s cheese

Take ratatouille to the next level with a crumbly goat's cheese topping. As well as being a great way to use up your allotment veg, this meat-free main delivers three of your 5-a-day – perfect for persuading kids to up their veg intake.

Try more of our ratatouille recipes.

4. Pulled pork tacos with pineapple salsa

Save time and effort on hot summer days by cooking the pork for these tacos in the slow cooker. The resulting tender, spiced meat is delicious served with a fresh homemade pineapple salsa, cabbage and avocado. Portions are generous, so they are perfect for feeding a hungry family and any leftovers can be enjoyed in a jacket potato the next day.

Discover more tasty taco recipes and sizzling fajita recipes.

5. Grilled vegetables with cannellini beans & vegan pesto

Bursting with beautiful colours and flavours, this simple grilled vegetable dish makes a healthy vegan meal. Grilled aubergines, courgettes and cherry tomatoes are combined with cannellini beans and coated in a homemade vegan pesto. This zesty basil and parsley dressing uses nutritional yeast in place of the normal cheese – a great one to have on stand-by for plant-based pasta dishes, too.

Browser more vibrant vegan summer recipes, from teriyaki tofu to vegan Eton mess.

6. Runner bean & prawn paella

Tuck into this flavour-packed paella and make a standard weeknight feel special – it takes just 10 minutes to prepare, so it won't keep you in the kitchen for long. It's packed full of tender chicken, green beans and peppers, and the king prawns are optional if you fancy an extra treat. You'll just be left with 650ml of white wine, which makes the perfect companion to your meal.

We've got lots more perfect paella recipes.

7. Chorizo, orzo & sweetcorn summer stew

Bring all of the summery flavours with this quick and easy summer stew with sizzled chorizo, red peppers and a can of sweetcorn. The recipe is easily doubled up to feed a family of four.

Discover more recipes with chorizo.

8. Halloumi with lemony lentils, chickpeas & beets

This warm and satisfying salad is packed full of beautiful sweet and salty flavours, and you'll probably find most of the ingredients in your store cupboard. If you're in a hurry, try swapping the uncooked lentils for a tin that's ready to go.

Use up simple staples with more of our summer store cupboard recipes.

9. Tuna & caper orzo with parsley

This fresh and zesty recipe makes a great summery change to standard tuna pasta bakes and uses cherry tomatoes, lemon and parsley. It's on the table in less than half an hour, and it'll also use up your leftover parsley and capers if you had the halloumi salad the night before.

Rustle up more comforting orzo recipes.

10. Traffic light chicken shish kebabs

Enjoying a family barbecue in the garden? These colourful chicken and pepper skewers are perfect for sizzling on the coals and the spice levels are low, making them kid-friendly. Serve them with a smoky paprika yogurt sauce and flatbreads. Rain threatening to spoil your plans? Fear not, these kebabs can also be cooked indoors under a hot grill for 15-20 mins.

Get more inspiration for family barbecue recipes and family barbecue desserts.

11. Potato, pesto & sausage traybake

Not just a winter warmer, we've given the sausage traybake a summery lift with the addition of artichokes, new potatoes, butter beans, tomatoes and fresh pesto. Serve with crusty bread to mop up the juices or form your own gourmet sausage sandwich.

Find more light summer traybake recipes.

12. Courgette & broad bean risotto with basil pesto

Make the most of a seasonal courgette glut in this light and zesty risotto. As well as using the main part of this vegetable, we've also incorporated the flowers in the mixture for extra texture. A finishing swirl of herby homemade pesto livens up the whole dish. If cooking for kids, you can substitute the white wine for more stock.

Stir up more summer one-pot recipes.

13. Pick & mix pesto pasta salad bar

If you've got a few fussy eaters in the family, this pick 'n' mix pasta bar is ideal for a light supper or lunch. Serve a spread of kid-friendly ingredients and let them dig in and help themselves.

Check out more summer pasta recipes.

14. Summer meatballs & spaghetti

Ribbons of courgette, lemon zest and parmesan turn this dish into a summery take on spaghetti and meatballs with pork mince. On the table in 30 minutes, scale up the recipe to suit your family's requirements.

Discover more meatball inspiration.

15. The best salmon fish cakes

This is summer comfort food at its best, and it's a great way of getting oily fish like salmon into your child's diet. Fry until golden brown and serve with a small handful of oven chips for extra brownie points from the kids. If you're left with a half pack of parsley and some dill, you can use these up in the next recipe.

Find more tasty fish cake recipes and summer salmon ideas.

16. Super-green mac ’n’ cheese

Pasta bake lovers rejoice! We've given classic mac 'n' cheese a summer revamp by packing in plenty of greens. With a creamy cheddar sauce and crunchy topping, it has all the luxury of the original, within the benefit of hidden veg. You could also add extra protein in the form of chicken or salmon, if you wish.

Find more cheesy dishes and satisfying puds in our collection of summer comfort food.

17. Salade niçoise

Looking for a fuss-free salad that's hearty and nutritious? This easy niçoise ticks all the boxes for a light and speedy family meal. With crunchy lettuce, ripe tomatoes, potatoes, tuna and soft-boiled eggs, it's substantial enough to have for dinner, but you could also serve some baguettes alongside. This recipe makes enough for two, but can easily be multiplied.

Celebrate seasonal produce with more summer salad recipes.

18. Goan-style vegetable curry with kitchari

Who says curries are just for winter? This nutritious version packs in five of your five-a-day with tomatoes, beans, courgettes and cauliflower – although feel free to sub in whatever veggies you have to hand. Coconut yogurt makes it a great plant-based dish to please the whole family and keeps it light and refreshing, too.

Now discover our top summer comfort food recipes.

19. Pea, feta & summer herb frittata

Make a supremely summery frittata with crumbled feta cheese, chopped sundried tomatoes, new potatoes and plenty of fresh herbs. Plus, it only takes 15 minutes to prepare.

Try more frittata recipes.

20. Summer fish stew

Bulk out a hearty fish stew with crusty bread that needs using up along with a tin of butterbeans. Lemon and parsley make simple but flavoursome additions for a super simple summery dinner.

Try more summer storecupboard recipes.

Enjoyed this? Read other family guides...

Top 20 family barbecue recipes
Family summer traybake ideas
The best family barbecue desserts
Family summer one-pot ideas
Family summer slow cooker recipes
Best family picnic recipes
Summer party ideas for teenagers