Easy to Make Recipes on a Budget Summer
Make it easier on yourself to feed your family this month with my new family meal plan for June. It has 30 easy summer meals on a budget, plus ideas for breakfast, snacks, and lunches…all parent and kid approved.
Summer Meals on a Budget
With fresh seasonal produce starting to become more available across the country, this is a perfect time of year to make the most of your food dollars. You should start to see lower prices on seasonal produce, more options for locally grown foods, and lots of delicious ingredients to turn into meals.
But since I also know you don't want to spend all day cooking, these meals use that ripe produce in easy recipes for everyone at the table. And to be honest, my goal in sharing these ideas for family meals for June is just that, to give you ideas.
I know that things come up, plans change, we get tired of cooking, or we're in the mood for something else. So use these ideas as inspiration however best works for your life right now. It's all good!
TIP: Find meal planning templates, easy meal and snack idea check lists and more freebies in my Resource Library.
Easy Family Meal Plans
As a mom to three kids, I know firsthand how much it helps my own sanity to have a plan in place for what the heck we're going to eat each week. I'm not super strict with my meal plan, but I've found that mapping out the week (or the month) really does help me to serve a variety of foods.
And it helps me to make the most of the ingredients I have on hand (especially in the pantry and freezer) and stay motivated to cook.
Because when I make more decisions ahead of time all at once, I have less to make in the moment. Which just seems so much easier for my brain to handle when my kids are starving at 5:15pm!
June Week 1
For the first week of the month, you'll start to see that I use the idea of themes when planning dinners. So from Sunday to Saturday the themes are sandwiches, salad, Mexican, pasta, breakfast for dinner, snack dinner or pizza, and skillet or sheet pan meals. This makes it much easier for me to fill in recipes since I'm starting with some boundaries in place!
I like to make 1-2 homemade recipes for breakfast and snacks each week and fill in with easy foods like cereal, yogurt, mac and cheese. and sandwiches.
Breakfast Ideas Lunch, and Snack Ideas
Healthy Zucchini Muffins (Vegan and Easy!)
I like to make half of the batch with mini chocolate chips and half without so I have options. They're still sweet enough for little ones without the chocolate though!
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Easy Cherry Smoothie (to Share with the Kids!)
Try this naturally sweet smoothie filled with cherries, banana, and creamy yogurt. Add the nut butter if desired for extra protein and flavor.
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Blueberry Chia Seed Jam
You can make this with fresh or frozen blueberries. Use the yogurt option to turn it into a quick and easy chia seed pudding.
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Easy Snacks
Berry Banana Smoothie Bowls (Kid-Friendly)
These are deliberately thick so that they're easy to eat with a spoon. Vary the toppings as you like!
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Chocolate-Covered Bananas (Frozen Pops!)
These Chocolate Covered Bananas are frozen into popsicles that are so easy to make and so seriously fun. The chocolate pudding has a perfect texture once frozen, you can add sprinkles if you want, and use either paper lollipop sticks or popsicle sticks.
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Easiest Watermelon Juice (to Share with the Kids)
This is a perfect way to use up some of a giant watermelon and is also a wonderful way to help the kids stay hydrated in the warmer months. You can scale the recipe up or down to make more or less as you like.
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Lunch Ideas
Cheesy Baked Kale Bites
You can use curly kale or flat kale in this recipe—both work well.
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Creamy Hummus Without Tahini
You can use regular plain yogurt, though I like the consistency that Greek yogurt yields a bit better.
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Pizza Muffins (with Veggies!)
These work well to make ahead and warm up for an easy lunch or dinner. These taste best served warm.
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Dinners
Easy Zucchini Burgers
Stretch your ground beef and add a veggie right into moist burger patties with this simple family dinner recipe.
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Easy Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Mix up this grain salad to have lunches prepped for the week for yourself, or to have a dinner side or vegetarian main dish to share with the family.
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Easy Taco Buffet (No-Cooking Required!)
I prefer to make these vegetarian since it's easier, but you can of course add in cooked chicken, beef, or shrimp if you like! Add another can of beans or additional corn to feed a larger family or appetites.
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Healthy Pasta Salad with Chicken
This works well anytime of the year, but the flavors are particularly great in summer
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Easy Bacon and Egg Muffins
I like adding the thyme in these for extra flavor, but it's optional! Be sure to grease your muffin tin well with nonstick spray to help prevent these from sticking to the pan. A nonstick mini muffin pan works best here.
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Easy Stuffed Peppers Skillet
You can use whichever type of rice your family likes best. We rotate through short grain brown rice, basmati, and jasmine. Adults may want to top their portions with shredded fresh basil and/or crushed red pepper.
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June Week 2
Whenever you want to round out a main dish, think easy sides like fresh fruit or canned fruit, sliced cucumbers or fresh snap peas, or even sliced cheese or bread. The goal in my house is to always have 1-2 foods on the table that the kids usually like so that they always have something to eat—and I'm not getting up to make another meal.
(And if they don't eat much, I can reasonably assume they just aren't very hungry.)
Breakfast Ideas
Best Banana Yogurt
This recipe make enough for 2-4 servings of yogurt, depending on the appetite of your child. See the Notes at the bottom for storage tips if you have leftovers. You can also cut the recipe in half to make a smaller amount.
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Favorite Spinach Eggs (Green Eggs Recipe)
Packed with spinach (and iron!), these bright green eggs are fun and delicious. You can serve them as you would scrambled eggs, or use in a breakfast burrito or egg sandwich.
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How to Make Oatmeal with Fruit
The base recipe makes a large amount so you can use it throughout the week. Feel free to cut it in half to make less, or just make one serving at a time using the instructions in the NOTES section below.
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Easy Snacks
Favorite Mango Smoothie Recipe
This fresh Mango Smoothie is thin enough to drink through a straw and thick enough to eat with a spoon. And of course, it's super creamy!
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Blueberry Banana Muffins with Oats
Like a cross between a fluffy blueberry muffin and baked oatmeal, these muffins are moist and packed with yummy nutrition.
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Blueberry Popsicles (with Yogurt and Spinach)
If you have a high powered blender you can add up to a cup of spinach. If you're relying on a food processor you may want to reduce it to ½ cup. Start with the lower amount and add more as you like.
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Lunch Ideas
4-Ingredient Baked Chicken Meatballs
Serve with Marinara sauce, Pesto, Cheese Sauce, or with a side of ketchup or any other favorite dip. We like to have these on hand to use an easy lunch component or have them with pasta.
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Refried Bean Taco Roll Ups
This makes 6 rolled up tacos, so you can adjust this as needed for your family. Taste the refried beans before you make the roll ups and adjust the salt and/or cumin if needed. You can also serve the ingredients in separate bowls and let your family serve themselves.
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Easy Greek Pita Pizzas
Serve these assembled as shown, or with the toasted pita bread alongside the hummus and toppings depending on how your child will prefer it.
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Dinners
Easy Sausage Meatballs
This will make at least two dinners worth of meatballs, depending on how many people are in your family. I like to freeze half of the batch to use in a future meal.
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Crispy Baked Chicken Tenders
These crispy Chicken Tenders are fast and versatile. To make these with panko breadcrumbs, use 1 cup and stir ¼ teaspoon salt into the flour before you dredge the chicken.
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Easy Vegetable Pancakes
We like these dipped in sour cream guacamole, salsa, or Cucumber Sauce.
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Easy Pesto Pasta Salad Recipe
This is an easy family dinner or lunch. I like to use Spinach Pesto for this, but any will work if you prefer to buy it pre-made from the store.
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Healthy Baked Sheet Pan Nachos
You can add some of the ingredients to some of the areas—leaving the spinach off, adding more salsa or spice—to customize for everyone at the table. I usually leave about a ⅓ of the pan for the kids with less greens and salsa and then pile it on for my husband and I.
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June Week 3
If there's ever a week when you feel like relying on staples you know everyone likes, do that! There's no reason that you can't repeat meals more than I have in this meal plan and routine at meal times is often very comforting to kids.
I like to keep some general recipe ideas (like pasta and tacos) and vary them a little to continue exposing the kids to a variety of foods.
Breakfast Ideas
Simple Green Smoothie
Frozen bananas give the smoothie a creamy, naturally sweet base, though you can make this with a fresh banana as long as the other fruit is frozen. It's easy to add whatever berries or fruit you have on hand, so customize it for your kiddo.
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Banana Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies
You can use peanut butter, almond butter, or Sunbutter in this recipe. Choose creamy unsweetened if possible.
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Favorite Raspberry Muffins
With a bright, fresh flavor and an ingredient list that's packed with nutrition, these Raspberry Muffins are truly something special. If you (or your kids!) love raspberries, these are a must-make!
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Easy Snacks
Peanut Butter Oatmeal Energy Balls
These no-bake bites taste like a cross between oatmeal raisin and peanut butter cookie dough. I use natural creamy peanut butter (like the kind from Smuckers) and it works really well. (Recipe updated slightly in June 2021 to ensure the best texture.)
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Easy Grape Pops (with Fresh Fruit!)
I like to make these with red grapes. Choose seedless to avoid seeds in the blender.
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Peach Banana Smoothie (with Cottage Cheese)
This simple smoothie is easy to make and is super creamy without many ingredients. You can even share it with your kiddo! Be sure to blend it very well to ensure the best creamy texture.
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Lunch Ideas
Fluffy Zucchini Pancakes
These fluffy pancakes are a yummy way to serve vegetables for breakfast and use up zucchini should you find yourself with extra. These can be served plain or with a side of yogurt or applesauce to babies and younger eaters, or with maple syrup—they are very versatile!
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Banana Sushi (3-Ingredient Kids Lunch)
Banana Sushi is a seriously fun and fast lunch for kids—that's filling too! Plus: You only need three nutritious ingredients to make this lunch.
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Veggie Grilled Cheese Sandwich (to Share with the Kids)
With just 4 ingredients, including a veggie that blends right in, this Veggie Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a yummy kids lunch to share. It packs extra nutrition in the filling, yet only takes a few minutes to make. Such a great easy meal!
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Dinners
Easy Baked Salmon Cakes (Salmon Patties)
These tender fish cakes make a quick and easy pantry meal when you haven't planned ahead for dinner. Recipe updated slightly to ensure moistness in June 2021.
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Roasted Sweet Potato Tacos
You can try serving this to your toddler with the components separated if they aren't quite up to holding and eating a regular taco. Simply arrange the filling, the tortillas, and toppings on a plate and let them eat them however they like!
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Quick Teriyaki Shrimp with Zucchini and Rice
We like this with rice or rice noodles, but you can adjust how you serve it to fit your family!
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Easy Broccoli Pesto (for Pasta and Pizza)
This will likely make enough for two meals. You can freeze the leftovers for a future meal. (This recipe was updated to improve the taste and method in April 2019.)
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Easy Snack Dinner (to Share with the Kids!)
You can do a big family-style platter or individual ones for the kids depending on your preference. Add anything else that sounds appealing and know that the nutrition info will vary according to what you use.
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One-Pot Pesto Chicken and Brown Rice
Add some warmed frozen peas, whole grain toast, or a side of fruit to add a few simple sides if desired. This recipe was updated in September 2019 to ensure the rice cooks through.
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June Week 4
Breakfast for dinner is almost always a hit in my house and I've found that a carton of eggs is one of the most handy items I can keep on hand in my fridge. We've been loving these Breakfast Burritos lately!
Breakfast Ideas
Banana Zucchini Muffins with Blueberries
These muffins make for a delicious breakfast, snack, or lunchtime component. This recipe was updated June 2019 to improve the texture and streamline the ingredients.
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Best Avocado Smoothie (3 ingredients!)
This makes two toddler-size servings or one serving for a hungrier smoothie-lover!
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Healthy Breakfast Bars with Jam
Use Sunbutter to make these nut-free. You can cut these into smaller bars if desired. If you want them a little softer, serve them at room temperature rather than chilled.
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Snack Recipes
Easy Veggie Muffins
I like to grate the carrot on a box grater and cut the top of each broccoli floret off and finely dice with a knife. Avoid the stems since they won't blend into the batter as well.
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Strawberry Popsicles (with Greek Yogurt!)
With bright berry flavor and a creamy texture, these freezer pops are a delicious and nutritious dessert or snack. If making these for a baby, omit the optional sweetener.
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So Good Chickpea Blondies
These blondies are packed with just-sweet-enough flavor and nutrition. I prefer these chilled, but see what you think!
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Zucchini Cookies with Chocolate Chips
These healthy little soft-baked cookies are a yummy treat or snack to share. Rolling the shredded zucchini in a towel helps ensure that the excess moisture is absorbed—and doesn't wind up in the batter.
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Easy Lunches
Easy Carrot Hummus
Taste the hummus and adjust for salt as needed. You may need more depending on whether or not you started with canned beans, and sometimes after the hummus sits in the fridge, it needs another sprinkle of salt.
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Quick Pizza Quesadillas (An Easy Kids Meal)
This meal is perfect for when you're short on time or when you want to make pizza with less fuss. Add a simple side of cut up fruit, applesauce, or a salad kit and call it good.
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Easy Breakfast Burritos
These are called "breakfast" burritos since they have eggs, but you can serve them for any meal of the day!
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Dinners
Easiest Instant Pot BBQ Chicken
You can double this recipe and use 2 pounds of chicken if desired. Just do your best to spread it into an even layer in the instant pot. (Note: The nutrition facts will vary based on the bbq sauce that you use.)
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Easy Vegetarian Burrito Bowls
Prep the rice, beans, and veggies ahead if you can or want to. They store well in the fridge and simply need to be reheated. The nutrition information in this recipe will vary based on the ingredients you choose to use.
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Easy Cherry Tomato Pasta (to Share with the Kids)
With a no-cook, stir-together sauce, this easy Cherry Tomato Pasta is an easy family dinner. And OH so delicious and fresh. You can leave it chunky or blend it smooth—it's so versatile for all preferences!
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Easy Zucchini Fritters Recipe
We bake these Zucchini Fritters since they are easier to cook and easier to clean up. If you have a lot of zucchini, you can double the recipe to make a full muffin tin's worth!
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10-Minute Flatbread Pizza (Just 3 Ingredients!)
For delicious homemade pizza without the work and in a lot less time, Flatbread Pizza to the rescue. Adjust this for allergies as you need.
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How to Make Meal Planning Easier
Make feeding your family less work—physically and mentally—with my complete system. My Happy Family Meals ebook includes 4 weeks of EASY recipes for every meal of the day.
It also includes calendars, grocery lists, and one meal each week that makes enough to be repurposed into a second meal the following week. Which means it's done all of the thinking for you to make the whole process easier for you.
During the first two weeks I used this system, I cut my grocery bill in half. And I never had to go back to the store since I had everything I needed!
TIP: You can read more about the ebook here.
Related Recipes
Please comment with any questions or feedback on these meal planning posts!
This post was first published June 2020.
Source: https://www.yummytoddlerfood.com/summer-meals-on-a-budget/
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