Need Beach/Vacation Meal Ideas!

[kaf7878]

My in-laws are taking my family to the beach for a week. I am in charge of planning the menu. I really need some dinner ideas. Nothing that takes a ton of time to prepare. But, it does need to taste good! What are some good meals I could serve at the beach--we have a full kitchen! Thnks!

 

[Piecey]

I always do Italian Beef as our fallback good/quick/delicious meal.

1 Can of Beer
1 pkg dry Italian salad dressing
1 jar Pepporochini peppers (might have spelled that wrong) [don't use all the peppers unless you want a bit of a kick, but the juice is good]
Beef Roast

Put it all in a crockpot for several hours, it's done when you can shred it with a fork... Very good.

 

[Bren's Mom]

Do you have a grill? I'd make good use of that if you do.

Some meals I'd include if I were making a 'beach' menu:

marinated london broil, corn on cob, salad

marinated chicken breast, rice pilaf, grilled squash/other veggie

Hamburgers one night, hot dogs another with potato salad, pasta salad, coleslaw, cucumber and tomato chopped salad, creamy cucumber salad (any one or two of the above)

grilled chicken with fajita rub, sauteed onions (on grill also, in disposable pan), tortilla, fresh salsa (from store), fresh guacamole (Wholly guacamole, add some chopped tomatoes and fresh lemon juice to 'doctor' it up), lettuce, tomato, cheese, yellow (saffron) rice

 

[mindyd]

Is it possible for you to cook Spaghetti Sauce ahead of time and freeze it then you will just have to heat it up and make the noodles. You could do Sloppy Joes, Chicken or Steak Salads.

 

[Joan S.]

Hi,Another grille idea would be fish on the grille (or in the oven) cooks up quick. Served with microwave rice,corn on the cobb and salad. If you need a few fish recipies, REALLy easy just ask!! Joan

 

[fiveforall]

We always buy some fresh shrimp and then do a shrimp boil along with corn on the cob and new potatoes. Yum!

 

[zarvgirl]

Coming from an island I know all about beaches,

as for summer meal planning...truly it's the easiest!!

BBQ-without a doubt anything can be cooked on the grill.

Salads-we always have a couple of different salads on the go, bean salad, brocoli salad, fruit salad, pasta salad, all super easy to make ahead and take out throughout the week, add to when you need to.

Be sure to prepare of a couple of days that you may be inside, make your own pizzas, nachos, quesidilas.

Have freezies or ice cream treats available to take out whenever anyone needs a pick me up.

At the beach, chips, fresh fruit, sandwiches, jug a juice.

Have a great vacation.

 

[marthachick]

We do:

Baked spaghetti or lasagna- prepare a week or two ahead and freeze. Serve with grlic bread and salad. Yum!

Bbq chicken - skinless boneless breasts in throw away pan with bbq sauce, baked potatoes, slaw or salad

Tacos - prepare meat ahead and freeze. Take side items you normally use.

Burgers and/or dogs with sides like someone else suggested.

BBq pork - Do this a week or so before also. Pork roast or Boston butt cooked in crock pot, shred meat and add bbq sauce. Freeze. Serve with baked beans, rolls and slaw.

For lunch, leftovers or sandwiches. We always get chips and desserts that we don't buy very often at home This makes it more fun for some reason.

 

[TiffanyK]

Here's what we did last year at our WDW house and this year at the Beach. It was basically just assembly only, not really cooking.

Vacation Food

 

[shortbun]

we cooked one dinner in 10 nights this past beach vacation. The first night there we ordered pizza and intentionally had leftovers for the next day's lunch. We did grocery shopping for breakfast and lunch which we at AT the house except the day we had dinner in-we at lunch out that day. It was pasta(pestoed, alfredoed with chicken and marinara with meat balls), grilled chicken and hamburgers, BLTs, omlets, burritos, grilled cheese, hot dogs with baked beans. We kept cantelope, peaches and watermelon cut up and ready, apples, bananas and strawberries were there for the taking. The freezer had ice cream treats. I baked brownies, a chocolate cake and cookies while we were there. We bought bags of chips, salsa and refried beans as well as avacados for nachos or salads. We had lettuce ready for salads and/or sandwiches. Peanut butter and jelly were always at the ready. We took two Britas and everyone had their own water bottle. It was a no brainer. I do not cook dinner when I'm on vacation. Don't think we spent huge amounts of money on dinners though. We did splurge twice on fresh seafood and once we found great fresh seafood at a bar and cheap. We ate wraps, calzones, shared meals, ordered just water to drink but we went out.

 

[lauradenise4779]

We always buy some fresh shrimp and then do a shrimp boil along with corn on the cob and new potatoes. Yum!

We make a slight variation of this, called Frogmore Stew (yes, that's the name ) and it is our FAVORITE beach meal! This recipe is from Paula Deen, and the only thing I change in the recipe is to use those little short frozen ears of corn, rather than corn kernels, and use more Old Bay..the bags are great! Super quick, super easy, super delicious!!!

* 3 quarts water
* 1 (12-ounce) bottle beer
* 1 teaspoon black peppercorns
* 2 teaspoon crab boil seasoning (recommended: Old Bay)
* 2 bags frozen corn kernels
* 1 head celery, 1-inch dice
* 1 large onion, 1-inch dice
* 7 pounds red potatoes, quartered
* 2 pounds smoked sausage, cut into 1-inch pieces
* 2 pounds shrimp, peeled, deveined

Directions

Bring water and beer to a boil in a stockpot. Add peppercorns and crab boil seasoning. Add corn, celery, onion and potato and cook 12 to 15 minutes. Add sausage and shrimp and cook 15 minutes more. Serve in bowls with cooking broth.

 

[mamalle]

BBQ chicken/ribs

grilling hamburgers/hotdogs

anything in a crockpot

and good ole lasanga is a standby

 

[a1tinkfans]

We usually do a crock or a pot with chili and hotdogs
A lasagne already frozen to be baked OR sauce done and then just boil some pasta and italian bread and salad.
How about sausage and peppers in the oven, some italian bread and a salad
Burger night
Sandwich hero night with salads

Have a great vacation!!!

 

[okeydokey]

How about Rotisserie chicken from the local store? Or take out barbeque, pizza and salad, take out Chinese?

 

[santa's surpriz]

Stouffers has great family size portions that you can just pop in the oven. Also I went camping with my ex-in laws and they made a hobo stew in a keg. I am not sure how it all worked, but I know there was corn cob, keilbasa, potatoes and other stuff in it. We literally layered in the keg, went boating and came back hours later and was it done. I cannot remember how it was cooked though, I don't recall it being put on a campfire. Sorry I cannot help there.

 

[britfish]

This is a super easy recipe and great for leftover chicken. My 75yo inlaws love it as does my 5yo!

Turkey/Chicken Enchiladas
2 C cooked chicken / turkey
1 (8.75oz) can drained no salt added corn
1 8 oz cont. reduced fat sour cream
1 1/2 C reduced fat shreded mexican chese
2 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro
10 6 inch corn tortillas
1 10oz can enchilada sauce (prefer green)
1 C salsa

Heat oven 400
coat 9x13 dish w/ cooking spray
In large bowl combine turkey, corn, sour cream, half of cheese, and half of cilantro
wrap 5 tortillas in damp paer towel, microwave on high for 30 sec. to soften, repeat w/ remaining tortillas.
Place about 1/3 cup mixture on each tortilla and roll tightly
arrange in baking dish, seam side down.
In a bowl combine salsa and enchilada sauce.
Pour over tortillas
top with remaining cheese.
bake 15-20 or until cheese melts and heated through.
Sprinkle w/ remaining cilantro.

 

[3boymthr]

Here is a very easy pasta salad recipe that you make a day ahead so you could make it after supper for the next night:

1 head of brocolli washed and cut up - discard stalks
1 head of cauliflower washed cut up - discard stalks
1 box of rotini cooked to directions on package
1 packet of good seasons dry italian dressing mix
1 (16 oz or so) bottle of your favorite italian dressing

Add the good seasons dry packet to the bottled italian dressing. Shake Well and set aside.
Cook the pasta. Cut up the brocolli and cauliflower while the pasta is cooking. Put in a large bowl When pasta is cooked drain and add to brocolli and cauliflower. Pour italian dressing over the pasta and veggies. Toss to mix. Cover and refrigerate overnight. It's ready to serve for lunch or dinner the next night. Will stay good for several days.

This recipe will feed a large crowd as a side dish or a medium crowd as the main dish.

To make it a complete meal add grilled chicken breast strips.

 

[semo233]

I don't like to cook while on vacation....unless I feel like cooking

Someone suggested on another board that her husband went to Olive Garden and bought pasta sauce and bread sticks. Meanwhile, she boiled some pasta and got salad in a bag. The 4 of them ate for under $14.
Just another idea.

 

[Junebugwv]

Here are a few easy chicken meals we make:

CAMPFIRE CHICKEN

In baking dish, sprinkle each layer with Good Seasons Italian Dressing mix:

chicken
carrots
green beans
slices of onion

Cover tightly with foil and bake 350 for 1.5 hours.


ITALIAN CHICKEN:

6 chicken breasts
10 Roma tomatoes, quartered
1 pkg sliced mushrooms
1 pkg. onion soup mix
1 small bottle Italian dressing

Mix soup mix and Italian dressing; pour over chicken and vegetables. Bake 1.5 hours, covered.

Serve over brown rice.

CHICKEN TACO SALAD:

In crock pot:

Mix a large jar of salsa and a pkg of taco seasoning. Place chicken in the crock pot and pour the salsa over the chicken. Cook all day. If it cooks long enough, the chicken shreds easily by mixing with a fork.

Serve with tortilla chips, packaged shredded lettuce, diced tomatoes, sour cream, shredded cheese, etc.

 

[kaf7878]

Thanks everyone for the great ideas! Believe me, if it was just my family we would be going the super easy route every night but b/c my in-laws are coming, we have to be a bit more dignified

Please keep your ideas coming!!!