What is a good beach dinner?
One of the best parts of a beach vacation is the food!
But when dining out every night isn’t in the budget (or just sounds exhausting), planning your own meals can be a great way to relax and enjoy your time.
While local restaurants are always fun to explore, sometimes the last thing you want to do after a long beach day is wait for a table.
Picking up fresh ingredients from a local grocery store and making your own beach vacation meals can become one of your favorite parts of the trip, especially if you get everyone involved. You could even incorporate some themed dinners to make it more festive.
Whether you’re grilling outside or keeping it simple in the kitchen, a great beach dinner is easy, flavorful, and fits the laid-back vibe of vacation.
Enjoy these quick and easy dinner ideas so that you can spend more time on the beach!
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What is an easy meal to make on a beach trip?
An easy meal for a beach trip requires minimal prep, uses just a few ingredients, and doesn’t rely heavily on cooking time or equipment. Meals that can be prepped ahead of time, assembled quickly, or cooked in one pan or on the grill are the best options.
Shopping at a local grocery store for staple items and fresh produce or seafood can also simplify meal planning. The goal is to keep meals low-stress so you can spend more time on the beach and with family and less time in the kitchen.
Beach Vacation Meals: Chicken Dishes
Marinated Chicken Kabobs
Source: Chew Out Loud
These marinated chicken kabobs sizzle with a honey and lime flavor. They’re easy to make and an instant summer hit at your beach house!
Bruschetta Chicken
Source: Ann’s Entitled Life
Try this easy bruschetta chicken recipe for a quick and flavorful meal topped with juicy tomatoes, garlic, and basil. It’s the perfect dinner for your family vacation at the beach!
Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Source: Trop Rockin
This easy Tuscan chicken recipe is a deliciously creamy one-pan meal that will easily become a favorite main course. Start with seared chicken breasts and smother them in a heavy cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. Serve over a plate of pasta with a side salad and garlic bread for a quick and easy meal that the entire family will enjoy!
Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
Source: Chew Out Loud
These sheet pan chicken fajitas are super easy, deliciously flavorful, and mess-free. Sheet pan dinners are a great idea for a larger group on a beach vacation!
Lemon Garlic Chicken Thighs
Source: Tessie’s Table
These baked lemon garlic chicken thighs are just what you need after a long day on the beach. Juicy chicken thighs, zesty lemon, and the garlic and herb flavoring will have everyone coming back for seconds!
Chicken Stir-Fry
Source: Haute & Healthy Living
This chicken stir-fry is a healthy and delicious one-pan dinner that can be prepared in under 30 minutes! Loaded with juicy chicken, fresh veggies, and tossed in a savory peanut sauce, it’s delicious over rice or noodles.
Beach Vacation Meals: Seafood Dishes
Lump Crab Stuffed Salmon
Source: Amy Casey Cooks
Enjoy a delicious stuffed salmon dish in just 30 minutes with this easy-to-make recipe! It’s stuffed with a flavorful crab cake filling and baked to perfection.
Mahi Mahi
Source: The Forked Spoon
This easy mahi mahi with lemon garlic sauce is a simple, flavorful way to enjoy this tender, flaky white fish. Ready in minutes and bursting with fresh, zesty flavor, it’s the perfect recipe for a quick and delicious meal after a day at the beach!
Chili Lime Shrimp Tacos
Source: Mandi of the Mountains
These chili lime shrimp tacos are perfect for a tasty taco night after a day at the beach. They’re simple, fresh, and ready in about 30 minutes.
Mahi Mahi Fish Tacos
Source: Little Sunny Kitchen
These easy-to-make grilled mahi mahi tacos feature soft taco shells stuffed with fresh fish and a creamy, crunchy slaw, giving them a flavorful kick. Purchase fish from a nearby grocery store and grill in just 10 minutes to get this meal on the table in no time!
Beach Vacation Meals: Pasta Dishes
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta
Source: A Cedar Spoon
Lemon garlic shrimp pasta is a light pasta dish mixing shrimp, fresh parsley, and a lemon garlic butter sauce. Pair it with a bottle of white wine, crusty bread, and a light salad for a delicious Italian night meal!
Garlic Lobster Noodles
This easy garlic lobster noodle recipe is a scrumptious and decadent stir-fry with an Asian flair. Linguine with lobster morsels is tossed with a sauté of mushrooms, green onions, and plenty of garlic, accompanied by a salty, sweet, and savory sauce.
Salmon Tomato Pasta
Source: Chef’s Pencil
This Mediterranean-inspired dish combines seared salmon, juicy tomatoes, briny olives, and capers, all tossed with an al dente pasta. It’s the perfect vacation meal, combining fresh, vibrant flavors in a simple and elegant presentation.
Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti
Source: Budget Delicious
This chicken spaghetti recipe is ready in under 30 minutes and remains delicious even when reheated the next day. Bring chicken, spaghetti, and sauce together for a meal the entire family will love!
Turkey Mince Noodles
Source: Join Your Life
These turkey mince noodles are a high-protein, low-fat stir-fry ready in just 20 minutes! Lean turkey mince is crisped and tossed in a chili-garlic soy sauce and served over noodles and cabbage for a flavorful and healthy beach meal.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Source: Chew Out Loud
This Hawaiian macaroni salad is easy to make, feeds a crowd, and tastes amazing. It can even be made ahead of time so you can have an easy dinner ready to go!
Sheet Pan Gnocchi
Source: Recipes from a Pantry
This easy sheet pan gnocchi recipe is perfect for your busy beach days. Just toss the gnocchi on a sheet pan with some cherry tomatoes, baby spinach, mozzarella cheese, and delicious spices, and let the oven do the rest. The best part is the incredibly easy clean-up!
Italian Pasta Salad
Source: Tastes Better from Scratch
This easy Italian pasta salad recipe is delicious, filling, and the perfect make-ahead meal for your family vacation! Getting your family to help make this meal is a great way to make some memories and get to the beach sooner.
Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
Source: Bitz & Giggles
This chicken Caesar pasta salad is packed with rotini pasta, tender chicken, crispy bacon, juicy cherry tomatoes, and crunchy croutons, tossed in a creamy Caesar dressing. It’s a fresh twist on a classic that’s perfect after a long day at the beach!
Summer Orzo Pasta Salad
Source: A Cedar Spoon
This easy-to-make summer orzo pasta salad combines orzo pasta, creamy feta cheese, crisp summer vegetables, fresh herbs, and a light, lemony vinaigrette. It’s a great addition to your summer vacation meal plan!
Summertime Bowtie Pasta Salad
Source: The Forked Spoon
This easy summer pasta salad features fresh vegetables, mozzarella, and tender pasta tossed in a zesty homemade vinaigrette. It comes together in just 30 minutes and is a favorite beach meal!
Street Corn Pasta Salad
Source: Hungry Whisk
Make this easy street corn pasta salad with grilled corn, creamy mayo, lime juice, cotija cheese, and chili powder. It’s a quick and flavorful meal perfect for the large group at your beach condo.
Beach Vacation Meals: Salads
Lebanese Salad
Source: A Cedar Spoon
This easy Lebanese salad mixes chopped tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, cucumbers, green onions, and parsley, topped with a lemony-mint dressing. This healthy and light salad is the perfect addition to any meal, or add some grilled chicken breasts to make it a meal the entire family will love!
BBQ Chicken Salad
Source: Chew Out Loud
This BBQ chicken salad is easy and delicious. It’s packed with grilled chicken, tomatoes, corn, black beans, cheese, and greens. Top it with your favorite honey BBQ sauce for the perfect family dinner at the beach!
Chicken and Bacon Caesar Salad
Source: Join Your Life
This chicken and bacon Caesar salad is packed with protein, making it a super filling yet not too heavy option for lunch. The best part is that it’s perfect for a big group of people!
What are some fun and easy themed dinner ideas for a beach vacation?
Planning meals on a beach vacation can feel like a chore, but turning dinner into a themed night makes it fun and simple. Whether you are feeding a large group or just looking to spice things up, themed meals take the guesswork out of what to make and turn dinner into part of the vacation experience.
If you’re wondering what to cook while staying at the beach, here are some fun and easy themed dinner ideas to help you plan with ease and enjoy every bite. Incorporate the recipes from above into your favorite themed beach dinners!
- Taco Tuesday by the Sea – fish tacos, street corn, tortilla chips, guacamole
- Luau Night – kabobs, fruit skewers, Hawaiian mac and cheese
- Beach Picnic Night – sandwiches, potato salad, pasta salad, fruit cups, chips, cookies
- Boardwalk Bites – personal pizza, flatbread, hot dogs, hamburgers, seasoned French fries, ice cream
- Mediterranean Night – chicken skewers, hummus, tomato and cucumber salad
- Campfire Night – hot dogs, baked beans, chips, s’mores
- Under the Sea Night – crab cakes, mahi mahi, lemon garlic pasta, seaweed salad
Conclusion
There you have it: the best beach vacation meals for large families that are quick and easy. Planning meals for a beach vacation doesn’t have to be stressful. With some simple planning, you can enjoy delicious meals that bring everyone together without cutting into your relaxation time. Whether you’re cooking in a beach house kitchen, grilling outdoors, or packing a sunset picnic, beach vacation meals are all about keeping things easy, fresh, and fun.
What are some of your favorite beach vacation meals? Let us know in the comments.
Related Articles for Beach Vacation Meals:
25 Easy Beach Vacation Meals for a Large Group
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