Easy Summer Picnic Dinners Meal Plan | Week of July 25

Summer evenings are made for taking dinner outside. Whether you're heading to a park, the beach, a concert, or simply the backyard, this week's meal plan is filled with easy picnic dinners that travel well and require very little last-minute preparation.

We're beginning with crisp Korean beef lettuce wraps, followed by a colorful Italian pasta salad and flavorful shawarma wraps. No-cook salmon tacos keep Thursday especially simple, while warm sheet pan muffaletta sandwiches make a fun and flavorful Friday dinner. For a sweet finish, bake a batch of s'mores cookies with all the flavors of a favorite summer campfire treat.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Summer Picnic Dinners Menu & Serving Ideas

Here's what's on the menu this week:

• Monday: Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps - Serve the savory beef in crisp lettuce leaves with rice, sliced cucumbers, shredded carrots, and extra scallions. Pack the filling and lettuce separately if you're taking dinner outdoors.
• Tuesday: Summer Italian Pasta Salad with Salami - This colorful pasta salad is a complete picnic-friendly meal. Serve it with fresh fruit, crusty bread, or a simple green salad.
• Wednesday: Shawarma Wraps - Fill warm flatbreads with shawarma, fresh vegetables, and a creamy sauce. Add hummus, sliced cucumbers, olives, or a simple tomato salad on the side.
• Thursday: No-Cook Salmon Tacos - Serve with shredded cabbage, avocado, fresh lime, and your favorite salsa. Tortilla chips, corn salad, or watermelon make easy summer sides.
• Friday: Sheet Pan Muffaletta Chicken Sandwiches - Filled with savory chicken, melted cheese, and a flavorful olive mixture, these warm sandwiches are perfect for sharing. Serve with chips, fresh fruit, or a simple green salad.
• Treat: S'mores Cookies - These soft, delicious cookies bring together chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers for an easy summer treat-no campfire needed.

Have a beautiful summer week!

RELATED: More 31Daily Dinner Ideas >>

This Week's Recipes

1

Easy Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe

These Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps are a quick and flavorful meal perfect for warm weather. Made with seasoned ground beef, fresh pear, garlic, and sesame, they're tucked into butter lettuce cups and topped with crunchy vegetables and gochujang. Light, fresh, and ready in 20 minutes-ideal for easy summer dinners or entertaining.

Easy Korean Beef Lettuce Wraps Recipe Saved!

2

Easy Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

This Mediterranean-inspired Pasta Salad is a favorite with salami, peppers, broccoli, zesty Italian dressing, and Feta cheese.

Easy Summer Pasta Salad Recipe Saved!

3

Shawarma Wraps

Shawarma spiced chickpeas, creamy hummus, spicy zhoug jalapeño paste, and juicy/crispy veggies wrapped in a warm pita. A yummy vegetarian meal!

Shawarma Wraps

4

10 Minute No Cook Salmon Fish Tacos Recipe

These 10-minute Smoked Salmon Tacos pair tender salmon with crisp lime-cilantro slaw and fresh toppings. Use cold-smoked, hot-smoked, or leftover cooked salmon for an easy no-cook meal.

10 Minute No Cook Salmon Fish Tacos Recipe Saved!

5

Muffuletta Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner

This easy Muffaletta Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner is inspired by the bold, briny flavors of a classic muffaletta sandwich. Made with juicy chicken thighs, roasted cauliflower, olive salad, salami, roasted red peppers, and fresh greens, it's a quick and flavorful weeknight dinner.

Muffuletta Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner Saved!

6

S'mores Cookies

Gooey and delicious, these S'mores Cookies are everything you love about s'mores in cookie form. Packed with 2 kinds of chocolate, marshmallows, and graham crackers.

S'mores Cookies Saved!

7

Fudgy Picnic Chocolate Cake

This Picnic Chocolate Cake is a rich, fudgy, easy one-bowl chocolate cake made with simple pantry ingredients and baked in an 8x8 pan. With chocolate chips folded into the batter, it's delicious without frosting and perfect for picnics, potlucks, BBQs, or anytime chocolate cake cravings.

Fudgy Picnic Chocolate Cake Saved!

Meal Prep Tips

A little preparation will make these portable summer dinners especially easy to assemble and enjoy.

• Bake the cookies or cake ahead: Make the s'mores cookies or the picnic cake over the weekend or a day before serving. Once completely cool, store them in an airtight container.
• Cook the Korean beef: The beef filling can be prepared ahead and refrigerated. Reheat it before serving, or pack it warm in an insulated container. Wash and dry the lettuce leaves in advance, but store them separately so they remain crisp.
• Prepare the pasta salad: Tuesday's pasta salad is an excellent make-ahead meal. Prepare it the night before and refrigerate, reserving a little dressing to refresh it before serving if needed.
• Chop the vegetables: Slice cucumbers, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, and other toppings at the beginning of the week. Store them in separate covered containers for easy wraps, tacos, and picnic sides.
• Make sauces and spreads: Prepare any shawarma sauce, taco toppings, or sandwich components in advance. Hummus and other spreads can also be portioned into small containers for easy packing.
• Prepare Friday's sandwich ingredients: Make the olive mixture ahead and refrigerate it in a covered container. You can also cook the chicken in advance, making the muffaletta sandwiches quick to assemble and bake on Friday.
• Pack safely: Keep salmon, chicken, sauces, and other perishable ingredients chilled in an insulated cooler with plenty of ice packs until serving.

Find More Quick Meal Plan Ideas

For more healthy dinner inspiration, browse my past weekly meal plans!