This Week’s Meal Plan//Summer//August 22, 2026

This week’s meal plan leans heavily on low-effort, high-flavor cooking so you don’t have to spend a whole lot of time at the stove. If you’ve yet to make the Naan Pizza or the Basil Vinaigrette, they are two personal favorites. And the Baja-Style Tacos can’t be beat for ease and flavor. Enjoy!

Baja-Style Shrimp Tacos with Chipotle Lime Crema

The star of this recipe is the Chipotle Lime Crema that gets spooned over cooked shrimp under a heap of crunchy slaw. You can do the shrimp on the grill instead of the stove if it’s handy. This Street Corn Salad is excellent on the side.

Tomato, Corn, and Summer Squash Pie

This savory pie is a terrific way to bring together the best of summer produce. It’s got an easy, whole-grain crust, but you can certainly swap in a store-bought pie dough to save time. It’s great for brunch, lunch or supper with a green salad on the side. Want a crustless option? Check out this Summer Vegetable Frittata.

Easy Chicken Paillard

The combination of capers, shallots, and white wine is undeniably delicious spooned over chicken. The dish is made entirely on the stovetop, and because it’s done with pounded chicken breasts, it’s a fairly quick-cooking dish. On the side, try arugula and cherry tomatoes tossed with this vinaigrette or a grain dish like this one.

Grilled Naan Pizza with Ground Lamb and Pickled Onions

This tasty and unconventional pizza starts with store-bought, whole-grain naan that you top with a savory blend of onions, ground lamb, spices, and diced tomatoes. Fresh mint and quick pickled red onions make a bright finish. Feel free to make it in the oven or fire up your grill and get the job done there. If you can’t find naan, you can make these using store-bought pizza crust (Boboli, for example) or lavash.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Apple Cabbage Slaw

This is the perfect use for the slow cooker in the summer. The tenderloin, which is a lean cut of meat, cooks down into tender, pull-apart pork that’s excellent on a soft bun with a pile of crunchy slaw. Assemble a big plate of crudite and add Green Goddess or Ranch for a tasty dip. 

Beautiful Basil Vinaigrette

This is a summer staple that is excellent on tomatoes, grilled vegetables, boiled or roasted potatoes, and fish, chicken, or beef. You can also use it to add flavor to a pasta salad, sandwiches, and summery crostini.

Lemon Yogurt Icebox Cake with Berries

This is a lightened up twist on an old-fashioned dessert. It might be just the thing to make for a party while berries are still in season. All you do is fold whipped cream into Greek yogurt that’s been perfumed with lemon zest and sweetened with maple syrup. Then, layer the cream with fresh berries and graham crackers, and refrigerate for several hours. That’s it!