Food and Recipes Recipes 50 Easy Beach Vacation Dinner Ideas For A Stress-Free Trip By Josh Miller Josh Miller Josh Miller is a writer, editor, recipe developer, and food stylist who has been writing about Southern food and working in the publishing industry for the past 20 years. His work has appeared in Southern Living, Food & Wine, Cooking Light, Taste of the South, and Southern Cast Iron magazines. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on May 23, 2023 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox Southerners love a trip to the beach like a grandpa loves naps. Something about spending lazy days walking along the shore or lounging in a chair—toes in the sand and whatnot—just hits differently than any other type of vacation. Other than packing the essentials like pimiento cheese, it always bodes well to have a low-key meal plan that means less stress and more sun. We're talking portable pasta salads, hand-held sandwiches, easy seafood recipes (shrimp tacos, anyone?), and other fresh recipes to make your beach trip feel footloose and fancy-free. These vacation-ready recipes require minimal prep, helping you channel the loose, carefree spirit of your time off. Many of them can be made on the grill so you can maximize your time outdoors. Feeding a family? Most of these recipes are kid-friendly, too. Here are dozens of super delicious beach meal ideas to make all summer and beyond. We love a beach trip any time of year, after all. 01 of 50 Shrimp-And-Corn Succotash Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry This dish basically screams summertime, from the fresh corn succotash to the herby mayo mixture that coats shrimp. The shrimp and green beans need just a few minutes to cook before they are stirred in with the other ingredients. You can substitute any fresh veggies you picked up on the road, making this a decidedly vacation-friendly recipe. 02 of 50 Bourbon- And Cola-Glazed Steak Kebabs Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely Fire up the grill to make these kebab skewers marinated in bourbon, cola, and brown sugar. Simmer down the reserved marinade in a pan for a sweet and tangy dip. All you need is a side salad and crusty bread to complete the meal. 03 of 50 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Buy a bag of frozen field peas to save yourself some time after a busy day out on the water. Loads of herbs and tomatoes give this pasta salad that fresh summery flavor you desire. A lemony vinaigrette adds refreshing zing. 04 of 50 Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If we can put it in the slow cooker and forget about any worries while having a stroll on the beach, we're happy. These carnitas make taco night oh-so easy. You just need to gather the toppings and make a pitcher of your favorite drink. 05 of 50 Summer Brunswick Stew Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck This classic stew starts with a pound of pulled pork from the nearest barbecue spot. Throw in a few fresh vegetables, chicken broth, and barbecue sauce, and you've got a hearty meal in less than 45 minutes. Start with a little barbecue and adjust according to taste. 06 of 50 Creamy Broccoli Slaw Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Store-bought broccoli slaw mix can be a real timesaver. This slaw makes a dependable sidekick for any casual lunch or dinner during the summertime. Pair with grilled fish or a hamburger—your choice. 07 of 50 Sheet Pan Fajitas Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin We've transformed more time-intensive fajitas into a family-friendly recipe you can pop in the oven and have ready in just 20 minutes. Drizzle it with fresh-squeezed lime juice at the end to really take it over the top. Make your own fresh salsa or pick some up from the deli. 08 of 50 Creamy Avocado Dip Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Like a creamier take on guacamole, this dip is the perfect snack to replenish tired beachgoers after a long day. The addition of sour cream makes it that much more luscious and creamy. You can serve it with tortilla chips and sliced vegetables, or use it to top burgers, tacos, and sandwiches. 09 of 50 Buttermilk Alfredo Pasta With Chicken And Spinach Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Fact of the matter: Everyone loves this easy one-pot supper (made with rotisserie chicken for ultimate ease), adults and kids alike. Throw in some baby spinach to cover all the food groups. Whip it up on any hungry but lazy night. 10 of 50 Hot Crab-And-Artichoke Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey There is always a place for creamy crab dip on the snack spread during the summer—or any season, really. This bubbly, warm dip is supremely satisfying on a breezy night. For the best-tasting dip, look for freshly picked crabmeat at the local seafood counter. 11 of 50 Fried Chicken Sliders With Pimiento Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall If these don't become an instant family favorite, we're not sure what tree they're barking up. It calls for store-bought chicken tenders, which means you can assemble them in seconds. Make the homemade pimiento cheese in the morning so it has time to gel in the fridge. 12 of 50 Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Bacon and ranch always make a dynamic flavor duo—including in this hearty pasta salad that is begging to be paired with your burgers. Cooking the bacon in the oven allows you to sit back and relax. This recipe tastes best when it has a little time to chill in the fridge. 13 of 50 Maque Choux With Sausage Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry This classic Louisiana dish makes the most of all of the summer veggies like corn, okra, and tomatoes. Sausage is just an extra perk. Even better, it comes together in 25 minutes. 14 of 50 Southern Fried Corn Caitlin Bensel Introducing the newest all-star side dish to make with fresh corn kernels. It's skillet-fried and packed with buttery flavor, but the ingredient list is simple and short. 15 of 50 Egg Salad Sandwiches Jen Causey We couldn't forget this classic sandwich spread you can make ahead and snack on all week. The well-rounded flavor comes from the addition of grated onion, salad seasoning, and just a pinch of sugar. Put some fresh fruit and potato chips on the table, and you've got a quick and easy meal. 16 of 50 Tuna Pasta Salad Caitlin Bensel Here's a marriage of two of our most favorite portable things: tuna salad and pasta. Dressed with a lemon vinaigrette, the pasta salad is packed with fresh arugula, cherry tomatoes, and pickled peppers. Serve it as a dinner side and eat the leftovers for lunch all week long. 17 of 50 Slow-Cooked Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches Becky Luigart Stayner A little brown sugar, Coca-Cola, and bourbon (optional) are the secrets to this slow-cooked chicken. It can be served over cornbread, like seen here, or on sandwich buns whenever hunger strikes. Our recipe for Sweet Potato Cornbread adds a touch of sweetness to the Southern favorite. 18 of 50 Chicken Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox Summer tomatoes have never looked so delicious. This five-ingredient recipe makes use of a rotisserie chicken, which you'll shred and mix with peppers and mayonnaise. Serve on a slice of bread for the kiddos who haven't gotten on the 'mater train yet. 19 of 50 Creole Burger Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Every beach trip needs a burger night, but we've upped the ante on the basic hamburger. We added the bold flavors of Creole seasonings (hello, Zatarain's) to the ground chuck and topped the patties with grilled red onions and a tangy sauce. 20 of 50 Shrimp-Tomatillo Tacos Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Tasty shrimp tacos in just 20 minutes? Yeah, that'll do. A homemade tomatillo sauce and fresh-sliced veggies will turn your Taco Tuesday into something special. 21 of 50 Shrimp-Okra-And-Sausage Kebabs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos This recipe is basically jambalaya on grilled skewers, which we never knew we needed—but totally do. Using a very hot grill allows them to char beautifully and cook in just three minutes. Brush them with lemon juice, butter, and hot sauce for the final touch. 22 of 50 Spaghetti With Marinated Tomatoes And Mozzarella Alison Miksch Fans of Caprese salad will eat up this summery dish. Once you make the Mouthwatering Marinated Tomatoes, all you need to do is toss them with cooked spaghetti and fresh mozzarella. As a bonus, you can serve this pasta at room temperature on a sweltering night. 23 of 50 Potato Salad With Dijon And Scallions Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This mayonnaise-free potato salad is quicker to prepare than many. The recipe gets a major upgrade with fingerling potatoes, tangy Dijon mustard, and pickled onions. The pretty pink color of the onions will add a dressed-up feeling to your barbecue or picnic. 24 of 50 Sweet-And-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Just a half hour is all that's needed to turn out this hearty one-bowl meal. Salmon is topped in a super delicious honey-Sriracha sauce. Or, use Sambal oelek if you see it in the Asian food section in the market. 25 of 50 Greek Grilled Chicken Pita Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall These hand-held pitas are ideal to pack for lunch on the beach or to prepare for a casual dinner after a busy day. Pick up a container of tzatziki from the deli for a cool and creamy topping.Throw in a bag of Zapp's potato chips for good measure. 26 of 50 Deviled Crab Melts Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Melty, toasty, and wonderfully crabby, these melts are an easy seafood dinner just waiting to happen. Use fresh lump crabmeat and a good sourdough from the bakery. Stir together a spicy crabmeat mixture and stick these open-faced sandwiches under the broiler for a speedy supper. 27 of 50 Skillet Shrimp Destin With Orzo Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall You won't believe how easy this elegant dinner is to throw together in one skillet. The orzo simmers right in the garlicky wine sauce, and then we throw the shrimp in to cook at the end. Sprinkle with fresh herbs to make it fancy and serve with hunks of crusty bread. 28 of 50 Fish Muddle Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Our Test Kitchen pros say you can taste the coast in every bite of this old-school Lowcountry dish. The hearty combination of shrimp, fish, and potatoes makes for an incredibly satisfying meal. Serve over rice or grits. 29 of 50 Old Bay Rémoulade With Crudités And Shrimp Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Test Kitchen Pro Ivy Odom created this recipe as an ode to her family beach vacations as a child. "It's the perfect first-day-at-the-beach supper, which, now that I'm an adult, is ideal paired with rosé spritzers and enjoyed with my friends," she says. Keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator and serve it all week. 30 of 50 Sweet Heat Hot Dogs Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Allison R. Banks; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Nothing says "its summertime" more than a cookout, and nothing says "cookout" more than hot dogs right off the grill. These hot dogs get fired up with a brush of Sriracha sauce and a mayonnaise dressing spiced with sweet-hot pickles. 31 of 50 Crab-And-Bacon Linguine Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox You'll be surprised how easy this pasta is to prepare. White wine, heavy cream, and bacon combine to make an elegant pan sauce for the jumbo lump crab. Serve the pasta family-style outside for a relaxed meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant. 32 of 50 Fish Tacos And Toppings Bar Greg DuPree Bake your own fish at the beach house for a lighter take on the deep-fried fish tacos you'd get at a restaurant. Set up a fresh toppings bar for everyone to personalize their plates. Prepare the Asian slaw we included in this recipe, or use your own slaw if you have some on hand. 33 of 50 Summer Orzo Salad Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray This is the ideal dish to have on hand at the beach. Not only will it save in the refrigerator all week while you're there, but it can be adapted to lunch or dinner with additions like chicken, steak, shrimp, or whatever veggies you have on hand. And you don't have to fire up the stove for anything except boiling the orzo. 34 of 50 Beef Sliders With Bacon Jam Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Not in the mood to flip patties on the grill? Make a big batch of oven-baked sliders with this fun recipe the whole family will enjoy. They'll especially love the bacon jam, a smoky, thick, and caramelized concoction you'll prepare on the stove. 35 of 50 Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs With Sausage Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Run by the local seafood market to grab some fresh shrimp, and you can have dinner on the table in just 20 minutes with this recipe. Smoked sausage, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes cook alongside it in this all-in-one meal. For a more filling dinner, serve the kabobs over rice or grits. 36 of 50 West Indies Crab Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox If you're looking for something lighter than crab cakes, this is your recipe. This Mobile, Alabama, original is an easy and delicious way to use fresh crab meat. The crab salad is dressed with a delicate mixture of rice vinegar, lemon zest, and chopped mint instead of mayonnaise. 37 of 50 Black Bean Burgers With Avocado Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis You can freeze these flavorful black bean burgers ahead of time and bring them to the beach with you for an easy meatless dinner. Pro tip: Pre-baking the beans on a sheet pan will reduce the moisture, resulting in the perfect binder for these lightly spiced burgers. 38 of 50 Tropical Lettuce Chicken Wraps Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox Bring a touch of the tropics to your table with these easy chicken wraps. With a rotisserie chicken from the store, dinner will be ready in 15 minutes. You can serve them on lettuce leaves or in a whole wheat wrap. 39 of 50 Grilled Grouper Photographer and Prop stylist: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Throw your fresh catch on the grill and enjoy a full-flavored meal that takes only minutes to prepare. The fish marinates for a few minutes in lemon juice, but it's the caper and herb sauce that really packs a punch. Prepare some white rice or new potatoes to round out your dinner. 40 of 50 Ham Delights Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer This easy, crowd-friendly dinner starts with a package of King's Hawaiian Rolls. Give the ham and cheese sliders a few minutes in the oven to get gooey and warm. Serve them right out of the oven. 41 of 50 Tomato-And-Watermelon Salad Oxmoor House Combine sweet, juicy watermelon chunks with fresh tomato, onion, and a red wine vinaigrette for a salad that is the essence of summer. This recipe uses basic pantry ingredients and is quick to prepare, but tastes best after it has time to chill in the refrigerator. 42 of 50 Cajun Shrimp Foil Packets With Red Potatoes And Zucchini Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry With foil packet dinners, cleanup is minimal and cooking is quick. These flavors are ideal for a beachy night, and the only seasoning you'll need to buy is a jar of Cajun spice. 43 of 50 Lemon-Pepper Shrimp Scampi Pasta Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn No Southerner can turn down fresh Gulf shrimp sautéed with garlic in plenty of butter. The scampi sauce comes together quickly in a skillet. Adding some pasta water thickens the glossy sauce just enough to coat the pasta. 44 of 50 Scallops With Pesto, Corn, And Tomatoes Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This dish combines the best produce of the season with fresh-caught seafood in one spectacular dish. Thanks to a jar of refrigerated pesto, it can be prepared in less than 20 minutes. If you've never cooked scallops before, don't worry. We've provided tips on how to get the perfect sear. 45 of 50 Crab Boil With Beer And Old Bay Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Blue crabs should be plentiful at the beach considering they're in season from April to October. Grab a few pounds of the live ones for a traditional crab boil. A seafood boil is simple to prepare; just remember to save the crabs until the end so they don't overcook. 46 of 50 Simple Pan-Seared Fish Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis This basic recipe works well with grouper or red snapper or any other firm, white fish. The fillets are seasoned simply with salt and pepper. It's the vibrant pea salad that really makes the dish shine. 47 of 50 Fried Whole Fish With Tartar Sauce Liz Bodet of EFG & Associates This classic fried fish recipe came to us from the kitchen of Chef Nicole Mills of Pêche Seafood Grill in New Orleans. She recommends using using snapper, redfish, or flounder. To enhance the flavor, whip up a snappy homemade tartar sauce spiced with peppers and garlic. 48 of 50 Oven-Roasted Corn On The Cob PHOTOGRAPHER: FRED HARDY II, FOOD STYLIST: EMILY NABORS HALL, PROPS STYLIST: CHRISTINA BROCKMAN After you try this life-changing recipe, you may not cook corn any other way. Slathered in butter and herbs and wrapped in foil, these ears soak up all the flavor you could ever hope for. Serve them with seafood or whatever you're cooking on the grill. 49 of 50 Crab Cake Bites With Old Bay Mayo, Chives, And Lemon Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Crab cakes are a staple on the coast that offers endless variations. Here's a simple recipe from Adam Evans, chef at award-winning Birmingham restaurant Automatic Seafood and Oysters. Make sure to include a dollop of Old Bay Mayo with every bite. 50 of 50 Shrimp Salad Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox If you're looking for a cool meal on a hot summer night, try this chilled shrimp salad. We've mixed up a creamy and lemony dressing with a touch of fresh dill and Creole mustard. Serve it in soft bread rolls, in a wrap, or as a salad topper for a low-key dinner on the porch or poolside. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit