5 Easy Summer Pantry Dinners from Gaby Dalkin

Right now, when it comes to getting dinner on the table, Gaby Dalkin — best-selling cookbook author and voice behind the food blog What’s Gaby Cooking — is all about sticking with fresh, summery meals that are equal parts easy-as-can-be and totally comforting. While she loves picking up seasonal ingredients from her farmers market, Gaby leans hard on easy weeknight dinners that keep the dirty dishes to a minimum and she isn’t afraid to lean on smart store-bought shortcuts to save time and maximize flavor. Here, Gaby shares a week’s meal plan with us, and tells us how she does it.

Over the past several months, I think we’ve all become total pros when it comes to cooking out of our pantries. So this week’s meal plan is going to piggyback on those skills and work in some really incredible summer recipes that will brighten any day! 

This is one of my favorite one-dish meals! The recipe calls for Guacamole Starter, but you can swap in any kind of green salsa to bring this together. It also makes for incredible leftovers if you’re lucky to have some for lunch the next day! 

Get the recipe: Poblano Skillet Enchiladas

If you need something that’s comforting but not super heavy, this pasta alla vodka is it! The creamy sauce is incredible and you just toss it with any kind of pasta. Bonus: You can toss in some cooked ground chicken or turkey if you’re looking for a bit more protein. 

Get the recipe: Pasta alla Vodka

These veggie burgers have been in the Dalkin fam since I was a kid. My mom would make them weekly and we’d load them up with slices of Colby Jack cheese and avocado. These days I put a little bit more of a grown-up spin on it, but really any way you top them is going to be incredible. 

Get the recipe: Black Bean Veggie Burger

During the first few weeks of quarantine, I made an incredible amount of polenta and I don’t know why I don’t make it all the time. It’s so delicious, takes on the flavor of whatever you put on top, and is great for leftovers. This version has a summery spin and I cannot get enough! 

Get the recipe: Goat Cheese Polenta with Cherry Tomatoes

It’s half salad, half main course, and 100% my kinda meal this time of the year. Tomato season is our time to shine! Add to that fresh mozzarella and some grilled steak, and no one could say no to this dinner.

Get the recipe: Heirloom Tomato and Steak Caprese

Thanks so much, Gaby! Check out Gaby’s newest cookbook, Eat What You Want, and follow her on What’s Gaby Cooking, as well as Instagram and Twitter.

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Meal planning isn’t always easy — especially if you’re just getting started. But we’re firm believers that it’s the secret to stress-free weeknight dinners. We want to help you find inspiration and ease some of the pain points that come with getting dinner on the table night after night, whether you’re cooking one or a family of four or five. Every week we share a new meal plan solution specifically customized for you from reader requests or from a guest contributor, for Next Week’s Meal Plan!