Grilled Veggie and Goat Cheese Wraps opens in a new tabOne of my favorite time- and money saving tips is batch cooking, preparing a big batch of a staple ingredient — like veggies, grains or chicken — to incorporate into meals throughout the week. For example, roast a whole chicken during the weekend and volà! You’ve got a quick and easy shortcut for salads, tacos, sandwiches and pasta dishes later in the week.
Summer grilling makes it easy. You can fire up the grill once and cook enough for two meals ― tonight's dinner, plus extra food that can be turned into a second, different meal for breakfast, lunch or another night.
So the next time you’re grilling veggies, hamburgers or brats, throw on chicken breasts, a steak, veggies or a fillet of fish for your upcoming meals. Here’s some inspiration:
Chicken.
Grilled Chicken Salad with Peach-Pecan Vinaigrette opens in a new tab
Add it to grain or green salad like this summery Grilled Chicken Salad with Peach-Pecan Vinaigrette opens in a new tab or Sonoma Chicken Salad opens in a new tab (a shopper favorite!)
Make burritos, tostadas or quesadillas opens in a new tab
Serve chicken with rice and steamed veggies
Set out a taco salad station
Add barbecue sauce to pulled chicken for sandwiches
Slice breast meat for sandwiches or make wraps like this Jamaican Jerk Chicken Wrap opens in a new tab
Save dark meat for chicken tortilla soup
Cut into chunks and use as a tasty topper on a pesto pizza
Steak.
Arugula with Steak, Lemon and Parmesan opens in a new tab
Start your day right with steak and eggs, breakfast tacos or steak hash
Slice for quesadillas or nachos
Add to sandwiches and wraps (even grilled cheese!)
Top a grain or green salad like Arugula with Steak, Lemon and Parmesan opens in a new tab
Add to noodle bowls
Toss with pasta, vegetables and blue cheese for a light pasta salad lunch
Fish.
Honey Mustard Salmon Salad opens in a new tab
Like chicken and steak, grilled fish is great in grain or green salads (like this Avocado Salmon Salad with Kale opens in a new tab), pasta dishes or sandwiches.
Or try one of these:
Honey Mustard Salmon Salad opens in a new tab pairs well with stoneground crackers, multigrain sandwich bread or lettuce leaves
Declare taco night! (Tip: Gently bring the fish to room temperature or quickly reheating it in a sauté pan)
Top Mighty Bowls of Goodness opens in a new tab, one-bowl meals with quinoa, lentils, kale or broccoli and avocado
Make fish cakes like these Mini Wild Salmon Cakes opens in a new tab
Flake and add to chowders or soups
Veggies.
Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad with Chickpeas and Basil opens in a new tab
Quesadillas, frittatas, omelets, quiches, salads, lasagna…what can’t you do with grilled veggies?
Here are a few recipes that will make your week:
Upgrade your pasta like in Grilled Vegetables with Cheese Tortellini opens in a new tab
Grilled Veggie and Goat Cheese Wraps opens in a new tabare made for summer suppers, picnics and lunch on-the-go
Make it pizza night with Grilled Vegetable Pizza opens in a new tab
Grilled Summer Veggie Fajitas opens in a new tab are a family favorite
Beware! Your Grilled Summer Vegetable Salad with Chickpeas and Basil opens in a new tab may accidently disappear if you keep it in the office fridge
Do you grill ahead for future meals? Share your time-saving recipes and ideas in the comments section below.
