Food and Recipes Recipes 45 Easy Beach Vacation Dinner Ideas for a Stress-Free Trip By Southern Living Editors Southern Living Editors Since 1966, the editors of Southern Living have been carrying out the mission of the brand: to bring enjoyment, fulfillment, and inspiration to our readers by celebrating life in the South. We inspire creativity in their homes, their kitchens, their gardens, and their personal style. We are a friend they can trust, a guide to the seasons, a helping hand during the holidays, and a relentless champion of the Southern way of life. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on June 21, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos 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 and Wickles, 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 year-round, after all. 01 of 45 Shrimp-and-Corn Succotash Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Shrimp-and-Corn Succotash This dish basically screams summertime, from the fresh corn succotash to the herby mayo mixture that coats shrimp. 02 of 45 Steak-and-Potato Kebabs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Steak-and-Potato Kebabs Fire up the grill to make these perfect kebab skewers. All you need is a side salad and crusty bread to complete the meal. 03 of 45 Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners Recipe: Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas This freshest-ever pasta salad is gearing up to be your go-to side with any meal. A lemony vinaigrette tops it off in the most refreshing way. 04 of 45 Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos 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. 05 of 45 Kardea Brown's Okra Soup with Shrimp Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Kardea Brown's Okra Soup with Shrimp This Gullah-inspired family recipe features the most mouthwatering broth you'll ever taste. Shrimp shells are a gold mine for flavor. 06 of 45 Creamy Broccoli Slaw Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Creamy Broccoli Slaw This makes the most dependable sidekick for any casual lunch or dinner during the summertime. Pair with grilled fish or a classic turkey sandwich—your choice. 07 of 45 Sheet Pan Fajitas Photography and Styling: Karen Rankin Recipe: Sheet Pan Fajitas 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. 08 of 45 Creamy Avocado Dip Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Creamy Avocado Dip Like a creamier take on guacamole, this dip is the perfect snack to replenish tired beachgoers after a long day. 09 of 45 Buttermilk Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Spinach Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Buttermilk Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Spinach Fact of the matter: Everyone loves this easy one-pot supper (made with rotisserie chicken for ultimate ease), adults and kids alike. Whip it up on any hungry but lazy night. 10 of 45 Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey Recipe: Hot Crab-and-Artichoke Dip There is always a place for creamy crab dip on the snack spread during the summer—or any season, really. Beach trip notwithstanding. 11 of 45 Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Fried Chicken Sliders with Pimiento Cheese 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. 12 of 45 Bacon-Ranch Pasta Salad Recipe: 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. 13 of 45 Maque Choux with Sausage Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Maque Choux with Sausage This classic Louisiana dish makes the most of all of the summer veggies like corn, okra, and tomatoes. Sausage is just an extra perk. 14 of 45 Southern Fried Corn Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Southern Fried Corn Introducing the newest all-star side dish to make year-round. It's skillet-fried and packed with buttery flavor. 15 of 45 Egg Salad Sandwiches Jen Causey Recipe: Egg Salad Sandwiches We couldn't forget this classic sandwich spread you can make ahead and snack on all week. 16 of 45 Tuna Pasta Salad Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Tuna Pasta Salad A marriage of two of our most favorite portable things: tuna salad and pasta salad. This will cover your lunch bases all week long. 17 of 45 Slow-Cooked Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Slow-Cooked Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches A little brown sugar, Coca-Cola, and bourbon (optional) are the secrets to this slow-cooked chicken that can be served over cornbread, like seen here, or on sandwich buns whenever hunger strikes. 18 of 45 Chicken Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Chicken Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes Summer tomatoes have never looked so delicious. Serve on a slice of bread for the kiddos who haven't gotten on the 'mater train yet. 19 of 45 Creole Burger Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Creole Burger We upped the ante on everyone's basic burger by adding the bold flavors of Creole seasonings (hello, Zatarain's) and a tangy sauce. 20 of 45 Shrimp-Tomatillo Tacos Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Shrimp-Tomatillo Tacos Tasty shrimp tacos in just 20 minutes? Yeah, that'll do. 21 of 45 Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs This recipe is basically jambalaya on grilled skewers, which we never knew we needed—but totally do. 22 of 45 Easy Creamy Chicken Spaghetti Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Easy Creamy Chicken Spaghetti It's hard to beat this family-friendly casserole that you can make ahead to take on vacation. It makes your life way easier from the get-go. 23 of 45 Potato Salad with Dijon and Scallions Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Potato Salad with Dijon and Scallions Classic potato salad gets a major upgrade with fingerling potatoes, tangy Dijon mustard, and scallions. 24 of 45 Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl 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. 25 of 45 Greek Grilled Chicken Pita Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Greek Grilled Chicken Pita These hand-held pitas are the ideal travel lunch for days spent on the beach. Throw in a bag of Zapp's potato chips for good measure. 26 of 45 Deviled Crab Melts Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Deviled Crab Melts Melty, toasty, and wonderfully crabby (get it?), these melts are a seafood supper just waiting to happen. 27 of 45 Skillet Shrimp Destin with Orzo Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Skillet Shrimp Destin with Orzo You won't believe how easy this elegant dinner is to throw together after a day on the beach. 28 of 45 Fish Muddle Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Fish Muddle Our Test Kitchen pros say you can taste the coast in every bite of this old-school Lowcountry dish. 29 of 45 Old Bay Rémoulade with Crudités and Shrimp Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Old Bay Rémoulade with Crudités and Shrimp 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. 30 of 45 Sweet Heat Hot Dogs Jennifer Davick; Prop Styling: Allison R. Banks; Food Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns Recipe: Sweet Heat Hot Dogs Nothing says "its summertime" more than a cookout, and nothing says "cookout" more than hot dogs right off the grill. 31 of 45 Crab-and-Bacon Linguine Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Crab-and-Bacon Linguine This dinner looks elegant, but it's so easy to put together. Serve it family-style outside for a relaxed meal that tastes like it came from a restaurant. 32 of 45 Fish Tacos and Toppings Bar Greg DuPree Recipe: Fish Tacos and Toppings Bar Bake your own fish at home for a lighter take on the deep-fried fish tacos you'll get at a restaurant. Set up a fresh toppings bar for everyone to personalize their plates. 33 of 45 Summer Orzo Salad Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray Recipe: Summer Orzo Salad 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. 34 of 45 Sausage-and-Shrimp Pizzas with Spinach-Basil Pesto Photographer: Antonis Achilleos, Prop Stylist: Audrey Davis Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall Recipe: Sausage-and-Shrimp Pizzas with Spinach-Basil Pesto Take pizza night out to the grill with this summery pizza that puts fresh shrimp to use. 35 of 45 Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread Alison Miksch Recipe: Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread You're going to love this bright take on classic tomato sandwiches. Pop them in an airtight container in your cooler for an oh-so-fresh lunch al fresco. 36 of 45 Beef Sliders with Bacon Jam Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Beef Sliders with Bacon Jam Not in the mood to flip patties on the grill? Make a big batch of burgers with this fun recipe the whole family will love. 37 of 45 Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Sausage Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Grilled Cajun Shrimp Kabobs with Sausage 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. 38 of 45 West Indies Crab Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad This Mobile, Alabama, original is the absolute easiest and most delicious way to use fresh crab meat. 39 of 45 Black Bean Burgers with Avocado Slaw Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Recipe: Black Bean Burgers with Avocado Slaw You can freeze these flavorful black bean burgers ahead of time and bring them to the beach with you for an easy meatless dinner. 40 of 45 Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos Recipe: Crunchy Chicken-Peanut Chopped Salad Store-bought chicken tenders add flavor and protein to this simple, colorful salad that you can pack and go. 41 of 45 Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner Recipe: Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps Quick pickles, grilled shrimp, and a light marinade make for a quick appetizer or lunch. 42 of 45 Ham Delights Photographer: Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer Recipe: Ham Delights We wouldn't ever make a beach trip without some lunches that start with King's Hawaiian Rolls. 43 of 45 Marinated Watermelon Tomato Salad Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Marinated Watermelon Tomato Salad A tangy lime-ginger vinaigrette is just right with sweet watermelon and juicy tomatoes in this summer salad. 44 of 45 Cajun Shrimp Foil Packets with Red Potatoes and Zucchini Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry Recipe: Cajun Shrimp Foil Packets with Red Potatoes and Zucchini With foil packet dinners, cleanup is minimal and cooking is quick. These flavors are ideal for a beachy night. 45 of 45 Halloumi-and-Summer Vegetable Kebabs Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos Recipe: Halloumi-and-Summer Vegetable Kebabs If you're on the hunt for a meatless main dish or a fresh summer side, this kebab recipe is just what you need. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit