Summer Cooking Made Simple: 3 Quick and Tasty Recipes

Elevate your outdoor dining experience with these patio friendly recipes

Summer gatherings with friends and family are all about easy, convenient, patio friendly recipes. Spend those special occasions with those you love most and make this summer one to remember with flatbreads, sliders and sweet treats for all to share.

Keeping cooking simple means more time on the patio or in the backyard engaging with guests, and these Chipotle Chicken Flatbreads, Chicken Shawarma Sliders and Lemon Cheesecake with Fruit let home chefs skip complicated kitchen duties without skimping on flavor.

For this post we have partnered with Culinary.net and eMeals.com to bring you delicious Summertime Patio-Friendly Recipes. Let’s get cooking!

Summery Flatbreads for Family and Friends

Perfect for Alfresco entertaining – these little beauties are simple to make and friends and family can customize this savory dish with their favorite toppings before popping in the oven.

Companion serving suggestion: fresh salad

Chipotle Chicken Flatbreads

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Recipe adapted from butteryourbiscuit.com

Ingredients

• 2 flatbreads
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 clove garlic, diced
• 4 chicken tenders, cooked and cubed
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup ranch dressing
• 1-1/2 tsps. chipotle seasoning
• 2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 F
2. Place parchment paper on baking sheet and add flatbreads. Sprinkle cheese on the flatbreads. Top with garlic, chicken and tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bake 16 minutes until cheese is melted.
3. In a small bowl, mix ranch and chipotle seasoning.
4. Drizzle ranch dressing on flatbreads and sprinkle with cilantro leaves.

Shareable Sliders for a Nutritious Summer Meal

Fresh, mouthwatering foods hot off the grill are a sure sign of summer fun. Hosting sunny get-togethers this year will be easy when you show off your grilling skills with a simple, nutritious and flavorful recipe.

These Chicken Shawarma Sliders are a delicious example of how to grill healthy summer meals without sacrificing flavor. They’re part of a curated 12-recipe collection of healthy, balanced dishes from the snacking experts at family-owned Fresh Cravings, known for its chilled salsas, hummus and other dips, which teamed up with eMeals, America’s leading provider of meal plans.

“These sliders are a fantastic – and healthy – option for your next gathering,” said eMeals Senior Nutrition Writer and Editor Rachel West, RD. “The marinade uses a mix of pantry-friendly dried herbs and fresh garlic to give the lean grilled chicken breast some oomph. The lettuce and red onion add cool crispness and crunch to the sandwiches while Fresh Cravings’ creamy, flavor-packed hummus gets some nutritional bonus points by providing a dose of protein and fiber.”

Chicken Shawarma Sliders

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Recipe courtesy of eMeals Registered Dietitian Rachel West

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 package (12) slider buns
• 1 container (17 ounces) Fresh Cravings Honey Jalapeno Hummus
• 1 package (8 ounces) shredded lettuce
• 1/2 small red onion, sliced

Directions

1. In a zip-top plastic bag, use meat mallet or heel of hand to pound chicken to even thickness. Cut into 2-inch pieces and place in large bowl. Add oil, garlic, paprika, cumin, coriander, salt and cayenne; toss.
2. Cover chicken and chill for 8 hours, or up to 2 days.
3. Preheat grill or grill pan to medium-high heat. Grill chicken 4-5 minutes per side, or until done.
4. Serve chicken on buns with hummus, lettuce and onion.

Unforgettable Fruity Flavor

Fresh fruit, a bit of sweetness and summertime – the perfect ingredients for backyard entertaining. Serving up a delicious dessert for family and guests starts with favorite produce in this Lemon Cheesecake with Fruit.

The touch of tangy tartness lures friends and family to the dessert table and the fresh lemon juice in the cheesecake is complemented perfectly, topped with orange slices and raspberries.

Lemon Cheesecake with Fruit

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Serves 6 to 8

Ingredients

• 1-1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 can (14 ounces) sweetened condensed milk
• 3 eggs
• 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 orange, peeled and separated
• 8 raspberries (or berries of your choice)
• garnish: 3 mint leaves

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
2. In a medium bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar and melted butter. Press firmly into a 9-inch springform pan.
3. In large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Gradually beat in sweetened condensed milk until smooth. Add eggs, fresh lemon juice and vanilla extract; mix until combined.
4. Pour into pan. Bake 50-55 minutes, or until center springs back when lightly pressed.
5. Chill in refrigerator until completely cooled. Arrange orange slices around the border of cake and place raspberries in the middle. Top with mint leaves.

For more summer recipe ideas, visit Culinary.net.

Find the entire recipe collection by visiting emeals.com/campaign/Fresh-Cravings-Healthy-Eats.

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