Summer schedules have a way of filling up quickly. Between vacations, ball games, cookouts and evenings spent outdoors, dinner sometimes becomes an afterthought.
The good news is that a quick meal doesn’t have to be boring. With a few Native-made ingredients on hand, it’s easy to put together simple dinners that are full of flavor and come together without much planning.
Bison burgers with a barbecue twist
Burgers are a summer staple for a reason. If you have access to ground bison, try swapping it in for traditional beef burgers and top them with Navajo Mike’s Smoked Prickly Pear Barbeque Sauce. Serve with sliced watermelon, corn on the cob or your favorite summer side dish.
It’s a simple change that adds a little extra flavor to a familiar meal.
Wild rice taco bowls
Taco bowls are easy to customize and a great way to use ingredients you already have in the refrigerator. Start with cooked wild rice, then add seasoned ground beef, turkey or bison along with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, shredded cheese and any other toppings your family enjoys.
For those who like a little heat, finish with a few drops of Sakari Farms Fire Roasted Hot Sauce.
Sheet pan chicken and vegetables
When you don’t want a sink full of dishes, sheet pan meals are hard to beat.
Toss chicken and your favorite vegetables with olive oil from Seka Hills and roast everything together in the oven. Potatoes, carrots, onions, broccoli and bell peppers all work well. Serve with a side of wild rice for a meal that feels hearty without requiring much effort.
Breakfast for dinner
Some nights call for keeping things simple.
Wild Rice Pancake Mix makes it easy to put together a quick breakfast-for-dinner meal. Serve pancakes with eggs, breakfast sausage and a drizzle of Red Lake Nation chokecherry syrup for a sweet-tart flavor that pairs perfectly with a summer evening meal. Add fresh berries on the side and dinner is done!
Salmon and summer salads
A lighter dinner can be just as satisfying on a hot day. Smoked salmon from SeaBear Smokehouse pairs well with mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes and a simple vinaigrette made with honey and olive oil. Serve with crusty bread or fresh fruit for a meal that comes together in minutes.
Summer dinners don’t need to be complicated. A few quality ingredients and a little creativity can help turn busy weeknights into meals everyone looks forward to sharing.