4 Yummy Easy Beach Recipes For The Perfect Vacation!

Who doesn’t love a beach getaway? There’s something about spending lazy days walking along the shores, toes buried deep into the sand, lounging on a sand mat with a book in hand. On top of that, the food by the ocean, with pecks of sand in it, just tastes delicious! So, when are you planning your next beach vacay? As you plan it and keep the pimento cheese handy – here are some easy beach recipes to cook up a storm by the shore! 

As you scroll down this post, you will get an idea about the recipes you can cook up at your beach rental and a quick note on the essentials you need to carry for the trip. 

What are some easy beach recipes? 

Note: US standard measurements are used here. 

Here are some easy-breezy recipes for your benefit – 

Recipe 1 – Corn and Shrimp Succotash 

Succotash is a crowd-pleaser for every season. Therefore, when scouting for easy beach recipes, this tops the list! Let’s show you how to cook it up – 

What you will need? 

. Olive oil/ Apple cider vinegar (2 tablespoons each) 

. Flat leaf parsley and tarragon (fresh and well-chopped – 2 tablespoons each)

. Fresh corn kernels (3 cups) 

. Raw shrimp (peeled and deveined, 1 pound) 

. Cooked lima beans (either fresh or frozen – 2 cups/1 pound)

. Kosher salt (2/1/2 teaspoons)

. Mayonnaise (1/4 cup)

. Green beans (trimmed – 4 ounces)

. Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon)

How to make it? 

. Take a large skillet and heat oil in it at medium-high flame. To it, add the shrimp and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Continue cooking the shrimp till it turns pink (3-4 minutes) and then set it aside. Put it in the fridge and let it chill for 30 minutes. 

. Now take another saucepan and put salted water into it. Let it boil at a high flame. To this, add the green beans and cook it for up to 2 minutes, or till it becomes tender. After it is done, put the beans in ice-cold water. Drain it. Repeat this once more. 

. In a bowl add – mayonnaise, pepper, tarragon, parsley, salt, and vinegar. Mix it well. To this combo, add the shrimp and the cooked beans, along with the corn and lima beans. Toss this mixture well. Serve it well. 

Recipe 2 – Slow-cooker Carnitas Tacos 

One of the best cooking hacks you can try to keep things easy is – using a slow cooker. This allows you to precook the food; hence, you don’t have too much pressure while lazing around. Here’s one of those slow-cooker easy beach recipes you can try out – 

What you will need? 

. Boneless pork shoulder (3 pounds)

. Chicken broth (3/4 cup, low-sodium variety)

. Orange juice (1/4 cup)

. Black pepper (1 teaspoon) 

. Kosher salt (1 tablespoon)

. Smashed garlic cloves (4)

. For garnishing – shredded cabbage, diced avocados, lime wedges, corn tortillas, fresh Mexican cheese

How to make it? 

. A 6-7 quart slow cooker is best for concocting this up. In that, combine the pork, orange juice, garlic, pepper, and chicken broth along with the salt. This will take time. All you have to do is cover it and cook at a low flame until the pork is tender. 

. Then, you have to preheat the broiler. Make sure that the oven rack is 6 inches from the heat. Now, in the slow cooker, you have to remove the pork from the liquid. After that, transfer that to the baking sheet and ensure that it is spread on an even layer. 

. Start broiling the pork. It must be crisp and brown (8 minutes is good). Continue stirring and broiling it for another 2 minutes. Sprinkle a little bit of salt and toss it.

. On the platter, serve the pork and garnish it with the above-mentioned ingredients. 

Recipe 3 – Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad 

There’s no beach time if pasta is not on a platter! This refreshing lemony pasta salad is one of those easy beach recipes that you can cook up without much trouble. Let’s give you a glimpse of the same –

What you will need? 

. Pasta (cooked and drained – 8 ounces)

. Peas (cooked and drained – 3 cups)

. Basil, chives, dill, flat-leaf parsley (fresh, and 3 tablespoons each) 

. Cherry tomatoes (halved – 1 cup)

. Garlic clove (pressed, 1)

. Dijon mustard (1 tablespoon)

. Extra virgin olive oil (1/3 cup)

. Black pepper (1/2 teaspoon)

. Honey (2 teaspoons)

. Kosher salt (1 1/2 teaspoons)

. Lemon zest (1 teaspoon)

. Fresh lemon juice (1/4 cup) 

How to make it? 

. Combine the lemon zest and juice with kosher salt, honey, clove, black pepper, and Dijon mustard. Toss it well and add the extra virgin olive oil. Whisk the ingredients very well. Your vinaigrette is ready! 

. Now mix the peas and tomatoes with the pasta. Once you have combined it well, add the herbs to it. Whisk the combo very well, and then slowly add the vinaigrette to it. 

. You can either serve it at room temperature or chill it for 30 minutes. 

Recipe 4 – Fried Chicken Slider with Pimiento Cheese 

For anyone going for a beach vacation, cheese is mostly in their backpacks. So why not curate cheese-based easy beach recipes to douse your hunger pangs? Here’s how you can make it – 

What you will need? 

. Multiple types of cheese: Cheddar cheese (both sharp and mild hoop varieties, 1 block each), and creamy Gouda cheese (non-smoked, 1 block). 

. Pimento cheese (drained, 2 jars)

. Worcestershire sauce (1 1/2 teaspoons)

. Mayonnaise (1 cup)

. Sweet onion (finely grated, 2 tablespoons)

. Black pepper (1 teaspoon)

. Fried chicken tenders (halved)

. Kosher salt (1/2 teaspoon)

. Pickled okra pods (sliced, 12)

. Dinner rolls/slider buns (12)

. Smoked paprika and cayenne pepper (1/4 teaspoons each) 

How to make it? 

. For starters, take all the cheeses, grate them well, and mix them in a bowl. 

. Take another bowl and add – the pimientos, Worcestershire sauce, onion, mayonnaise, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt. Mix this concoction well to create a thick mash. 

. Add this mash to the grated cheese. Combine these well. Cover it and refrigerate for 4 hours. 

. Take half a side of the bun and spread the frozen concoction evenly. After that, top it with a sliced okra and chicken tender. Put the other half of the bun to complete the slider. Skewer it with a toothpick and serve it with iced coffee! 

What cooking essentials are a must to carry? 

Whether you are packing for a beach vacation or otherwise, here are a couple of cooking essentials you must carry. 

. Get your set of disposable half-sheet baking pans. Ensure they have lids. 

. Ziploc freezer bags are a must! Whether you intend to precook your food or marinate them, these are must-haves! 

. A slow cooker is a must. Though it is mostly available everywhere, it is better to get yours from home. 

. Keep a few cheap plastic deli containers handy. 

. Lastly, you must bring along aluminum foil and plastic wrap.  

Keeping these things handy makes cooking any of the choicest recipes easy. 

Parting thoughts 

Everyone likes to enjoy a munchy or two while looking at the sea. If you, too are planning a beach visit, then you can print this listicle of easy beach recipes and get the required ingredients along. Also, if you wish to add on a couple of recipes or bring in some ‘twist’ to the given set of recipes, do leave a comment below. For more exciting and yummy recipes like these, keep following ContourCafe.