Three simple summer dinner ideas to take the hassle out of cooking

By Sonya Gee

With layers of zucchini and corn, lemony ricotta and salty tomatoes, this lasagne is perfect for summer weather.(Supplied: Hetty McKinnion)

Getting back into a routine after the holidays can be tough.

Fun and easy meals can help, whether it's kid-friendly fish tacos or a chicken tray bake with nostalgic apricot-chicken vibes.

Here are three to try:

Summer lasagne with fresh tomato, corn and zucchini

A slice of summer lasagne on a grey plate with two forks. It has layers of fresh corn, grated tomato, zucchini and ricotta. — This lighter version makes the most of fresh summer veggies.( ABC News: Hetty Lui McKinnon )

Hetty Lui McKinnon's summer lasagne requires very little cooking. Simply grate fresh tomatoes and zucchini and layer with corn kernels, lasagne sheets and a lemon ricotta mixture before baking. It serves between 6–8, which means less cooking for the rest of the week.

Easy and healthy fish tacos

A fish taco sits on a plate with a bowl of avocado yoghurt sauce beside it and a bowl of cabbage slaw, an easy dinner for kids. — Gently spiced fish, crunchy cabbage slaw and a garlicky avocado sauce make up this tasty fish taco.(ABC Everyday: Tim Grey)

Baked fish pieces, a quick cabbage slaw and an avocado and yoghurt sauce are the simple elements of these fish tacos, which Heidi Sze has made kid-friendly. It's also the best time of year to make mango and haloumi tacos if you're looking for a vegetarian option. For vegans, try our barbecue pulled jackfruit tacos.

Chicken tray bake with plums, lemon and thyme

Did you grow up with apricot chicken? This easy baked dinner from Julia Busuttil Nishimura has a similar sweet and savoury combo, only using fresh plums. The meal bakes on a single tray and feeds up to six, making it minimum effort for maximum reward.