3 Easy Dinners You Can Cook in Your Turks and Caicos Villa
Eating out every night gets old fast — and expensive. When you've got a kitchen in your vacation rental, cooking a few meals yourself just makes sense.
The good news? You don't need to spend hours in the kitchen. These three simple dinners come together in under 30 minutes each, use easy-to-find ingredients, and taste way better than another mediocre resort buffet.
We've linked everything so you can get it all delivered before you arrive.
1. Grilled Lime Chicken with Garlic Rice
Bright, zesty, and satisfying. This is the kind of meal that feels like effort but really isn't. The lime and garlic do all the heavy lifting.
What you'll need:
How to make it: Cut the chicken breasts in half lengthwise so they're thinner and cook faster. Squeeze fresh lime juice over both sides and season generously with garlic salt.
Heat olive oil in a grill pan or skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken 6-7 minutes per side until it hits 165°F internally.
While the chicken cooks, make your rice according to the package directions. Serve the chicken over the rice with extra lime wedges on the side.
Tip: Pound the chicken between plastic wrap to even out the thickness. It'll cook more evenly and stay juicier.
Feeds 4. Ready in about 25 minutes.
2. Easy Tomato Pasta with Basil
Sometimes you just want pasta. This one is simple, comforting, and comes together faster than you can decide where to go for dinner.
What you'll need:
- Goya Spaghetti (16oz)
- Prego Traditional Pasta Sauce
- Fresh Basil
- Parmesan Cheese
- Badia Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Morton Iodized Salt
How to make it: Bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package — you want it al dente, which means it still has a little bite.
While the pasta cooks, warm the Prego sauce in a separate pot over medium heat for 3-4 minutes.
Drain the pasta and toss it directly into the warm sauce. Tear up fresh basil leaves and stir them in. Serve with shredded Parmesan and a drizzle of good olive oil.
Tip: Don't overcook the pasta. Mushy spaghetti won't hold the sauce well and loses that satisfying texture.
Feeds 4. Ready in under 20 minutes.
3. Simple Grilled Snapper with Roasted Vegetables
This is vacation cooking at its best. Fresh local fish, colorful vegetables, and minimal cleanup. The snapper is delicate and flaky — it doesn't need much to shine.
What you'll need:
- Turks and Caicos Snapper Fillet
- Assorted Bell Peppers (1lb)
- Zucchini Squash
- Red Onions
- Badia Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Lemon
- Badia Complete Seasoning
How to make it: Preheat your oven to 400°F. Chop the peppers, zucchini, and onions into bite-sized pieces. Toss them with olive oil, complete seasoning, and a pinch of salt. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes.
While the vegetables cook, season the snapper fillets with complete seasoning and a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat with a light coat of olive oil. Grill the snapper 4-5 minutes per side until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily.
Plate the fish alongside the warm roasted vegetables.
Tip: Fresh local snapper is one of the best things about cooking in TCI. Keep it simple and let the fish be the star.
Feeds 4. Ready in about 25 minutes.
Get Everything Delivered
Stock your villa kitchen before you even land. Island Cart delivers groceries, fresh produce, meat, seafood, and pantry staples anywhere in Turks and Caicos.
Browse our full selection of produce, and pantry essentials to plan your vacation meals.
Good food. Less hassle. More time on the beach.
