30 No-Cook Summer Meals to Chill Out a Heat Wave
When the summer heat has reached its peak, and the last thing you want to think about is turning on the stove, reach for these easy no-cook recipes instead. Try boldly flavored rice noodle bowls, layered up sandwiches, super fresh salads, and even sip on some cool soups like gazpacho. With a few convenience ingredients on hand and these helpful ideas, you'll be throwing together no-cook meals in no time.
Vietnamese Fresh Spring Rolls
Pre-cooked shrimp saves you from heating up your kitchen when you make these fresh Asian wraps. For presentation, remember that whatever you put as the bottom layer will be on the top once rolled.
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Roast Beef Horseradish Roll-Ups
Make deli-quality wraps at home with this hearty recipe. "I make a batch of these roll-ups on Sunday and give them to the hubby and kids in their lunches throughout the week," says recipe creator Tinker802.
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Avocado and Tuna Tapas
Canned tuna goes fancy when it gets stuffed into rich, creamy avocado halves. Not a fan of tuna? Some reviewers have reported success using canned chicken instead.
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Dill Gazpacho
Highlight summer's best produce with this herbaceous gazpacho. Make it a full meal by serving with a side of crusty bread for cleaning out the bowl.
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Simple Egg Salad
If you've got leftover eggs on hand, this easy salad comes together in mere moments. Ranch dressing and mustard add a zippy taste, while fresh cucumber gives each bite a distinctive crunch.
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Zucchini Spaghetti alla Marinara
It seems like everyone's wild about zucchini "noodles." Here, they get tossed with raw tomato sauce for the ultimate fresh-from-the-garden dinner.
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Chicken, Avocado and Mango Salad
Stop by the deli to pick up a roasted chicken, and you're well on your way to making a satisfying dinner without breaking a sweat. Choose flexible lettuce for your wraps — such as iceberg, Boston, or butter lettuce — to avoid a messy dinner.
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Greek Pasta Salad
Use leftover pasta or store-bought prepared pasta to whip up this vibrant salad. Featuring a wealth of fresh vegetables, salty feta, and spicy pepperoni, it's all tied together with an herb-infused dressing.
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Tuna-Artichoke Salad
Two pantry staples, canned tuna and jarred artichoke hearts, are given a fresh twist when paired with dill, red bell pepper, and garlic. Serve this salad over a bed of greens, stuffed in a tomato, or with crackers for dipping.
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Black Bean and Corn Salad
Sweet corn, savory black beans, and a tangy lime dressing give this salad a world of flavors. Reviewer BINDERSBEE raves, "One of the best recipes on this site." Sprinkle this recipe over a bowl of lettuce and tortilla chips for a simple, no-cook taco salad.
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Mediterranean Chicken Pitas
Be transported to the Mediterranean with one bite of these soft whole wheat pitas stuffed with chicken, feta, artichoke hearts, and green onions. Use a rotisserie chicken to make meal prep easy.
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Crab & Avocado Salad with Fruit Salsa
Decadent crab and rich avocado team up for this unique summery dish. "There's something to be said about a salad where the ingredients stand on their own for incredible flavor needing no more than salt, pepper, and a little fresh lime juice for dressing," says naples34102.
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Ranch Chicken Tacos
"A great change from regular Mexican style tacos," says recipe creator Joan Dredge. "A cool summer dinner, made quick with leftover rotisserie chicken." You can make this recipe no-cook by using a still warm rotisserie chicken straight from the store and skipping the step of toasting the tortillas.
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Lobster Rolls
Pre-cooked lobster, available in most well-stocked seafood sections, is key to making this summertime classic without heating up the kitchen. Green onions and celery add freshness, while mayo and lime juice make up the bold dressing.
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Mid-Summer Italian Bread Salad
Has your bread seen better days? Don't worry, just throw together this recipe. "Everything in this salad is fresh except the bread," says creator Tamara. "Prepare this salad with a loaf of artisan bread or rosemary bread that is a touch stale."
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Real N'awlins Muffuletta
The key to an authentic muffuletta is the bold olive salad, which this recipe nails. Layer everything up and let it sit for a few hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the bread to soak up some of the salad's juices.
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Vietnamese Chicken Salad
Another great no-cook option with leftover or grocery-store rotisserie chicken. "This is a very simple-to-make salad with bold flavors," says Jia T.
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Raw Pad Thai
Strips of zucchini "noodles" and thinly sliced cabbage combine with a savory sauce featuring almond butter, honey, ginger, soy sauce, miso, garlic, and cayenne pepper. If you don't have a spiralizer, use a veggie peeler to slice zucchini lengthwise to create long thin 'noodles.'
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Arugula and Hummus Mini Pizzas
Hummus and arugula combine with chopped dates and pumpkin seeds over rounds of naan bread. Finish these no-cook "pizzas" with a generous drizzle balsamic vinegar.
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Spicy Rice Noodle Salad
Rice noodles just need a quick soak in warm water, meaning you don't even need to turn on the stove to enjoy this Asian-inspired dish. Reviewer Allison Rourke says, "I LOVED this salad! So refreshing on a hot summer day."
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Chef John's Gazpacho
This classic no-cook summer soup will only taste as good as the produce you use, so save this recipe for the peak of tomato season. Although it takes just a few minutes to make, be sure to let it chill in the fridge for the recommended two hours to let the flavors fully blossom.
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No-Cook Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Deli-roasted chicken to the rescue, once again. Mix Greek yogurt with your favorite store-bought Asian-style salad dressing for a wonderfully easy sauce.
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Ahi Shoyu Poke
We couldn't sum it up better than reviewer Eric "Quick, simple, and delicious!" Feel free to bulk up your poke bowl with veggies like arugula, avocado, cucumber, shredded carrots, and diced yellow peppers.
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Shrimp and Soba Noodle Salad
Pre-cooked shrimp tossed together with hearty soba noodles and garden-fresh vegetables get a big boost of flavor from an outstanding miso, ginger, and rice vinegar dressing.
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Strawberry Chicken Salad for Sandwiches
This bold chicken salad is perfect for summertime picnics. Each bite is infused with creamy poppy seed dressing, crunchy pecans, and sweet strawberries.
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Mexican Mango and White Fish Ceviche
Citrus juice cures white fish in less than two hours. Together, the marinade and mangoes bring out the sweetness of the tomatoes. "Serve with tortilla chips, avocado, lime wedges, and salt to garnish," recipe creator gem recommends.
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Turkey Salad
Using leftovers from a turkey dinner, or deli turkey, means you can throw together this flavorful salad with little effort. Serve scooped over greens, or with a variety of crackers and vegetable sticks for dipping.
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Chickpea Salad
Chickpeas are the star of this veggie-packed salad. Balsamic vinegar adds a bright taste, while parsley and basil amp up the flavor.
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Turkey Wraps
"The combination of mustard with the cream cheese and chives was inspired!" says reviewer Bibi. And there's no need to heat the griddle, just use pre-cooked bacon.
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Saigon Noodle Salad
"This Vietnamese-style noodle salad is my 'too hot to cook' staple," says recipe creator AnnInLondon. "It is bursting with flavor and makes great use of leftover grilled meat or shrimp."