Whether you’re heading to a picnic or grilling out at home, these easy no cook summer recipes are delicious and healthy dishes to enjoy on a hot day.
Cold peanut noodles with chicken
10 Easy No Cook Summer Recipes
Hot Days, Cool Meals
Let me preface this post by saying that there is some prep cooking involved with these recipes – but for the sake of summer and eating with the seasons – all of these dishes include seasonal produce (check your farmers market for the freshest picks) and are ideal to make ahead, chill out in the fridge, and enjoy for outdoor summer dining and no cook meal get-togethers.
Or for that scorching hot afternoon when you can’t possibly think about turning on your oven to cook lunch or dinner. These recipes are healthier than store bought options, are perfect to prep in advance, and have in the fridge for those melting hot moments.
No Cook Breakfast Ideas
While the meat (haha) of this post focuses on salads and mains, here are some of my favorite no cook breakfasts:
- Overnight Oats – the ultimate no cook breakfast!
- Dough Boy Smoothies – aka blended overnight oats
- Chia Pudding – these recipes are my favorites
- Smoothies – kid friendly and adult versions + with the best toppings
- Yogurt bowls – featuring all the best summer berries and homemade granola
- Overnight Oats Pops – popsicles for breakfast!
- Smoothie Pops – leftover smoothies make great popsicles
- Mermaid Smoothie Bowl – my most creative smoothie ever
Summer Produce Is The Best
All of these recipes include an assortment of fruits, vegetables, greens, grains, and legumes (because #realfood). My produce picks and meal choices look different season to season. And I am always putting orange marmalade dressing on everything!
Unlike in the fall and winter, when I gravitate towards roasted root vegetables and hearty stews, I eat a lot more raw and chilled foods come summertime (including lots of smoothies and ice cream!) I go nuts for the juicy tomatoes and peaches, and I eat my weight in corn and zucchini with summer dinners.
‘Tis the season to eat the rainbow!
Some of my favorite salads that are not made of greens: cucumber salad, tomato salad, chicken salad, tuna salad or sardine salad (!) You can scoop these into lettuce wraps for a refreshing way to enjoy.
I’ve rounded up 10 of my favorite recipes that I go back to time and time again.
1. Feta & Herb Quinoa Salad
This Feta and Herb Quinoa Salad is a great prep day recipe to enjoy as a side salad or a base recipe to add proteins (like rotisserie chicken) to for quick lunches or dinners. Love the crunch from the Marcona almonds! Here is a similar one with quinoa and chicken.
2. The Very Best Sardine Salad
Scoop up with chips, crackers, raw veggies, collard green wraps, a tortilla, or a fork – this Sardine Salad is not only packed with protein and Omega-3s, but very tasty, too!
3. Caprese Pasta Salad
This Caprese Pasta Salad makes a simple dinner when served warm with a protein, or a great lunch salad to make on prep day and eat all week. It’s perfect for summer picnic season.
4. Quick & Easy Mediterranean Salad Bowls
These colorful Mediterranean Salad Bowls have a satisfying combination of sweet and savory flavor as well as creamy and crunchy texture. The more flavor and texture boxes I check with each meal, the better! Best of all, these bowls call for ingredients you likely have on hand in your fridge and pantry.
5. Simple Herby Lentil Salad
One of my favorite lunchtime meals on a summer day, I love the combo of fresh tomatoes, chewy lentils, and spicy arugula in this Herby Lentil Salad.
6. Healthy Panzanella
This recipe is a KERF take on a healthy panzanella, which means “bread salad” in Italian! It brings whole wheat bread, kale, squash, green beans, tomatoes and goat cheese together into a colorful, hearty summer salad. The goat cheese makes it!
7. Chop Chop Mediterranean Salad
This salad is super easy to throw together and is packed with flavor from artichokes, olives and cheese. A bowl of this with a side of crackers is a happy (and healthy) meal for me.
8. Bow-Tie Pasta Salad
This bow-tie pasta salad leans Italian with roasted tomatoes, red peppers, kalamata olives and mozzarella balls. Simple and easy to assemble, an Italian lemon-yogurt dressing ties it all together.
9. Olive Salad with Feta and Orzo
This olive salad recipe is bright and summery; packed with salty olives, feta cheese, and fresh parsley. Perfect for a picnic or easy summer dinner!
10. Cold Peanut Noodles
These cold peanut noodles are the perfect summer dish to make in the morning and enjoy in the evening! Noodles and veggies come together in a savory peanut sauce.
You may also enjoy:
Robin says
I’ll be trying the sardine salad. Bought some Costco and they’re not exactly what I was expecting. I think mixed and mashed they’ll be good. Think I’ll try some olive and pickle in mine.