25 Easy Cold Dinner Ideas For Hot Summer Days

If you skip broiling the cheese, then this is a completely cold dinner. Simply stir the zingy horseradish sauce together, and stack layers of the cold cuts and fresh veggies to build a roast beef sandwich better than anything Publix can offer.

This pasta salad has a little bit of everything that you’ll find overflowing in your summer garden or at the farmer’s markets: sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, and summer squash. Combined with fresh herbs, feta, and a tangy vinaigrette, this refreshing cold dinner is all you need on a hot summer day.

This main dish salad comes with a kick thanks to Cajun-spiced shrimp and andouille sausage. Feel free to add in any extra vegetables you like—thin strips of bell peppers or red onions would be nice additions.

This twist on the classic Caesar salad is ready in 15 minutes. Add grilled steak, chicken or salmon to make it the perfect weeknight supper.

Packaged tortellini and rotisserie chicken make this dish come together lightning fast. Arugula, tomatoes, black-eyed peas, and corn give it a fresh taste that’s perfect for summer.

Cut that rotisserie chicken to the bone for these delicious sandwiches that are perfect for lunch or dinner. The chicken salad mixture can be prepared a day ahead for extra ease when assembling your sandwiches. Make extra Caesar dressing while you’re at it to use on a side salad.

Lemony, vibrant, and packed full of fresh flavor this pasta salad is reminiscent of the Southern favorite delicacy, marinated shrimp. Not a fan of shrimp? Simply leave it out and enjoy the pasta salad on its own or as a side for grilled meat or fish.

Fire up the grill for this fun spin on taco night! Topped with grilled steak and corn and piled high with other toppings like avocado, pickled onion and shredded cheese, this will be your new favorite way to eat taco salad.

This shrimp and pasta salad is done in three steps and 25 minutes. Sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and white balsamic vinegar keep the dish bright and lively.

We love a dish that’s healthy and delicious, like this veggie-packed grain salad. You can use farro, quinoa, brown rice, or bulgur—all will taste great in this recipe. Add extra protein with grilled shrimp or chicken.

Microwaveable rice and rotisserie chicken will help you pull together this pretty entree salad without having to turn on the stove. Chock full of fresh vegetables and herbs, but hearty enough to satisfy your appetite, this meal is a winning choice for any hot summer night.

Use whichever pasta you prefer and combine it with our easy honey-lemon vinaigrette and some fresh veggies for an effortless dinner. Pick up a can of field peas and the only cooking involved here is boiling the pasta—or even better, pull some pre-cooked pasta from the fridge.

Think of this as an Italian sub in pasta salad form. The zesty homemade dressing and interesting additions like mini mozzarella balls make this recipe a keeper.

Make use of hardboiled eggs in your fridge and pre-cooked shrimp from the seafood counter so the only thing you have to prep for this salad is the bacon. Once you taste this dressing, you won’t mind the few minutes you spent frying it (the microwave is always an easy alternative). This light recipe feels so much more indulgent than it is.

Canned tuna is an easy and inexpensive way to add protein to a pasta salad, and it tastes great with a lemony vinaigrette, like in this recipe.

This is worlds away from that boring deli chicken sandwich, while still being easy enough to whip up on the busiest of days. The chicken gets cooked out on the grill, leaving your kitchen nice and cool. Serve with a side of chips or fresh fruit.

We like any two-step recipe that instructs us to “combine” and “chill.” Turn leftover or rotisserie chicken into an elegant but simple chicken salad. The juicy grapes and nutty pecans provide a nice balance to the just-sweet dressing.

This retro Southern recipe is ideal for having on hand when you don’t feel like cooking. Serve on a buttery croissant (or between two slices of whatever bread you have), with a side of crackers, or over leafy greens for a quick, comforting meal. Have the ingredients at room temperature so they are easy to combine.

Nothing cools quite like a bowl of gazpacho, the traditional summertime soup from southern Spain. We substituted green tomatoes for their tart and refreshing flavor, not to mention the gorgeous color they impart to this soup. Chill up to 24 hours before serving.

How better to celebrate summer in the South than with a tomato sandwich? In this recipe, we layer tomatoes on toasted bread topped with a mixture of cream cheese, cucumber, and fresh herbs. Pick the juiciest, most flavorful tomatoes you can find and cut them with a serrated knife to preserve their beautiful shape and color.

This pasta salad makes full use of summer produce and is best served chilled. We don’t mind that a bit. The Cajun seasoning provides all the heat we need.

These summery sandwiches are the ideal solution for leftover shrimp, though the shellfish can also be steamed in the blink of an eye. Once cooked and chopped, the shrimp are tossed in a mayonnaise dressing seasoned with dill, chives, and Old Bay. Dig out a bag of potato chips and pour a frosty beer, and you’ve got it made.

Travel and Culture Editor Tara Massouleh McCay shared her mom’s recipe for chicken salad with us. “This beloved Southern dish contains a multitude of cultures,” she says. 

This recipe tucks grilled shrimp, cilantro, and quick pickled veggies into lettuce leaves for a light lunch or appetizer that’s sure to cool you off. The shrimp is lightly charred on the grill, after gaining a nice boost of flavor from a garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and rice vinegar marinade. 

This luncheon favorite will always be on rotation in our kitchens. Don’t miss our Test Kitchen’s tip for preventing soggy tea sandwiches.