Sometimes it gets so hot outside that you can’t even imagine using the stove, so you need a few reliable no-cook recipes to get you through the evening. While salads are a popular choice for cool, crisp meals that don’t require cooking, there are plenty of other tasty dishes you can prepare. To inspire you on those sweltering days, we’ve put together a collection of our favorite most popular no-cook recipes that are full of flavor and fun to make. We include everything from gazpacho and bean salads to ceviche and light sandwiches. Keep reading to discover your next perfect steamy summer night dish.
Greek Salad
Jake Sternquist
A Greek salad at the end of a hot summer day is always a refreshing dish. This classic salad features a variety of flavorful components, including tomatoes, red onion, feta cheese, cucumbers, Kalamata olives, romaine lettuce, and fresh pita on the side. For the dressing, we combine olive oil, vinegar, garlic, and oregano.
Yellow Tomato and Peach Gazpacho
Peaches and tomatoes are in their peak growing season in the summer, making it the perfect time to enjoy this gazpacho. For optimal results, let the peaches and tomatoes marinate overnight, allowing them to absorb the delicious flavors of the basil, garlic, and vinegar.
Thai Cucumber Salad
If you’re in need of a dish that you can prep ahead of time, this is the recipe for you. Our Thai cucumber salad can be tossed together with the rice vinegar dressing up to a week in advance of serving. Before serving, just sprinkle on the roasted peanuts and fresh herbs.
Ceviche With Tropical Fruit and Habanero
Ceviche is an iconic seaside dish, and one that requires zero heat. We make our ceviche with fresh red snapper and pile in fruit and herbs to bring on the enzymes and flavor. Serve this dish with tortilla chips for scooping.
Mediterranean Three-Bean Salad
Petrina Tinslay
The longer this dish marinates, the better it tastes. This hearty cold salad option combines green beans, creamy white and pink beans, with a fresh herb-infused vinaigrette and parsley. It makes for a great potluck party dish because it can serve up to 10 people.
No-Mayo Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Our no-mayo tuna salad is a lighter rendition of the deli classic. It’s a great dish for when you don’t feel like cooking because it’s quick, flavorful, and quite filling. You can serve it with bread or crackers, or slices of cucumbers for extra crunch.
Chilled Avocado-Cucumber Soup With Crostini
This chilled avocado and cucumber soup is destined to keep you cool this summer. To avoid using the oven, toast your baguette in a toaster and leave out the hard-boiled eggs—it’s just as delicious.
Shrimp Cocktail With Three Sauces
Shrimp cocktail is a summer staple, and to avoid using the stove, you can buy pre-cooked shrimp at the grocery store to save time and minimize heat. We serve this shrimp cocktail with three separate sauces—mango-basil, remoulade, and tomato-horseradish. Pair it with a salad to make it a more complete meal.
Cantaloupe and Mozzarella With Prosciutto and Basil
This light yet satisfying summer meal has everything you need—it’s sweet, savory, and hearty. We like to serve it with crusty bread for a more complete meal, but it’s just as good on its own.
Greek Salad Sandwich
If you’re a big Greek salad fan but are looking for something a bit more hearty, this is the sandwich for you. It has everything you love about a Greek salad—cucumbers, red onion, feta, and tomato—paired with a chickpea spread and rustic or olive bread.
Watermelon, Orange, and Feta Salad
A watermelon-feta salad is one of our favorite summer dishes. It’s refreshing, and the sweet-salty combination is unmatched. Our recipe doesn’t require any marinating time—just assemble and serve. It pairs well with a variety of mains and helps cool you off in the height of summer heat.
Heirloom Tomato Tartines With Garlic-Parsley Aioli
While tomatoes are in season, we love to make the most of them. Our heirloom tomato tartines with garlic-parsley aioli are truly chef’s kiss. We use toasted brioche bread for the best results and top the gorgeous, ripe tomato slices with sweet, crunchy pea shoots.
Simple Coleslaw
Jason Donnelly
Summer dinners aren’t complete without a simple coleslaw. This classic, creamy, chilled recipe never goes out of style and pairs well with a variety of main dishes. We use mayonnaise flavored with Dijon mustard and white wine vinegar to make it extra creamy on the vegetables.
Melon and Cucumber Salad
For a colorful and refreshing summer dish, try our melon and cucumber salad. It makes the most of the melons’ sweet flavor, paired with crisp cucumbers. This dish is incredibly hydrating and perfect for recovering after a long day in the sun. We like to drizzle a bit of oil on top just before serving, along with a sprinkle of fresh mint.
Tomato, Corn, and Avocado Salad
Corn salad is an essential summertime dish, and this one includes avocado and cherry tomatoes to boot. We toss in some scallions for extra crunch, along with fresh lime juice and olive oil for a perfectly light dressing.
Cucumber Salad With Sour Cream and Dill Dressing
Carson Downing
This cucumber salad is the perfect addition to your steamy summer supper. It’s cool and crunchy with tons of flavor. It has just four ingredients (featuring reduced-fat sour cream) and comes together in 15 minutes, making it an ideal dish to serve after a long day in the sun.
Avocado-and-Sprout Club Sandwiches
Whether you’re looking for a dinner dish to pack for an evening picnic on the beach or to enjoy at home, this avocado and sprout club sandwich is one of our favorite no-cook recipes. It’s creamy, crunchy, and packed with fresh vegetables. It leaves you feeling satisfied without being too heavy for warm weather.
Chilled Melon, Cucumber, and Mint Soup
Cool off this summer with our chilled melon, cucumber, and mint soup. It’s the perfect appetizer or side dish to serve alongside a crunchy salad—and your guests are sure to be impressed. We use honeydew melon, fresh lime juice, English cucumbers, and mint leaves. Just before serving, we coat the bottom of the bowl with Greek yogurt.
