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.
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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:
Summer Produce Is The Best
All of these recipes include an assortment of fruits, vegetables, greens, grains, and legumes (because #realfood). Our produce picks and meal choices look different season to season.
Unlike in the fall and winter, when we gravitate towards roasted root vegetables and hearty stews, we eat a lot more raw and chilled foods come summertime (including lots of smoothies and ice cream!) We go nuts for the juicy tomatoes and peaches, and we eat our 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, sardine salad (!) You can scoop these into lettuce wraps for a refreshing way to enjoy.
I’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite recipes that we go back to time and time again, including a few 5-star recipes from fellow blogging friends – enjoy!
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!
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. Blackened Chicken Cobb Salad via Eating Bird Food
This Blackened Chicken Cobb Salad is packed with flavor and all the fixings! With grilled chicken, hard boiled eggs, and lots of veggies, this is a satisfying summer one-dish meal!
9. Avocado Peach Salsa via Ambitious Kitchen
Fish tacos with Avocado Peach Salsa? Sign me up! This beautiful salsa is made with fresh, juicy peaches, creamy avocado, sweet corn and a kick of heat from jalapeño. Serve with crunchy tortilla chips or pair with a piece of grilled fish!
10. Blueberry, Corn & Basil Quinoa Salad via Making Thyme For Health
This Blueberry, Corn & Basil Quinoa Salad is the epitome of summer with seasonal ingredients galore. Bursting with flavor and satiating protein, this nutritious salad is perfect for summertime potlucks and picnics!
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