On hot summer nights, keep your kitchen—and yourself—cool with these easy no-cook recipes that require nothing more than a knife. The trick is to stock up on precooked proteins like smoked fish, canned beans, and rotisserie chicken, then pair them with peak-season produce that is sweet and bursting with flavor. These go-to recipes are simple and perfect for busy weeknights or last-minute guests.
Spinach Salad with Raspberry Vinaigrette
Salads are the perfect low-prep, no-cook meal! This one from Don Strange’s restaurant LAZO features the best of summer ingredients, using vibrant fruits, contrasting textures, and a tangy, sweet vinaigrette. Pro tip: Fan your avocado slices over the bed of spinach to create a beautiful-looking plate.
Monster Muffaletta
Summer is all about quick-and-easy eating, so sandwiches are a must—especially when feeding a crowd. Instead of a boring ol’ turkey and cheese, turn it up with this Monster Muffaletta just like the ones you’d find in New Orleans! Recipe creator Jeff Mauro even shares how to make the iconic olive salad that’s generously spooned on top!
No-Cook Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These healthy low-carb chicken lettuce wraps from Better Homes & Gardens do not require any cooking, and they’re made extra easy by mixing everything in a food processor. Perfect for an on-the-go lunch or family-style dinner, these wraps are foolproof.
Chickpea Salad Sandwiches
Canned chickpeas stand in for chicken in this clever spin on chicken salad from Food & Wine. Serve on an open-faced sandwich as shown here, or pack it up in a bento box with crackers, fresh vegetables, and chunks of white cheddar for a healthy desk lunch.
Corn, Shrimp, and Avocado Salad with Chipotle-Pepita Dressing
This light yet filling salad from Food52 has a Tex-Mex flair that’s perfect for those lazy Texas summer days. Piled high with shrimp, fresh corn, avocado, cotija cheese, and pepitas, the homemade smoky-spicy-sweet dressing is what brings this quick dish together.
Hot-Smoked Salmon with Salted Yogurt and Fennel
Your friends and family will not believe that this elegant dish from Bon Appétit requires little to no cooking! It is worth seeking out a quality hot-smoked salmon (it should be near the smoked trout and cured fish in the grocery store) and a full-fat yogurt for this recipe.
Roast Beef Summer Rolls
These fresh, crunchy spring rolls from Food & Wine make use of a few convenient grocery store ingredients like deli roast beef and presliced coleslaw mix to make for a super-simple recipe.
Zucchini and Fresh Corn Salad
Creamy goat cheese perfectly complements the sweet corn and zippy lemon-basil dressing in this summery salad from Foodie Crush. The squash is shaved into thin ribbons that make this dish feel like you’re biting into a healthy pasta. Look for small, firm summer squash that aren’t too water-bloated or seedy. If you don’t have a vegetable peeler or mandolin to shave the squash, you can also julienne it into long “noodles” with a sharp knife.
Avocado Chicken Salad
This zesty chicken salad from Delish is made with store-bought rotisserie chicken and juicy tomatoes and mango. Feel free to serve it over a bed of greens or with a chunk of crusty bread for sopping up the dressing.
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