Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Quick & Easy Meals 31 Easy, No-Cook Meals to Get You Through a Scorching Hot Summer Cool down with a cold soup, a crisp salad, or a sandwich brimming with fresh seasonal produce. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on June 23, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: GREG DUPREE The last thing you want to do on a hot summer day is add to the misery by lighting up a burner to cook. Enter these refreshingly easy, no-cook meal lunch and dinner ideas. They're super-simple to pull together, often using rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked shrimp, fresh produce, or meatless proteins to make it more hearty. And since they're no-cook, they're refreshing on the hottest days. Work your way through a whole month's worth of healthy no-cook meals to get you through the summer. 17 Strategies to Stay Cool in the Heat This Summer (or Anytime) 01 of 31 Nicoise-Inspired Summer Salad Caitlin Bensel Buy pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs to make this colorful take on the classic French salad super-easy to assemble. get the recipe 02 of 31 Fancy Tomato Sandwiches Greg DuPree Optimize your use of summer produce by putting tomatoes front and center on these sandwiches. A little arugula gives it a peppery bite. get the recipe 03 of 31 Summer Tacos With Scallion-Peanut Relish Jen Causey Quick pickles and a fresh spicy peanut relish dress up rotisserie chicken to create this flavorful recipe perfect for a summer night. get the recipe 04 of 31 Japanese-Style Shrimp Salad Greg DuPree A soy sauce and sesame oil dressing freshens up this tasty Asian-inspired salad. get the recipe 05 of 31 Chickpea-Tuna Salad Photo by: Victor Protasio Standard tuna salad gets an upgrade in this recipe, which is vinegar-based instead of being mayonnaise-centric. Here, canned chickpeas are marinated in oil and vinegar to infuse them with flavor. The pulses are then joined by oil-packed tuna, radicchio, and red onion, as well as kalamata olives and capers. The briny latter two ingredients manage to cut through the richness of the tuna and mellow out the bold lettuce, creating an easy lunch or light dinner you'll want to make over and over again. get the recipe 06 of 31 Nectarine and Burrata Salad Greg DuPree Quick-pickling onions technically requires 30 seconds of microwaving—but it's worth it for this fresh and healthy no-cook recipe. (P.S. If you don't love nectarines, try it with peaches, cherries, apricots—or a combo of what's best from the farmer's market.) get the recipe 07 of 31 Tangy Shrimp Salad Con Poulos Use pre-cooked shrimp instead of boiling them and this no-cook recipe comes together in minutes. get the recipe 08 of 31 Herby Chicken Salad Tartines Victor Protasio Rotisserie chicken to the rescue! In this recipe, you'll use a store-bought bird to create an elegant yet easy tartine, which is basically an open-faced sandwich. The chicken is joined by Dijon for sharp heat, apple cider vinegar for punch, celery seeds for savory depth, almonds for crunch, honey for a touch of sweetness, and fresh tarragon and chives for herbal balance. get the recipe 09 of 31 Green Gazpacho With Grapes, Honeydew, and Cucumber Greg DuPree While this green gazpacho is served with toast, you can easily skip that step if you're in the market for a recipe that requires absolutely no cooking. To make the vibrant, chilled soup, all you need is a blender, which helps combine cucumber, melon, grapes, scallions, salt, and lime juice and vinegar-soaked bread. The relish, which is made with dill, chives, and the aforementioned fruits, is just as easy to throw together. get the recipe 10 of 31 Crispy Chicken-And-Cheddar Sandwich With Pickle Dijon Jennifer Causey Got an extra-crispy chicken cutlet leftover from last night's dinner? We've got just the meal for you! Throw that chicken between two pieces of a baguette, add some romaine lettuce leaves, grated Cheddar cheese, and a spread made with pickle relish, Dijon mustard, and mayonnaise, and you're all set. get the recipe 11 of 31 Hazelnut Bushwacker Cake Need a sweet dessert to finish off your no-cook meal? Layers of cookies and Nutella-infused whipped cream make a super-easy (and super-impressive) treat. get the recipe 12 of 31 Ginger-Lime Melon Salad Jennifer Causey For a light lunch that's packed with flavor, give this no-cook salad a whirl. While you won't find any lettuce here, this dish is packed with fresh watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe. The melon trio gets a tasty boost courtesy of lime zest and grated fresh ginger. Lunch in 15 minutes? Count us in! get the recipe 13 of 31 Spicy Street Corn Salad Jen Causey This fresh take on the classic Mexican street food elote features a hint of spice—and makes a perfect no-cook dinner. get the recipe 14 of 31 Coconut-Marinated Shrimp With Cucumber and Jicama Jen Causey This super-easy, Asian-inspired no-cook meal is the perfect take-along for a summer picnic. How to Grill Shrimp Perfectly Every Time—Plus the Best Seasonings and Marinades to Use get the recipe 15 of 31 Crab Rolls Marcus Nilsson Crisp radishes, celery, and apples provide a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the creamy mayo in this classic sandwich recipe. get the recipe 16 of 31 Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Caitlin Bensel Thanks to shredded rotisserie chicken, this salad requires just 15 minutes of hands-on work. And while you do need to pop some bread pieces in the oven for a bit, we think the result—crispy croutons!—is more than worth it. From there, you'll whip up the dressing (made with mayo instead of an egg yolk) and toss it with the Brussels sprouts, chicken, and kale so everything gets evenly coated. Top the salad with those croutons and dinner (or lunch) is served! get the recipe 17 of 31 Zucchini and Bean Salad with Bulgur Marcus Nilsson Nutritious bulgur makes a hearty base for this delicious meatless salad. get the recipe 18 of 31 Spring Green Salad Greg DuPree Empty out your produce drawer with this healthy salad, which boasts a base of romaine lettuce hearts with chopped cucumber, snap peas, and edamame mixed in. Add in chives and mint, plus pistachios for crunch and you've got a practically perfect salad on your hands. The dressing—a creamy avocado and yogurt situation with a Caesar-esque twist courtesy of an anchovy filet—takes things to the next level. get the recipe 19 of 31 Spinach, Shrimp, and Avocado Salad David Prince Use leftover shrimp or cooked shrimp from the grocery store to prepare this healthy and hearty salad in a matter of minutes. Spinach, tomatoes, and avocado round out the dish, which is topped with a sweet and savory lemon-honey vinaigrette. 20 of 31 Tex-Mex Gazpacho Romulo Yanes Put your summer tomato haul to good use with this chilled soup, which also calls for Kirby cucumbers, a red bell pepper, a poblano pepper, and a red onion. Fresh lime juice and olive oil add depth of flavor, while a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of roasted pepitas deliver creaminess and texture, respectively. Need something to dunk? Go ahead and serve this summer soup with warm flour tortillas or tortilla chips. get the recipe 21 of 31 Chickpea Salad Sandwich Alison Miksch If you're looking for an easy vegetarian lunch or dinner, this sandwich is it. Here, canned chickpeas are combined with chopped celery, a shallot, mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and Dijon mustard to create a meat-free take on chicken salad. We promise you won't even miss the real thing! get the recipe 22 of 31 Pickled Tuna-Salad Sandwiches Mark Lund Elevate your standard tuna sandwich recipe with some pickle relish and fresh flat-leaf parsley. If you have a spare hard-boiled egg from meal prep or don't mind cooking one thing, we promise that adding the chopped egg to the sandwich is totally worth it. get the recipe 23 of 31 Cool Southwestern Salad with Corn and Avocado Con Poulos Serve this salad with tortilla chips or turn it into a portable meal by wrapping the salad in a large burrito. 24 of 31 Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley Greg DuPree If you've never eaten a raw squash salad before, you're in for a treat (and there's no need to cook a thing). Tossing the rounds with salt allows them to soften and absorb every bit of flavor, while the vinegar adds just the right amount of acidity. The whole thing is topped with a chopped almond dressing, which really ties the whole dish together. If you're still hungry, serve this alongside leftover grilled chicken or steak. get the recipe 25 of 31 Peach and Arugula Salad With Burrata Greg DuPree Fresh peaches are one of the best parts of the summer season, and the fruits really shine when paired with creamy burrata. This recipe also calls for prosciutto, peppery arugula, and a zingy herb oil made with olive oil, basil, and chives, which means it's likely to become a summertime favorite. get the recipe 26 of 31 Sliced-Tomato Salad With Dill Pickle Relish Vinaigrette Caitlin Bensel Reach for some relish and turn it into a tangy dressing with help from some olive oil, lemon juice, honey, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Once your dressing is done, go ahead and drizzle it over thick slabs of heirloom tomatoes and crisp cucumbers. To make this salad more filling, add some dollops of burrata, torn mozzarella, or shavings of Parmesan. get the recipe 27 of 31 Avocado Toast Barcin/Getty Images To no one's surprise, this brunch staple also makes for a great lunch or light dinner. Kick things up notch by topping it with just about whatever you have in the fridge. We're partial to a fried egg or crumbled cheese and sliced tomato topping, but there are plenty of options to choose from! get the recipe 28 of 31 Ploughman's Sandwich Sarah Karnasiewicz Though it might look simple, this sandwich has it all—sweet onion jam, spicy whole grain mustard, slices of sharp Cheddar cheese, crisp apple slivers, and peppery watercress. If you're especially hungry, go ahead and double up on some of your favorite ingredients. You can also add freshly sliced turkey or chicken for an added protein boost. 29 of 31 Chicken and Dill Souvlaki Anna Williams Sliced cucumbers and onions add a refreshing crispness that brightens up the rotisserie chicken and creamy yogurt. 38 Essential, Easy Chicken Recipes for Every Night of the Week get the recipe 30 of 31 Tropical Fruit Salad Victor Protasio For a lunch that tastes like a tropical vacation, make this salad. It features a macerated mix of papaya, pineapple, mango, and kiwi with a touch of sugar, lime juice, and a pinch of salt, which softens the fruit, helps it release its juices, and concentrates its flavor. The fruit rests on a bed of creamy coconut yogurt and gets a dusting of flaked coconut on top. If coconut isn't your jam, leave off the flakes and swap in vanilla Greek yogurt for the base. get the recipe 31 of 31 Chicken Salad with Herbs and Radicchio Anna Williams Toss in carrots, scallions, and chopped tarragon to jazz up shredded chicken. 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