Food Recipe Collections & Favorites Quick & Easy Meals 29 Easy, No-Cook Recipes to Make for Lunch or Dinner Try a cold soup, crisp salad, or sandwich for a simple no-cook meal. 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 May 20, 2023 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: GREG DUPREE These refreshingly easy, no-cook recipes are perfect lunch and dinner ideas for days you're not in the mood to cook. (Or for hot days when the last thing you want to do is add to the misery by lighting up a burner to cook.) These meals are super simple to put together, often using rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked shrimp, fresh produce, or meatless proteins to make them more hearty. Read on for nearly a month's worth of no-cook meals to add to your menu plan. 01 of 29 Nicoise-Inspired Summer Salad Caitlin Bensel With a mix of pre-cooked fish, fresh produce, and canned chickpeas, this colorful take on the classic French salad is super-easy to assemble. Buy pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs to make this recipe no-cook. get the recipe 02 of 29 Fancy Tomato Sandwiches Greg DuPree Optimize your use of fresh produce by putting tomatoes front and center on these sandwiches. A little arugula gives it a peppery bite, while store-bought fried onions provide crunch. get the recipe 03 of 29 Summer Tacos With Scallion-Peanut Relish Jen Causey Quick pickles and a fresh spicy peanut relish dress up shredded rotisserie chicken to create this flavorful recipe. While warm tortillas are best, you can skip this step for a no-heat-required meal. get the recipe 04 of 29 Japanese-Style Shrimp Salad Greg DuPree A soy sauce and sesame oil dressing freshen up this tasty Asian-inspired salad. Fresh produce and pre-cooked shrimp round out this healthy and filling meal. get the recipe 05 of 29 Chickpea-Tuna Salad Photo by: Victor Protasio Standard tuna salad gets an upgrade in this recipe, which is vinegar-based instead of 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, red onion, kalamata olives, and capers, creating an easy lunch or light dinner you'll want to make every week. get the recipe 06 of 29 Nectarine-and-Burrata Salad Greg DuPree Quick-pickling the onions technically requires 30 seconds of microwaving—but it's worth it for this fresh and healthy no-cook salad. It's a delightful combination of creamy cheese and sweet nectarines. If you don't love nectarines, try it with peaches, cherries, apricots—or a combo of what's best from the farmers market. get the recipe 07 of 29 Tangy Shrimp Salad With Summer Vegetables Con Poulos Use pre-cooked shrimp, and this no-cook recipe comes together in minutes. A jalapeño adds a bit of heat, while fresh produce gives this salad a beautiful taste—and color. get the recipe 08 of 29 Herby Chicken Salad Tartines Victor Protasio Rotisserie chicken to the rescue (again)! 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 mustard 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 29 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 to combine cucumber, melon, grapes, scallions, and salt with lime juice and vinegar-soaked bread. get the recipe 10 of 29 Crispy Chicken-And-Cheddar Sandwich With Pickle Dijon Jennifer Causey If you have an extra-crispy chicken cutlet leftover from last night's dinner, this is the meal for you! Throw that chicken between two pieces of a baguette, add romaine lettuce leaves, grated Cheddar cheese, and a spread of pickle relish, Dijon mustard, and mayonnaise for a tasty sandwich. get the recipe 11 of 29 Hazelnut Bushwacker Cake Need a sweet treat to finish off your no-cook meal? Layers of cookies and Nutella-infused whipped cream make a super-easy (and super-impressive) no-bake dessert. get the recipe 12 of 29 Ginger-Lime Melon Salad Jennifer Causey For a light lunch that's packed with flavor, give this no-cook fruit 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. get the recipe 13 of 29 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. A little chopping and some mixing are all the work required to assemble this filling salad. get the recipe 14 of 29 Coconut-Marinated Shrimp With Cucumber and Jicama Jen Causey This super-easy no-cook shrimp meal is the perfect take-along for a picnic or get-together. Infused with coconut, lime, and cilantro flavors, you can serve this dish as-is or with a side. get the recipe 15 of 29 Crab Rolls Marcus Nilsson Crisp radishes, celery, and apples provide a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the creamy mayo in this classic sandwich recipe. Using already-cooked crab meat keeps this easy sandwich recipe heat-free. get the recipe 16 of 29 Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Salad 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 but optional. From there, 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 the croutons, and dinner (or lunch) is served! get the recipe 17 of 29 Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur Marcus Nilsson Nutritious bulgur makes a hearty base for this delicious meatless salad. While you'll need a bit of boiled water for the bulgur, the rest of this meal only requires assembly. get the recipe 18 of 29 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 chives and mint, plus pistachios for crunch, and you've got a practically perfect salad on your hands. get the recipe 19 of 29 Tex-Mex Gazpacho Romulo Yanes Put your fresh tomatoes 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. get the recipe 20 of 29 Chickpea Salad Sandwich Alison Miksch If you're looking for an easy vegetarian meal, 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 21 of 29 Pickled Tuna-Salad Sandwiches Mark Lund Elevate your standard tuna sandwich recipe with 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 worth it. get the recipe 22 of 29 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 vinegar adds just the right amount of acidity. The whole thing is topped with a chopped almond dressing, which helps tie the dish together. get the recipe 23 of 29 Peach and Arugula Salad With Burrata Greg DuPree Fresh peaches are one of the best summer fruits, and they truly 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 lunch favorite. get the recipe 24 of 29 Sliced-Tomato Salad With Dill Pickle Relish Vinaigrette Caitlin Bensel Reach for some relish and turn it into a tangy dressing with the help of olive oil, lemon juice, honey, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Once your dressing is done, 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 25 of 29 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 a notch by topping your toast 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 avocado toast ideas to choose from! get the recipe 26 of 29 Chicken and Dill Souvlaki Anna Williams Sliced cucumbers and onions add a refreshing crispness that brightens up the rotisserie chicken and creamy yogurt. Serve with either flatbread or pita or eat as-is for a lighter meal. get the recipe 27 of 29 Tropical Fruit Salad Victor Protasio This delicious salad features a 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 sprinkle 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 28 of 29 French Ham and Cheese Sandwich Danny Kim The classic ham and cheese sandwich gets a French upgrade with Dijon mustard, Gruyère cheese, and a cornichon spread. This quick sandwich goes great with a side salad for a balanced no-cook meal. get the recipe 29 of 29 Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps Caitlin Bensel Using store-bought rotisserie chicken will make this a no-cook recipe that's quick to put together. A peanut-coconut-flavored sauce helps bring these lettuce wraps together. get the recipe 12 Easy No-Cook Sides That Take Less Than 25 Minutes to Make Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit