It's PEAK summer, the farmers markets are loaded with goodies, and it's HOT these days. Which means, there's really no time to turn on the stove or the oven! So, today I'm rounding up some of my favorite no-cook meals!
Table of Contents
NO-COOK SALADS:
Cucumber Feta Salad - It's the perfect bright, light, and briny side salad for any leftover steak, chicken, or fish. It's one of my favorite no-cook meals, and it couldn't be easier to make.
Watermelon Peach Salad - Peak summer salad vibes are happening with this Watermelon Peach Salad loaded with cooling cucumbers, salty feta, and some fresh mint!
Stone Fruit Salad with Hot Honey Vinaigrette - Butter lettuce, fresh stone fruit that's in peak season, herbs to brighten things up, avocado because duh, and a hot honey vinaigrette that you're going to want to drizzle drazzle on everything for the rest of this calendar year. Watch here to see just how easy it is to make.
Ginger Soy Herb Salad - I'm a bit of a salad snob. And while most salads are no-cook meals they need a few mandatory things, to make me happy. Avocado is non-negotiable. Lots of different flavors and textures. And they need to be substantial! This one is loaded with tons of fresh herbs, ripe avocados, thinly sliced radishes, and some farmers market lettuce. This Ginger Soy Herb Salad is one for the rotation.
Summer Stone Fruit Salad -This Summer Stone Fruit Salad is the perfect way to go about eating all of those gorgeous peaches and nectarines! Load them up with heirloom tomatoes, some salty crumbled feta, fresh herbs, and a lemon shallot vinaigrette that's super delicious.
Sun Gold Tomato Caprese with Burrata - Sun Gold Tomatoes are pretty much the end all, be all when it comes to tomatoes. This Sun Gold Tomato Caprese with Burrata and Breadcrumbs is basically all I want to eat for the rest of the time!
Watermelon Cucumber Salad - This marinated watermelon salad is incredible. You've got a little salty bite from the feta, some brightness from the cucumbers, a little zip from the onions and a crunch and richness from the pistachios.
Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio - Heirloom Tomato Carpaccio with burrata, fresh herbs, and a sumac dressing… hello summer on a plate.
Burrata and Tomato Salad - An updated spin on the classic caprese – but with burrata, a few homemade croutons, and a healthy drizzle of basil vinaigrette.
Raw Summer Squash Salad - Zucchini, yellow squash, peas, fennel, goat cheese, lemon juice, olive oil, and dill… it's simple and so refreshing.
Marinated Tomato and Burrata Salad - Perfectly Marinated Tomatoes with a big old pile of burrata on top makes for one of the most perfect no-cook meals!
NO-COOK MEALS FOR LUNCH:
Ginger Scallion Chicken Wraps - Grab a rotisserie chicken from the store and get into it!
Avocado Toast (4 ways) - These avocado toast combinations are not only gorgeous, but they are light and fresh, and you're going to love them!
Corn and Goat Cheese Avocado Toast - Beyond easy! Especially if you buy the grilled frozen corn from Trader Joe's.
The Best Summer Gazpacho - This incredibly delicious and refreshing summer gazpacho is exactly what you need if you 1: have an abundance of tomatoes or cucumbers, 2: want a soup, but it's too hot out to cook anything 3: love food!
Green Harissa Tartines with Bacon and Avocado - Looking for the quickest, most delicious, and easy brunch/lunch? These Green Harissa Tartines with Bacon and Avocado are exactly that!
Greek Chicken Stuffed Pitas - Another easy, no-cook meal that uses a rotisserie chicken as a grocery store shortcut, shred them up, and then toss them with the homemade tzatziki. Stuff the chicken mixture, avocado, feta, red onions, and cucumbers in a pita pocket, and you're on your way to a delicious and easy meal that took almost no time to throw together.
NO-COOK DINNERS:
McCarthy Chopped Salad - It's my spin on the McCarthy Cobb. Spoiler alert: it's delish. Cubes of cheddar, chicken, beets, avocado, lettuce… you name it.
DIY Poke Bowls - When it's a billion degrees in LA and most other parts of the country… and you want to feed a crowd without turning on your oven, a Poke Bar is the answer! So grab all the fixings you could possibly imagine to make your own Poke Bowl. Tuna, salmon, avocado, fried wontons, mango… the list goes on, and have at it.
Avocado Shrimp Spring Rolls - Stuffed with all sorts of goodness, including the most important – AVOCADO!! These are the perfect appetizer lunch or dinner. So grab all the ingredients and get rolling!!
Spicy Salmon Sushi Bowls - These Spicy Salmon Sushi Bowls are part Poké and part sushi, and I am 100% here for it! Serve it over some leftover rice or over a bed of greens for a quick and easy dinner.
Mango Cucumber Chopped Salad - This refreshing Mango Cucumber Chopped Salad takes about 10 minutes of prep as far as knife skills go, and then it's time to eat. You'll be obsessed with the flavor combos here.
Asian Chicken Slaw - This salad is super colorful and packed with flavor. It's one of those recipes that only gets better with time. Plus, you can use a rotisserie chicken as a grocery store shortcut.
Cucumber Avocado Ceviche - If you want a refreshing lunch that requires ZERO cooking, just a little time to hang in the fridge, then this Ahi Cucumber Avocado Ceviche is for you.
Loaded Nicoise Salad - My take on the Nicoise Salad is light and bright with a ton of fresh herbs and a really addictive vinaigrette that you'll love.
Chopped Thai Salad - This Chopped Thai Salad is LOADED with everything you need to keep things light and bright. Tons of veggies and a really light vinaigrette that you'll love. You could add some roasted salmon or chicken or steak if you want extra protein too.
NO-COOK APPETIZERS:
Summer Cheese Board - My love for a cheese board, or any board with a variety of food, runs deep! Cheeses, meats, cherries, nibbles, bits, bobs… it goes on and on, and it's my absolute FAVORITE way to start a party!
Melon Caprese Skewers - These Italian-inspired Melon Caprese Skewers are the perfect summer snack! Just give me a dozen, and I'll be happy!
The Ultimate Appetizer Board - Making the perfect Appetizer Board is so simple. Get a few varieties of meats, some cheeses, olives, breadsticks, nuts, and dried fruits, and there you have it!
Mezze Platter - This appetizer situation has all my favorite nibbles' n things. It's a combination of artichoke hearts, marinated garlic, feta, pesto, olives, tabouli, hummus, tzatziki, dolmades, and everything else you could throw together for an appetizer board of epic proportions.
Kopanisti - A whipped feta dip with all the veggies!
No-Cook Asian Chicken Salad
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup rice wine vinegar
- 3 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 lime juiced
- ½ cup peanut butter
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- ½ head Napa cabbage thinly sliced
- ½ head Red cabbage thinly sliced
- 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
- 1 large carrot shredded
- 6 green onions thinly cut on the bias
- 1 avocado thinly sliced
- fresh basil thinly sliced
- fresh cilantro
- 1-2 cups shredded chicken breast optional
Instructions
- Whisk together the rice wine vinegar, soy sauce, lime juice, peanut butter and garlic until smooth.
- Combine the Napa cabbage, red cabbage, sliced bell peppers. carrot and green onion and toss together. Add in a handful of avocado, sliced basil and fresh cilantro along with the shredded chicken.
- Pour the liquid mixture over the vegetables and chicken and toss to combine. Season with extra soy sauce if needed and serve immediately.
All of these are perfect for summer, but I want the sesame noodle right now!!
This is a great idea and it looks wonderful!
I love to not turn the stove on in the summer. You have given me some great ideas!
So many good options - that burrata salad is epic!
WOW! everything looks so amazing!
These all look so good, I don;t know which one to make first1
I can't wait to try a few of these gorgeous recipes! Love the Melon Caprese Skewers & Avocado Shrimp Spring Rolls!
These are amazing ideas to not turn on the stove or oven!!!
No cook meals are a great idea for summer!
Yum! I love just using the grill and freshly chopped fruits and veggies. Now I will add a little toast as well!