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36 Easy, Breezy No-Cook Summer Recipes

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By: , of SparkPeople

When stepping outside is like walking into an oven, the last thing you want to do is turn on the one in your kitchen. But mealtimes don't stop for summer, and all those hot days spent swimming, playing, working and driving here, there and everywhere tend to work up quite an appetite. When dinner looms and the family is headed to hangry-town, skip the stove and throw together one of these insanely easy, no-cook dishes—and save the sweating for the pool.

1. Tabouli Salad with Riced Cauliflower, Tomato, Cucumber and Herbs: Brimming with fresh summer flavors, this low-carb vegan dish is bound to be your new favorite light summer salad.

Image courtesy of Avocado Pesto

2. Mediterranean Tuna Salad: Delicious, healthy, easy—it has all the requirements for dinner success.

Image courtesy of A Pinch of Healthy

3. Asian Cucumber Noodle Salad: Flavored with mint and cilantro and topped with a creamy almond ginger dressing, it's ready in just 30 minutes.

Image courtesy of Avocado Pesto

4. Chopped Mexican Salad: Fresh goodness and vibrant color are at the heart of this fresh chopped salad.

Image courtesy of Mommy's Memorandum

5. Vegan Asian Salad: Made with thin slivers of cucumbers, avocados and carrots, this refreshing salad is topped with a creamy homemade ginger carrot sesame dressing, toasted sesame seeds and Sriracha.

Image courtesy of Avocado Pesto

6. Avocado and Apple Kale Salad with Creamy Cashew Dressing: Light up your week with this refreshing, flavor-packed dish.

Image courtesy of The Healthy Apple

7. 10-Minute Cowboy Caviar Chicken: Toss this simple corn and black bean salsa on a store-bought rotisserie chicken for an easy meal that’s ready in about 10 minutes.

Image courtesy of The Seasoned Mom

8. Simple Salmon Salad: Satisfying and healthy, this salmon salad is delicious served over greens or in a whole-grain tortilla.

Image courtesy of Foraged Dish

9. Easy Vegetarian Taco Salad: Keep the heat out of your kitchen this summer with this fresh, satisfying and quick-to-prepare vegetarian taco salad.

Image courtesy of Joyously Domestic

10. Creamy Italian Pasta Salad: Full of fresh, flavorful ingredients, this quick and easy dish is perfect for picnics, potlucks or light and satisfying dinners. Cook the pasta ahead of time for easy, stove-free prep.

Image courtesy of The Seasoned Mom

11. Chicken Quinoa Salad with Salsa Hummus: A quick and easy chicken quinoa salad with veggies and salsa hummus makes a perfect light and healthy summer recipe.

Image courtesy of Family Food on the Table

12. BBQ Ranch Chopped Salad: This no-cook salad sensation makes a delicious and filling meal, perfect for using up all that leftover rotisserie chicken.

Image courtesy of A Pinch of Healthy

13. Chicken Salad for One: Made with a rotisserie chicken, this simple, single salad is packed with flavor and crunch.

Image courtesy of One Dish Kitchen

14. Paleo Nori Rolls: Super versatile, bright and refreshing, these hand-held wraps will quickly become your go-to summer meal.

Image courtesy of Foraged Dish

15. Apple Harvest Mason Jar Salads: With layers of chicken, apples, cranberries, blue cheese and pecans, these salads make a hassle-free and healthy meal-on-the-go.

Image courtesy of The Seasoned Mom

16. Chilean-Style Ceviche: This ceviche is typical of what you might find in Chile or Peru: fresh with bright peppers and cilantro.

Image courtesy of Foraged Dish

17. Peach and Burrata Arugula Salad: Orange arugula lettuce is tossed with balsamic vinaigrette and embellished with sweet peaches, creamy burrata cheese and a balsamic glaze.

Image courtesy of Tastes Lovely

18. Elevated Tuna Salad in Lettuce Wraps: Whip up these refreshing, healthful lettuce wraps without turning on your stove and with only a handful of simple ingredients.

Image courtesy of Joyously Domestic

19. Raw Vegan Collard Wraps: Vegan recipes are perfect when you want to eat healthy and detox your body from heavy meals or processed food. This is ready in minutes and bursting with flavors from the avocados, red pepper, alfalfa, pecans and tamari mix.

Image courtesy of Avocado Pesto

20. Quick Mexican Tuna Salad: Skip the heavy mayo and make this tuna salad with avocado instead. Ready in 20 minutes, it's perfect for a quick lunch or weeknight dinner—and packs 30 grams of protein per serving!

Image courtesy of Avocado Pesto

21. Mediterranean Chopped Salad: This crunchy, flavorful salad features chickpeas, olives and feta cheese–perfect for a vegetarian and gluten-free light dinner.

Image courtesy of Family Food on the Table

22. Quinoa Chicken Spinach Salad: Made with mandarin oranges, walnuts and a honey-lime vinaigrette (and optional Sriracha drizzle), this flavorful main dish is ready in just 20 minutes.

Image courtesy of Family Food on the Table

23. Spiralizer Greek Salad: This light and refreshing dish is made with cucumbers, tomatoes, basil, chickpeas, feta cheese and balsamic vinaigrette.

Image courtesy of A Pinch of Healthy

24. No-Bake Graham Cracker Cheesycake: This light, refreshing dessert satisfies your sweet tooth without the extra calories and sugar.

25. BBQ Chicken Quinoa Salad Bowls: These super simple bowls are full of flavor and fresh veggies for a healthy, hassle-free dinner.

Image courtesy of Family Food on the Table

26. Ethel's Curry Chicken Salad: This classic recipe makes a fresh and easy lunch or dinner that's ready in just 10 minutes.

Image courtesy of The Seasoned Mom

27. Summer No-Cook Oatmeal: This is a great option for summer days when you want your fiber but don't want a hot bowl of cereal.

28. Orange Almond Salad with Avocado: Romaine salad tossed with an orange balsamic vinaigrette makes a delicious lunch salad or a great dinner starter salad.

Image courtesy of Tastes Lovely

29. Avocado Chickpea Salad: An exceptionally satisfying and filling salad filled with healthy fats and great taste.

Image courtesy of Hurry the Food Up

30. 5-Ingredient Chicken Salad: Use pre-cooked chicken breast or leftover chicken to make this satisfying salad in just a few minutes.

Image courtesy of Foraged Dish

31. Easy Mango & Grape Kale Salad with Cashew Glaze: Kale and mango are flavored with a ridiculously amazing (and protein-rich) cashew glaze.

Image courtesy of The Heathy Apple

32. Cold Barley Salad with Chicken and Creamy Pesto: This easy, make-ahead cold barley salad is made with chicken and a creamy pesto-yogurt mixture.

Image courtesy of Family Food on the Table

33. Chicken Taco Mason Jar Salads: With only about 10 minutes of prep, these grab-and-go salads are loaded with fresh veggies, plenty of cheese and almost 40 grams of protein for a nutritious and satisfying meal at any time of day.

Image courtesy of The Seasoned Mom

34. Fully-Loaded Guacamole: Guac for dinner? This version is loaded with fresh toppings, like bacon and fresh tomatoes, so it works as a full-fledged meal--just add baked or plantain chips for scooping.

Image courtesy of Foraged Dish

35. Avocado Chocolate Mousse: A rich and nutritious dark chocolate mousse--the healthy way to eat chocolate!

Image courtesy of Hurry the Food Up

36. Balsamic Strawberries with Coconut Whipped Cream: Orange balsamic strawberries with coconut whipped cream form a sweet and sour dessert that is full of flavor yet still low in calories, vegan and gluten-free.

Image courtesy of Tastes Lovely

Melissa Rudy is a lifelong Cincinnatian, Melissa earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from University of Cincinnati before breaking into the online content field in 2000. As a Digital Journalist for SparkPeople, she enjoys helping others meet their wellness goals by writing about all aspects of healthy living. An avid runner and group fitness addict, Melissa lives in Loveland with her guitarist husband and three feisty daughters.

recipes, Spark People, Summer

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