40 Cold Dinner Ideas Made for Scorching Hot Nights
There’s a time and a place for hearty, warming meals. It just doesn’t happen to be when the sun is shining and we’ve got the air conditioning on. During that time, we turn to simple, cold dinners that are light but totally satisfying (bonus points if they’re no-cook). From watermelon poke bowls to cucumber-avocado soup, here are 40 cold dinner ideas that won’t burn your tongue—or leave you sweating in the kitchen.
43 No-Cook Meals to Make for Dinner
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
1. Cold Sesame Cucumber Noodles
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, vegetarian, no cook
Servings: 4
Store-bought marinated baked tofu combined with cold noodles makes this dish hearty, healthy and super simple to whip up.
Averie Cooks
2. Chicken Orzo Salad
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, make ahead
Servings: 6 to 10
Add whatever veggies you picked up from the farmers market this week. The best part? If you plan for leftovers you can enjoy this guy more than just once.
Floating Kitchen
3. Quinoa and Shaved Carrot Salad with Chickpeas, Currants and Cashews
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, vegan, gluten free
Servings: 4
This is one of those recipes that’s easy, customizable (use whatever fruit or nuts you have lying around the cupboard) and can be eaten warm or cold. The choice is yours.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
4. Watermelon Poke Bowls
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, no cook, vegetarian
Servings: 4
Ideal for when we want something cool and crunchy. Did we mention this one’s vegetarian (and photogenic)?
Pinch of Yum
5. Clean Broccoli Salad with Creamy Almond Dressing
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegan
Servings: 6 to 8
Featuring purple cabbage, broccoli, raisins, almonds, green onions and a creamy vegan almond-miso-orange dressing, this veggie-laden meal comes together in no time.
Floating Kitchen
6. Honey-Miso Summer Salad Bowls
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, no cook
Servings: 2
Have you ever seen anything so beautiful? You’re going to want to put this savory-sweet dressing on just about everything.
What’s Gaby Cooking
7. Charred Corn and Goat Cheese Avocado Toast
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Servings: 2
Topped with corn, chives, lemon, salt and pepper, this is not your average avocado toast.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
8. Grilled Peach, Prosciutto and Mozzarella Sandwich
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Servings: 1
Sweet, salty and savory. Our new favorite sammy is what we call the ultimate triple threat.
Plays Well with Butter
9. Aglio Olio Zoodles with Summer Vegetables and Shrimp
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: low carb, <10 ingredients
Servings: 4
This lighter take on a classic Italian dish is packed with flavor. Just don’t forget to pile on the freshly grated cheese.
Inspiralized
10. Spiralized Sushi Bowl with Salmon Sashimi and Ginger Miso Dressing
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <30 minutes, low carb
Servings: 4
Allow this beautiful and colorful bowl to be your first foray into homemade sushi—it’s easy, promise.
Lexi’s Clean Kitchen
11. Mediterranean Tuna Salad
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: paleo, no cook, under 500 calories
Servings: 6
Packed with so many flavors and textures (veggies, artichokes, capers, avocado and a red wine vinaigrette), you won’t even miss the mayo.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
12. Shredded Thai Salad with Avocado
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, high protein, beginner-friendly
Servings: 4
Ready thy Instagram, because this array of shredded cabbage, peppers and other fresh veggies—topped with vibrant slices of avocado—is too beautiful not to share.
Simon Smith/Vegan 100
13. Cheesy Raw Vegan Zucchini Lasagna
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: vegan, no cook, high protein
Servings: 4
Meet the lightened-up version of your favorite comfort food: Stacks on stacks of our favorite veggies topped with extra cheesy goodness.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
14. The Ultimate Quinoa-Avocado Bowl
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, beginner-friendly, dairy free
Servings: 4
Crispy kale? Check. Spicy shrimp? Check. Avocado slices, watermelon radishes and quinoa? Check, check and oh yeah, check.
The Clean Eating Couple
15. Pineapple Mango Salsa Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, gluten free, paleo, Whole30, under 500 calories
Servings: 2
If you’re looking for something that’s on your diet, these guys are completely gluten free, paleo and Whole30. And you can have them on the table in just 20 minutes.
Inspiralized
16. Beet Noodle, Pea and Arugula Salad
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy free, gluten free, vegan, ready in <30 minutes
Servings: 2
Topped with a lemon garlic-tahini sauce, this crunchy salad is the ideal cold dinner for a warm evening.
Aran Goyoaga/Cannelle et Vanille
17. Aran Goyoaga’s Niçoise Salad
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, make ahead, high protein, under 500 calories
Servings: 6
This is so much more exciting than the average Niçoise salad. It makes for a quick and hearty dinner and is easy to scale up or down.
Photo: Michael Marquand/Styling: Jodi Moreno
18. Kelp and Zucchini Noodle Pad Thai
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, gluten free, paleo
Servings: 2
Food blogger Jodi Moreno stopped by the PureWow test kitchen to whip up this light gluten free, paleo and nutrient-rich dish.
Sassy Kitchen
19. Summer Corn and Heirloom Salad with Spicy Breadcrumbs, Goat Cheese and Tomatillo Salsa Verde
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: gluten free, vegetarian
Servings: 4
This is the summer salad of our dreams. Don’t forget to grab a handful of toasted bread cubes and crumble them over the dish for additional texture.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
20. 15-Minute Cucumber-Avocado Blender Soup
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
Servings: 4 servings
Making soup can feel like a lot of effort for something that we could just get from a can. Enter: this flavorful recipe that's ready in no time.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
21. Cold Lemon Zoodles
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, no cook, gluten free
Servings: 4
A light, zesty dressing and no actual cooking required make this dish our summer night go-to. Who needs a stove anyway?
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
22. 15-Minute Gazpacho with Cucumber, Red Pepper and Basil
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Servings: 4
With some ripe produce and a blender or food processor, you can whip up this guy in no time. No heat (or effort) required.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
23. Buddha Bowl with Kale, Avocado, Orange and Wild Rice
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, gluten free, dairy free
Servings: 2
This grain bowl, filled to the brim with the freshest ingredients (avocado, orange, pumpkin seeds and more), is about to become your new go-to dinner.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
24. Rainbow Collard Wraps with Peanut Butter Dipping Sauce
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, kid-friendly, under 500 calories, gluten free
Servings: 4
So easy and refreshing. You can even make them ahead of time (up to two days in advance) and they won’t get soggy in the fridge.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
25. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Stuffed Peppers
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: no cook, make ahead, kid-friendly
Servings: 6
Serve the leftovers of this lightened-up tangy chicken salad for lunch. If there’s any left, we mean.
Half Baked Harvest
26. Summer Abundance Salad
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Servings: 4
Let seasonal produce be the star of your meal, because this salad is packed with whole grains, protein, fruits and your favorite veggies.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
27. BLT Pasta Salad
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: kid-friendly, <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
Servings: 8
We’re combining all of the crunchy, savory, creamy ingredients of the classic sandwich—minus, well, the bread. Go ahead, fry up all of your bacon at your next brunch, then save the leftovers for this meal.
Gentl and Hyers/Open Kitchen
28. Cold Soba Noodle Salad with Strawberries
Time Commitment: 21 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian, make ahead
Servings: 8
This dish is almost no-cook, takes less than 30 minutes and can be made up to one day in advance. Just toss the strawberries in right before serving so they don’t get mushy.
Chocolate for Basil
29. Panzanella
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian
Servings: 4
Salad for dinner? We’re all in, especially if it’s made out of bread. As it soaks up all the juices from the other ingredients, it just gets better and better.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
30. Yellow Tomato Gazpacho
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: under 500 calories, special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
Servings: 4 to 6
Yellow tomatoes are milder and less acidic than most red ones, and pair beautifully with sweet summer peaches. Top it all off with extra crunchy cucumbers and croutons.
31. Shrimp Rolls with New England–Style Dressing
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, <500 calories
Servings: 4
These handhelds can satisfy your craving for lobster without blowing your entire grocery budget. They have all the elements you’re looking for: buttery buns, fresh herbs and a creamy yet light New England–style dressing that has just the right amount of mayonnaise.
32. Summer Vegetable Steak Salad with Cilantro Lime Dressing
Eva Kolenko/The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein, beginner-friendly
Servings: 4
This gorgeous salad calls for cooking the steak under your broiler, but if you don’t want to heat up your entire kitchen, move the setup to your grill.
33. Marinated White Bean and Tomato Salad
Chelsea Kyle/For the Table
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: make ahead, vegetarian, gluten free, <10 ingredients
Servings: 4 to 6
It’s less than ten ingredients, can be made in advance and doubled for a crowd, and contains 14 grams of protein per serving—even without meat.
34. Chickpea Caesar Salad with a Cheater’s Dressing
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: vegetarian, beginner-friendly
Servings: 4
The magical cheater’s dressing skips the usual raw egg and anchovies, but how? The secret is store-bought mayo…we won’t tell if you won’t.
35. Asparagus, Peas and Cucumber ‘Cacio e Pepe’
Linda Pugliese/Salad Freak
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, vegetarian
Servings: 2
In truth, this is nothing like the pasta it takes its name from…but it’s so elegant and fresh, we don’t mind. You could also add some raw zucchini noodles in place of cucumber if you wanted to, or serve it on top of grilled chicken cutlets for some heft.
36. Salmon BLT Salad with Spicy Tomatillo Ranch
Aubrie Pick/Truly Simple
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We Love It: <30 minutes, high protein
Servings: 2
If you aren’t familiar with tomatillos, they’re similar to tomatoes but are slightly less sweet and are perfect when drenched in ranch. (TBH, what isn’t?)
37. Tabasco-Gochujang Cured Salmon Poke Bowl
LOUISE HAGGAR/A SPLASH OF SOY
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: high protein, no cook
Servings: 2
Poke at home? With raw fish? It’s actually super easy to pull off. But if you’d rather not spring for sashimi-grade salmon, substitute smoked. Or if you’re vegan, use meaty mushrooms, sticky tempeh or crispy tofu in the fish’s place.
38. Miso-Ginger Chicken Slaw
Gayle McLeod/The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We Love It: dairy free, gluten free, low carb
Servings: 6
It’s like a cross between coleslaw and chicken salad, a combination that has us running to the kitchen. If you use a rotisserie chicken, you won’t even have to cook anything.
39. The Most Perfect Burrata Caprese Sandwich
What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Servings: 4
You had us at the first mention of burrata. If you want to go all out, use homemade pesto. Otherwise, store-bought is totally fine.
40. Super Quick Avocado Shrimp Salad
Pinch of Yum
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why We Love It: <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Servings: 2
Fresh, crunchy and ready in 15 minutes, this is summer eating at its best. You can use cooked, frozen shrimp if you want, but poaching them doesn’t take much time, and the results are worth it.
