Raise your hand if you agree with me: My social calendar starts to fill up in a big way starting in March. Sure, I have the big events, including weddings and graduation parties, but there are a ton of smaller events planned, too including low-key get-togethers with friends. With the temperature rising, who wants to stay in and cook for an event? I definitely don’t! That’s why I like to save time (and my sanity) by using delicious and cool recipes that can be prepared without turning on the oven. It’s a total win-win: I get to make something that’s refreshing to eat on a hot summer’s day without having to spend a lot of time actually preparing the meal. Short of ordering delivery, it can’t get much easier than that!
Cool recipes are also usually super portable, too, and are the perfect accompaniment for an evening out in summer. Salads, sandwiches, and even a tray of tasty desserts are just what you need for dining al fresco with family and friends. Simply keep your items in an insulated cooler with plenty of ice, and you’re ready to serve! The next time you’re short on time and don’t feel like firing up the grill or standing over a hot stove, keep these cool recipes in mind.
From tasty salads to quick and easy desserts, you’ll want to keep these cool recipes right at your fingertips this summer. Pictured: Strawberry Shortcake in a Jar.
Make Life Easy With Make-Ahead Salads
Is there anything that says “Summer is here and I don’t want to cook” quite like a salad? So easy to make they’re almost fool-proof, summer salads can be a refreshing and light option for dinner or lunch. The salads are also a great way to shine the spotlight on your favorite in-season fruits and veggies. If you’re tired of the same lettuce-tomato-cucumber combination, then keep reading. These summertime salads are a zesty change of pace that you and your family will love. If you incorporate ingredients found on your latest farmers market run, then you’ll have a dish that’s exceptionally fresh and tasty.
Strawberry Poppyseed and Bacon Chopped Salad
Garbage Salad with Vinaigrette Dressing
Leafy Green Salad with Blueberries and Blueberry Basil Vinaigrette
Cucumber Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
Farmer’s Market Cauliflower Salad
No-Cook Meals Are The Cool Recipes You Need
There’s more — a lot more — to no-cooked meals than peanut butter and jelly on bread. With soups and sandwiches on the menu, you can make delicious and tasty meals for your family without using the stove or slow cooker. To make life a little bit easier (and save some time), purchase cooked meats from your favorite butcher or deli. These no-cook meals are the perfect option for those busy weeknights during the summer!
Chicken & Mixed Vegetables Pita Pockets
No-Bake Desserts Are A Slice Of Heaven
This summer, make cookies, bars, and other favorite desserts without turning on the oven. Check out No-Bake Desserts: 103 Easy Recipes for No-Bake Cookies, Bars, and Treats for more recipes.
It’s time for a confession! I love cake and pie, but I don’t like sweating in a warm kitchen waiting for something to bake. For years, though, I would toil through baking an item because I seemed to think that a dessert had to be baked. And that’s when I discovered no-bake desserts. When the weather warms up, I’ll reach for recipes that don’t require turning on the oven. Although they are typically easy to make, these recipes don’t scrimp on flavor or style, either. I have proudly served a no-bake dessert at family gatherings and watched as my relatives (happily, I might add) gobbled up every morsel.
No-bake desserts encompass more than just ice cream. Pies, cookies, and so many more no-bake desserts are new and creative twists on family favorites. The best part? It won’t take long to make these delicious desserts, either. Refreshing as can be, these no-bake desserts should be in your repertoire for summertime recipes.
Are you looking for no-bake desserts that are as amazing as they look? Then you’ll want to see No-Bake Desserts: 103 Easy Recipes for No-Bake Cookies, Bars, and Treats, a brand-new release from the editors of RecipeLion. Released just in time for summer, this cookbook is loaded with new no-bake twists on your favorite desserts. This cookbook releases July 4, 2017, and is available for preorder via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, IndieBound, and Powells. These recipes are included in the upcoming book.
What is your favorite no-bake dessert recipe?
- Magic Slow Cooker Spring Meatloaf - April 26, 2021
- Funfetti Cake Batter Bites No-Bake Dessert Recipe - April 25, 2021
- Super Simple Lemon Bundt Cake Recipe - April 24, 2021
I’m an impatient college student, always on the lookout for things to quicken my life while still being healthy (i.e. not eating junk, and lots of it) and active (not just physically — cooking is an interest I have just begun fostering). This is a nice list of things which fulfill all three criteria: quick/easy (the no-cook meals), healthy, and still something fun to do!
We’re glad it inspired you!
This article gets me so amped up for the summer! As a busy bee, I can certainly relate to the no-bake and no-cook sections. These options are also perfect for moms who are always on the go as well as individuals who are new to the cooking/baking club. In addition, salads are my FAVORITE and I’m totally guilty of using the typical tomato, cucumber, and lettuce mix, so the unique substitutes caught my eye. I’ll definitely be using the blueberry basil vinaigrette as a healthy (yet indulging) bedtime snack! 😉