Frankly I am really getting tired of cooking dinner when it is hot. I need some no bake recipes or "cold" dinner recipes. The only one that I really do is a pasta salad haha I know that does require me to cook the noodles, but that's not a big deal to me. I would LOVE to get some more no bake recipes under my belt. What are your favorite summer time no bake/cook recipes?
My mouth is watering haha These are some good ideas and recipes! With 2 very young children, I'm off on my creativity lol BBQing is my husband's department, so, I think I'm gonna encourage him a little more heehee Thank You!
My favorite is crab pasta salad. You have to cook the noodles but that's it! Cook 3 cups of penne pasta, drain and rinse with cold water.
Add shredded romaine lettuce (I buy the bagged), chopped red onion, imitation crab cut into bite-sized pieces and top with caesar dressing. So good! It's a filling, cool meal!
Cucumber salad:
Cucumbers (about 4) peeled and cut into bite sized pieces.
2 cups sour cream (or plain yogurt - or combination of both)
1 tablespoon Lemon juice or to taste
2 cloves garlic minced (or more if you love garlic)
salt and pepper to taste.
Mix together, chill in fridge and it's good when ever you want it.
Easy Gazpacho:
quart of tomato juice (I like Campbell's but V8 works well, too).
2 or 3 cucumbers peeled and cut into bite sized pieces
1 or 2 green peppers, seeded and cut into bite sized pieces
1 bunch fresh parsley (I like curly but cilantro works, too) washed and minced
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 or 3 cloves garlic minced
Mix together, chill in fridge and it's good when ever you want it.
Taco salad:
Brown 1 pound hamburger, drain and cool
1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained (or use 2 kidney if you prefer)
shredded cheddar cheese
romaine lettuce, torn into bite size pieces
nacho cheese chips (like Doritos) broken into small pieces
Mix all of this together (no exact amounts on the cheese, lettuce and chips - just until it looks good to you depending on what you like). Top with catalina dressing (about 1/2 a bottle) and mix well. Serve with some fruit or raw summer veggies.
This is super easy , very filling and great for summer. It is always gone if I bring it to BBQs!
Yeah, I hear you on the part about being tired of cooking...me too :0) Anyway, my family really likes Chicken Cesar Pitas. The "recipe" is below.
Chicken Cesar Pitas:
Pita Pockets
Storebought Rotiserre Chicken
Romaine Lettuce
Parmessan Cheese
Storebought Cesar Salad Dressing
Wraps are good as well. Maybe a chicken/bacon/ranch wrap?
We also like to make bean burritos using canned refried beans, cheese, and whatever else....salsa, lettuce, tomato, etc.
I don't know if you have any picky eaters in the house, but one of the best recipes I know and love requires zero cooking....
You can adjust ingredients. There is no perfect science with it.
Broccoli florets in bite size pieces (raw)
Cauliflower in bite size pieces (raw)
Tomato in small chunks (raw)
Red onion, chopped
Zucchini and/or yellow crooked neck squash in bite size pieces (raw)
Bite size mozzerella cheese or shredded cheddar
Mix with olive oil and vinegar. Add salt and pepper, garlic salt or powder to taste.
Let sit to marinate in the oil and vinegar.
We love it with toasted sourdough and butter.
Another good and easy one is to brown some ground beef and add taco seasoning. Mix into a salad with grated cheese and avocado. Have chips and salsa on the side.
You can never go wrong with fruit salad and yogurt served in a melon shell.
I can't wait to see the other ideas.
I love making tuna salad and serving it either in a cantalope half or a scooped out tomato. Pita pockets are a tasty way to serve chicken salad or tuna salad as well.
I love all sorts of salads and you can buy packages of grilled chicken near where they keep lunch meat now.
We love BLT's ( I realize it is better with bacon you fry, but that pre cooked bacon is ok in a pinch)
When it got that hot out earlier this week I was doing everything in the slow cooker. I was finally able to bake today and oh it was so much fun!!
Chicken salad is amazing, but there is slight cooking if you don't want to buy the canned stuff.
Cook some shredded chicken or get it in the cans. Mix with chopped pickles, celery, onions, and a little mayo. serve on toast or over lettuce =)
I just spent a month in Toronto, Canada where it was over 90F every day and most nights didn't go below 80F. I'm from there and in the summer we always BBQ everything. Get yourself a cheap BBQ. There are so many things you can cook on the grill. Yummy! Miss it already!
Baked potatoes (cooked in the microwave) with your favorite toppings...broccoli, cheese, bacon, anything!
My family loves quesadillas
Anything in a slow cooker
Pasta salad with crab meat
BLT
