Handy Chef
Some days, you’re just not in the mood to cook. Other days, like in the heat of summer, the last thing you want to do is light up a burner or fire up the oven. It’s exactly those days that inspired us to compile a list of refreshingly easy, no-cook meals that are perfect for lunch or dinner.
These meals are super simple to put together, often using rotisserie chicken, pre-cooked shrimp, fresh produce, or meatless proteins to make them hearty and satisfying. Read on for dozens of no-cook meals to add to your menu plan, and then look over our collection of no-bake desserts.
Nicoise-Inspired Summer Salad
With a mix of pre-cooked fish, fresh produce, and canned chickpeas, this colorful take on the classic French salad is a breeze to assemble. Buy or use pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs to make this easy recipe truly no-cook.
Tofu and Cabbage Salad with Coconut Dressing
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Store-bought shortcuts like marinated, pressed tofu and coleslaw mix help this nourishing salad come together in record time, 15 minutes to be precise. Whisking together a dressing with coconut milk, fish sauce (or soy sauce to keep this salad vegan), lime juice, and sriracha is really the only work involved. Top it off with fresh herbs, chopped peanuts, and crispy fried onions (such as French’s) for a salad you’ll look forward to making again and again.
Rotisserie Chicken and Avocado Tostadas
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Rotisserie chicken comes to the rescue once again in this fresh and fun recipe. Start by tossing shredded chicken in a mixture of mayo, salsa verde, and lime juice. Pile it on a crispy tostada layered with creamy avocado. Finally, top it all off with crunchy lettuce and radishes for a family-friendly dinner that takes 15 minutes to prep.
Marinated Shrimp and Succotash Toasts
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
This recipe delivers big color and flavor in just a few minutes, thanks to pre-cooked shrimp and store-bought pesto. Toss shrimp in a tangy dressing with defrosted frozen edamame, cherry tomatoes, fresh corn, jarred roasted red peppers, and sliced onion. Pile it onto pesto-schmeared toasts and enjoy! Alternatively, serve the shrimp mixture over mixed greens for an even lighter meal.
Smoked Salmon Flatbread
Victor Protasio
This 10-minute, single-serving recipe qualifies as no-cook unless you consider warming up naan in a toaster or microwave “cooking”. (We don’t!) And don’t skip that step because the warm naan softens the cream cheese mixture that’s schmeared all over it. To finish, top with arugula, salty capers, smoked salmon, and thinly sliced red onion.
Tomato and Peach Salad with Serrano Ham
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Pretend you’re spending lazy days in Spain this summer by tossing together this gorgeous salad. It’s basically a jumble of ripe peaches (or nectarines), tomatoes, arugula, serrano ham, shaved manchego cheese, and chopped almonds. Drizzle it all with a simple sherry vinaigrette. Serrano ham is similar to prosciutto, just a touch drier and saltier. Prosciutto makes a great swap.
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
If you’re looking for an easy vegetarian meal, this sandwich qualifies. It combines canned chickpeas with chopped celery, a shallot, mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, and Dijon mustard to create a meat-free take on chicken salad. We promise you won’t miss the real thing!
Salmorejo with Prosciutto and Hard-Boiled Egg
Similar to gazpacho, this cold soup is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It whirls tomatoes and bread in the blender and then chills it. At serving time, top each bowl with prosciutto and grated hard-boiled eggs.
Fancy Tomato Sandwiches
This no-cook recipe highlights the summer’s bounty of fresh tomatoes as the star of this stylishly chic sandwich. A little arugula gives it a peppery bite, while store-bought fried onions provide a surprising crunch.
Chicken Satay Lettuce Wraps
Using store-bought rotisserie chicken makes this a no-cook recipe that’s quick to assemble. A peanut and coconut-flavored sauce helps bring these lettuce wraps together.
Green Gazpacho with Smoked Trout
Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Cucumbers, yogurt, feta cheese, and cilantro get whizzed in a blender and then chilled for a cool, creamy meal that’s surprisingly filling. Top it with smoked trout (or salmon), more cucumber and cilantro for a meal so pretty you could even serve it to guests.
Miso Caesar Salad
This Caesar keeps what you love about the iconic salad—a dressing with garlic, anchovy, and Worcestershire coating crisp romaine leaves topped with Parmesan and croutons—but adds a few twists. The dressing swaps raw eggs with mayo, and miso paste instead of mustard and Parm, resulting in that flavor you know and love, but better! Top with leftover chicken or cooked shrimp and you have dinner.
Summer Squash With Scallions, Chile, and Parsley
If you’ve never eaten a raw squash salad before, you’re in for a treat. Tossing the rounds with salt softens them, allowing them to absorb every bit of flavor. Vinegar adds just the right amount of acidity, and a chopped almond dressing ties the whole dish together.
Japanese-Style Shrimp Salad
A soy sauce and sesame oil dressing freshens up this tasty Asian-inspired salad. It coats fresh produce and pre-cooked shrimp to create a light, healthy, filling meal.
Chickpea-Tuna Salad
Standard tuna salad gets an upgrade in this vinegar-based (not mayo-centric) recipe. It marinates canned chickpeas in oil and vinegar, which are joined by tuna, radicchio, red onion, kalamata olives, and capers. The result is an easy lunch or light dinner you’ll want to revisit every week.
Nectarine and Burrata Salad
Quick-pickling the onions technically requires 30 seconds of microwaving, but it’s worth it for this fresh, healthy, no-cook salad. Try this delightful combination of creamy cheese and sweet nectarines as directed, or switch it up with peaches, cherries, apricots, or a combo of what’s best from the farmer’s market.
Herby Chicken Salad Tartines
This no-cook recipe uses rotisserie chicken (or any leftover cooked chicken) to create an elegant tartine, essentially a fancy French term for an open-faced sandwich. The chicken salad has a mayo-based dressing and almonds for a nice crunch. Thinly sliced radishes and an herby topping—fresh tarragon and chives—contribute to make this sandwich magnifique!
Green Gazpacho With Grapes, Honeydew, and Cucumber
While this green gazpacho is served with toast, you can easily skip that step if you’re looking for a recipe that requires absolutely no cooking. To make the vibrant, chilled soup, all you need is a blender to whirl ciabatta bread (yes, bread in the blender!), cucumber, melon, grapes, scallions, and salt with lime juice and vinegar-soaked bread.
Crispy Chicken and Cheddar Sandwich With Pickle Dijon
If you have an extra-crispy chicken cutlet leftover from last night’s dinner, this is the meal for you! Throw that chicken between two baguette halves, add romaine leaves, grated Cheddar, and a spread of pickle relish, Dijon mustard, and mayonnaise for a tasty sandwich.
Acai Coconut Smoothie Bowl
Here’s a breakfast smoothie bowl with the nutritional heft to work for lunch or dinner, too. The smoothie part blends frozen, pureed acaà with bananas, blueberries, and coconut water (or coconut milk for added richness). Topped with more fruit, coconut flakes, and your favorite granola, it’s like eating dessert for dinner.
Ginger-Lime Melon Salad
You won’t find any lettuce, croutons, or meat here, yet this light, no-cook fruit salad is packed with flavor. It features wedges of fresh watermelon, honeydew, and cantaloupe boosted with lime zest and grated fresh ginger. It’s as light as meal as can be, and sometimes that’s all you want on a steamy night.
Spicy Street Corn Salad
This fresh take on the classic Mexican street food elote features a hint of spice and makes a perfect no-cook dinner. A little chopping and mixing are all that’s required to assemble this hearty salad.
Coconut-Marinated Shrimp With Cucumber and Jicama
This super easy, no-cook shrimp meal is the perfect take-along for a picnic or get-together. Infused with coconut, lime, and cilantro flavors, you can serve this dish as-is for a low-carb meal, atop rice noodles for more substance, or as a crostini topping.
Crab Rolls
Crisp radishes, celery, and apples provide a satisfying crunch that contrasts with the creamy mayo in this classic sandwich recipe. Using already-cooked crabmeat keeps this easy sandwich recipe heat-free.
Baby Kale and Chicken Caesar Salad
This quick salad recipe calls for making your own croutons, but reach for a box of store-bought, and this recipe qualifies for the no-cook list. Whip up a dressing based on mayo (instead of egg yolks) and toss with thinly sliced Brussels sprouts, rotisserie chicken, and kale. Top with croutons and dinner (or lunch) is served!
Zucchini and Bean Salad With Bulgur
Nutritious bulgur makes a hearty base for this delicious meatless salad. While you’ll need a bit of boiled water for the bulgur, the rest of this meal only requires assembly. Alternatively, stick to your no-bake guns and swap out the bulgur for any leftover cooked grain.
Loaded Tuna Salad Tartines
Jen Causey
Canned tuna is a valuable weapon to have in your no-cook meal arsenal, and this recipe uses it to craft spectacular tuna salad sandwiches. A no-mayo, oil-based dressing for the tuna is elevated by shallots, celery, cornichons (pickles), capers, and herbs, while avocado slices lend these tartines a creamy texture and nutritional gravitas.
Spring Green Salad
Clear out your produce drawer with this healthy salad, which boasts a base of romaine lettuce hearts with chopped cucumber, snap peas, and edamame. Add chives and mint, plus pistachios for crunch, and you have a practically perfect monochromatic salad.
Peach and Arugula Salad With Burrata
Fresh peaches are a favorite among summer fruits, and they truly shine when paired with creamy burrata. This no-cook recipe also calls for prosciutto, peppery arugula, and a zingy herb dressing made with olive oil, basil, and chives that’s likely to become a favorite.
Tex-Mex Gazpacho
Put your fresh tomatoes to good use with this chilled soup, which also calls for Kirby cucumbers, a red bell pepper, a poblano pepper, and a red onion. Fresh lime juice and olive oil add depth of flavor, a dollop of sour cream delivers creaminess, and a sprinkling of roasted pepitas lends texture.
Tropical Fruit Salad
This delicious salad mixes papaya, pineapple, mango, and kiwi with a touch of sugar and lime juice. A pinch of salt softens the fruit, helping release its juices and concentrate its flavor. The fruit rests on a bed of creamy coconut yogurt crowned with a sprinkle of flaked coconut.
Avocado Toast
To no one’s surprise, this brunch staple also makes a great lunch or light dinner. Kick things up a notch by topping your toast with just about whatever you have in the fridge. We’re partial to smoked salmon, crumbled cheese, and sliced tomato, but there are plenty other avocado toast ideas to choose from!
French Ham and Cheese Sandwich
The classic ham and cheese sandwich gets a French upgrade with Dijon mustard, Gruyère cheese, and a cornichon (pickle) spread. This quick sandwich goes great with a side salad for a balanced no-cook meal.
Brussels Sprouts Salad
Here’s a delicious yet unorthodox salad that combines Brussels sprouts and radicchio with pecans and dried cranberries. This no-cook salad is a make-ahead dish, too. Refrigerate it for up to 2 days, and then simply add cheese and dressing when you’re ready to serve.
Every-Citrus Salad With Almonds and Manchego
With two types of oranges and grapefruit, this juicy salad makes for a refreshingly light meal. Add pre-cooked rotisserie chicken for a heartier dish, or eat as-is for a quick lunch. Either way, there’s no cooking required.
Pink Dragon Smoothie
Smoothies aren’t just for breakfast, especially when they feature a vegetable, tropical fruits, and protein-rich Greek yogurt like this one. There’s no reason you can’t whirl one up on a hot summer evening or any time you want a quick, nourishing meal that doesn’t involve a stovetop, oven, or takeout menu. When you serve this for dinner, dessert’s already included!
Zesty Chicken Salad
If you start with 4 pounds of rotisserie (or otherwise cooked) chicken, this recipe becomes a no-cook wonder. Its “zesty” qualifier is earned by its mayo-based dressing punched up by dill pickles, shallots, lemon juice, and fresh tarragon. Make it a meal by serving atop crisp salad greens or between slices of crusty bread.
Cantaloupe and Cucumber Salad
Victor Protasio
Sweet and savory, easy and cheesy, fruity and fun; This recipe has everything you want in a light, refreshing, no-cook meal. It dresses its summer fruit and veg stars in a white wine vinaigrette tossed with feta and mint leaves. The addition of chopped buttery Castelvetranos—the caviar of the olive world—provides a surprising twist.
Coffee-Tahini Smoothie
In a hurry? Sip your dinner, evening coffee, and dessert all in one creamy drink. Oat milk and coffee form the base, with add-ins of avocado, banana, and tahini for smooth richness. Cocoa powder, cinnamon, and maple syrup round out the flavor profile for a balanced, nutritious meal.
Pesto Egg Salad Toasts
If you start with hard-boiled eggs and don’t consider toasting as “cooking,” this is a no-cook recipe. With that out of the way, it’s this recipe’s homemade pesto that elevates an ordinary egg salad sand to stupendous no-cook supper status.
Pickled Tuna-Salad Sandwiches
Elevate your standard tuna sandwich recipe with pickle relish and fresh, flat-leaf parsley. If you have a spare hard-boiled egg from meal prep or don’t mind cooking one thing, we promise that adding the chopped egg to the sandwich is worth it.
Vanilla-Cinnamon Chia Pudding
It looks like breakfast and tastes like dessert, but this recipe’s superfood main ingredient makes it a good lunch or dinner choice, too. The hardest part of this recipe is waiting 2 hours while the chia seeds soak in vanilla almond milk. With that out of the way, you’re just 5 minutes from enjoying this cinnamony-sweet treat.
PB&J Overnight Oats
Breakfast for dinner works for no-cook recipes, too. Turn this one upside-down by prepping it in the morning to enjoy for dinner. That leaves all day for the oats and chia seeds to soak in almond milk, yogurt, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla.
Tuna Niçoise Baguette
We kicked the list off with a Niçoise salad, but for something a little more substantial, try it in a sandwich. This one takes just 20 minutes to put together, though it should sit in the fridge for an hour to let all the juicy flavors of herbs, vinegar, and Dijon mustard combine and soak into the bread.
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