Summer days are very hot. After a long day, cooking can be hard. You want food that is quick and easy. Food that is cool and not heavy.
These Hot Weather Dinner Recipes are simple to make. Most do not need much time. Some do not need cooking. Perfect for lazy summer nights.
You can use fresh fruits and vegetables. The food is light but fills you up. It tastes good and helps you stay cool. You can relax and enjoy the evening.
Here are 17 easy dinner ideas. They are great for hot summer days.
- Caprese Salad with Balsamic Drizzle
This salad is fresh and cool. No cooking needed. Just cut tomatoes and cheese.
Put tomato slices and cheese on a plate. Add basil leaves. Pour olive oil and balsamic vinegar on top.
Ingredients:
- 3 big tomatoes, sliced
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced
- Fresh basil leaves
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- Salt and pepper
How to make:
- Put tomatoes and cheese on a plate.
- Add basil leaves on top.
- Pour olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
- Add salt and pepper. Eat right away.
- Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad Wraps
This wrap is creamy and cold. Use cooked chicken or store-bought chicken. Mix with yogurt and crunchy vegetables.
Add cucumber, celery, and dill. Put mix in a tortilla or lettuce leaf.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
- 1 cup Greek yogurt
- 1/2 cup cucumber, chopped
- 1/4 cup celery, chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried dill
- Salt and pepper
- Tortillas or big lettuce leaves
How to make:
- Mix chicken, yogurt, cucumber, celery, and dill.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Put mix in tortillas or lettuce.
- Wrap and eat.
- Avocado and Black Bean Tacos
Tacos can be fresh and light. Use black beans and avocado. Add fresh salsa.
Warm beans a little or use cold. Add avocado and salsa. Put lime juice on top.
Ingredients:
- 1 can black beans, rinsed
- 1 ripe avocado, chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh salsa
- 6 small corn tortillas
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- Salt
How to make:
- Warm beans or leave cold.
- Put beans and avocado in tortillas.
- Add salsa.
- Squeeze lime juice and add salt. Eat.
- No-Cook Summer Pasta Salad
This pasta salad is good for hot days. Use cooked pasta or quick pasta. Add vegetables and dressing.
Mix cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, and cheese. Add dressing. Chill in fridge.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups cooked pasta, cooled
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1 cup cucumber, chopped
- 1/2 cup olives, sliced
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/3 cup Italian dressing
How to make:
- Mix pasta and vegetables in a bowl.
- Add cheese and dressing.
- Mix gently.
- Put in fridge for 30 minutes. Eat cold.
- Watermelon and Feta Salad
This salad is sweet and salty. It is cool and fresh. Add fresh mint leaves.
Cut watermelon into cubes. Add cheese and mint. Pour little olive oil on top.
Ingredients:
- 4 cups watermelon, cubed
- 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons fresh mint, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
How to make:
- Put watermelon in a bowl.
- Add cheese and mint.
- Pour olive oil.
- Mix gently. Eat cold.
- Cucumber and Tomato Gazpacho
Gazpacho is cold soup from Spain. It is easy and fresh. Use cucumbers and tomatoes.
Blend vegetables with olive oil and vinegar. Chill in fridge. Add salt.
Ingredients:
- 2 big cucumbers, peeled and chopped
- 4 big tomatoes, chopped
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- Salt and pepper
How to make:
- Blend cucumbers, tomatoes, oil, and vinegar.
- Add salt and pepper. Blend again.
- Chill for 1 hour. Eat cold.
- Shrimp and Avocado Salad
Shrimp cooks fast and tastes good cold. Use cooked shrimp. Mix with avocado and lemon juice.
Add red onion and cilantro. Pour olive oil.
Ingredients:
- 2 cups cooked shrimp
- 1 ripe avocado, chopped
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper
How to make:
- Mix shrimp, avocado, onion, and cilantro.
- Add olive oil and lemon juice.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Mix and eat.
- Cold Sesame Noodles
Cold noodles are good for hot days. Use cooked spaghetti or ramen. Mix with sesame oil and soy sauce.
Add shredded carrots and green onions. Sprinkle sesame seeds.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz cooked noodles, cooled
- 2 tablespoons sesame oil
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1/2 cup shredded carrots
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
How to make:
- Mix noodles with sesame oil and soy sauce.
- Add carrots and onions.
- Mix well. Sprinkle seeds. Eat cold.
- Grilled Veggie and Hummus Wrap
Grilled veggies taste good with little heat. Use grill or grill pan. Wrap veggies with hummus.
Use zucchini, peppers, and eggplant. Spread hummus on tortilla first.
Ingredients:
- 1 zucchini, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small eggplant, sliced
- 4 tortillas
- 1/2 cup hummus
How to make:
- Grill veggies until soft. Let cool.
- Spread hummus on tortillas.
- Add grilled veggies.
- Wrap and eat.
- Tuna and White Bean Salad
This salad is full of protein and cold. Use canned tuna and beans. Add onion and parsley.
Pour olive oil and lemon juice.
Ingredients:
- 1 can tuna, drained
- 1 can white beans, drained
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper
How to make:
- Mix tuna, beans, onion, and parsley.
- Add oil and lemon juice.
- Add salt and pepper.
- Mix and eat cold.
- Turkey and Avocado Lettuce Cups
Lettuce cups are fresh and crunchy. Use cooked ground turkey. Add sliced avocado.
Put turkey in lettuce leaves. Add salsa or hot sauce.
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 1 ripe avocado, sliced
- 8 big lettuce leaves
- 1/2 cup salsa
- Salt and pepper
How to make:
- Cook turkey in pan. Add salt and pepper.
- Put turkey in lettuce leaves.
- Add avocado and salsa. Eat.
- Cold Quinoa and Veggie Bowl
Quinoa is light and filling. Cook quinoa before and cool it. Mix with chopped veggies.
Add lemon dressing. Add cheese or nuts.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
- 1/2 cup cucumber, chopped
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper
How to make:
- Mix quinoa, cucumber, and tomatoes.
- Mix lemon juice and oil.
- Pour dressing on salad.
- Add cheese and eat.
- Chickpea and Spinach Salad
This salad is easy and healthy. Use canned chickpeas and fresh spinach. Add red pepper flakes.
Pour olive oil and lemon juice. Mix and eat.
Ingredients:
- 1 can chickpeas, rinsed
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Salt and pepper
How to make:
- Mix chickpeas and spinach.
- Add oil and lemon juice.
- Sprinkle pepper flakes.
- Mix and eat.
- Smoked Salmon and Cucumber Bites
These bites are fresh and nice. Use cucumber slices. Put cream cheese and smoked salmon on top.
Add dill or capers.
Ingredients:
- 1 big cucumber, sliced
- 4 oz smoked salmon
- 1/4 cup cream cheese
- Dill or capers
How to make:
- Put cream cheese on cucumber slices.
- Put smoked salmon on top.
- Add dill or capers. Eat.
- Mango and Black Bean Salad
Sweet mango and black beans are good together. Chop mango and mix with beans. Add onion and cilantro.
Pour lime juice and olive oil.
Ingredients:
- 1 ripe mango, chopped
- 1 can black beans, rinsed
- 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Juice of 1 lime
- Salt
How to make:
- Mix mango, beans, onion, and cilantro.
- Add oil and lime juice.
- Add salt. Mix and eat.
- Easy Pita Pizzas
Pita pizzas are fast and fun. Use pita bread. Spread tomato sauce and add toppings.
Add cheese, tomatoes, and basil. Use toaster oven or grill.
Ingredients:
- 4 pita breads
- 1/2 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- Fresh basil leaves
How to make:
- Spread tomato sauce on pita bread.
- Add cheese and tomatoes.
- Toast or grill until cheese melts.
- Add basil and eat.
- Summer Fruit and Nut Salad
This salad is sweet and crunchy. Use summer fruits like berries and peaches. Add nuts.
Pour honey and lemon juice.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup mixed berries
- 1 peach, sliced
- 1/4 cup walnuts or almonds
- 1 tablespoon honey
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
How to make:
- Mix berries and peach in a bowl.
- Add nuts.
- Pour honey and lemon juice.
- Mix and eat.
Conclusion
These 17 recipes are great for hot days. They are easy and fast to make. You do not need to cook a lot. Use fresh summer foods. Enjoy your summer dinner. Which one will you try first?