When it’s blazing out, the last thing you want is to crank the oven and turn your kitchen into a sauna.
These dinners keep the heat outside where it belongs, lots of no cook salads, quick stovetop and grill dishes, fresh wraps and bowls.
Light, cool, and fast, so you can eat well without breaking a sweat. Stay cool and dig in…
Lime Chicken with Corn and Zucchini Salad
Quick seared chicken over a fresh corn and zucchini salad, no oven in sight. Bright honey lime dressing keeps it cool and summery. In and out of the kitchen fast.
Grilled Citrus Shrimp Salad with Pistachios
Citrusy grilled shrimp over greens with crunchy pistachios. Cook the shrimp outside on the grill and keep the heat out of the house. Light and refreshing for a hot night.
Shrimp Summer Rolls with Sesame-Soy Sauce
Zero cooking, all crunch. Shrimp, cabbage and noodles wrapped in cool rice paper with a sesame soy dip. The stove stays off completely, which is the whole point in a heatwave.
Tropical Shrimp Salad with Peach Slushy
Tropical fruit, shrimp and goat cheese with an actual peach slushy on the side. No oven, lots of cool. Basically a beach vacation on a plate.
Vietnamese Shrimp Mango Lettuce Wraps
Cool lettuce cups filled with shrimp, mango and herbs. No oven needed and barely any stovetop. Crisp, fresh and exactly right when it’s hot out.
Crispy Baja Shrimp Tacos
Crispy shrimp tacos with a cool slaw, done on the stovetop, no oven heating up the place. A little messy, a lot of fun. Great for a casual summer night.
Peach Chicken with Chargrilled Asparagus
Take it outside to the grill, peach glazed chicken and charred asparagus. Sweet, smoky and the kitchen stays cool. Summer cooking at its easiest.
Aji Verde Pork Skewers with Grilled Corn
Pork skewers and corn grilled outdoors with a creamy green sauce. All the cooking happens on the grill, none in the hot kitchen. Perfect for a warm evening.
Chili Herb Steak with Melon Cucumber Salad
Grilled flank steak with a cool melon cucumber salad to balance the heat. Cook it outside, keep it light. The melon makes it feel like summer in a bite.
Grilled Watermelon Pizza With Blue Cheese
Grilled watermelon topped with blue cheese and pecans, no oven required. Sweet, cool and a real conversation piece. The most summery thing on the list.
Salmon Asparagus Salad With Orange Dijon Sauce
Citrus salmon over asparagus, cooked quick on the stovetop. Bright, light and no oven needed. Feels fancy without heating up the house.
Spiced Salmon With Mango Salsa
Grilled salmon with a cool mango salsa over cauliflower rice. Take it to the grill and keep the kitchen comfortable. Smoky, fresh and bright.
Caesar Salad With Grilled Shrimp
A crisp caesar with shrimp grilled outdoors. Cool, crunchy and quick, no oven at all. A light dinner that won’t weigh you down in the heat.
Greek Salad Recipe With Feta and Olives
The ultimate no cook dinner, just chop and toss. Cucumber, tomato, feta and olives in a simple dressing. Cool, crisp and ready in minutes when it’s too hot to cook.
Greek Chicken Wraps With Hummus
Rotisserie chicken, hummus and crunchy veg rolled up cold, no cooking needed. Fifteen minutes flat and zero oven heat. A perfect hot day dinner.
Mango Pancetta Salad With Halloumi
Sweet mango, crispy pancetta and grilled halloumi over greens, all stovetop quick. No oven heating up the room. Sweet, salty and refreshing.
Creamy Shrimp Verde With Spiced Rice
A stovetop shrimp dish in a creamy green sauce over rice. No oven required, and it comes together fast. Comfort food that won’t overheat the kitchen.
Crispy Fish With Scallions and Peppers
Crispy stovetop fish in a glossy soy sauce, no oven at all. Quick, takeout style and satisfying. Open a window and fry away.
Basil Pepper Fish with Grilled Vegetable Relish
Grilled white fish with a fresh chopped veggie relish. Cook it outdoors and keep the heat out. Light, basil packed and very summer.
Citrus Balsamic Grilled Salmon Salad
Grilled salmon over a warm rice salad, all done on the grill outside. Bright citrus balsamic flavor, no oven. Fresh and filling for a hot night.
Tomato Garlic Shrimp, Corn and Maple Bread
Garlic shrimp and creamy corn done on the stovetop, no oven blast. Rich but quick. A little comfort food even on a warm evening.
Steak with Mushroom Marinara and Pear Salad
Seared steak with a fresh pear salad on the side, all stovetop. No oven needed, and the cool salad balances the rich steak. A summer steak night that works.
Thai Beef with Carrot Basil Salad
Quick saucy beef over rice with a crunchy carrot salad. One pan on the stove, no oven heat. Fast and fresh for a sweaty weeknight.
Sweet Potato Spiral Bowl with Teriyaki Steak
Teriyaki steak over sweet potato spirals, grilled and stovetop, no oven. Sweet, savory and served cool ish. A fun bowl for a hot evening.
Zucchini Noodles with Shrimp
Light zucchini noodles and shrimp in a quick stovetop sauce. No oven, low carb and ready in 25. Refreshing and easy when it’s hot out.
Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Noodles
Buttery parmesan zoodles, all stovetop, no oven. Quick and light enough for a warm night. A cheesy little dinner that won’t heat up the house.
Avocado Burger With Smoked Salmon and Egg
Avocado halves with smoked salmon and a quick fried egg, no oven. Cool, rich and ready in minutes. A light hot weather take on a burger.
Black Bean Burger
Meatless bean burgers you can cook on the grill outside. No oven, hearty and stackable. A good summer cookout option for the veg crowd.
Sushi Sliders With Tofu And Rice Buns
Cool rice bun sliders with teriyaki tofu, mostly assembly. Light, fun and barely any cooking. Just right when it’s too hot for a big meal.
Tempeh Gyros With Tzatziki Sauce
Tempeh gyros with a cool tofu tzatziki, all stovetop, no oven. Fresh, herby and plant based. A satisfying wrap for a warm night.
Spicy Asian Lettuce Wraps with Chicken
Cool lettuce cups with chicken and noodles, no oven needed. Light, crisp and quick. Eat them with your hands on the porch.
Lettuce Wrap Sandwich With Turkey and Bacon
A no cook turkey and bacon lettuce wrap. Crisp, cool and ready in five minutes flat. The definition of an easy hot day dinner.
Tuna Avocado Sandwich with Pickled Onion
A cool tuna and avocado sandwich with tangy pickled onion, zero cooking. Fresh, quick and satisfying. Perfect for a day too hot to think about the stove.
Salmon Patties with Canned Salmon
Quick stovetop salmon patties, no oven heat. Cheap, fast and easy. Squeeze a lemon over and pair with a cool salad.
Lemon Garlic Shrimp and Vegetables
Stovetop shrimp and veg in a light lemon garlic sauce. No oven, fresh and fast. Spoon over rice for a breezy summer dinner.
Japanese Steak Bowls
Steak bowls with veg and a creamy sauce from Half Baked Harvest. Quick to throw together without a long oven session. Hearty but still summer friendly.
30 Minute Chili Honey Garlic Salmon Bowls
Salmon bowls in a sweet spicy sauce from Half Baked Harvest. Fast on the stovetop, no long bake. Bright and satisfying for a warm night.
Easy Chicken Shawarma Bowls Everyone Will Love
Spiced chicken bowls from Half Baked Harvest, quick to pull together. Reheats great so you can make it on a cooler morning. Cozy but not oven heavy.
Better-Than-Takeout Thai Peanut Noodle Bowls
Chicken and noodles in peanut sauce from Half Baked Harvest. Quick, no big oven session, and good served cool. A fresh summer noodle bowl.
Sweet Potato Fry Steak Salad with Blue Cheese Butter.
A loaded steak salad from Half Baked Harvest. Mostly a fresh, cool plate with seared steak on top. Hearty without a heavy oven dinner.
25 Minute Ginger Steak Cucumber Bowls.
Ginger steak with cool mango and cucumber from Half Baked Harvest, done in 25. Fresh, fast and barely any heat. A perfect hot weather bowl.
Instant Pot Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup from Honest and Truly, made in the Instant Pot so no oven and no hot stovetop forever. For the cooler summer evenings when you want something soothing.
20 Minute Chicken Egg Roll in a Bowl
Egg roll in a bowl from Honest and Truly, one skillet, no oven. Light, quick and fresh. A breezy weeknight dinner for a warm day.
Creamy Avocado Ranch Chicken Pasta Salad.
A cool creamy chicken pasta salad from Half Baked Harvest. Make it ahead, serve it cold, no oven. Great for a hot day or a backyard hang.
Pesto Chicken and Avocado Bacon Salad Wraps.
Cool pesto chicken wraps with avocado and bacon, from Half Baked Harvest. Fresh, handheld and no oven needed. An easy summer lunch or dinner.
Chicken Cobb Salad with Avocado Ranch.
A loaded cobb salad from Half Baked Harvest. Cool, crunchy and filling without heating the kitchen. A hearty no cook ish hot weather dinner.
Crockpot White Chicken Chili Burrito Bowls.
White chicken chili bowls from Half Baked Harvest, made in the crockpot so the oven stays off. Set it and forget it on a warm day. Easy and hands free.
Chicken Noodle Soup
A red curry chicken noodle soup from Half Baked Harvest, stovetop only. For a cooler summer evening when you still want a warm bowl. No oven required.
Honey Habanero Tacos
Sweet and spicy beef tacos from Honest and Truly, quick on the stovetop. No oven, just a fast skillet. Fun and a little fiery for a summer night.
30 Minute Vietnamese Beef and Crispy Rice Bowl.
Saucy beef over crispy rice from Half Baked Harvest, done in 30, no oven. Fresh herbs keep it bright. Quick and cool for a hot evening.
Chipotle Teriyaki Pineapple Salmon Bowls
Sweet pineapple and chipotle salmon bowls from Half Baked Harvest. Tropical, quick and no oven. Tastes like summer in a bowl.
Crispy BBQ Salmon Tacos with Avocado Mango Salsa and Jalapeño Cream.
BBQ salmon tacos with avocado mango salsa from Half Baked Harvest. Cook the salmon on the grill and keep the heat outside. Fresh and fun for summer.
Sweet Potato Kale Salad with Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing.
A hearty sweet potato kale salad from Half Baked Harvest. Mostly a cool, fresh plate. Filling without a heavy oven dinner.
Lemongrass Meatball Lettuce Cups
Bright lemongrass meatballs in cool lettuce cups, from The Modern Proper. Light, herby and fun to eat with your hands. A breezy hot weather dinner.
Crock-Pot Taco Meat | The Modern Proper
Taco meat made in the crockpot from The Modern Proper, so the oven and stovetop stay cool. Turn it into tacos, bowls or salads. Smart hot weather batch cooking.
So there’s a whole summer of dinners that keep the oven off and the kitchen cool, fresh salads and wraps for the no cook nights, the grill and crockpot for everything else.
Lean on the cold plates when it’s really cooking outside, fire up the grill when you want something smoky, and beat the heat without giving up a good dinner.
Stay cool out there.