30 Cold Dinner Recipes to Make When It's Just Too Hot to Cook
It’s just what you want on sweltering summer nights.
During the summertime, just the mere thought of sitting down to a hot plate of food on an even hotter day is enough to make anyone sweat. Yes, anything fresh off the grill is classic summer fare, but when the temperature gets unbearably high, even burgers and steak are simply unthinkable. So, the next time you find that it’s too hot to turn on the oven or stand over the stove, pull up this list of cold dinner ideas.
From no-cook entrées and sides, these below recipes are full of fresh flavor and chilled ingredients that are easy to pull together for a simple summer dinner. And because some classify as make-ahead dishes that are seamless to transport, many are potluck- and picnic-friendly, too.
You’ll find plenty of creamy pasta salads and potato salads for your next cookout, plus crisp green salads packed with substantial fixings that’ll actually fill you up. In addition to all the summery starches and seasonal veggies, you’ll spot refreshing mains, such as steak lettuce wraps with peanut sauce, pork bowls with rice noodles, and classic lobster rolls. While many of these recipes are chilled in the fridge, others are served at room temperature, and some don’t require preheating the oven at all. If you’re looking for more meal inspiration, check out cold breakfast ideas and cold lunch ideas! Keep cool and carry on—your dinner awaits!
Cobb Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing
Have you ever seen a thing of such beauty? This Cobb salad comes with it all: hard-boiled eggs, crispy bacon, tomatoes, chicken, cool avocado, and a creamy blue cheese dressing.
Get Ree’s Cobb Salad with Blue Cheese Dressing recipe.
Steak Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce
If it’s too hot to grill up some steaks, these lettuce wraps will curb your craving. In addition to seasoned steak, each bite has rice noodles and thinly sliced veggies, and the whole thing is drizzled with peanut sauce.
Get Ree’s Steak Lettuce Wraps with Peanut Sauce recipe.
Watermelon Gazpacho
Yep, soup is totally suitable for the summer! This chilled variation is made in a blender with all the classic gazpacho fixings, along with the addition of sweet, juicy watermelon.
Get the Watermelon Gazpacho recipe.
Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps
Chicken Caesar wraps are perfect lunch fare, but they also make a fast and flavorful family dinner. In just 30 minutes, you’ll have a creamy, crunchy, satisfying fusion of textures and flavors.
Get Ree’s Chicken Caesar Salad Wraps recipe.
Smashed Potato Salad
Trust: You’ll want to serve this salad on repeat all summer long. The potatoes are smashed and roasted until they turn crispy and golden, and the crumbled bacon adds an extra crunch.
Get Ree’s Smashed Potato Salad recipe.
Caprese Salad
On a hot summer evening, Caprese salad is always a good idea. This cold dinner idea couldn’t be easier to present on a plate: just thick slices of tomatoes and mozzarella covered in balsamic!
Get Ree’s Caprese Salad recipe.
Pork and Rice Noodle Salad
While this recipe does involve some cooking, the veggies are served raw, and the noodles are chilled under cold water, so it’s refreshing enough for a sweltering summer night.
Get Ree’s Pork and Rice Noodle Salad recipe.
Salmon Niçoise Salad
If you’re craving something fresh and fancy that’s easy to pull together, this salad is just the thing. It’s loaded with toppings like olives, green beans, hard-boiled eggs, and potatoes.
Get Ree’s Salmon Niçoise Salad recipe.
Corn Salad
This is the ultimate summer side for picnics, potlucks, and BBQs: It comes together in 15 minutes; it goes well with pretty much anything; and it offers a blend of smoky, spicy, and sweet flavors.
Get the Corn Salad recipe.
Steakhouse Slaw
Everything tastes better with bacon—this make-ahead slaw is proof! It has blue cheese, a silky dressing, and an array of crunchy, nutritious veggies. Best of all, it’ll fill you up without weighing you down!
Get Ree’s Steakhouse Slaw recipe.
Cowgirl Chicken Salad
Turn chicken salad into a delightful summer meal by mixing in sweet corn, dense black beans, and diced onions and tomatoes before scooping it on bread or serving it with chips.
Get Ree’s Cowgirl Chicken Salad recipe.
Chickpea Salad
Served chilled, this brightly colored bowl has chickpeas for a vegetarian source of protein, and the chopped veggies and creamy avocado add flavor and freshness. A little feta is sprinkled in, making this dish both healthy and tasty.
Get the Chickpea Salad recipe.
Asparagus Salad
Why not make a side veggie the main course? Simply toss asparagus with bacon, parmesan, walnuts, radishes, herbs, and a lemon vinaigrette. You can even add white beans for extra protein. What’s more, this dish will keep fresh for days!
Get the Asparagus Salad recipe.
Tortellini Pasta Salad
This recipe is proof that you can eat pasta cold! This salad is full of bold Italian flavors, such as sun-dried tomatoes, fresh basil, savory salami, and briny pepperoncini peppers. The only thing you have to cook is the tortellini, but it’ll cool in the fridge.
Get the Tortellini Pasta Salad recipe.
Spring Rolls
Packed with juicy shrimp, sticky rice noodles, and thinly sliced mango, carrots, and cucumbers, these spring rolls are light yet satisfying. Don’t forget to dunk this cold dinner idea in the peanut dipping sauce!
Get the Spring Rolls recipe.
Antipasti Chopped Salad
Toss everything you love about the classic Italian appetizer (meats, cheeses, and marinated artichoke hearts) into a fresh, completely no-cook salad. Serve this cold dinner idea as a side, or make it the main course, served with fresh bread.
Get Ree's Antipasti Chopped Salad recipe.
Ramen Noodle Salad
Don't let the intricate presentation of this cold dinner idea surprise you...ramen noodle salad is so easy to make! It does require a bit of baking, but once that part is done, toss the noodles, cashews, and sesame seeds with some coleslaw and mandarin oranges.
Get the Ramen Noodle Salad recipe.
Shrimp Pasta Salad
For a picnic-perfect meal, look no further than this shrimp pasta salad. The seafood is tossed in a delicious dressing, along with some Old Bay seasoning and crunchy veggies for added flair, but the perfectly cooked pasta definitely makes the dish!
Get the Shrimp Pasta Salad recipe.
Buffalo Chicken Wraps
A wrap for dinner is never a bad idea, especially when you throw some buffalo chicken into the mix! The only thing "hot" in this meal is the sauce, but you can cool it down with creamy ranch dressing, crunchy veggies, and blue cheese.
Get the Buffalo Chicken Wraps recipe.
Loaded Baked Potato Salad
This cold dinner idea features everyone's favorite Southern potato salad, combined with all the best loaded baked potato toppings. Let it chill in the fridge overnight, and the flavors will meld together.
Get the Loaded Baked Potato Salad recipe.
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