Beat the heat with these chill recipes!
Let's be honest...when temperatures are at an all-time high, the last thing anyone wants to do is turn on the oven. Even if it's in exchange for a batch of the best chocolate chip cookies on the planet or that piping hot sheet pan dinner your family requests each week, when humidity is high and energy is low, some of us simply cannot be convinced. So, when you find yourself amidst the dog days of summer and hungry for nourishing meal, have no fear: our favorite oven-less recipes are here to help.
1. Southwest Salad With Grilled Corn
Complete with homemade Southwest ranch dressing, this salad has all your favorite fixings—no oven needed! From grilled corn to fresh tomatoes and hard-boiled eggs, the recipe calls for enough ingredients to fill your biggest salad bowl.
2. Avocado Egg Salad
The only cooking required for this creamy avocado egg salad all happens right on the stovetop. Or, simply skip the cooking altogether by using leftover bacon and our convenient hard-boiled eggs! Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and some perfectly ripe avocado, and suddenly you've got a picnic-ready dish on your hands.
3. Caesar Salad With Homemade Caesar Dressing
Summer isn't over until you've had a crisp, fresh Caesar salad with homemade dressing. This one stays fairly true to its Tijuana roots and will keep your home nice and cool to boot!
4. Spicy Mixed Noodles With Kimchi (Bibim Guksu)
When you want to turn up the heat on your taste buds but not your home, make a batch of these chilled spicy mixed noodles. The addition of kimchi and gochujang (Korean red chili paste) give this dish a kick, while cucumbers and runny egg yolks help round out the bold flavors.
5. Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
No summer BBQ is complete without one. That's right: we're talking about everyone's favorite side dish! This pasta salad may require some stovetop action, but it's totally worth it for the tangy, creamy, deviled-egg-inspired end result.
6. Pineapple Fried Rice
We can't think of a better celebration of summer than this pineapple fried rice! It makes for a delicious family dinner or side dish with plenty of bright, tropical tang, and can even be served in a hollowed out pineapple boat for an extra special presentation.
7. Muffin Pan Eggs on the Grill
Breakfast on the grill? Yep, that's a thing! Cooking outdoors whenever possible helps keep your home cool in the summer, and the grill isn't just for burgers and hot dogs. These muffin pan egg bites can be made right in your backyard and customized to every family member's flavor preference.
8. Cobb Salad With Creamy Honey Mustard Dressing
Nothing cools you down like a fresh salad with creamy homemade honey mustard dressing. This one is exactly that: full of fresh tomatoes, cheddar cheese, and avocado, it's a simple, no frills take on a classic dish that requires no oven (and almost no cooking, in fact).
9. Garbanzo Egg Salad
Bring this fresh and balanced garbanzo egg salad along on your next picnic or camping adventure, because the longer it marinates in the citrusy homemade Mason jar dressing, the yummier it is. It couldn't be easier to throw together, which is exactly the type of recipe we all need in our back pockets this time of year.
10. Bonus: S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches
Don't forget dessert! Skip the baked goods and make these frozen s'mores ice cream sandwiches with your very own homemade marshmallow ice cream. We can't think of a better way to cool off after a fun-filled summer day.