Best Hot Weather Recipes

by Admin

Giiiirrrl, it’s hot outside! The temperatures are starting to climb, you’re hungry, and you don’t feel like heating up the kitchen. What do you do? Order take out? Noooooooo! I’ve got you covered. Here are 30 of our best hot weather recipes that require little to no cooking and are guaranteed to keep you full and refreshed in that sweltering summer heat!

Most of these recipes are meant to be served cold, or at the very least just warm, and most contain a lot of vegetables because vegetables are cool, crisp, and refreshing in this oppressive heat! Browse our selection of meal salads, sandwiches and wraps, tacos and quesadillas, and breakfast recipes that are perfect for summer.

Collage of hot weather recipe photographs with title text in the center.

Meal Salads

1. Ramen Noodle Salad

Ramen Noodle Salad

Overhead view of ramen noodle salad on an oval serving platter.
This light and fresh ramen noodle salad features crisp cabbage, shredded chicken, crunchy ramen noodles and a simple homemade vinaigrette.
5 from 5 votes
$8.33 recipe / $1.39 serving Get the Recipe

This cold and crunchy Ramen Noodle Salad is the perfect light but filling cold meal for summer. Grab a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket to make this salad fast, easy, and 100% no-cook!

3. Tortellini Salad

Tortellini Salad

Overhead shot of tortellini salad in a white bowl.
This fresh, vibrant, and utterly delicious Tortellini Salad feeds a crowd on a dime. The best part: you can put it together in minutes!
5 from 4 votes
$15.57 recipe / $1.30 serving Get the Recipe

Tortellini Salad is a great summertime meal to keep on hand in the fridge. It holds up for days and tortellini cooks in a matter of minutes, so you won’t have to cook long!

3. Panzanella

Panzanella

Overhead shot of panzanella salad in a white bowl with wood serving spoons next to it.
This scrumptious Panzanella salad is a quick and delicious way to use up day-old bread, ripe tomatoes, and other summer produce. For the ultimate convenience, you can even prep the ingredients ahead of time.
$13.54 recipe / $2.26 serving Get the Recipe

Take advantage of fresh summer produce and use up leftover stale bread in this classic summer salad. Panzanella is light, fresh, and fully customizable to what you have on hand!

4. Crunchy Kale and Chicken Salad

Crunchy Kale and Chicken Salad

dressing being poured over kale and chicken salad
This Crunchy Kale and Chicken Salad is full of flavor, texture, and a tangy-sweet homemade dressing. It's perfect for your weekly meal prep!
4.95 from 17 votes
$6.19 recipe / $1.55 serving Get the Recipe

Another great use for a rotisserie chicken, this super filling Crunchy Kale and Chicken Salad is the perfect summertime lunch or light dinner!

5. Antipasto Salad

Antipasto Salad

dressing being poured over the antipasto salad
This super hearty antipasto salad is full of cured meats, cheeses, and pickled vegetables for an extra flavorful and filling salad.
5 from 3 votes
$16.92 recipe / $2.12 serving Get the Recipe

For all the meat and cheese lovers out there who need something cold when the temperatures are high, this simple Antipasto Salad will satisfy your cravings! Savory, hearty, and totally no-cook, this one is a winner.

6. Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Mediterranean Tuna Salad

Close up side view of Mediterranean Tuna Salad in a bowl
This simple, fresh, and filling Mediterranean Tuna Salad makes an easy protein-packed make-ahead lunch for your workweek.
4.76 from 25 votes
$7.89 recipe / $1.32 serving Get the Recipe

Cold, refreshing, full of protein and fiber, and completely mayo-free, this Mediterranean Tuna Salad is not the tuna salad your mom used to make!

7. Turkey Taco Salad

Turkey Taco Salad

overhead view of turkey taco salad drizzled with creamy avocado dressing
This Turkey Taco Salad is an easy, light, and fresh dinner that's flexible enough to feed all your family members, no matter how picky!
4.80 from 10 votes
$11.29 recipe / $2.82 serving Get the Recipe

Quickly browning up some ground turkey is all the cooking you’ll need to make this delicious and light Turkey Taco Salad. It’s a great dinner option for hot summer nights!

8. Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad

Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad

Close up side view of a bowl of Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad
This chunky chopped Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad is a great fresh salad that can be eaten on its own or turned into several different easy lunch ideas!
4.89 from 26 votes
$4.84 recipe / $1.61 serving Get the Recipe

Whip up a batch of this Broccoli Cheddar Chicken Salad and eat for days! Use rotisserie chicken to make it 100% no-cook, or quickly sear a chicken breast in a skillet for a low-cook option.

9. Lemony QUinoa and Artichoke Salad

Lemony Artichoke and Quinoa Salad

Overhead view of Lemony Artichoke and Quinoa Salad in a bowl with lemon wedges and a fork.
This Lemony Artichoke and Quinoa Salad is a light and refreshing summer salad that holds up well in the refrigerator and is perfect for meal prep!
4.97 from 59 votes
$6.74 recipe / $1.69 serving Get the Recipe

Perfect for meal prep, the only cooking you’ll need to do for this hearty and vegan Lemony Artichoke and Quinoa Salad is boiling up a batch of quinoa!

10. Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad

Parmesan Balsamic Vinaigrette being poured onto a bowl of Tomato Mozzarella Salad from a jar.
This Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad with homemade Parmesan Balsamic Vinaigrette is the perfect light and fresh summer meal. Perfect for potlucks!
4.93 from 26 votes
$8.59 recipe / $1.43 serving Get the Recipe

With hearty chunks of mozzarella, fresh tomatoes and spinach, tender bowtie pasta, and a homemade balsamic dressing, this Tomato Mozzarella Pasta Salad is everything you’ll want in a cold summertime meal!

Sandwiches and Wraps

11. Best Veggie Sandwich

The Best Veggie Sandwich

A hand holding both halves of a cut open ultimate veggie sandwich
Use what you have on hand to build the best vegetarian sandwich packed with color, flavor, and texture. Eat the rainbow!
4.92 from 12 votes
Get the Recipe

Take advantage of all that fresh summer produce by making the BEST veggie sandwich ever. We’ve got tons of ingredient suggestions and flavor combos for you to try!

12. Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad

Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad

A hand grabbing a stack of two halves of a Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad sandwich on wheat bread.
Light, bright, and full of spring flavors, this Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad will keep you full all afternoon. Serve as a sandwich, wrap, or salad! 
4.84 from 48 votes
$2.46 recipe / $1.23 serving Get the Recipe

Totally no-cook and full of bright, fresh flavors, this Scallion Herb Chickpea Salad is the ultimate answer to hot weather summertime meals.

13. Chicken Salad with Apples

Chicken Salad with Apples

Side view of a bowl of chicken salad with apples, croissants in the background
This chicken salad is packed with sweet and crunchy apples, tart dried cranberries, and a light and creamy homemade dressing.
4.86 from 21 votes
$10.35 recipe / $2.59 serving Get the Recipe

Use a rotisserie chicken to make this cold, fresh, and sweet Chicken Salad with Apples 100% no-cook for summer!

14. Greek Chicken Wraps

Greek Chicken Wraps

Prep the ingredients for these Greek Chicken Wraps to keep on hand to build fresh wraps or salads all week. BudgetBytes.com
Prep the ingredients for these Greek Chicken Wraps to keep on hand to build fresh wraps or salads all week. 
5 from 26 votes
$14.54 recipe / $2.42 per wrap Get the Recipe

Warm chicken, fresh tomatoes and cucumber, and a bright and cool yogurt sauce make these Greek Chicken Wraps an extra refreshing summertime lunch.

15. Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps

Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps

A Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wrap cut open, with open sides facing viewer.
Creamy, spicy, and filling, these Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps are an easy option for your brown bag lunch. Customize to use whatever vegetables you have!
4.91 from 31 votes
$3.37 recipe / $1.69 each Get the Recipe

The perfect juxtaposition between cold and spicy, these Sriracha Chickpea Salad Wraps are an easy, flavorful, and refreshing no-cook summer lunch.

16. BBQ Tofu Sliders

BBQ Tofu Sliders

BBQ Tofu Sliders are an easy and inexpensive alternative to pulled meat sandwiches. With a simple and uncomplicated ingredient list, this is a tofu dish anyone can master! Budgetbytes.com
BBQ Tofu Sliders are an easy and inexpensive alternative to pulled meat sandwiches. With a simple and uncomplicated ingredient list, this is a tofu dish anyone can master!
4.80 from 48 votes
$4.33 recipe / $1.44 serving Get the Recipe

A quick sauté of chopped tofu is the only cooking you’ll need to do for these tasty vegetarian sliders. Bonus: you can eat these BBQ Tofu Sliders as a bowl meal with the homemade coleslaw, too!

17. Egg Salad Sandwich

Easy Egg Salad

Egg salad sandwich cut in half and stacked
This quick and easy egg salad is perfect for busy days or whenever you need a fast, inexpensive, delicious, and filling meal!
4.63 from 8 votes
$1.34 recipe / $0.67 serving Get the Recipe

Egg Salad Sandwiches are a classic for a reason! They’re super easy, cheap, delicious, and filling. Done and done!

18. Cucumber Sandwiches

Cucumber Sandwiches

Side view of hands holding a stacked cucumber sandwich.
Cucumber sandwiches with a dilly cream cheese spread are a light and refreshing lunch or snack to serve with tea or brunch.
4.80 from 5 votes
$5.06 recipe / $0.42 serving Get the Recipe

When it’s hotter than Hades but you know you’ve got to eat, these simple Cucumber Sandwiches are fast, easy, super refreshing, and won’t make you feel overly full.

Tacos and QUesadillas

19. Fish Tacos with Cumin Lime Slaw

Easy Fish Tacos with Cumin Lime Slaw

Fish tacos on a platter with toppings on the sides
These super easy Fish Tacos with Cumin Lime Slaw are light, fresh, and the perfect quick dinner for hot summer nights, or any night!
4.94 from 29 votes
$9.17 recipe / $2.29 serving Get the Recipe

Talke about FRESH! These Fish Tacos are topped with a bright and tangy cumin lime slaw that has summer written all over it!

20. Creamy Spinach and White Bean QUesadillas

Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas

Close up of a plate full of creamy white bean and spinach quesadillas with a dish of red salsa
Crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside, these insanely delicious Creamy White Bean and Spinach Quesadillas make an awesomely fast weeknight dinner. 
4.94 from 89 votes
$3.99 recipe / $1.00 per quesadilla Get the Recipe

Super fast and easy, these Spinach and White Bean Quesadillas are creamy and satisfying without a lot of time in the kitchen required!

21. Tajín Shrimp Tacos

Tajín Shrimp Tacos

Three Tajín Shrimp Tacos open faced on a wooden board
These bright and zesty tacos feature Tajín seasoned shrimp and a simple slaw dressed with a homemade avocado dressing. 
4.88 from 8 votes
Get the Recipe

22. Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

A brief sauté of the shrimp in a skillet is all the cooking you’ll need to do for these super simple and fresh shrimp tacos!

Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas

A stack of black bean quesadillas on a serving tray
These Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas are an easy vegetarian snack or light meal that are filling, flavorful, and freezer-friendly!
4.89 from 214 votes
$6.61 recipe / $0.66 each Get the Recipe

This Budget Bytes Classic Recipe is great anytime of year, but it’s definitely a life saver during the hot summer months! A quick crisp-up in a hot skillet is all the cooking you’ll need to make these Hearty Black Bean Quesadillas!

23. Blackened Shrimp Tacos

Blackened Shrimp Tacos

Smoky and spicy shrimp, sweet and tangy slaw, and a zesty garlic lime sauce make these Blackened Shrimp Tacos seriously delicious! BudgetBytes.com
Smoky and spicy shrimp, sweet and tangy slaw, and a zesty garlic lime sauce make these Blackened Shrimp Tacos seriously delicious!
4.94 from 58 votes
$7.93 recipe / $1.32 per taco Get the Recipe

Spicy, creamy, and fresh, these Blackened Shrimp Tacos are the BEST! You’ll want to make them all summer long!

Breakfast Recipes

24. Green Smoothie

Green Smoothie

Side shot of green smoothies surrounded by cut fruit.
This Green Smoothie is creamy, tangy, and light! Yes, it's good for you, but more importantly, it's so yummy you'll start to crave it.
5 from 2 votes
$6.21 recipe / $0.78 serving Get the Recipe

Green smoothies are packed with fresh summer fruits and a little spinach for good measure! They’re ultra refreshing and filling for hot summer mornings.

25. Muesli

Muesli

Overhead view of a bowl full of muesli with ingredients on the sides.
Rolled oats, dried fruit, and nuts soaked in cold milk or yogurt make Muesli a quick and refreshing meal prep breakfast for summer!
5 from 9 votes
$2.54 recipe / $0.32 serving Get the Recipe

Muesli is the O.G. overnight oats. With thick rolled oats, nuts, and dried fruit that you can eat with cold milk or yogurt, this simple breakfast will fill you up with no cooking required!

26. Chocolate Coffee Breakfast Smoothie

Chocolate Coffee Breakfast Smoothie

overhead view of two glasses full of chocolate coffee breakfast smoothie with straws
This Chocolate Coffee Breakfast Smoothie is a dessert-worthy treat and a sneaky way to add an extra dose of vegetables to your day.
4.60 from 22 votes
$0.84 each Get the Recipe

Skip the frappuccino and make your own cold coffee-filled breakfast treat! This Chocolate Coffee Breakfast Smoothie tastes like a Frostie, but is packed with breakfast goodies, even a little bit of vegetables!

27. Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls

Peanut Butter and Jelly Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl

A spoon digging into a glass container full of a Peanut Butter and Jelly Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowl
Hearty oats, creamy cottage cheese, sweet jam, and rich peanut butter make a filling and delicious no-cook breakfast.
4.97 from 31 votes
Get the Recipe

We’ve got SIX different flavors of these protein-filled, meal prep ready, COLD Cottage Cheese Breakfast Bowls for you to try!

28. No-Sugar Added Blueberry Almond Overnight Oats

No Sugar Added Blueberry Almond Overnight Oats

These Blueberry Almond Overnight Oats are naturally sweet without any added sugar, and provide plenty of flavor and texture to keep you happy and full all morning. BudgetBytes.com
These Blueberry Almond Overnight Oats are naturally sweet without any added sugar, and provide plenty of flavor and texture to keep you happy and full all morning. 
4.63 from 16 votes
$4.52 recipe / $1.13 serving Get the Recipe

The natural sweetness of applesauce is all the sugar you need to make these dessert-like, hearty and refreshing Blueberry Almond Overnight Oats!

29. Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

Side view of a glass full of peanut butter banana smoothie with a yellow striped straw.
Peanut Butter Banana Smoothies are slightly sweet, super creamy, deliciously filling, and make a fast and easy snack or breakfast!
5 from 9 votes
$0.71 each Get the Recipe

This simple and classic Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie is my go-to for breakfast or anytime during the day when the weather is hot!

30. Double Chocolate Overnight Oats

Double Chocolate Overnight Oats

Overhead view of four jars of chocolate overnight oats, each with a different topping
Double Chocolate Overnight Oats make your morning routine fast and easy. Just grab and go with a jar of these delicious chocolate oats!
5 from 8 votes
$1.58 recipe / $0.40 serving Get the Recipe

Because you deserve dessert for breakfast after surviving this heat. ;) These Double Chocolate Overnight Oats feel like you’re eating chocolate pudding, but are chock-full of breakfast goodness.

I’d love to hear your summer favorites, too! Share your favorites in the comments below.

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