When it comes to steamy summer weather, the last thing you want to do is turn on the stove. Here are 7 easy dinner ideas for hot days that you can make without heating up the kitchen. Perfect when it’s too hot to cook!
Whether it’s the dog days of summer or an early heat wave, some days it’s too hot and humid to use the stove or the oven. So I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve for making healthy, paleo dinners that will keep your kitchen cool.
Top tips for getting dinner on the table without heating up the kitchen
Here are my top tips for quick and easy dinners without using the stove or the oven.
- Slow cooker – the slow cooker is perfect for this weather. You can load it up in the morning while it’s still cool outside and come home to a fully cooked dinner. Since it cooks low and slow, it won’t heat up your kitchen.
- Instant Pot – the Instant Pot is another self-contained option. This electric pressure cooker keeps the heat inside the cooker so your kitchen stays cool. Bonus: it cooks faster so you can get dinner on the table quickly.
- Grill – if it’s too hot to cook inside, take it outside! Summertime is perfect for grilling and all the heat stays out of the kitchen. Bonus: you can make everything from the appetizer to the main dish to sides and even desserts on the grill.
- No-cook – of course, not cooking is the coolest option of all. Anytime you can just throw dinner together straight out of the fridge is a win in my book!
Easy dinners you can make without turning on the stove
Here’s a whole week’s worth of dinners to make when it’s too hot to cook.
Crock Pot Whole Chicken – this recipe is so simple and delicious. And you can use the leftovers for dinner later in the week! Try this chicken salad with grapes and walnuts to change up the leftovers.
Antipasto Salad with Italian Dressing – this hearty salad has all the flavors of your favorite Italian sub, but its paleo, keto, and Whole30-friendly.
Grilled Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce – one of my favorite grilling recipes. It’s quick, easy and so flavorful! And you can grill some veggies alongside the chicken—they’re great with chimichurri sauce as well.
Easy Smoked Shrimp – smoking shrimp is so quick and you can even do it on a grill if you don’t have a smoker. Serve it with the garlic sauce or your favorite dipping sauce.
The Easiest Instant Pot Pulled Pork – this is my family’s favorite pulled pork recipe. So easy and it’s paleo, keto and Whole30 with the sugar-free BBQ sauce.
Easy Italian Dressing Grilled Chicken – this classic recipe couldn’t be easier! Just add a fresh green salad tossed with the Italian dressing and you’ve got a quick and easy meal.
Shrimp and Arugula Salad – this fresh and flavorful shrimp salad with avocado is so simple. Perfect for cooling off in the heat.
So if you can’t stand the heat get out of the kitchen with these easy dinner ideas!


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