• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cook Eat Well
  • Easy Healthy Recipes
  • Paleo
  • Keto
  • Healthy Living
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Easy Recipes
  • Paleo
  • Keto
  • Favorites
  • Healthy Living
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Dinner

    Easy Healthy Summer Dinner Ideas For Hot Days

    June 30, 2021 Updated: May 10, 2022 by Lisa Wells / Leave a Comment

    When it comes to steamy summer weather, the last thing you want to do is turn on the stove. Here are 7 easy summer dinner ideas for hot days that you can make without heating up the kitchen. Perfect for hot summer nights when it's too hot to cook!

    Shrimp, pulled pork, grilled chicken, antipasti salad

    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 dinners that will keep your kitchen cool.

    These healthy summer recipes will make getting dinner on the table easier on a hot day.

    Top tips for getting dinner on the table without heating up the kitchen

    Here are my top meal prep tips for quick and easy dinners without using the stove or the oven.

    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. 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.
    4. No-cook - of course, not cooking is the coolest option of all. Build a delicious summer salad with fresh produce and leftover chicken, turkey or steak. Anytime you can throw dinner together with minimal effort is a win in my book!

    Easy dinners you can make without turning on the stove

    Here's a whole week's worth of easy summer dinner recipes to make when it's too hot to cook.

    Slow cooker rotisserie chicken

    Crock Pot Whole Chicken

    This family favorite is so simple and delicious. And you can use the leftovers for dinner later in the week! Try this easy recipe for chicken salad with grapes and walnuts to change up the leftovers. Or serve it in jicama wraps for low carb tacos. It's a versatile protein to meal prep for last-minute no-cook meals.

    Italian salad

    Antipasto Salad with Italian Dressing

    If you love hearty summer salads, this easy salad is for you! It has all the flavors of your favorite pasta salads - peppers, olives, Italian meats - but it's low carb, paleo, keto, and Whole30-friendly. You can even swap the lettuce for zucchini noodles.

    The easy homemade dressing with olive oil, garlic, fresh basil and herbs gives it extra flavor. It's a real crowd pleaser and perfect for a hot summer day.

    Chimichurri grilled chicken

    Grilled Chicken with Chimichurri Sauce

    A tasty summer dinner recipe that's one of my favorites for grilling. It's quick, easy and so flavorful! And you can grill some seasonal vegetables like zucchini or yellow summer squash, cherry tomatoes and red onions on veggie skewers alongside the chicken---they're great with chimichurri sauce as well. The sauce combines parsley, cilantro, dill or whatever fresh herbs you prefer with garlic, lemon juice, spices, vinegar and olive oil for a flavor kick.

    Shrimp platter

    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. Try it with pineapple or mango salsa for a tropical flavor.

    Pulled pork sandwich

    The Easiest Instant Pot Pulled Pork

    This is one of my family's favorite summer dinner ideas. Serve it on a gluten-free roll with a simple coleslaw. Or serve it over cilantro lime cauliflower rice for a pulled pork bowl. So easy and it's paleo, keto, and Whole30 with the sugar-free BBQ sauce.

    Grilled chicken breasts

    Easy Italian Dressing Grilled Chicken

    This classic recipe couldn't be easier! Just add a fresh green salad with tomato and cucumber tossed with the Italian dressing as a side dish and you've got all the ingredients for a quick and easy meal.

    Shrimp and avocado salad

    Shrimp and Arugula Salad

    This healthy recipe for 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 summer recipes and dinner ideas!

    More Dinner

    • 21 Easy And Healthy Ground Beef Recipes With Few Ingredients
    • 21 Easy Ground Sausage Recipes To Make For Hearty Meals
    • 21 Easy Smoker Recipes: Delicious And Healthy
    • 20 Easy And Healthy Shredded Chicken Recipes
    335 shares
    • Facebook
    • Yummly
    • Email

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Welcome! I'm Lisa. If you're looking for easy ways to make healthy eating and living well a part of your lifestyle—without giving up all the foods you love or spending hours in the kitchen—you're in the right place.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Crock Pot Chicken Soup (Keto, Paleo, Whole30)
    • Easy Italian Dressing Grilled Chicken
    • How To Make Herbes de Provence
    • Almond Flour Apple Muffins (Paleo, Gluten Free)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Explore

    • How to Stock Your Pantry
    • Paleo Recipes
    • Keto Recipes
    • Whole30 Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes

    Connect

    • Sign Up! for free weekly recipes and updates

    About

    • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosure
    • Copyright & Reprint Policy
    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2012 - 2022 Cook Eat Well

    335 shares