When hot summer days call for maximum refreshment, we’re turning off our ovens and turning to cold dinner ideas. Forget standing over a hot stove or grill; when the temperature really starts to climb, it’s the fridge’s time to shine. These sensational cold dinner ideas for summer salads, sandwiches, noodles, and more are easy to make without breaking a sweat. They’re designed to fill you up without weighing you down, and they feature fresh flavors and cooling textures to help beat the heat from the inside out. The best part? They’re all served nice and cold.
Chicken Caprese Wraps
Enjoy the flavors of two all-star summer dishes—pesto chicken and Caprese salad—with none of the cooking in these wraps, which are picnic-ready in 12 minutes. Rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto speed up prep for a hearty, handheld lunch or dinner that features fresh mozzarella, tomato, and baby spinach.
Get the recipe: Chicken Caprese Wraps
Cold Avocado Cucumber Soup
One of the best cold dinner ideas for summer is a chilled soup. Ten minutes of prep is all you need to savor summer refreshment by the spoonful with this chilled-out soup. Avocado and Greek yogurt add creaminess and staying power to a pureed cucumber, scallion, and lime garnished with diced ham and crunchy radish.
Get the recipe: Cold Avocado Cucumber Soup
Turkey and Cheese Sub Sandwiches with Olive Butter
The deli counter is a great place to start when it comes to easy summer dinner ideas. In this recipe, a few simple ingredients upgrade ordinary turkey sandwiches to drool-worthy. A homemade compound butter with black olives and sundried tomatoes brings Mediterranean vibes to deli turkey and salami piled high with lettuce, tomato, and pepper jack cheese.
Get the recipe: Turkey and Cheese Sub Sandwiches with Olive Butter
Caesar Pasta Salad
Crisp, cool Caesar salad moves from side dish to star in this mashup pasta salad recipe. The traditional combo of romaine, Parmesan, garlic, and croutons teams up with chilled rotini noodles and canned chickpeas for a boost of nutrients and texture.
Get the recipe: Caesar Pasta Salad
Green Gazpacho
The blender does all the work for this gorgeous green gazpacho that comes together with just five ingredients. Walnuts are the surprising ingredient that adds flavor and body to a refreshing blend of cucumbers, baby spinach, and fresh dill with the creaminess of Greek yogurt.
Get the recipe: Green Gazpacho
Avocado Ranch Salad with Crispy Quinoa
Salad is always a refreshing choice during the hottest days of summer. This main course-worthy recipe is ready in 10 minutes, thanks to some store-bought helpers. Skillet-crisped quinoa adds nutty crunch to bagged salad mix upgraded with avocado, tomato, and pre-cooked hard-boiled eggs for a quick, filling, and refreshing meal.
Get the recipe: Avocado Ranch Salad with Crispy Quinoa
Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
A traditional cold-weather comfort food transforms into warm-weather relief in this salad starring ramen noodles. An easy homemade peanut dressing with fresh lime and sesame oil adds Asian-inspired flavor to chilled noodles tossed with edamame, broccoli, and scallions.
Get the recipe: Cold Ramen Noodle Salad
Broccoli and Quinoa Salad
This cool and crunchy, plant-powered dish is hearty enough to enjoy as a stand-alone meal and versatile enough to go with any summer menu. Cheddar cheese and red onion add a pop of savoriness to crisp-tender broccoli tossed with microwave-ready quinoa and a homemade Dijon vinaigrette.
Get the recipe: Broccoli and Quinoa Salad
Spicy Soba Noodles with Chicken and Sugar Snap Peas
Sriracha is the only thing bringing the heat in this refreshing and well-balanced cold soba noodle bowl. Baby spinach and sugar snap peas add brightness to chilled buckwheat noodles tossed with shredded rotisserie chicken and a spicy vinaigrette.
Get the recipe: Spicy Soba Noodles with Chicken and Sugar Snap Peas
Egg Roll Noodle Salad
Chinese takeout can be tempting when it’s too hot to cook, but this better-for-you salad can deliver the flavors you’re craving with just five minutes of prep. Chilled rice noodles, shredded cabbage, bean sprouts, and edamame tossed with scallions and sesame-ginger dressing tastes like an egg roll in a bowl, complete with strips of crisped wonton wrappers in place of croutons.
Get the recipe: Egg Roll Noodle Salad
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
This recipe gives a summertime classic, tuna salad sandwiches, a vegan makeover with the help of a handy pantry staple. The star is canned chickpeas mashed with vegan-friendly mayo and doctored up with dill pickles, green onion, and Dijon, served with lettuce and tomato on whole wheat bread.
Get the recipe: Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Prosciutto and Melon Salad
When hot, muggy days have you dreaming of a European getaway, this sweet and savory salad will transport your taste buds to Italy in no time. The classic duo of juicy cantaloupe and meaty prosciutto gets even better paired with peppery arugula, fresh basil, radicchio, and cubes of toasted sourdough.
Get the recipe: Prosciutto and Melon Salad
Charcuterie Salad
Snacks for dinner are always a winning strategy when the temperature starts to climb. This simple recipe combines all of your antipasti favorites—cured meats, cheeses, and pickled veggies—with cubes of toasted baguette and homemade fig jam vinaigrette for a super satisfying salad.
Get the recipe: Charcuterie Salad
Curried Chicken Salad Pitas
A reliable deli counter standby gets an Indian-inspired upgrade in this 12-minute weeknight winner. Red grapes, sliced almonds, scallions, and fresh cilantro add flavor and crunch to store-bought chicken salad spiked with curry powder, served on whole wheat pita.
Get the recipe: Curried Chicken Salad Pitas
Buffalo Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups
This cool take on Buffalo chicken is low in carbs, but big on flavor. Whole leaves of Romaine lettuce are the cool, crunchy vehicle for shredded rotisserie chicken tossed with shredded carrots, blue cheese crumbles, and your favorite bottled Buffalo sauce.
Get the recipe: Buffalo Chicken Salad Lettuce Cups
