5 Breezy Dinners for When It’s Way Too Hot to Cook

It's summertime, the heat is intense, and turning on the oven is the last thing I feel like doing. Instead, I'm leaning into fresh fish or burgers on the grill, a diverse array of salads, and plenty of fresh fruit. For my (sometimes) picky eater, I’m still taking advantage of the season's offerings but keeping things a bit simpler: a variety of grains or pasta, veggies, and protein, with berries and yogurt for dessert.

The week's theme is easy and delicious, so hang on, you may not feel like cooking, but you’ll be happy you did it.

Pasta is a simple, crowd-pleasing dish that’s perfect for prepping ahead. It’s packed with tender pasta, juicy tomatoes, crisp cucumbers, briny olives, and feta—all tossed in a zesty dressing. It is ideal for parties, picnics, or a casual weekday night.

Now you might be thinking, how can I make this kid-friendly? Cook plenty of pasta and add in your child's favorite seasonal veggies—so we would add the cucumbers and tomatoes—and swap out the feta for mozzarella. Adapting the recipe for your child's taste is key here. For example, maybe one night you opt for less pasta and more greens. Maybe another night you might swap out the pasta altogether and have a light salad with protein (see my post here, for example). The options are truly endless.

Here are a few more fresh, no-fuss and filling summer salad recipes—perfect for keeping cool and avoiding the oven. An uncomplicated recipe speaks to my soul, so I'm offering meal ideas with few ingredients (mostly five or less).

During the summer, it's easy to think of other things we could be doing besides cooking, which is why I try to make it simple and fun. These recipes can easily be repurposed for leftovers—make it into an omelette or transform into a grilled veggie pasta bake, eat as a salad or wrap, or convert into a warm pasta bowl.

Plus, these recipes are kid-friendly with a few simple swaps. Try fun pasta shapes like shells or bow ties, use milder flavors by swapping feta for mozzarella pearls, and choose sliced black olives instead of Kalamata. Finely slice the red onion, and add a fun dip on the side. Serve it bento box–style so kids can pick the veggies they like.

Now relax, put your feet up, and feel at ease that the next couple of days' meal plans are already sorted.

Produce

Cucumber

Red onion

White onion

Red radishes

Carrots

Grape tomatoes

Kalamata olives

Red and yellow bell pepper

Argula

Basil

Sun-dried tomatoes

Gold and fingerling potatoes

Shallots

Radishes

Romaine heart

Herbs - parsley, dill, cilantro, mint

Dairy & Eggs

Feta cheese

Parmesan cheese

Mozzarella cheese

Greek yogurt

Mayonnaise

Creamy caesar dressing

Pantry

Rotini pasta

Fusilli pasta

Oregano

Capers

Crusty bread

Meat & Fish

Anchovies

Pepperoncini

Salami