What to Eat When It's Too Hot to Cook: 15+ Cool Ideas

You know what it is? It's too hot to cook, that's what it is. I know you're side-eyeing your oven and even dreading the air fryer. Are you ready for some cool news then? These are the best of the hot day recipes, and none of them require trips to the grocery store for an obscure ingredient you'll only use once.

Think of this juicy and soul-quenching watermelon salad as a choose-your-own adventure. Take it further by adding a half cup or so of peeled and sliced cucumber. This recipe will make approximately 10 servings.

Not a fan of onion? You can leave that in the fridge. Loathe arugula? This is lovely with bibb lettuce, romaine, or mixed greens too. Or no greens. Another idea is to swap the basil for mint.

Ingredients

• 16 cups cubed watermelon OR 1 large watermelon, cubed
• 4-6 ounces feta cheese
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 6-8 fresh basil leaves chopped finely
• ¼ white onion or red onion, sliced
• 3-4 cups arugula or preferred green (optional)
• ½-1 cup cucumber, peeled and sliced (optional)
• Balsamic vinegar or glaze for dressing, to taste

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, mix the watermelon, feta, olive oil, basil, and onion.
2. Add cucumber and leafy greens if desired.
3. Stir to mix.
4. Add balsamic vinegar to taste.

Any wrap or sandwich is a great idea for a quick, no-cook meal on a hot day, but there's just something especially cooling about a juicy, hydrating tomato. What you put on a tomato sandwich is a personal subject, so whatever doesn't fit in with your too-hot-to-cook-so-you're-enjoying-this-classic vibe, go ahead and skip it.

Ingredients

• 2 slices bread
• 3-5 slices fresh tomato, beefsteak or another similar style
• Mayo, to taste
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Lettuce, optional
• Sliced onion, optional

Instructions

1. On the bread, add desired amount of mayo.
2. Add tomato slices.
3. Salt and pepper to taste.
4. Add lettuce and onion if desired.

Make it simple! There's no reason to break a sweat making something to eat or even while you're eating. Open the cabinet, grab a bowl and some cereal, and top off with milk. Then sit back down in front of the fan.

Bust out the avocado and the toaster if you're up for it. But there's no judgement here if you eat this masterpiece on untoasted bread. If you want to dress up your avocado toast, Cookie and Kate has a wealth of avocado toast topping ideas.

Ingredients

• 2 slices of bread
• 1 small avocado, peeled and sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Other topping ideas: chives, red pepper flakes, everything bagel seasoning, soft-boiled egg, tomatoes, shredded cheese, pico de gallo, bacon bits.

Instructions

1. Add bread to toaster and cook until desired crispness.
2. Add equal amounts of sliced avocado to each piece of toast.
3. Gently mash with fork and spread to cover the toast.
4. Add salt and pepper to taste, as well as any other desired toppings.

Take the time to build a charcuterie board with a wine pairing or whip up some breakfast for dinner with a breakfast charcuterie board. The serving size depends on how many and how much of the ingredients you plop onto the board.

Above all, a charcuterie board doesn't need to be fancy! Grab some slices of deli meat or something indulgent, like prosciutto, slice up a roll of salami, pile some cheese onto the board, and add some crunch in the form of crackers or pretzels. Don't forget some grapes or other berries. Don't forget the glue: honey, hot honey, or dijon mustard. Bonus points for adding almonds or other nuts.

Personally, we're a big fan of sliced deli ham, swiss cheese, and some dijon on a cracker or a slice of apple with brie and honey on a small piece of bread.

Similar, but not quite the same, to the classic charcuterie board, is the fruit and cheese board. This beat-the-heat too-hot-to-cook meal focuses on your daily servings of dairy and fruit.

If boiling water doesn't make your blood boil in the heat any extra, this recipe will hit the spot. Or, plan ahead and make sure you have this recipe mixed up and ready to go before the heat wave hits your house. (Or boil some pasta and freeze it in air-tight containers for up to six months and thaw to toss in a salad). If you're looking for extra inspo, look no further than Gimme Some Oven's 15 different recipes.

Ingredients

• 2 cups cooked and cooled pasta (rotini, farfalle, penne, or cavatappi)
• ½ cup cherry tomatoes, sliced
• ½ cup canned artichoke hearts
• ¼ cup diced hard salami
• ¼ cup chopped pepperoncini
• ¼ of a white or red onion, sliced
• ⅛ cup black olives, sliced
• ½ cup red wine vinegar
• ¼ cup olive oil
• ½ tablespoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, add pasta, tomatoes, artichokes, salami, pepperoncini, olives, and onion.
2. Stir briefly to mix.
3. Add vinegar, olive oil, seasoning, as well as salt and pepper.
4. Stir well to mix and combine.

Enjoy pizza in the summer heat without turning on the oven. Watermelon pizza, that is. Although it sure feels like you could cook a pizza on your driveway today, huh?

Ingredients

• 1 watermelon round slice
• 1 cup whipped cream OR ¾ cup greek yogurt
• ¼ cup strawberries, sliced
• ¼ cup blueberries
• ¼ cup peaches
• ¼ cup kiwi, peeled and diced

Instructions

1. On the watermelon, spread whipped topping.
2. Sprinkle with desired fruit toppings.
3. Cut into slices similiar to a pizza.

Make a simple poke or sushi bowl - no cooking required. If you're not a salmon person, you can use imitation crab, shrimp, seared ahi tuna, or skip the fish altogether. If you purchase pre-cooked rice or cook rice and freeze it one cup servings, you'll be ready to go without ever having to fire up the stove. Pro tip: don't scroll the sushi bowl hashtag on TikTok when hungry.

@somethingnutritious deconstructed baked salmon sushi bowl #sushibowl #deconstructedsushi Hey Sexy Lady [Feat. Brian & Tony Gold] - Shaggy

You've certainly seen the viral butter board, but that's not what's for dinner tonight. Tonight, it's creamy, umami hummus.

Ingredients

• 2 cups prepared hummus
• ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 8-10 basil leaves, torn
• 2 tablespoons garlic-infused olive oil
• ¼ cup pine nuts
• 1 tablespoon grated lemon zest
• Pita chips, crostinis, or naan for dipping

Instructions

1. Spread the hummus on a charcuterie board.
2. Top with sun-dried tomatoes and basil leaves.
3. Drizzle with the garlic-infused olive oil.
4. Sprinkle with the pine nuts
5. Serve with pita chips, crostini, or naan.

You sure can have a banana split for dinner on those hot summer days. But let's punch it up with some healthy ingredients too.

Ingredients

• 2 scoops frozen yogurt, coconut milk ice cream, or traditional ice cream
• 1 banana peeled and sliced down the middle
• 2 tablespoons shelled peanuts, almonds, or pistachios
• ¼ cup blueberries, blackberries, or strawberries, optional
• Whipped cream, cherry, and chocolate syrup for garnish

Instructions

1. On a plate, add the sliced banana.
2. Top with scoops of ice cream, nuts, and fruit if desired.
3. Garnish with a dollop of whipped cream, a cherry, and drizzle of chocolate syrup.

Looking for more flavors? Go ahead and use hazelnuts or pecans, add a drizzle of honey or maple syrup instead of chocolate, add some mango or pomegranate seeds, or use yogurt instead of whipped cream.

This filling, and no cook, salad is a great way to get some fiber - and better yet, you can also eat this as a dip with tortilla chips if you're not interested in chowing down on it as a salad. Mix it with rice or toss it into a wrap. This bean salad has endless possibilities. On its own, this makes roughly 6 servings.

Ingredients

• 15-ounce can chickpeas
• 15-ounce can red kidney beans
• 15-ounce cannellini beans
• ¼ medium red or white onion, chopped
• ¼-½ cup red wine vinegar or apple cider vinegar
• ⅛-¼ cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• ½ avocado, peeled and diced

Instructions

1. Drain the canned beans.
2. In a bowl, add the beans and onion.
3. Add vinegar, olive oil, parsley, as well as salt and pepper to taste.
4. Stir well to mix.
5. Add avocado, stir briefly to combine.

The 1905 salad is life-changing. With a uniquely umami flavor profile from olives and Parmesan cheese, crisp lettuce, fresh tomatoes, and filling ingredients like Swiss cheese and ham, this salad bursts with flavor without you ever having to turn on the oven.

@hungryhappens The 1905 Salad (Columbia’s Salad) full recipe is on my site: HungryHappens.Net IB: @kathyquad123 original sound - Stella Drivas

You're familiar with (and a big fan of) brinner! This quick microwave recipe uses up whatever you usually like to mix with eggs, but without standing over a hot stove while you scramble or mix.

Budget Bytes recipe is, hands down the best one for your too-hot-cook-brinner option. While this recipe is great as is, think of adding spinach, onions, chives, herbs, whatever it is you usually add to your eggs.

Cool off with ... soup? You read that right. Gazpacho is here for you to spoon, sip, and slurp your way to a full belly when it's just too darn hot to cook.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ripe red tomatoes, cored and roughly cubed (beefsteak, roma, or other red tomatoes)
• 1 medium cucumber, seeded and peeled
• ½ small white onion, peeled and roughly chopped
• ½ small green pepper, chopped and seeded
• 1 medium clove garlic, peeled
• 1 lime, juiced (approximately 2 tablespoons)
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. In a blender or food processor, add all ingredients.
2. Puree for approximately 90 seconds or until the gazpacho is your desired consistency.
3. Pour into a resealable container.
4. Cover and place in refrigerator for approximately four hours.
5. Serve in bowls.
6. Garnish with croutons, parsley, or a small drizzle of olive oil.

The yogurt parfait isn't just a $15 airport treat when you're pressed for time and hungry. They're simple to throw together and an absolute treat for dinner on those hot summer days.

Ingredients

• 1 cup vanilla yogurt
• ½ cup granola
• ¼ cup blueberries
• ¼ cup peaches, cubed

Instructions

1. In a cup, add half of the granola.
2. Top with half of the yogurt and fruit.
3. Top with remaining granola.
4. Top with remaining yogurt and fruit.

Fed is best, so even if you want to sit in the shade and eat ice cream for dinner, we'll never judge you. These are some ideas that you can eat on their own or add to salads, wraps, or already cooked starches for those hotter-than-the-sun days.

• Picnic meals require little work or heat, such as a Cobb salad or veggie kabobs
• Yogurt
• Ice cream
• Easy pre-cooked proteins such as imitation crab, rotisserie chicken, or canned or pouched tuna
• Premixed salads
• Precooked shrimp
• Eggs
• Waldorf salad
• Spring rolls

Step away from the oven and the grill, it's too hot for those today. Tomorrow. Next week. You'll see them again soon enough. Kick back and fill up with these dinner ideas that're perfect for when it's just too hot to cook. Your secret is safe with us if you decide to turn that AC even colder while you nosh away.