27 Days Worth of No-Cook Dinners For the Whole Family
While there's always a time and place for a special home-cooked meal, the last thing we want to do is endure a hot kitchen in the midst of the dog days of Summer. Skip the stove and the oven (or opt for the grill, instead!) and serve up one of these easy meals instead. We've rounded up 27 kid-friendly, delicious, and pretty dang healthy dinners to satisfy your family right through the end of August. And if you're looking for a little something sweet to end the night with, we've got 45 ideas for no-bake Summer desserts — yum! Scroll through to take a peek at some of our favorite recipes!
BLT Pasta Salad
Chilled BLT Pasta Salad, swimming with juicy tomatoes and crispy bacon, practically begs to be eaten next to the pool. You can add extra greens for the lettuce lovers or serve as is for the pickier eaters.
Mexican-Style Chicken Sliders
Head south of the border with a lighter patty recipe using ground chicken and a variety of spices. Our Mexican-style chicken sliders will have lil ones shouting ole!
Vegan Spring Rolls With Peanut Sauce
Kids will totally love helping Mom or Dad assemble these colorful Vegan Spring Rolls. Add peanut sauce to get the full dipping experience.
Chicken Burgers With Feta and Sun-Dried Tomato
Kid-friendly cheeseburgers are lightened up thanks to this Chicken Burgers With Feta and Sun-Dried Tomato recipe that includes feta cheese, and pesto mayonnaise.
Vegan Sushi Bowls
Little ones can DIY their very own Vegan Sushi Bowls. Just cut up some veggies and add some pre-cooked white rice (or heat it up the microwave!) to complete the meal.
Grilled Chicken Tenders
Perfect to toss on the grill, the grilled chicken tenders are marinaded, making the chicken tender and flavorful so you can serve alone or toss in a salad or pasta dish.
Avocado Chickpea Salad
If your garden is bursting with cherry tomatoes, this Avocado Chickpea Salad is for you. Chickpeas provide protein, avocado brings the creaminess, while lemon juice and dill bring the flavor. And, of course, your cherry tomatoes add a pop of color.
Tropical Hot Dogs
Skip the mustard and ketchup and go for tropical toppings instead with these pineapple, pepper, and cilantro-topped hot dogs.
Lemon Tuna Salad
Substituting lemon and olive oil for mayonnaise makes for a lighter, brighter Tuna Salad that your kiddos will gobble right up. Tuck yours into pita bread, or serve it on top of a bed of fresh greens.
Cauliflower Burgers
These colorful cauliflower burgers are all veggie without sacrificing taste.
Hydrating Summer Salad
It's hard not to think Summer when looking at this gorgeous Summer salad. Full of hydrating and fiber-rich veggies, it's the perfect addition to your al fresco dinner menu.
Southeast Asian Heirloom Tomato and Cucumber Salad
The flavors of this heirloom tomato and cucumber salad are sure to surprise and delight guests. The addition of fish sauce and lime take the fresh veggies beyond the typical olive oil and salt dressing.
Salad-Stuffed Avocado
Eating the rainbow at lunch has never tasted so good! Offering 60 percent of your recommended fiber for the day, this antioxidant-rich rainbow salad supports healthy digestion and will keep you feeling full and energized. Chopped tomatoes, peppers, and radishes are tossed in a spicy lime dressing, then neatly tucked into a halved avocado for a pretty presentation.
Cucumber Caprese Salad
Another riff on the classic caprese comes in the form of this hydrating and refreshing cucumber caprese salad that might turn into your new go-to recipe. Higher in protein, fiber, and anti-inflammatory omega-3s, this delicious salad aligns with your Summer goals!
Strawberry Avocado Salad
An interesting array of Summer produce goes into this fiber-rich strawberry avocado salad: avocado, strawberries, and kiwis are all tied together with a honey lime dressing. The avocados are high in monounsaturated fatty acids, which can help diminish belly fat.
Easy Vegetarian Taco Salad
If you're craving the flavors of your favorite cantina, channel them into this light yet satisfying layered taco salad that's loaded with fresh flavors.
Watermelon Caprese Salad
For a twist on the traditional, try this recipe for a watermelon caprese salad. It's the perfect way to make the most of leftover watermelon from all your Summer BBQ endeavors.
Zucchini Noodle Veggie Lo Mein
Ditch take-out lo mein and spiralize some of your family's favorite veggies to make your own version of lo mein with so much less salt but all of the flavor.
Zesty Taco Salad
Give family taco night a healthy, lighter spin with an easy recipe for Zesty Taco Salad.
Asian Noodle Salad Jars
Yum! Foxes Love Lemons' noodle salad jars are crunchy, peanutty, and healthy. Bonus points for eating yours with chopsticks.
Brainy Salmon Burger
Ground beef does not a burger make! Jessica Seinfeld shares a recipe for Salmon Burgers that are more than a fish on a bun. Skip the skillet and fire up the grill to get the all those omega-3 fatty acid-filled brain boosters!
Rainbow Layered Salad (on the Go!)
Eating a salad's never been this much fun. Our friends at POPSUGAR Fitness have perfected the method of packing a salad to go, and your kids can play an active role in choosing what goes into theirs.
Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles
These easy peanut sesame noodles aren't just good, they're flat-out addictive. Source: Flickr user Stacy Spensley
Black Bean Salad
The beauty of this black bean salad is that it can be customized with whatever veggies or protein you have in your fridge.
Use Hummus as Your Base
Forget store-bought hummus — the homemade version is so much better, and it can serve as the base for a veggie or chicken wrap, sandwich, or dip.
Quinoa, Black Bean, and Corn Salad
Use precooked quinoa to take the heat out of 11-year-old Haile Thomas's quinoa, black bean, and corn salad. It tastes so good, it earned her a trip to the first Kids State Dinner at the White House hosted by the Obamas!
Vegetarian Spring Rolls
Contrary to what you may believe, spring rolls are a cinch to make at home. Here, a rainbow of veggies, sprouts, and rice noodles makes for a bright (both in color and flavor) bite.