27 Easy Cold Dinner Ideas For Hot Summer Days

We rounded up the best summertime cold dinners for hotter-than-hot days.

By

Kimberly Holland

Updated on May 3, 2024

Southern Living Steak Taco Salad in a bowl to serve with extra dressing beside — Photo:
Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

There's nothing more fun than summer in the South, but there's also nothing hotter. When the temperature starts to spike, the last thing you want to do is stand over a hot stovetop and heat up the entire kitchen at dinnertime.

These recipes take minimal effort, make use of time-saving kitchen hacks, and taste like a family favorite waiting to happen. There's twists on old classics and introductions to new recipes that are bursting with summer's best ingredients. Here are our favorite dinner ideas for hot summer days that taste great hot or cold.

01 of 27

Chopped Kale Salad With Toasted Breadcrumbs

Chopped Kale Salad with Toasted Breadcrumbs — Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

This twist on the classic Caesar salad is ready in 15 minutes. Add grilled steak, chicken or salmon to make it the perfect weeknight supper.

02 of 27

Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad

Southern Living Southern Shrimp Pasta Salad in serving bowl with a serving beside — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Clair Spollen; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Lemony, vibrant, and packed full of fresh flavor this pasta salad is reminiscent of the Southern favorite delicacy, marinated shrimp. Not a fan of shrimp? Simply leave it out and enjoy the pasta salad on its own or as a side for grilled meat or fish.

03 of 27

Steak Taco Salad

Southern Living Steak Taco Salad in a bowl to serve with extra dressing beside — Victor Protasio; Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Fire up the grill for this fun spin on taco night! Topped with grilled steak and corn and piled high with other toppings like avocado, pickled onion and shredded cheese, this will be your new favorite way to eat taco salad.

04 of 27

Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken — Caitlin Bensel

This slow-cooker chicken is the perfect answer for when it's too hot to even fire up the grill. No need for heating up the oven or going outside to get delicious chicken to use in tacos, wraps, salads, sandwiches, or served over rice!

05 of 27

Herbed Chicken-And-Rice Salad

Herbed Chicken-and-Rice Salad — Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Ali Ramee; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Microwaveable rice and rotisserie chicken will help you pull together this pretty entree salad without having to turn on the stove. Chock full of fresh vegetables and herbs, but hearty enough to satisfy your appetite, this meal is a winning choice for any hot summer night.

06 of 27

Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad With Field Peas

Lemon Vinaigrette Pasta Salad with Field Peas — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Use whichever pasta you prefer and combine with an easy honey-lemon vinaigrette and fresh veggies for a side dish that goes with anything. Pick up a can of field peas and the only cooking involved here is boiling the pasta—or even better, pull some pre-cooked pasta from the fridge.

07 of 27

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches — Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Cut that rotisserie chicken to the bone for these delicious sandwiches that are perfect for lunch or dinner. The chicken salad mixture can be prepared a day ahead for extra ease when assembling your sandwiches. Make extra Caesar dressing while you're at it to use on a side salad.

08 of 27

Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps — Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

These healthy lettuce wraps are no-cook and all good. The light chicken salad mixture brings both heat and sweet for a 15-minute recipe that's anything but boring. Serve in crisp butter lettuce leaves, wheat wraps, or over a bed of greens.

09 of 27

Watermelon Gazpacho

Watermelon Gazpacho — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

We didn't know a five-ingredient recipe could look and taste so elegant, but this chilled soup is proving otherwise. If watermelon is your favorite summer fruit, here's a unique, fun, and delicious way to prepare it. And the only appliance you need to warm up is your blender.

10 of 27

Shrimp Cobb Salad With Bacon Dressing

Shrimp Cobb Salad with Bacon Dressing — Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Make use of hardboiled eggs in your fridge and pre-cooked shrimp from the seafood counter so the only thing you have to prep for this salad is the bacon. Once you taste this dressing, you won't mind the few minutes you spent frying it (the microwave is always an easy alternative). This light recipe feels so much more indulgent than it is.

11 of 27

Greek Grilled Chicken Pita

Greek Grilled Chicken Pita — Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

This is worlds away from that boring deli chicken sandwich, while still being easy enough to whip up on the busiest of days. The chicken gets cooked out on the grill, leaving your kitchen nice and cool. Serve with a side of chips or fresh fruit.

12 of 27

Salmon Bagel Sandwiches

Salmon Bagel Sandwiches — Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Stay cool with this recipe that you can eat from brunch to dinner. Cook the salmon ahead in the slow cooker in an aromatic blend of lemongrass, fennel, scallions, and dry white wine. Then assemble the best salmon bagel you've ever had.

13 of 27

Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos

Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos — Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Slow and low braising will make carnitas fork-tender. If you like, you can broil the meat on a sheet pan after until it's brown and crisp. Serve the pork with tortillas, shredded cabbage, diced avocado, queso fresco, and lime wedges.

14 of 27

Chicken Salad With Grapes and Pecans

Chicken Salad With Grapes and Pecans on a plate with leaf lettuce and crackers — Will Dickey

We like any two-step recipe that instructs us to "combine" and "chill." Turn leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken into an elegant but simple chicken salad. The juicy grapes and nutty pecans provide a nice balance to the just-sweet dressing.

15 of 27

Ham Salad

Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad — Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox

This retro Southern recipe is ideal for having on hand when you don't feel like cooking. Serve on a buttery croissant (or between two slices of whatever bread you have), with a side of crackers, or over leafy greens for a quick, comforting meal. Have the ingredients at room temperature so they are easy to combine.

16 of 27

Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad

Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad — Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Melissa Gray

This easy pasta salad is bursting with flavor from a sun-dried tomato pesto, feta cheese, parsley, and basil. Bow tie pasta serves as the base to soak up all the juices. Our Test Kitchen says it can be served at room temperature, perfect for a sweltering day.

17 of 27

Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad

Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad — Jennifer Davick

This salad does it all. Broccoli and pecans add crunch, while grapes add a burst of juicy sweetness. The recipe calls for cooked bacon, but you can skip it for a lighter version.

18 of 27

Crispy Prosciutto, Strawberry, And Burrata Salad With Maple-Balsamic Vinaigrette

Southern Living Crispy Prosciutto, Strawberry, and Burrata Salad with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette on a platter to serve — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

Every forkful of this salad contains abundant flavors and textures, like peppery arugula, fragrant herbs, creamy burrata, and juicy-sweet strawberries. And though it does require a few minutes of oven time to crisp the prosciutto, this is a minor sacrifice that's well worth it.

19 of 27

Green Tomato Gazpacho

Green Tomato Gazpacho in a white bowl — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Nothing cools quite like a bowl of gazpacho, the traditional summertime soup from southern Spain. We substituted green tomatoes for their tart and refreshing flavor, not to mention the gorgeous color they impart to this soup. Chill up to 24 hours before serving.

20 of 27

Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches With Creamy Cucumber Spread

Open-Faced Tomato Sandwiches with Creamy Cucumber Spread — Alison Miksch

How better to celebrate summer in the South than with a tomato sandwich? In this recipe, we layer tomatoes on toasted bread topped with a mixture of cream cheese, cucumber, and fresh herbs. Pick the juiciest, most flavorful tomatoes you can find and cut them with a serrated knife to preserve their beautiful shape and color.

21 of 27

Mini Muffulettas

Mini Muffulettas — Jennifer Davick; Styling: Amy Burke

These cold-cut sandwiches make a great hand-held main for an outdoor party. They look especially festive in a red or blue-checked sandwich wrapper. Finely chopped pickled vegetables and pimiento-stuffed olives provide a tangy punch.

22 of 27

Classic Macaroni Salad With Ham

Classic Macaroni Salad with Ham — Jen Causey

This pasta salad makes full use of summer produce and is best served chilled. We don't mind that a bit. The Cajun seasoning provides all the heat we need.

23 of 27

Shrimp Salad Rolls

Shrimp Salad Rolls — Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

These summery sandwiches are the ideal solution for leftover shrimp, though the shellfish can also be steamed in the blink of an eye. Once cooked and chopped, the shrimp are tossed in a mayonnaise dressing seasoned with dill, chives, and Old Bay. Dig out a bag of potato chips and pour a frosty beer, and you've got it made.

24 of 27

Curry Chicken Salad

Southern Living Curry Chicken Salad in lettuce cups on a tray to serve — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

Travel and Culture Editor Tara Massouleh McCay shared her mom’s recipe for chicken salad with us. “This beloved Southern dish contains a multitude of cultures,” she writes.

25 of 27

Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps

Grilled Shrimp Lettuce Wraps — Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner

This recipe tucks grilled shrimp, cilantro, and quick pickled veggies into lettuce leaves for a light lunch or appetizer that's sure to cool you off. The shrimp is lightly charred on the grill, after gaining a nice boost of flavor from a garlic, ginger, soy sauce, and rice vinegar marinade.

26 of 27

Cucumber Tea Sandwiches

Southern Living Cucumber Tea Sandwiches on serving platter — Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox

This luncheon favorite will always be on rotation in our kitchens. Don’t miss our Test Kitchen’s tip for preventing soggy tea sandwiches.

27 of 27

Persian Salad Olivieh

Southern Living Persian Salad Olivieh (Persian Chicken Salad) on a platter to serve — Antonis Achilleos; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley; Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall

“I wasn’t overly interested in cooking growing up, but I always jumped at the opportunity to help prepare Salad Olivieh,” writes Travel and Culture Editor Tara Massouleh McCay. This delicious mash-up of chicken, egg, and potato salads is traditionally served on the final day of Nowruz, the celebration of the Persian New Year.

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