Skip to main content

No-cook summer meals even the kids will eat

Summertime inspiration for no-cook meals the whole family can enjoy

A mother and daughter cooking in the kitchen, with the child holding pepper slices up to her eyes.
Oksana Kuzmina / Shutterstock

Who wants to turn on the stove, or worse, the oven, when the summer temperatures start rising? Summer can get very steamy, especially when those August dog days roll around. Cooking definitely heats up the house, and when the temps are up there, appetites aren’t necessarily that big either. Many times, parents opt for takeout or a local restaurant. The problem with that is eating out is expensive and it’s not very healthy. Thankfully, there are plenty of super-tasty and easy no-cook summer meals.

No-cook summer meals don’t have to mean just salads. Salads are a perfect pick for summer, but they aren’t always the dish of choice for the kiddos. So, if you’re looking for dinner ideas that don’t involve cooking, try these no-cook meals the entire family will enjoy.

Recommended Videos

No-cook meals for summer

A teen chopping up vegetables while her parent watches.
michaeljung / Shutterstock

Heat waves are a part of summer. Of course, they’re not as much fun as playing in the waves at the beach, especially when you have to make dinner. After a long, hot day at camp and work, the last thing busy parents want to do is turn on the oven or stove. Next time you’re faced with the option of heating up the house or ordering takeout, try one of these simple and delicious no-cook meals that aren’t just for summer.

Tuna avocado wraps

Tuna is a household staple. It’s also a super simple and quick meal. Add in avocado and you have an amazingly healthy meal. There are a couple of different ways to whip up a tuna avocado wrap. One is to mix up the tuna fish the way you like it. Add in a squirt of lemon juice and toss in some sliced avocado. You can enjoy the tuna and avocado on lettuce slices or a tortilla. If you need some inspiration or want to change up your usual tuna, Good Housekeeping has a delish recipe. For some crunch, try Tasty’s recipe.

Roast beef and tomato sandwich pizza

When the temps are in the red, a traditional pizza can be too heavy. Instead, try this easy and yummy sandwich pizza recipe from Taste of Home. The wonderful thing about this recipe is you can change it to suit your kiddos. It works with turkey, too, instead of roast beef. You can even do cheese.

Tomato and avocado sandwiches

If your kiddos love avocados and hummus, these tomato and avocado sandwiches from Taste of Home are a definite do for lunch or dinner. All you need is your favorite bread, tomatoes, hummus, and avocados.

Chicken and apple salad with greens

If you have leftover chicken and your kids don’t dive under the table at the thought of salad for dinner, serve up this ridiculously easy and fabulous chicken apple salad. The recipe calls for mixed greens, but you can substitute the greens of your choice.

Arugula and hummus mini pizzas

Naan bread is the ideal choice when it comes to making a no-cook pizza. Allrecipes has a great no-cook recipe for arugula and hummus mini pizzas. You can also substitute any greens your kids will eat.

Sandwiches

The best no-cook meal on a super-hot summer night is sandwiches. Whether you use leftovers, rotisserie chicken, or your favorite lunch meats, sandwiches are always a no-cook meal everyone can get on board with.

Yogurt parfaits

Cool off by making a yogurt parfait for dinner. All you need is Greek yogurt, fruit, and granola. Just alternate layers of yogurts and summertime fruit staples like blueberries, strawberries, and peaches. Top off with granola. Greek yogurt works best because of the protein, but if the kiddos are picky, use their favorite one.

Salads are always a healthy and easy option for a no-cook summer meal. A traditional tossed salad, though, can be boring and not always a kid fav. If you want to mix things up this summer when the temperatures are skyrocketing, try these no-cook meals. They are simple to make, healthy, always delicious, and won’t heat up the house.

Dawn Miller
Dawn Miller began her professional life as an elementary school teacher before returning to her first love, writing. In…
Halloween costumes for tweens – they will love these unique ideas
Tween costume ideas that parents won't hate
Two boys wear DIY Halloween costumes

Pretty much everyone loves Halloween. Nowadays, even adults really get into dressing up for Halloween to go trick-or-treating with the kids or to a costume party with friends. So, just because your kiddos have crossed into the eye-rolling tween years, it doesn't mean they still don't want to don a costume for trick-or-treating with friends or to go to the school Halloween dance.

The problem comes with finding appropriate costumes for them. Most schools don't want anything that screams violence or incorporates any inappropriate props. Then, there are the girls. Once girls age out of the little kid costume sizes, get used to seeing the word sexy attached to everything your daughter wants to be for Halloween. Also, costume prices go up and the amount of material used to fashion the outfit shrinks considerably.

Read more
The best Halloween costumes for a family of 4 that are simple to find or create
Halloween themes for your crew of four
Family of four dressed in Halloween costumes.

Halloween isn't just for kids! Dressing up as a family is a bonding experience that allows you to get creative together. Plus, it might get you guys the good candy for being the cutest family out trick-or-treating. Whether you have little ones or older kids, there are a variety of group costume ideas to get the whole family in the spooky spirit. Check out some of the best Halloween costumes for a family of 4 that will make your crew the neighborhood celebrities on All Hallows' Eve.
Dress up as your favorite animated or movie family

Use being a family of four to your advantage by looking up families that feature four or more members, then each family member could pick their favorite character and bring the beloved show or movie to life. Let the little kids pick out their favorite show or see if the parents want to throw it back to a movie they grew up with.
Iconic animated families to recreate

Read more
The best Halloween costumes for a family of 3
Your group of three will love these Halloween costume ideas
Family of three celebrating Halloween

Whether you're newly a family of three or not, dressing up the whole family for Halloween is so much fun.  Halloween costumes seem to reach new levels of creativity each year. While elevating your costume creations from the previous year can be fun, finding inspiration can also be hard.

When it comes to getting the whole family involved in a group costume, trying to find the perfect theme can be a real hassle if you don’t have enough ideas to choose from. If you've been searching for the perfect costumes for a family of 3, look no further. We've compiled a bunch of cute, creative, and crazy Halloween costume ideas for your family of three to explore and have fun with.
Channel your favorite trio

Read more