27 Days Worth of No-Cook Dinners For the Whole Family

POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

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!

01
BLT Pasta Salad
The Cookie Rookie

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.

02
Mexican-Style Chicken Sliders
POPSUGAR Food

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!

03
Vegan Spring Rolls With Peanut Sauce
Cookin Canuck

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.

04
Chicken Burgers With Feta and Sun-Dried Tomato
The Cookie Rookie

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.

05
Vegan Sushi Bowls
Sweet Peas and Saffron

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.

06
Grilled Chicken Tenders
Dinner at the Zoo

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.

07
Avocado Chickpea Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

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.

08
Tropical Hot Dogs
POPSUGAR Food

Tropical Hot Dogs

Skip the mustard and ketchup and go for tropical toppings instead with these pineapple, pepper, and cilantro-topped hot dogs.

09
Lemon Tuna Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Michelle Bell

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.

10
Cauliflower Burgers
Pinch of Yum

Cauliflower Burgers

These colorful cauliflower burgers are all veggie without sacrificing taste.

11
Hydrating Summer Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

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.

12
Southeast Asian Heirloom Tomato and Cucumber Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

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.

13
Salad-Stuffed Avocado
POPSUGAR Photography | Lizzie Fuhr

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.

14
Cucumber Caprese Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

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!

15
Strawberry Avocado Salad
Running to the Kitchen

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.

16
Easy Vegetarian Taco Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny

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.

17
Watermelon Caprese Salad
POPSUGAR Photography | Nicole Perry

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.

18
Zucchini Noodle Veggie Lo Mein
GI 365

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.

19
Zesty Taco Salad
POPSUGAR Food

Zesty Taco Salad

Give family taco night a healthy, lighter spin with an easy recipe for Zesty Taco Salad.

20
Asian Noodle Salad Jars
Foxes Love Lemons

Asian Noodle Salad Jars

Yum! Foxes Love Lemons' noodle salad jars are crunchy, peanutty, and healthy. Bonus points for eating yours with chopsticks.

21
Brainy Salmon Burger
POPSUGAR Food

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!

22
Rainbow Layered Salad (on the Go!)
POPSUGAR Photography | Jenny Sugar

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.

23
Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles

Cold Peanut Sesame Noodles

These easy peanut sesame noodles aren't just good, they're flat-out addictive. Source: Flickr user Stacy Spensley

24

25
Black Bean Salad
POPSUGAR | Anna Monette Roberts

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.

26
Use Hummus as Your Base
POPSUGAR | Nicole Perry

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.

27
Quinoa, Black Bean, and Corn Salad
Shutterstock

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!

28
Vegetarian Spring Rolls
POPSUGAR Studios

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.