No-Cook Meals, Sides, and Desserts
No-cook recipes are wonderful to have on hand through hot summers. Here in Alabama, the summers are always scorching, so I avoid turning on the oven whenever I can. These no-bake dishes are wonderful to have on hand for quick, cool meal prep.
I have a sweet tooth, and lately I’ve been especially enjoying the no-cook berry parfait, ambrosia salad, and figs stuffed with mascarpone.
But these no-bake recipes aren’t just about dessert or breakfast. You can make a satisfying snack or complete meal without turning on the oven or stove. No-cook salads are the mainstays of light summer meals because most of the ingredients are fresh and raw.
Garden greens, avocado, tomato, fresh herbs, red onions–add a variety of vegetables for nutrition and flavor. For protein with those veggies, just toss some salmon, shrimp, salami, turkey, or pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, and you’re in business. (Chickpeas and cheeses like mozzarella and feta are high in protein, too.) Try my power salad and wild turkey salad for delicious and super healthy combinations of flavors.
Chicken, egg, and tuna salad are easy options for salads, sandwiches, and wraps. Try my Granny Gray’s creamy chicken salad recipe with leftover cooked chicken.
Now, I’ve also included my recipes for clam bake and crawfish boil. These count as no-bake, too, in my opinion, since you cook them outside! No stove is on to heat up your kitchen. For that matter, on hot days, sometimes dinner around here means grilling up smash burgers on the outdoor grill.
I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as I do.
