21 Best Summer No-Oven Dinners to Keep Your Kitchen Cool

Ryan Liebe

The summer is blisteringly hot, so the last thing you probably want to do is turn on your oven to cook dinner. It will heat up the whole kitchen! Ugh. While you can blast the air conditioning and hope for the best, you can also rely on other cooking methods that won’t make your whole house feel like a hot box. These no-oven dinners will be just what you need to stay cool all season.

Let other appliances be your friends! You might think of as a winter thing, but once you try a shrimp boil or fall-off-the-bone ribs, you’ll wonder why you haven’t been using it for warm weather dinners all along! There are also and that may feel like lazy dinners but taste anything but boring.

And of course, you can always head out to the grill and keep the heat where it should be: outside. You can anything from to flavorful and even fish! Try the foil packet method with tilapia and asparagus. It makes for such an easy cleanup, so you don’t break a sweat trying to clean those grill grates. These celebrate the best of the season while keeping you cool as a cucumber in the process. Now go enjoy the AC while you’re chowing down.

1

Greek Chicken Kebabs

Ralph Smith

Spice up boneless chicken thighs with Greek-inspired flavors and layer with seasonal zucchini. Grill up some pita on the side for a full meal made without turning on the oven.

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2

Air Fryer Hot Dog

Will Dickey

You don’t need to boil or even grill hot dogs. You can make them right in your air fryer will less muss and fuss. They take just a few minutes on each side, and then you can top them with anything you like.

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Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil

Ryan Liebe

You can make an entire seafood boil in a slow cooker! Shrimp, corn, potatoes, and sausage got tossed right in your machine earlier in the day, and you can come back for dinner with little effort.

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4

Grilled Tilapia

C.W. Newell

Just wait until you grill fish in a foil packet. It’s truly no-fuss cooking and cleaning. Plus, the veggies cook right in the packet too for an all-in-one meal.

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Classic Cheeseburger

Will Dickey

This one may seem obvious, but don’t forget that burgers aren’t just a weekend cookout thing. Grill juicy burgers and while they cook, you can prep all the toppings you know and love.

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6

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Will Dickey

What’s better than BBQ chicken in the summer? BBQ chicken that you don’t have to put too much effort into making! Just add your favorite store-bought sauce and let the slow cooker do the work.

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Steak Fajitas

Ryan Liebe

Marinated steak and perfectly seasoned veggies can all be tossed on a grill for extra flavor. As they cook, you can head inside to prep the tortillas and fixings so the family can build their own edible masterpieces.

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8

Watermelon Gazpacho

C.W. Newell

You don’t have to cook at all. All you have to do is chop up some veggies, herbs, and watermelon for a twist on the classic Spanish cold soup. Just give them a whirl in the blender and you’re done!

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Pork Burgers with Grilled Peaches and Feta

David Malosh

Time to get creative with your grill game! Sweet peaches taste incredible when grilled. And paired with savory pork and tangy feta? Well, that’s the best summer dinner!

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10

Air Fryer Salmon

Caitlin Bensel

Fact: You can make salmon in just ten minutes. Pop it in the air fryer, toss a simple salad, and maybe nuke some rice in one of those convenient microwavable packets, then dinner is served.

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Slow Cooker Ribs

Ryan Liebe

The best way to look ribs is low and slow so they practically fall off the bone and soak up all that saucy flavor. And guess what? You can do it in your favorite appliance and skip all the babysitting.

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12

Tex-Mex Chicken Caesar Salad

Ryan Liebe

Rotisserie chicken to the rescue! Toss it with romaine lettuce, avocado, jack cheese, and a smoky, spicy chipotle dressing. Then top with tortilla chips for added crunch.

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Grilled Swordfish

Antonis Anchilleos

Swordfish may sound fancy, but it is surprisingly easy to make on the grill. The secret is a quick lime-garlic marinade, then each steak only needs to cook for about four to five minutes per side.

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14

Steak Kebabs

David Malosh

Marinate cubes of sirloin or New York strip steak and grill them to juicy, smoky perfection. Serve with an easy and vibrant tomato salad and a tangy cucumber yogurt sauce for dipping.

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Instant Pot Chicken Breast

Will Dickey

It takes just 16 minutes to make juicy, flavorful chicken in a multicooker. Then all you have to do is toss fresh salad as a side and you’re ready to eat faster than you can say “winner, winner, chicken dinner.”

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16

Grilled Mahi Mahi

Caitlin Bensel

Though mahi mahi cooks up nice and flaky, it’s still firm enough to cook up on the grill. Drizzle with butter and lemon to really enjoy a taste of summer in just a few minutes.

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Antipasti Chopped Salad

Ghazalle Badiozamani

Another no-cook meal is Ree’s genius take on chopped salad. Take everything you love from an antipasto platter—deli meats and cheeses, marinated artichoke hearts, and briny pepperoncini—and toss it with crunchy lettuce.

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18

Grilled Pizza

Caitlin Bensel

Once you’ve grilled pizza, you may never want to order takeout ever again. You can have fun with the toppings, too. Make a classic Caprese-style version or try arugula and prosciutto.

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Air Fryer Fish

Caitlin Bensel

Skip the deep fryer and the frozen stuff and make breaded fish right in your air fryer. It will taste healthier and fresher, and you’ll be done in just 30 minutes. Pop some fries in there while you’re at it!

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20

Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Ryan Liebe

Let chicken drumsticks simmer away in a delightful lime and ginger sauce for hours while you live life. Then come back when you’re ready to eat! Any side salad you like will complete the meal.

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