As summer temperatures rise, we know you don’t want to heat up the stove or oven to make dinner. These no-cook dinner recipes are full of nutritious ingredients and low in sodium and saturated fat, making them perfect for anyone looking to support a healthy heart. You’ll want to create fresh, flavorful dishes all season long, like this Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado and Walnuts or this protein-packed Chicken, Quinoa and Veggie Bowl.
Chickpea and quinoa grain bowl
There are as many variations on grain bowls as there are stars in the sky, and it seems like there’s no wrong way to make one, but we like it classic and simple: hummus, quinoa, avocado, and lots of veggies.
Strawberry Spinach Salad with Avocado and Walnuts
Serve this summery strawberry and spinach salad with soup or a half sandwich, or serve with grilled chicken or roasted salmon for an easy, healthy meal.
Spinach, sun-dried tomato and cucumber sandwich
Photographer: Stacey K. Allen, Props: Christina Brockman, Food Stylist: Lauren Odum
This protein-packed hummus sandwich is topped with crunchy veggies, feta cheese, and sweet, tangy sun-dried tomatoes. Sun-dried tomatoes in oil have a soft texture that’s perfect for sandwiches. You can use dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes instead, but you may need to rehydrate them before using to soften them.
Chicken, quinoa and veggie bowl
Packed with a whopping 19 grams of protein, this one-dish meal will help keep you full and satisfied for hours.
Couscous and chickpea salad
Cooked couscous and canned chickpeas combine in this easy salad, and a basil vinaigrette makes the flavor anything but simple. If in season, you can also add some chopped fresh tomatoes to give your tabouli a twist.
Wild rice salad with tofu, snow peas and carrots
Sesame oil and nori seaweed add depth of flavor and savory notes to this healthy grain salad recipe. Serve as a vegetarian main dish or as a side dish to grilled shrimp or yakitori.
Chickpea and Roasted Red Pepper Lettuce Wraps with Tahini Dressing
A tangy, nutty tahini dressing combines with no-cook ingredients like canned chickpeas and roasted red peppers to create easy-to-make lettuce wraps that can be made ahead of time for a quick dinner, and served with a few slices of warm pita bread for the perfect end to your meal.
Mixed greens with lentils and sliced apples
This salad with lentils, feta cheese and apples is a satisfying vegetarian main dish that you can whip up quickly for dinner. To save time, substitute canned drained lentils, but be sure to choose low-sodium varieties and rinse well before adding to the salad.
Chickpea Green Goddess Salad
This cucumber, tomato, Swiss cheese and chickpea salad recipe uses avocado, buttermilk and herbs to create a healthy Green Goddess dressing that’s delicious served with grilled veggies.
Cucumber salad sandwich
Who says you can’t have a salad on your sandwich? Season creamy cucumber stuffing with your favorite fresh herbs, tangy feta and lemon. Sprinkle salt on the cucumbers and pat them dry to remove some of the moisture and keep the bread from soggy with the stuffing.
Salmon Pita Sandwich
This easy recipe uses canned sockeye salmon, which is packed with heart-healthy omega 3. If you want to prepare this dish ahead of time, set the salmon salad aside and stuff it into pita bread just before serving.
Chopped Cobb Salad with Chicken
This healthy chopped salad is a great way to use up leftover cooked chicken, or save half a leftover boiled egg for a snack.
Crispy Chicken & Mango Salad
This salad has a nice crunch thanks to the snap peas and Chinese cabbage. Add a little sambal oelek (Indonesian hot sauce) to the dressing for some heat. Sambal oelek is available at most big box stores and Asian grocery stores.
Egg and vegetable salad wrap
In this recipe, fresh vegetables add crunch and flavor to a plain egg salad. This low-calorie wrap is perfect for a casual get-together or picnic with friends. Simply wrap the wrap tightly in wax paper and then in plastic wrap. Place in an insulated picnic bag with ice packs and it will last up to 5 hours.
Spicy, fiber-rich white bean and spinach salad
In this light, refreshing salad, white beans are seasoned with ras el hanout, a Moroccan spice blend of cinnamon, cumin, turmeric, ginger, cardamom, and black and red pepper. For a creamy texture, lightly mash some of the beans while stirring everything together. Served over a bed of lightly dressed spinach, the bean salad pairs well with beans, but it would also work well with grilled chicken or steak kebabs on another night.
