Cold (Lunch) Meals for Hot Summer Days

No one wants to be stuck in front of the stove on a hot summer day. When the weather gets hot we often turn to light cooling meals. Here at Side Chef we got our air conditioner on and made you a list of easy, delicious no-cook meals to keep you and your kitchen cool. These poke bowls, healthy hearty salads, refreshing chilled soups, sushi rolls, and more will be perfect for hot summer days. Enjoy them in the comfort of your chilled air-conditioned home, or eat these cooling meals al fresco outside on the patio. Whichever location you choose we guarantee you will absolutely love these recipes.

By now you should know how much we love unlikely pairings and worldly fusions. Enter spicy tuna sushi burrito - how exciting is that! Raw tuna, sriracha, mayo, avocado - the best of both worlds. The umami-rich and filling, this recipe will not disappoint you.

This watermelon poke bowl sure isn’t your classic take on the beloved Hawaiian dish. But you should give it a try, you’ll be pleasantly surprised how amazing it tastes. And 100% vegetarian.

Treat your family to this Grilled Peach and Burrata Salad with Bacon Wrapped Asparagus if you want to enjoy all the summer flavors on one plate. It can’t be described as anything but a flavor explosion, we love it!

Summer is the time to enjoy refreshing sushi. Who said making sushi should be time-consuming or require some special skill? This Super easy Temaki sushi recipe won’t take you longer than 20 minutes to prepare, and it can easily become your go-to sushi recipe, it’s so good.

Another poke bowl recipe we absolutely love! Salmon poke bowl is a classic - fresh salmon, pickled radish, avocado, topped with spicy ponzu sauce. The flavors complement each other so well. It’s bright, healthy, and surprisingly filling.

Homemade tostadas are so good! These shrimp tostadas are super easy to make, just mix all the fresh ingredients and marinate for 20 minutes. Maybe enjoy a refreshing drink while you’re waiting. Scoop onto the tostada shells and enjoy!

If you like the sweet and savory flavor you need to make this summer fruit chicken salad right now. It is incredibly satisfying and perfect to keep in your fridge for a quick bite. You can enjoy it on top of crispy romaine lettuce, or inside a fresh pretzel bun, or just by itself. We promise you will make it again and again.

When classic pico de gallo meets fresh peach, it becomes a universal summer snack that goes with absolutely everything. Add it to your fish or chicken dishes, make it as a refreshing BBQ side, the options are endless.

What is more hydrating and refreshing than watermelon? Try something different and make this delicious watermelon gazpacho. The watermelon's subtle sweetness perfectly balances this cool, savory soup. Add ginger and chili just intensifies the flavors and gives it a little kick. Perfect for a hot day!

This list wouldn’t be complete without a good cold sandwich recipe, and we got one for you - Jersey Mike's Italian Sub Copycat. A classic Italian hoagie in the Philadelphia style. Soft hearth-baked Italian roll, Italian meats, and cheeses topped with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and oregano. Flawless!

This delicious summer salad is packed with flavor. If you have some fresh cherry tomatoes, quickly roast them in the oven and let them take the center stage in this light summery dish. Simple ingredients really let every single flavor shine through. Perfect for lunch or as a picnic snack.

If you haven’t heard about this amazing dish yet, ceviche is famous Latin American dish. This snapper and pineapple ceviche is a wonderful light meal for a hot summer day or an elegant starter to offer to your guests.

The all-beloved summer-perfect tuna poke bowl! his recipe is loaded with healthy brown rice, salad, vegetables, and topped with marinated tuna poke. It will keep you both full and cool.