72 Hot Weather Recipes to Beat The Heat (2022)

The hot summer nights are upon us, which means one thing – the last thing you want to do is to cook in front of a stove and have the oven going. So here are some healthy hot weather recipes to beat the heat. From breakfasts and snacks to summer dinners and desserts, you came to the right place.

When you purchase through the links I share, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your support!

Hot Weather Recipes

Note: you can click on the table of contents above to find the category you’re looking for quickly.

Some of my favorite easy summer dinner ideas are no bake options. We like to keep it simple in our home so here are some easy recipe ideas:

• Grilled chicken with a veggie tray (raw veggies and dip are always a good idea and take no effort) and it’s the perfect summer weeknight meal!
• BLT Pasta Salad with Creamy Avocado Dressing
• Chicken fajita salad
• Veggies, chips with salsa, and dip (I have a few salsas and dip recipes below under the snacks heading).

Another option is to have a meal delivery service do the work for you! Fresh and Lean is a meal subscription services that puts you in charge. From high protein meals to Paleo to plant based, they have a ton of options. Check out Fresh and Lean here.

No Bake Breakfast Ideas

From overnight oats to chia pudding, there are plenty of options for a cooler no bake breakfast.

Some of these healthy recipes include:

• Greek yogurt with berries (or whatever fresh fruit you have), nuts, and honey.
• Cereal topped with greek yogurt or protein powder (try it, it’s so good).
• Smoothies (try these spinach smoothie recipes).

Hot Weather Snacks

From chips and salsa made with fresh ingredients and fresh herbs to fruit from the farmers market with a little ice cream, summer has the best snacks.

Sitting on the patio on a sunny day with a spread of snacks and a cocktail, you just can’t beat it.

Recipes for the Grill

There’s something about grilling on a hot summer day. Whether it’s frozen burgers or bbq chicken with a side of greek salad, there are plenty of options. Try one of these easy summer dinner recipes.

Don’t forget to try these 15 Healthy Skewer Recipes Perfect for Summer.

Summer Smoothies and Drinks

I can’t talk about healthy summer recipes without mentioning smoothies.

They’re cool, the quick, they’re easy. They can be a breakfast, lunch, snack, or even a delicious dessert. They’re versatile and a staple for hot summer recipes.

Make sure you check out the following smoothie round ups:

• 50 Best Spinach Smoothie Recipes
• 55 Smoothie Recipes with Vegetables

Summer Salads and Bowls

Hearty summer salads are my go-to in the summer. You can flavor them in so many ways (I love Mexican and southwest flavors). They don’t have to be just a bed of greens either: mix in rice or quinoa, create burrito bowls and make sure there’s a ton of leftovers for lunch.

Chicken salad or tuna salads are other popular go tos that take minimal effort.

Whether you are having a simple salad for a side dish you a massive bowl as a meal. They’re easy weeknight dinners that don’t take long to prepare.

Short on time and need a weeknight dinner recipe fast? Grab a bagged salad from the store and serve it with your protein of choice and you’re done.

Cold Soup Recipes

I get it, hot soup on a hot day? It doesn’t make a lot of sense. That’s why so many restaurants serve cold soups like gazpacho, cucumber soup, etc. Try making them at home with these recipes made with simple ingredients.

Summer Sides

I like to keep my sides simple during the summer. They’re typically a salad (see the salad section above) or a vegetable that’s grilled, raw fresh vegetables, or prepared without the oven.

Here are a few ideas:

• sweet corn (ps: here’s how to cook corn in the Instant Pot)
• green beans
• potatoes
• asparagus
• healthy greek pasta salad
• brown rice
• cherry tomatoes with a little olive oil, fresh basil, and balsamic

Summer Dessert Recipes

Let’s face it, any dessert is sure to be a crowd pleaser but here are a few options to keep you cool during the warm summer nights.