23 No-Cook Recipes To Cook In A Heatwave
These are the 23 minimal-heat dishes we swear by when we want quick and easy food without even thinking about touching the stove.
Summer Picnic Sandwich
Take the picnic indoors — at least until the weather is in the 80s again. The sandwich will still taste just as delicious!Recipe: Summer Picnic Sandwich
Southwestern Salad with Avocado Dressing
Chop some veggies, drain and rinse some canned black beans and corn, and you've got a filling and good-for-you dinner (that's excellent for meal prep, too).Recipe: Southwestern Salad with Avocado Dressing
Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps
If you, like me, always have leftover chicken in the fridge, these no-cook lettuce wraps come together in minutes. If you don't, opt for rotisserie chicken!Recipe: Teriyaki Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Chickpea Salad Sandwich
You may never go back to chicken (or tuna) salad again after trying this chickpea salad, packed with all the flavor and none of the meat.Recipe: Chickpea Salad Sandwich
Chicken Ranch Wrap
Cool, zesty ranch dressing makes this simple but delicious chicken wrap the perfect lunch during triple-digit days.Recipe: Chicken Ranch Wrap
Avocado Chickpea Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette
Do yourself a favor and make a double batch of this vinaigrette; post-heatwave-you will be thankful you did.Recipe: Avocado Chickpea Salad with Chili Lime Vinaigrette
Healthy Homemade Gazpacho
Don't ever let anyone tell you that gazpacho isn't a complete meal.Recipe: Healthy Homemade Gazpacho
Smoked Salmon Toast
Hot take incoming: Avocado toast could NEVER.Recipe: Smoked Salmon Toast
Hey, you! Want to get super specific with your recipe search? Download the free Tasty app right now to search for the exact recipe you're after.
Microwaved Egg Breakfast Sandwich
Believe it or not, this entire breakfast sandwich comes together in Chef Mic, which means you won't heat your kitchen up a single degree making it.Recipe: Microwaved Egg Breakfast Sandwich
Easy Shrimp Ceviche
Despite feeling fancy, shrimp ceviche is the perfect foray into the magical world of ceviche — aka "cooking" your seafood with a bright, citrusy vinaigrette.Recipe: Easy Shrimp Ceviche
Grilled Corn Summer Pasta Salad
We don't really count grilling as cooking in the summer, right? Recipe: Grilled Corn Summer Pasta Salad
Microwaved Caprese Pita Pizza
Tortilla and pita "pizzas" are one of my favorite emergency meals, and this hot weather-friendly version packs a ton of summery goodness into every milky, cheesy bite.Recipe: Microwaved Caprese Pita Pizza
Middle Eastern Pita Salad
It's fresh, it's tangy, and it's the perfect salad to make tonight and enjoy until the weather finally cools down.Recipe: Middle Eastern Pita Salad
2-Minute Vegetable Dumplings
This recipe is the reason you should always keep store-bought dumpling or wonton wrappers in the fridge.Recipe: 2-Minute Vegetable Dumplings
Lomi Lomi Salmon Poke Bowl
If raw salmon at home isn't for you, replace it with any protein of your choosing: flaky cooked salmon, tofu, or even smoked salmon (we won't tell!) would all be delish.Recipe: Lomi Lomi Salmon Poke Bowl
Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce
With minimal cooking and minimal ingredients — only 5! — this recipe is all about doing less. And when it's hot out, we love that.Recipe: Zucchini Noodles with Spicy Peanut Sauce
Microwave BBQ Chicken Nachos
Let's be real: Microwave nachos taste just as good as the real deal. And if you disagree with me...I'd like to have a word.Recipe: Microwave BBQ Chicken Nachos
Buffalo Chicken Toaster Quesadilla
Using this genius folding technique, you can make a legit quesadilla in your toaster without any melty, cheesy mess.Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Toaster Quesadilla
Berry Smoothie Bowl
When stepping outside makes you feel like you've entered through the gates of hell, nothing tastes better than a cooling smoothie bowl — morning, noon, or night.Recipe: Berry Smoothie Bowl
Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wrap
Helpful shortcut: Use store-bought ranch and rotisserie chicken.Recipe: Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wrap
Crunchy Avocado Tuna Wraps
Hint-hint: If you're not a canned tuna person, canned salmon makes an excellent substitute.Recipe: Crunchy Avocado Tuna Wraps
Grinder Salad Jar
Whether you call it an Italian grinder, hoagie, or sub, this meal prep wonder gives you all the flavors you know and love without having to step out into the sweltering heat to get one.Recipe: Grinder Salad Jar
Summer Panzanella
Plenty of fresh, juicy tomatoes and crusty bread will help you feel like you're in a breezy, late-summer climate, even if the heat is raging just outside your window.Recipe: Summer Panzanella
What's your go-to recipe when the weather is unbearably hot? Tell me about it in the comments below. And for even more really good meal recommendations, download the free Tasty app to access 7,500+ recipes — no subscription required.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Buzz Feed
Cynthia Nixon's Go-To Lunch: Worth The Hype?
And just like that… And Just Like That is ending. After three seasons, showrunner Michael Patrick King and star Sarah Jessica Parker have announced that the Sex and the City revival is coming to a close. Obviously, Sex and the City has had a major cultural impact. And its impact on food is no exception. The original series helped popularize multiple New York establishments, like Magnolia Bakery. And while not directly SATC-related, Cynthia Nixon had her own moment of food virality when she revealed her go-to bagel order while running for New York Governor. Recently, during press for this last season of And Just Like That, Cynthia gave more insight into her favorite foods, revealing the healthy lunch she's been eating for years. In a cast interview with SiriusXM, Andy Cohen brought up a story Sarah Jessica Parker had previously told about Cynthia Nixon bringing Tupperware with her everywhere. Cynthia confirmed, saying she'd brought it to the dressing room that day, with Kristin Davis piping in that Cynthia had even brought Tupperware to Morocco — presumably referencing when the cast filmed Sex and the City 2 in Marrakech. So, what's in this famous Tupperware? 'I have the same lunch every day unless I go out,' Cynthia explained. 'I have kale, quinoa, curried chickpeas, sweet potato, avocado, red pickled onions, and hot sauce.' The lunch honestly sounded delicious, so I had to give it a try. Psst: To prep hundreds of easy lunches right on your phone, download the free Tasty app right now. The first thing I did was gather my main ingredients. The recipe involves a lot of prep, so I had my work set out for me. I know my avocado looks green. Everything is going to be okay, guys, I promise. To save myself some time, I opted to buy the chickpeas from the store. I couldn't find pre-made curried chickpeas, but I did find Moroccan chickpea stew from the brand Mina at Whole Foods, which had similar ingredients to the recipes I looked at for homemade curried that, I was on my own. The specifics of Cynthia's lunch were vague. How much of each ingredient does she use? How are they prepared? Needless to say, I had to freestyle a bit. I started by prepping the sweet potatoes and red onions; I chopped the sweet potatoes into small chunks and thinly sliced the red onion. I roasted the sweet potatoes at 400°F for about 30 minutes with olive oil and salt. Onto the pickled red onions: I combined boiling water and granulated sugar in a bowl, mixing until the sugar dissolved completely. Next, I added red wine vinegar, the sliced red onion, and salt. I then put this mixture in the fridge to pickle for a few hours. Next up, it was time to deal with the kale. Recipes with kale in them can sometimes turn people off. The key is to massage the raw kale with olive oil until it's reduced in size by about half. This makes the kale softer and easier to eat. During this time, I also made plain quinoa over the stove, following package instructions. Finally, it was time to put everything together! I had to trust my gut with assembly. Was this supposed to be more like a salad (more kale than quinoa) or a bowl (more quinoa than kale)? I decided to make it more like a salad, mixing the kale with about half the amount of quinoa. From there, I loaded everything else on: the sweet potatoes, sliced avocado, chickpeas, and pickled red onions. I finished with a few dashes of hot sauce. So, did Cynthia recover from Bagel Gate? To quote Berger (Post-It Guy) from SATC… 'I'm sorry. I can't. Don't hate me.' This lunch had the potential to be great. I love pickled red onions, and the acidity mingled well with the hearty, roasted sweet potato and creamy avocado. However, the curried chickpeas totally threw off the flavor profile of everything else in the bowl. The cumin flavor was overwhelming amidst the vibe of the rest of the ingredients. It especially clashed with the hot sauce. Though both were spicy, they tasted completely different. I'm guessing Cynthia must be a spice queen, which is why both are included. That being said, it was a nice, hearty lunch. While I didn't give myself a big portion, I could see this lunch getting Cynthia through long filming days if she was loading a substantial amount of it into her Tupperware. If I were to make this lunch in the future, I'd sub the spiced chickpeas with roasted or even plain, canned chickpeas. I'd also add feta to go with the sweet potatoes. Finally, I'd omit the hot sauce and top the salad with green goddess dressing. On to the next celebrity lunch! Hungry for more? Download the free Tasty app to explore our library of hundreds of easy lunches you can prep with minimal effort — no subscription required!
Buzz Feed
5 days ago
- Buzz Feed
Dietitian-Approved Viral TikTok Salad Worth The Hype
If you've been on social media over the past year, chances are you've heard of the Dense Bean Salad. While not a new concept, it was popularized on TikTok this past year by creator Violet Witchel. Violet's first Dense Bean Salad on TikTok — a Sundried Tomato Dense Bean Salad — amassed 12.6 million views. That's a lot of beans! I think most of us can agree that if eating healthier were easy, delicious, AND budget-friendly, we'd all put down the takeout menu and eat homemade a little more often. Lucky for us, this trend gave us the idea and inspiration for a simple way to eat better! Not only that, but it gives us flexibility and room to get creative, customize, and try something new. The parameters of a dense bean salad are: 1. It should be bean-focused2. It is high in protein3. Pairs well with a vinaigrette4. No lettuce in sight5. Prep-ahead friendlyViolet has a simple checklist for her salads: vinegar-based dressing, herbs, two kinds of beans, crunchy veg, cheese, soft veg, and a "pickled bit." Psst: To cook thousands of recipes in step-by-step mode right on your phone, download the free Tasty app right now. As a dietitian, I can usually get behind something that gets people to eat more beans, whether it's adding canned beans to your soup, chickpeas to your brownies, or lentils to your muffins (really!). There are infinite ways to get your bean on. I always have canned beans in the pantry, from chickpeas to my personal favorite, the white bean. Sure, dried beans are even cheaper, BUT I never remember to soak them and cook them the night before. I mean... come on, I can barely remember the last time I changed my bed sheets. Here's why I'm obsessed with beans: Sure, they may get a bad rap, but beans are pretty great. If you've ever heard the tune "beans, beans, the magical fruit, the more you eat the more you..." — you'll understand why some people are hesitant to eat them regularly. Beans are a good source of protein and fiber (both of which keep you feeling full), and are great for your heart health, blood sugar regulation, and digestion. They are also a good source of nutrients like iron, magnesium, and zinc, as well as prebiotics... aka fiber that feeds your gut bacteria. A healthy gut means a healthy you! As a dietitian, I see people who are looking for make-ahead meals that get better with time... not ones that lose their appeal after 24 hours. Not only that, but if you are taking your lunch on the go, you may not have access to a microwave, so a meal that is ready to go right out of the fridge or lunch box is key. Building our lunches around this healthy source of protein is a no-brainer. Including protein at meals can help sustain energy (so you don't have that dreaded afternoon slump come 4 p.m.), keep us feeling full, and help with muscle maintenance. There have even been studies that suggest that having protein at lunch can help your brain function throughout the day. When it comes to protein, you don't have to gnaw on a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store — you can get your protein AND fiber in one convenient bean-shaped package. Having a prepared lunch can not only help you stay on track with your wellness goals, but it's good for your wallet, too! Canned beans are an affordable protein source, making these salads budget-friendly. I love using them as a way to use up some of the random veggies I have in the fridge, from half-eaten bell peppers to that quarter red onion you've been ignoring on your shelf. If you're like me, you'll get bored with your lunch after a couple of days, which is why I love how customizable these can be. Here are some of my favorite ways to hop on this trend: 1. White beans, chickpeas, chopped celery, carrots, green onion, cilantro, buffalo sauce, and blue cheese2. Chickpeas, black beans, canned artichokes, tomatoes, cucumbers, kalamata olives, feta cheese, oregano, parsley, Greek binaigrette3. Edamame (soybeans), chickpeas, salsa, corn, radishes, red onion, cherry tomatoes, cheese, grilled chicken, and chipotle vinaigrette. So go ahead: Buy those beans and BYODBS to work today. (That's Bring Your Own Dense Bean Salad, for those who aren't paying attention.) Get Express Delivery on your Walmart orders (including groceries) to be delivered in as fast as one hour — use promo code EXPRESS to get your first Express Delivery free. For hundreds of budget- and meal prep-friendly recipes, download the free Tasty app to see what people are cooking — no subscription required!
Buzz Feed
30-07-2025
- Buzz Feed
Best Pistachio Butters: Walmart Vs. Premium Spread
Pistachio butter is having its moment in the culinary spotlight. It's rich, nutty, and has been popping up everywhere lately, from gourmet grocery stores to TikTok. I'm a devout pistachio fan, but some of the jars I've seen online go for $15 or more, which feels a little wild for something I'm spreading on my morning toast. So, I was curious when I spotted Bettergoods Pistachio Butter at Walmart for around $6. It's part of their new private label line aimed at trendier, premium-style ingredients but with budget-friendly prices. To see how it stacks up, I tried it side by side with a jar of Il Colle Del Gusto Pistachio Spread, which goes for close to $17. I tasted both straight from the spoon and on a mini croissant from Trader Joe's. While they're both pistachio-forward, they turned out to be totally different in style, which surprised me more than I expected. Here's a quick ingredient breakdown for each pistachio butter:Walmart — pistachio, sugar, vegetable oils and fats (sunflower oil, coconut fat, cocoa fat), nonfat dry milk, whey, sunflower lecithin, extra virgin olive oil, natural and artificial flavoringIl Colle Del Gusto — Sicilian pistachios, sugar, extra virgin olive oil, rice flour, sunflower lecithin as emulsifier First up: Walmart Bettergoods Pistachio Butter Price: Around $5 (check your local store)Size: 6.7 ounces The texture instantly stood out. It's fluffy and semi-whipped, almost like pistachio frosting. It spreads beautifully, holds its shape, and could easily go in a piping bag. (Think: soft holiday sugar cookies à la Lofthouse style.) It would also be delightful to spread on top of brownies, too. Flavor-wise, it's on the sweeter side (there are 16 grams of sugar per 34-gram serving), and there's a faint aftertaste that feels a little artificial. The ingredients list confirms it includes artificial flavoring, which makes it seem less 'pure' than the others. It's still tasty, it just doesn't necessarily scream 'pure pistachio.' But if you're into dessert-y spreads and don't mind the artificial add-ins, this one delivers as a playful, budget-friendly option. Here are my final thoughts: Want to cook recipes in step-by-step mode right from your phone? Download the free Tasty app right now. Next up: Il Colle Del Gusto Pistachio Spread Price: Around $17Size: 8.1 ounces Il Colle Del Gusto is on the other end of the texture spectrum. It has a visible layer of extra-virgin olive oil on top when you first open the jar, so a good stir is required. Once mixed, though, it becomes smooth and drizzly, much more like a traditional nut butter. The flavor is richer and more pistachio-forward, a bit less sweet (this one has 38 grams of sugar per 100-gram serving, so less than Walmart's) and more roasty and earthy. It felt closer to what I'd expect if I ground up pistachios myself. It's not a candidate for piping, and it might run off your toast if you're not careful, but I could see it working really well in smoothies or drizzled over gelato. One review said they used it as a cheesecake glaze, and another said they blend it into their espresso, both of which sound sublime. Here are my final thoughts: So, which pistachio butter is the winner? Honestly, it depends on what you're using it for. Want something spreadable for holiday baking or dessert-style snacking? Walmart's Bettergoods version is the way to go. The whipped texture is playful, though I could do without the overly sweet flavor and subtle artificial aftertaste. If you're after a pure, more pistachio-forward bite, I'd lean toward the Il Colle Del Gusto Pistachio Spread jar, even if it takes some extra stirring to get there. That said, both versions contain a bit more added sugar than I'd prefer, and as a big pistachio fan, I'm still holding out for a jar that lets the natural flavor of the nut really shine. If you're not quite as nutty for pistachios as I am, you'll probably enjoy either one (and might even prefer the sweeter, more budget-friendly option). At this point, the next logical step feels like making my own homemade batch for a comparison. Have you tried making your own? If you have any tips, send 'em my way before I dive in! For more pistachio-forward desserts, dinners, and more, download the free Tasty app to browse and save our favorite recipes — no subscription required.
