August 11, 2025
No-Cook, All-Cool: Delicious Summer Salads to Beat the Heat
When the temperatures rise, oven-free meals are a must—and salads are the perfect solution. Using an assortment of fresh, frozen, and refrigerated dairy foods, you can create easy, flavorful summer salads 
that are as satisfying as they are refreshing.
From protein-packed cheese and yogurt-based dressings to colorful frozen veggies and seasonal produce, these ingredients make it simple to toss together nutrient-rich meals without turning on the stove. Whether you’re prepping lunch, dinner, or a dish to share at a summer gathering, these 10 cool, convenient salads help you beat the heat while serving up big taste.
1. Baby Greens and Berry Salad
A simple sour cream-based dressing with poppy seeds tops this colorful green salad with fresh berries and sweetened almonds. Add some thawed frozen chicken strips to add protein and serve with a whole grain bakery baguette.
2. Tex Mex Salad with Beans & Frozen Corn
Top shredded lettuce with black beans, thawed frozen corn, cherry tomatoes, and shredded cheddar. Top with a dollop of sour cream or a yogurt-based dressing. Serve with corn tortilla chips.
3. Mediterranean Tortellini Salad
Cook and chill frozen cheese tortellini and combine with tomatoes, cucumber, bell pepper, onion, olives, and feta cheese. Drizzle with a simple tangy dressing. This salad is perfect to take to your next summer event.
This quick, 30-minute recipe is a nutritious way to clean out your freezer and use some fresh summer produce! Just thaw, chop, and serve—perfect with leftover chicken or steak for busy summer nights. Add a cool dessert of frozen fruit or yogurt bars.
5. Frozen Veggie Power Bowl with Cottage Cheese
Warm a mix of frozen broccoli, edamame, and bell peppers, then cool slightly and serve over quinoa or greens. Top with a generous scoop of cottage cheese and a drizzle of dressing.
6. Summer Grilled Pierogy Bowls
This Summer Grilled Pierogy Bowl is an easy, flavor-packed dish featuring crispy pierogies over fresh greens, topped with fresh peaches, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. And it’s Dietitian approved!
7. Party Perfect Stacked Salad
With a handful of supermarket shortcuts from the freezer and dairy aisle, you can quickly create this colorful, fresh-tasting stacked salad in just minutes. Makes a delicious “beat the heat” family meal or the perfect addition to your next warm weather pot luck.
8. Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad
Mix shredded rotisserie chicken with Greek yogurt, lemon, cucumbers, and dill. Serve in romaine lettuce cup, over greens with feta, or in pita pockets.
This light and flavorful shrimp salad recipe will satisfy your seafood craving! This shrimp salad makes a refreshing summer meal and is packed with tender shrimp, a creamy dressing, and crisp, fresh ingredients. Serve with fresh melon slices and frozen yogurt cones for dessert.
10. Cobb-Inspired Salad with Blue Cheese & Hard-Boiled Eggs
Top chopped romaine with thawed frozen chicken strips, avocado, crumbled blue cheese, cherry tomatoes, and hard-boiled eggs (pre-cooked from the refrigerated section).
Craving a cool-down? Discover more refreshing recipes and time-saving kitchen hacks on the recipes page of Easy Home Meals — your go-to hub for beating the heat in the tastiest way!
About the Author: Shari Steinbach, MS RDN
Shari is a nationally recognized food and nutrition consultant with over 25 years of experience as a health professional with two major supermarket chains in the Midwest. She specializes in crafting unique programs for her clients that provide meaningful nutrition and meal planning solutions for today’s consumers. Shari holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dietetics from Central Michigan University and a Master of Science Degree in Human Nutrition from Andrews University in Michigan.
