14 No-Cook Summer Meals That Lean Into Lazy

We all the know the feeling: it’s been a long day, the summer heat is getting to you, and the very last thing you can imagine is cranking up the oven or hovering over the stove to make a meal. You want something cool, light, and refreshing, and most important of all, quick and easy to make.

I’ve been there too many times to count, especially in the height of a Berlin summer with no air conditioning and full sun streaming into my south-facing windows. When the heat is just too much to bear, the recipes below let me lean into lazy.

Whether you’re looking for a cool drink, sweet treat, main dish salad or sandwich, or side-slash-snack, there’s something here to fit the bill. Plus, many of these are great to prep ahead—so make a bigger batch and store the leftovers in the fridge for tomorrow.