12 Oven-and-Stove-Free Sides That’ll Keep You Cool All Summer Long
When the summer heat is at its peak, the last thing you want to do is fire up the oven or stand over a hot stove. These 12 oven-and-stove-free side dishes are here to save the day—and your energy. From crisp salads to chilled dips and refreshing slaws, each recipe is bursting with flavor and takes minimal effort. Keep things cool, delicious, and totally fuss-free all season long!
Cold Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad
This Greek Tortellini Pasta Salad is easy and light with fresh vegetables. It’s the perfect summer side for grilling and potlucks.
Tuna Asparagus Salad with Microgreens
Take advantage of the Asparagus season with a cold tuna asparagus salad, microgreens, and lemon vinaigrette dressing.
Beet and Potato Salad from Ethiopia
This Beet and Potato Salad is a yummy side dish from Ethiopia. It is both vegetarian and vegan, is perfect for balancing out the spiciness of an Ethiopian meal, and can be served either warm or cold.
Old Fashioned Kidney Bean Salad
This super-easy Kidney Bean Salad is an updated riff on the beloved Bean Salad recipe served at the iconic Nick Anthe’s restaurant for more than 30 years. It’s uniquely delicious, but with no cooking and just a bit of quick chopping, it’s also ultra-fast. (Like, 7 minutes FAST!) And, since it uses just a few ingredients that are easy to keep on hand, it’s absolutely ideal for last-minute meal prep, or for cooking ahead for parties and potlucks!
Fresh Mango Salsa
This fresh mango salsa is an incredibly refreshing and delicious dish that can be enjoyed in so many different ways! Scoop it up with some chips, add it to tacos, or enjoy it by itself as a side dish! Just grab some fresh mangoes and veggies and you are ready to get started!
Quick & Easy Minted Pea Salsa or Salad
This simple and insanely quick minted pea salsa or salad is the epitome of summer flavours, garden peas, chilli, tomato, red onion and mint! There is no real cooking involved in this recipe, all you need to do is pour some boiling water over your frozen peas, then get to work chopping. You should be done in 15 minutes!
Summer Melon Salad
This summer Melon Salad is a delightful blend of juicy melons and fresh herbs! It’s quick, easy to make, and ideal for summer potlucks or BBQ burgers!
Cajun Coleslaw
Simultaneously tangy, sweet and over-the-top creamy, my Cajun coleslaw is a stand-out side dish for soooo many meals, y’all!! Salt, black pepper, and cayenne soften and season the store-bought slaw for quick post-prep serving times. And, the easy, no-cut coleslaw dressing whips up in just minutes. Then, you chill them both in the fridge separately so that they combine together into one ridiculously delicious, flavor-popping salad that’s ready in about one hour. Yep and yay…
Two Bean Mediterranean Salad
Mediterranean inspired bean salad with black beans, chickpeas, and fresh vegetables.
Cannellini Bean Salad
This protein-packed Cannellini Bean Salad requires no cooking, and uses pantry staples and fresh vegetables! An easy white bean salad recipe perfect for work lunches, afternoon snacks, or a great side dish.
Spinach Strawberry Champagne Salad
Spinach Strawberry Champagne Salad has fresh baby spinach, fresh sliced strawberries, crumbled blue cheese, and chopped walnuts with Trader Joe’s Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar.
Corn Salsa
This corn salsa is made with fresh or thawed, frozen corn, red onions, green chiles, jalapeños, in a cilantro lime dressing of sorts.
