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Wednesday, June 20, 2007 5:37 PM

No-cook meal ideas?

Q: We’re in the process of moving and clearing out our cupboards, and it’s been super hot. So I’m not really in the mood for cooking—much less shopping for tons of ingredients, or cleaning. Any ideas for a hot weather meal that requires little to no prep?

A: Besides ordering take-out from the local Chinese joint? Kidding. (Kind of.) I’ve moved more times than I care to remember, and when there are boxes piled up (or there’s a heat wave on) I’m a big believer in cheese and crackers for dinner—but fancy-ed up a little, like the French do, or the more rustic British Ploughman’s Lunch.

The best part is, you don’t have to touch your stove. Just grab your biggest wooden cutting board and a bottle of wine, and you’re halfway there. Dig up whatever bits and ends of cheese you have left in the refrigerator, including cream cheese. Round up a nice loaf of bread or crackers, then scrounge around for condiments. Mustard, chutney, pickles, olives, cocktail onions, pepper jelly—you probably have about 800 little jars, containers and bottles of condiments lining the door and shelves of your refrigerator, and you never realized how good they are schmeared on bread with cheese. Now’s you’re chance to get rid of them. Blue cheese is great with honey and most jams, including fig. Cheddar is awesome with chutney. Cream cheese is especially flexible, and works with just about any sweet, spicy or savory condiment. Add a hard, cured meats or a pate—including braunschweiger or liverwurst, a.k.a. the poor man’s pate—to the board. And, finally, throw down some raw fruits and vegetables—carrots, apples, celery, grapes, radishes (my current favorite), pears, cucumber.

It might not sound like a hearty meal for you and your DH, but this type of snibbly dinner has kept the peace in our house whenever it’s too hot to think, pack or cook.

My second runner up is this Veggie Clubhouse. I blend pesto into the cream cheese and add cold cuts or bacon if we’re feeling carnivorous.

What's your favorite no-cook meal?

Posted by Nest Colleen
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Comments

re: No-cook meal ideas?

I have long been gathering no-cook meal ideas.

Pizza (out of the box- like 5 bucks- which is cheaper than ordering one)

Pre-made hoagies at your local supermarket, and grab a bag of chips

Salads from a salad bar at your local food market

Soup always works- and you can throw it in the microwave....

My fiance' likes those Lipton noodle packs and makes them himself sometimes.

Crock-pot meals like Marie Callendars, if you have your crockpot out

Sometimes I declare "snack food" night and throw a bunch of munchies in the oven like mozzerella sticks, potato skins, chicken fingers/popcorn chicken, jalepeno poppers, wings

(Not ALL of these but 2 or 3 choices. Adds a fun new spin to dinner!)

Hope some of these help. =)

LL

Posted by Posted by LaraLadd    Monday, September 17, 2007 9:33 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

These sounds like great ideas for me, but I would love to see the the look on my husband's face when I told him we were having cheese and crackers for dinner. Definately would not fly.

Posted by Posted by StacyS444    Saturday, October 20, 2007 4:38 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

So in the freezer section they have these bags that have pasta, veggies, and meat in a type of sauce that you just throw in a bowl and microwave.  I know it's a little bit of cooking, but you really can't get easier than that AND it's filling (sometimes you are HUNGRY and cheese and crackers just don't cut it).  Stouffers and Birds Eye are just a couple of makers of these, check in the frozen veggie aisle!

Posted by Posted by meetmow    Saturday, November 10, 2007 10:51 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

It may be a little cooking, but throw a chicken breast on the george foreman, and whip up a salad. Toss together with some dressing and it is an easy and fast dinner!

Posted by Posted by 060708Bride    Thursday, December 13, 2007 6:00 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Flat bread pizza! For the vegetables, you can use a combination of broccoli, carrots, red onion, yellow summer squash, mushrooms, and bell peppers. Chop finely and toss vegetables with salt, pepper, olives and lemon peel. Spread garlic and herb or regular cream cheese over each flatbread and top with vegetable mixture. Add left over chicken if you have it! Sprinkle each with cheddar and havarti cheeses. Toast or eat cold. Yum!

Posted by Posted by Ashleighl    Saturday, December 22, 2007 5:36 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

tuna pasta salad. all the cooking you have to do is boiling the pasta.

other than that really any salad will do. they are quick and rel. low maintainance!

Posted by Posted by hisnhers    Tuesday, January 15, 2008 12:00 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Microwave mac-and-cheese. Sprinkling or shredding other types of cheese on it make it more interesting, and it's always a good fall-back that almost everyone likes. So are Spaghettios, when you get right down to it. If even the microwave isn't an option, we make cold sandwiches.

Posted by Posted by Koneko    Thursday, February 21, 2008 5:55 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

I tell ya girls, the George Foreman Grill is the best invention.  We also received a quesadillas maker for a wedding gift.  It's very simple, trust me, I'm no chief! Two flour tortillas, place one on the bottom of the machine, add some shredded cheese, and salsa (or whatever else you like),  place the other tortilla on top.  Close, ready is five minutes. Very easy clean up as well!!!!!  I also tend to save extra sauce we get from fast-food rest., so I use our left over Taco Bell sauce! :) I believe the brand is Santa Fe.

Posted by Posted by Jess61584    Thursday, May 08, 2008 12:43 PM


Making dinner when it’s too hot to cook?

There are days when turning on the stove, even to make a pot of coffee , makes me cringe. And as much

Posted by Posted by Dinner    Wednesday, June 11, 2008 10:44 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

COOK IN BULK!!  My husband and I are really working on eating healthier, on a night I DO feel like cooking I make a lot (fish, chicken, pasta dishes, etc.)  You can put most anything in air-tight containers for up to four days, or pre-portion stuff and freeze it--they make great microwave dinners!

Posted by Posted by breezybridemc    Wednesday, June 11, 2008 5:26 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

These are all great ideas, thanks for sharing them! I am a beginner (at all things that have to do with cooking) and the detailed recipes are a little overwhelming at times. It's nice to know that a Crockpot and George Foreman Grill are good additions to my kitchen. Thanks again!!

Posted by Posted by NWYogaGal    Monday, July 21, 2008 11:30 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Dice a ripe tomato or two, an onion & a green pepper.  Add a can of black beans and either a can of sweet corn or the equivalent in frozen corn.  Add chili powder, garlic powder, lime juice, pepper & soy sauce.  Toss to combine.  Makes a great side dish, but, it would do for dinner in a pinch.

Posted by Posted by belovedbright    Friday, July 25, 2008 12:58 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

I live in Phoenix and it is sometimes 110 degrees. I make taco salads when it is really hot. On top of lettuce I put rinsed beans, frozen, defrosted corn, and shredded cheese. Top it off with salsa and sour cream.

Posted by Posted by krystalgus    Tuesday, July 29, 2008 5:00 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

We'll do cheese and crackers and cold-cuts and hummus and my husband loves it - as long as I let him pick the ingredients!

Our usual would be (garlic or tomato basil) wheat thins, (garlic, plain, or sesame) bagel crisps, pepper-jack, sharp cheddar, honey ham, salami, and (roasted red pepper or garlic) hummus.

The trick is variety - and only picking one option in garlic. Works great with any types of cheese, meat, bread, and spread. For something a little heartier, get the meat cut extra thick, or dice a chunk into squares. Grab a loaf of fresh bread (something fun, not just a boring baguette) and get a spreadable cheese. It can actually be a bit pricey when go crazy in the fancy bread and cheese sections, but it's so much fun picking out the food and eating it with a bottle of wine.

Posted by Posted by Faerievert    Thursday, August 14, 2008 1:25 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

For a nice no cook meal, how about a tuna salad stuffed tomato served with some club crackers. The tuna salad can be as simple as drained flaked Albacore tuna Add a dollop of mayo,  some chopped onion and chopped pickles.  If you want to cut down on the chopping time, Pickle relish will substitute for the chopped pickles.

Posted by Posted by kybridalservice    Thursday, August 28, 2008 1:50 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

My mom actually suggested this, and my fiance and I have it all the time: You take your favorite frozen dinner of mac and cheese, (like lean cuisine) peel back the cover, add frozen peas, cook it according to package directions, add a half can of tuna and salsa. It ends up tasting like tuna noodle casserole. It's very comforting, and quite healthy, if you watch the sodium in the fro dinner.

Posted by Posted by rae.alyssa    Tuesday, September 23, 2008 4:46 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Omlettes (or a scrambled version like I made before I became adept at the art of omlette flipping) Just chop whatever veggies are leftover (really, anything) and mix with eggs. It is a little cooking but very minimal and very little clean-up too. Plus you are eating fresh veggies and quality protein.  French bread pizza is another; just buy a loaf of french bread. Cut it in half and then again long ways. Preheat your toaster oven to 400 (dig out or smush down the center of the bread to make a slight canoe shape) put pasta sauce (with a tad of sugar to make pizza sauce), veggies, lunchmeat, and cheese and cook for about 10 minutes. Both of these are minimal effort for real food. I still love the original suggestion of cheese and crackers. For those unbelieving husbands...what is a cheese and cracker with a bit of ham if not a tiny, crispy, sandwich?

Posted by Posted by BDZ    Saturday, October 25, 2008 11:00 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

I always keep a couple of those pre-cooked chicken pouches handy for the nights I don't feel like cooking.  My favorite.... spread a little pesto sauce from a jar onto a pita pocket or tortilla, add the chicken, some provalone cheese, chopped olives,tomatoes, and onions, whatever salad greens you have on hand, and sprinkle a little feta cheese on top and you've got an instant mediterranean-style wrap.  Delicioso!!

Posted by Posted by Chunk'sMom    Monday, November 03, 2008 4:57 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Greek Pitas. Get precooked chicken chunks (refrigerated) add some greek yogurt with chopped red onion and marjoram/rosemary, some sliced cucumber, chopped tomato and diced black olive. Put it all in a slit pita or flatwrap.

Posted by Posted by never4get2dream    Monday, December 22, 2008 9:58 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

When my husband & I don't feel like cooking, we pick up a routisserie chicken at the closest Wal-Mart, usually around $5, and get some sort of salad, some sort of pasta/potato salad, and some sort of bread like rolls or a flaky loaf of some variety. It makes for a very fast, easy, and cheap dinner that is cooked, but not by us and not heating up our house! Also, there are always leftovers for a picnic lunch the next day.

Also, a quick snack that is filling during those moving days when you don't have the time to stop and really cook or go out anywhere, get out your deli sliced ham (or favorite sandwich meat), baby spinach, favorite cheese, and favorite sauce (I like deli horseradish). Take the ham, put some sauce on it, add the cheese on top of that, then add the spinach and roll it up and stick it with a toothpick to hold it together. Super-easy and filling for when you don't have time for a meal! :)

Posted by Posted by Allison&Justin    Wednesday, December 24, 2008 12:54 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Rice paper rolls! You chop up whatever veggies or other ingredients that you would like and put it on the table. Rice paper are thin edible sheets of rice that are used in thai food.  You can put a plate of water to soak the rolls in, add veggies roll it up and eat! Its great with sweet and sour sauce and makes for a very romantic meal.

Posted by Posted by lgosyne    Saturday, January 24, 2009 6:25 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Take a tortilla  shell and spead on cream chz., sprinkle with shredded lettece and real bacon bits and roll.  These are very good quick snacks.

Posted by Posted by KnoxBride2b    Monday, January 26, 2009 10:43 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

my husband and i mix ramen noodles with almost anything. our favorite is chicken ramen, crushed and microwaved with 1 cup frozen veggies and half cup of water for 4 minutes, then add chicken (i use tyson grilled chicken strips.. precooked and frozen at your grocery store.) mix the seasoning packet with 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, mix into noodle mixture, and heat through. it takes 6 or 7 minutes total.

Posted by Posted by katiengarrett    Monday, March 16, 2009 9:22 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

trader joes frozen burritos and quesadillas!  take about 5 minutes to heat up in the microwave

Posted by Posted by NJMD    Wednesday, March 18, 2009 10:01 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

I can't remember the name but my daughter and I make these on movie nights or when I just don't feel like cooking.. you can use a baggette sliced thin or just regular bread, toated and cut into fourths (I use the bigger bread slices) add a little mayo, some ham lunchmeat, either prepackaged or from the deli, then slice a tomato and cut each slice into fourths, add that to the top and enjoy!

Posted by Posted by Megs5384    Wednesday, March 25, 2009 7:50 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Salami, french onion chip dip and pringles...sounds crazy but it's REALLY good! Just spread the french onion chip dip onto a piece of salami, then crunch up a couple of pringles  then roll up and eat. YUM:)

Posted by Posted by ashbride12    Sunday, April 12, 2009 10:57 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

No-cook nights, especially on those hot summer nights, scream caprese salad to me. My five minute version: slice a package of fresh mozzarella and a few vine ripe tomatoes, layer them on a serving plate, and sprinkle with fresh chopped basil and a mix of extra virgin olive oil and balsalmic vinegar. Serve with a nice, flaky bread chunks or Rosemary and Olive Triscuits. Heaven.

Posted by Posted by happybell    Monday, April 13, 2009 12:17 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Definitely my favorite no cook meal is ceviche! I buy precooked shrimp...add the sauces and cut up an avocado and serve with bread or store bought tostada shells! Whats better than shrimp, lemon, tomato garlic and avocado!

Posted by Posted by ashgwilliamson    Sunday, May 03, 2009 5:28 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Cucumber salad is a favorite in our house.  Thinly slice your cukes (I peel strips off so you have the skin and flesh on the edge of your slices).  Add thin sliced white onion, cider vinegar, olive oil, sugar, salt and pepper.  I eyeball the ratios, but if you use two good sized cukes you want to add about 2tbsp of vinegar and a couple swirls of EVOO, 2tp sugar and salt pepper to taste.  Great as a side and leftovers can be used for cucumber sandwiches.

Posted by Posted by sarahs729    Monday, May 04, 2009 3:29 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

If it were just me, I'd eat a sharp cheddar and baguette with French cornichons every night of the week, but my husband doesn't take very kindly to this idea! In a pinch, I make those new pre-cooked meat dishes that are in the meat section at the grocery . They are actually really good and relatively cheap, they include meat with some sort of sauce and no preservatives, which is important to me. Although the salt content is sometimes high. They take 5-7 minutes in the microwave. A bit of rice and steamed broccoli and you've got a meal that a man will also consider dinner in about 10 minutes!

Posted by Posted by Azalea09    Monday, May 04, 2009 7:31 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Head to an upscale grocery store like Whole Foods, Rice Epicurean(or for Texans Central Market), grab a baguette or some crusty sourdough, a soft cheese (my new favorite is a triple cream goat brie), a hard cheese (English cheddar works well or you could just get swiss for a compromise), some flavorful meat (anything pastrami seasoned works great and with the hard cheese and bread you can make a simple sandwich), munchies from the olive bar, a bottle of wine and an exotic sounding gelato (if you run into sea salt caramel buy it, you will not regret it).  You can sit in front of a good movie and have a fantastic meal sans waiter.

Posted by Posted by sabrothe    Friday, May 29, 2009 12:49 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Couscous... Just add hot water, a bit of olive oil and mint and a few veggies.

Posted by Posted by Cdn_Gal    Monday, June 22, 2009 2:03 PM


mini pizzas

You can make super easy mini pizzas like this: open a can of tomato paste, add garlic powder and/or salt if you like (or just use it plain), and spread it on ritz crackers.  Sprinkle some mozzarella cheese on top.  So easy, and SO good!  If you feel like melting the cheese you can put them in the microwave for 10 seconds.

Then for a filling and healthy non-cook dessert, slice up some bananas and put a little dab of peanut butter on each.  And if you're feeling especially indulgent you can sprinkle honey or hot cocoa mix on top.

Posted by Posted by doctorca    Wednesday, June 24, 2009 10:37 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Low carb pizza roll-ups: Lay low carb tortilla on a round plate big enough for the circumference of the tortilla, spread a little marinara/pizza/spaghetti sauce on the bottom, top with shredded cheese, pepperoni and veggies (whatever you want), roll it up and nuke it. You could also throw into the toaster oven for about 5-10 minutes, depending on desired doneness...it will come out hot and crispy and gooey, and the toaster oven will not heat up your house! These wraps are also good for making breakfast wraps, tuna wraps, fajitas with some grocery store rotisserie chicken, or veggies and hummus. Serve with raw veggies or a nice salad and some wine. Enjoy!

Posted by Posted by OMGimaMRS    Tuesday, July 14, 2009 8:19 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Oh yeah, you can also make quesadillas using either the microwave or toaster oven. Either one works!

Posted by Posted by OMGimaMRS    Tuesday, July 14, 2009 8:20 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

When I was a kid my mom was queen of  no cook to little cooking. One of my favorites is tuna salad, not what most people think. You do have to cook shell pasta or something like that then chill and add a couple cans of tuna, mayo, mustard, one onion, and some celery (when I really not in the mood to do any prep work, I pick chopped onion, and celery at the salad bar in my grocery store) pickles and a can of whole black olives, a dash or two of Tabasco  and salt and pepper. Make early in the morning, stick in the fridge. Take out when every to much on and for dinner add a loaf of bread

Posted by Posted by sbsmtih13    Friday, July 17, 2009 9:24 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

Easy summer caprese salad. Slice a tomatoe or two (however many you feel like) and salt both sides, slice a handfull of fresh basil, one mozzarella ball (about the size of a baseball in the good cheese section usually at most stores) sliced into chunks throw in a bowl and toss. the more tomatoe juice you get on the mozzarella the better. Then if you want you can add a little balsamic vinegar, although I like it without. Great for summer when it is too hot to turn the oven or the grill on...

Posted by Posted by lsonger    Wednesday, August 12, 2009 5:11 PM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

This does involve some cooking, but is so simple and delicious - Go to grocery store and buy a rotisserie chicken. Shred it up and mix it in a large bowl with cream of chicken soup, and several different types of canned veggies of your choice (peas, carrots, beans, etc.) On the bottom of a 9X9 pan, put a rolled out puff pastry or pie crust (pre made of course). Add the filling from the bowl on top of that and then another rolled out puff pastry on the top. Put in oven @ 350 for 45 minutes and you've got yourself a delicious pot pie that people will think you spent hours on! Great for a chilly night.

Posted by Posted by Jessabug    Friday, October 02, 2009 10:43 AM


re: No-cook meal ideas?

I always keep a frozen bag of perogies in my freezer just incase we get stuck without a plan.  They're easy to make (boil from frozen and then fry them in a tbs of oil, salt, pepper and some bacon bits...and serve them with quick toss salad.

Posted by Posted by Sabrina121    Thursday, October 22, 2009 11:32 AM


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