50 Cold Lunch Ideas To Get You Through Hot Summers
Whether you’re poolside, headed to a barbecue, or enjoying some hard earned down time this summer, you’ll need something refreshing and delicious for lunch. I’ve put together a list of 50 incredible ideas to get you started. We’ve got sandwiches, wraps, salads, dips (because you can have dips for lunch, obv), and more!
Keep in mind that this list does contain recipes with cooked components, but ultimately, all of these recipes work best when you don’t reheat them, making them perfect for summer months! For example, my favorite classic pasta salad and the very best chicken salad sandwich you’ll ever eat!
Let me know if you try and enjoy any of the recipes below.
Crunchy and Colorful Asian-Style Ramen Noodle Salad
This addictive ramen noodle salad contains: toasted ramen noodles, crisp veggies, and tangy sesame dressing. It's perfect for potlucks, picnics, and meal prep.
The Very Best Classic Chicken Salad Sandwich
This classic chicken salad sandwich recipe is creamy, flavorful, and easy to make with chicken, celery, red onion, and a simple homemade dressing.
Italian Pasta Salad with Lemon Olive Oil Dressing (Vegan)
Zesty, fresh, and packed with flavor, this Italian pasta salad is your new go-to for summer BBQs, pool days, picnics, and potlucks.
Easy Ceviche Recipe
This easy Ceviche Recipe has the best flavor! Simple ingredients made with fresh fish, tomatoes, cucumber, avocado and lime juice.
Easy Christmas Appetizer: Tortellini Caprese Skewers
Looking for the easiest Christmas appetizer ever? These Tortellini Caprese skewers are fresh, Christmassy, delicious, and require zero cooking time (other than boiling the tortellini), making them a stress-free option for any occasion. With vibrant colors and an incredible dressing, these skewers are as beautiful as they are tasty!
Pearl Couscous Salad with Feta & Chickpeas
Nothing beats the flavors of the Mediterranean: briny Kalamata olives, Persian cucumbers, hearty chickpeas, Feta, Balsamic marinated red…
Tabouli Salad Recipe (Tabbouleh) | The Mediterranean Dish
Traditional tabouli salad recipe with parsley, mint, bulgur wheat, finely chopped vegetables and a zesty dressing. Full tutorial and video!
Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad
One of the most popular recipes on this site: Mexican Street Corn Pasta salad! Tender pasta, charred corn, & the best chili-lime dressing!
Green Goddess Sandwich Recipe – Tasting Table
Fresh, vibrant green goddess sauce is a quick and easy way to brighten up your everyday sandwich.
Caprese Melon Salad with Prosciutto and Mozzarella
The perfect summer melon salad for any barbecue, potluck, or pool party. Pair this melon prosciutto salad with grilled fish on the side or enjoy as a main dish
Vietnamese Rice Paper Rolls
Fresh and healthy Vietnamese rice paper spring rolls with an amazing peanut sauce. Plus TWO secret tips to make it super easy to roll them up neatly!
Sesame Noodle Salad – Fresh + Light + Veggie-Packed
Sesame Noodle Salad is fresh, light, and packed with fresh vegetables. Serve as a tasty side dish or enjoy these cold noodles on their own!
Best Deviled Eggs Recipe Ever
Get ready to make the Best Deviled Eggs! This classic deviled egg recipe is so darn delicious, they won’t last long at your next picnic or potluck!
Roasted Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls with Chili Lime Dressing (Video)
Sweet Potato and Black Bean Quinoa Bowls are bursting with flavor and texture, they’re perfect for meal prep or a quick, healthy dinner. With roasted sweet potatoes, hearty black beans, sweet corn, and quinoa, all topped with a zesty chili lime dressing, this dish bound to be part of your regular rotation.
Pressed Italian Picnic Sandwiches – Seasons and Suppers
Perfect picnic sandwiches, these Pressed Italian Picnic Sandwiches are great for Summer eating, whether a BBQ or a picnic.
Cobb Pasta Salad Recipe
It’s the classic Cobb Salad turned up a notch! This Cobb Pasta Salad features perfectly cooked pasta, crisp bacon, ripe tomatoes, cubed chicken, chopped eggs, creamy avocado, and blue cheese dressing. Delish!
Korean Cucumber Salad
This spicy Korean Cucumber Salad (Oi Muchim) is crunchy, cool, and refreshing. An easy-to-make Korean side dish! Vegan and easy.
California Turkey Club Wrap (Easy + Healthy Lunch!)
This easy turkey wrap with bacon, avocado, and fresh veggies is perfect for meal prep, quick lunches, or a healthy grab-and-go dinner.
Italian Chicken Wrap
This Italian chicken wrap is stuffed with the most flavorful ingredients like roasted red peppers, arugula, kalamata olives, tomatoes, and provolone cheese, and is such a delicious, easy lunch. This recipe is brought to you
Cucumber Sandwiches
Cucumber Sandwiches are a made with layers of thin cucumbers and fresh herbed cream cheese sandwiched in soft bread and cut into bite sized pieces.
Southwest Chicken Salad
Southwest Chicken Salad is a tasty meal prep lunch that’s high in protein and fibre. Top with avocado and eat with tortilla chips!
Simple Bruschetta Salad | Laura Fuentes
Easy to make, delish to eat!
Sweet Potato Sushi Roll
This vegetarian sweet potato sushi roll recipe is so easy and delicious! Filled with sushi rice, roasted sweet potatoes, rolled in a nori seaweed wrap and drizzled with a creamy spicy Sriracha mayo dressing, this is the perfect snack, lunch or easy dinner! I have a confession. I absolutely love Japanese sushi rolls, sashimi and pretty much all Asian food! Vegetable Sushi probably ranks in my top 10 favorite foods, along with Salmon Tataki and Yellowtail Sashimi. Making sushi rolls at home may seem difficult, but it is actually surprisingly easy! Pretty much after the sushi roll, you will be
BLT Sandwich with the Best Sauce (VIDEO)
The ultimate BLT Sandwich with toasted bread, crisp bacon, tomato, avocado, and a 3-ingredient sauce for the best BLT recipe you’ll try.
Italian Grinder Salad (Chopped Sub Salad) – Wellness by Kay
Italian Chopped Grinder Salad is a low carb version of the TikTok viral grinder sandwich! Creamy, crunchy, tangy, and delicious.
Cream Cheese Stuffed Mini Peppers Recipe
Looking for a quick, colorful, and crowd-pleasing appetizer? These Stuffed Mini Peppers are the perfect bite-sized snack! With a creamy, cheesy filling and a sprinkle of Everything Bagel seasoning, they’re loaded with flavor and crunch! Best of all, they take just 15 minutes to make, making them an easy option for parties, game day, or even a fun afternoon snack.
30-Minute Chicken Lettuce Wraps (PF Chang’s Copycat)
Chicken Lettuce Wraps are a quick and easy recipe the whole family will love! A super tasty dinner idea that's on the table in less than 30 minutes! Better than PF Chang's!
Easy, Peanut Chicken Wraps (Dairy Free) – Simply Whisked
These easy, peanut chicken wraps are made with soft tortillas filled with chicken and coleslaw with a flavorful homemade peanut sauce.
Easy Chicken Caesar Wrap (15-Minute Lunch Idea!)
Quick, easy, and packed with flavor, this Chicken Caesar Wrap is ready in just 15 minutes! Perfect for busy lunches or light dinners, made with cooked chicken, crisp romaine, parmesan, creamy Caesar dressing, and a soft tortilla.
Mom’s Hawaiian Mac Salad (25-Minute Macaroni Salad)
Cooked pasta is folded into a creamy mayonnaise, grated carrot, and fragrant spices in my family’s recipe for iconic Hawaiian macaroni salad!
BEST Tuna Salad Recipe – Easy & Healthy – Downshiftology
Tuna salad is the perfect meal when you’re craving something light and healthy. This version is extra delicious and made in 15 minutes!
The Watermelon Feta Salad I Make All Summer Long
Fresh, sweet, and salty—this easy Watermelon Feta Salad is my go-to summer side ☀️ Perfect for BBQs, potlucks, and hot days!
Cucumber Rolls
Enjoy a healthy appetizer with these low-carb cucumber rolls containing smoked salmon and avocado, a perfect blend of flavors and textures.
The Hawaiian Snack Everyone Falls in Love With
Spam musubi is a classic Hawaiian favorite with grilled Spam, sticky rice, and nori. It’s sweet, savory, and surprisingly easy to make at home.
Orzo Salad – Love and Lemons
This easy orzo salad recipe is filled with feta, chickpeas, olives, fresh herbs, veggies, and Greek dressing. A delicious, healthy side dish!
Cracked Out Turkey Pinwheels – Plain Chicken
Cracked Out Turkey Pinwheels – Cream cheese, cheddar, bacon, Ranch and turkey wrapped in a tortilla. Can make ahead of time & refrigerate until ready to eat
Crispy Rice Salad With Ginger-Sesame Dressing – What’s Gaby Cooking
This Crispy Rice Salad is packed with crispy rice, fresh veggies, and a bold ginger-sesame dressing for the perfect mix of texture and flavor
Mediterranean Chickpea Salad
A vibrant, weeknight-friendly chickpea salad with marinated chickpeas and a whipped tahini sauce. Bold, bright, fresh, and SO good!
Cranberry, Feta, & Cream Cheese Pinwheels
Say hello to festive cranberry, feta, and cream cheese pinwheels that are creamy, tangy, sweet, and perfect for easy holiday entertaining!
Smashed Potato Salad with Dill Pickles – From My Bowl
This Crispy Smashed Potato Salad tosses roasted potatoes, dill pickles, fresh veggies, and herbs in a creamy mayo-Dijon dressing, giving you a seriously elevated version of the classic summer side dish! Vegan and Gluten-Free. This Vegan Smashed Potato Salad with Dill Pickles will be a guaranteed smash hit this summer. It’s made with the best…
Classic Egg Salad Recipe
Classic egg salad should be creamy, tangy, and perfect for sandwiches. This delicious homemade recipe is easy to make and the best you’ll ever have!
Cold Italian Sub Sandwich Party Sliders
Cold Italian Sub Sandwich Party Sliders are perfect for picnics, the beach, poolside, tailgating…and parties! Quick, easy and always a crowd favorite!
Avocado Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad
This easy Avocado Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad is something special! It’s a healthy shrimp salad that’s fresh and super flavorful. Plus, it’s gluten-free! The perfect low-carb recipe any night of the week. A 15-minute meal that tastes amazing! Warmer weather is meant for light, delicious, and simple meals! This Avocado Cilantro Lime Shrimp Salad is
Easy Homemade Hummus in the Blender
This homemade hummus in the blender is easy and delicious! You'll love it more than store bought!
Delicious Curried Couscous Salad with Broccoli and Feta
Curried Couscous Salad with Broccoli, Chickpeas, and Feta is an easy Mediterranean dish that's packed with flavor and texture. You can't go wrong with this dinner or side dish recipe!
Easy One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
This easy One-Pot Mediterranean Quinoa is a flavorful dish that's made in 30-minutes on your stovetop. Healthy, quick, and easy to clean up! Vegetarian and gluten-free.
How To Make Roasted Elote Corn Dip (Video)
Roasted elote corn dip: roasted corn and veggies are tossed in a creamy, tangy, cheesy mixture to make a scoopable version of a classic Mexican street food!
Refreshing Cilantro and Mint Green Chutney
This flavorful Indian green chutney is the ideal blend of fresh herbs, spices, and tangy goodness. Perfect for dipping, spreading, and even as a marinade!
Easy Pesto Pasta Recipe (Vegetarian)
Enjoy this easy Basil Pesto Pasta with Veggies in less than 20 minutes! It’s a flavorful, fresh, and healthy dish to make again and again! Whether you’re a vegetarian or simply looking to add more plant-based meals to your diet, this recipe is a winner.
Easy Creamy Grape Salad
This Easy Grape Salad is a must make! So simple, yet perfect for picnics, BBQs and cookouts! Juicy grapes smothered in cheesecake and topped with crunchy granola!
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