5 Easy Meals to Keep the Oven Off

Even when the days are hot, families still need to eat! Beat the heat and get dinner on the table with these 5 No-Heat Easy Meals.

Hello again my dear friends at A Dish or Daily Life! It’s Kristen here again from A Mind “Full” Mom. 

I don’t know what the weather where you are from is like, but currently in the southeast US it is HOT! That may be an understatement–it is hot enough that I could probably fry an egg in minutes on the blacktop. Do you all remember that scene from my all time favorite movie, “Father of the Bride?”

So when it is hot, I refuse to turn on the oven. We resort to no-cook, stove-top and grilling. Yes, I do live in a house with air conditioning, but cranking that oven up seems like it would just be wrong! I am already worried about the power going out from everyone’s air working overtime (that happened 2 nights ago–HOT!) So I am doing my part and keeping the oven off!

I want to help you do your part too, so I am sharing with you 5 of my favorite No Heat Summer Meals.

Let’s start off with the GRILLING. We love to grill at our house. There is something about that smokey flavor and charred edges that just does it for us.

Pineapple Sirracha Chicken and Smoked Sausage Kabobs:

See what I mean that we like the crispy edges that you can get from the grill? You have to read the story behind those edges–it was my little boy’s creation, who REALLY like his edges charred. But that kid is onto something with this dinner–4 ingredients and dinner done!

Grilled Panzanella Salad with Chicken Sausage

This has to be one of my favorite dinners for the summer. It is fresh, light, but so full of flavor. Bread, sausage, peppers, sweet onions and zucchini are grilled and then tossed with fresh summer tomatoes, greens, a fresh vinaigrette, and tons of Parmesan cheese. I love to use peppers, zucchini, and tomatoes in this salad, but any summer produce will work beautifully for this creation.

If grilling is not your thing, how about the Slow-Cooker? How awesome is it to throw a bunch of things in your slow-cooker, go about your day be it at the pool, the beach or work, and then come home and dinner is done!

Pork Carnitas with Mexican Slaw

This is one of A Mind “Full” Mom’s most popular post. Once you try it, you will see why. It is juicy pork that has been simmered in orange juice, beer and Mexican seasonings until it is tender and falling apart. That meat is enough to stand alone, but when you top with a fresh slaw made with cilantro and lime juice–WOW! Trust me, you may be making this weekly.

Quinoa Jambalaya

I have been making this Jambalya for years!!! Traditionally, I made this recipe with rice, but using quinoa, makes it not only healthier, but tastier! The recipe can be made in one pot in 30 minutes on the stove or in the slow-cooker. So pick your method. It is worth noting, that I use half a package of smoked sausage/kielbasa for this recipe and then I use the other half of the package for my Pineapple Sirracha Chicken and Sausage Kabobs. Dinner done for 2 nights!

Now onto the No Cook.

Vegetarian Gyro Wrap

This is one dynamite wrap. It has all the flavors of a traditional gyro, but without the meat. Which means, you simply open up a can of chickpeas–no cooking required! I personally love to have this wrap with some fresh summer produce and then a maybe an Ice Cream Sandwich, because after all–it is summer, isn’t it?!

I hope that you have found some inspiration to keep the heat out of the kitchen and still eat delicious meals with your family. Now get out and enjoy that sunshine 🙂

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