Hot Dinners You Can Make Without Turning On the Oven
If you want to make a delicious hot meal without heating up the oven, I’ve got you covered! Here are a handful of recipes you can use when you’re craving a warm dinner but you want to avoid turning on the oven.
Lately, I’ve been trying to avoid turning on my oven at all costs! Luckily, I have plenty of other tools in my kitchen that I can use to make a hot meal without warming up the whole house. Here are a few of my favorite things to use when the summer heat is rising.
- Air Fryer– I use my air fryer a lot in the summer. It’s perfect for the recipes below and I love that the large fryer basket means I can easily cook for 2-4 people.
- Grill– This is a no-brainer but if you have a grill, you’re probably putting it to good use in the summer! I typically use the Ninja Foodi Grill insert for any of my grilled recipes.
- Instant Pot– I love my Instant Pot for quick soups and stews but it can also make great dishes like Cuban Black Beans and Rice. It’s a great way to make a hot meal without generating a lot of heat.
- Slow Cooker– This is another great “set it and forget it” appliance. It’s perfect for soups so you don’t have to stand over the stovetop!
Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese
This Instant Pot Macaroni and Cheese is made with just 5 ingredients for an easy, one pot meal the whole family will love! This super creamy macaroni and cheese will have you coming back for seconds!
Grilled Vegetable Flatbread
Fire up the grill and try these grilled naan pizzas! They’re topped with roasted red peppers and eggplant and you can easily make them on the grill or in the oven!
Chickpea and Quinoa Stew
This deliciously spicy stew is made in a slow cooker, so there’s no need to heat up your oven or stovetop!
Air Fryer Gnocchi
My favorite way to make gnocchi is in the air fryer! It’s a quick and easy way to get perfectly crispy pillows of gnocchi! Golden brown on the outside, soft on the inside, ready in about 10 minutes, and easy to customize with your favorite sauce!
Slow Cooker Lazy Lasagna
This “lazy lasagna” recipe is made using ravioli for an incredibly easy hands-off dinner in the slow cooker! If you love lasagna, you’ll love this recipe.
Air Fryer Halloumi
If you have an air fryer, try toasting slices of halloumi cheese until they’re nice and crispy or turn them into fries! Enjoy an easy halloumi sandwich or simple halloumi salad and you’ll have dinner in no time.
Cuban Black Beans and Rice
This Instant Pot Mexican-inspired quinoa is an easy “dump and go” recipe. Simply add the ingredients to your pressure cooker, turn it on, and dinner is ready in minutes!
Chickpea Gyros
These crispy chickpeas are toasted on the stovetop in just a few minutes, so you can make these chickpea gyros in just 15 minutes! Or, if you have an air fryer, you could make these air fryer chickpeas instead!
Instant Pot Minestrone
This Instant Pot Minestrone is one of my favorite soups to make in the summer! It’s light and delicious, filled with plenty of vegetables for a tasty dinner. Make it in the Instant Pot so you don’t have to stand over the stove!
Looking for a dessert to pair with one of these meals? Try one of these delicious no-bake recipes!
What are your favorite meals to make in the summer?
