60+ No-Cook Appetizers and Salads

By Southern Living Editors
June 06, 2013
Hector Sanchez
During summertime in the South, it can get too hot to even think turning your oven or stovetop on. Luckily, hot summer temps don’t have to hold you back from exploring delicious new recipes. These no-cook appetizers and salads showcase the best of summer’s gorgeous produce. Without having to put much work in, you can still show up at the church potluck or neighborhood cookout with the prettiest appetizer or salad in sight. Whether you’re in the mood for an old-school no-cook appetizer like pimiento cheese or crab dip, or you want to branch out with no-cook recipes that will be new to guests like pimiento cheese-stuffed pickled okra and West Indies crab salad, these no-cook recipes have your back for every event. Busy weeknights call for quick, easy dinner recipes, and these no-cook salads fit the bill beautifully. Don’t waste a minute of summer standing by the stovetop. These no-cook appetizer and salad recipes are summertime saviors.
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Barbecue-Peach Summer Rolls

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Barbecue-Peach Summer Rolls

No need to break a sweat assembling all the rolls yourself. Make a small batch to kick-start the party, then offer a platter of the fresh ingredients with the dipping sauce so guests can build their own. Just dip the rice paper sheets in hot water as directed, and wrap with a damp towel to keep them soft. Look for rice paper rounds in the international aisle of large grocery stores or Asian markets.

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Easy Summer Appetizer Board

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Easy Summer Appetizer Board

No Southern appetizer board is complete without spicy-sweet pickled okra. Our new obsession: Wickles Wicked Okra (wicklespickles.com). We also recommend Olli Salumeria salami, slow-cured in Virginia and found in gourmet grocery stores across the South, but you can choose any of your favorite cured meats.

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Watermelon "Steak" Salad

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Watermelon "Steak" Salad

Not your mother's fruit salad. A cold, thick, steak-like slice of ripe watermelon pairs unexpectedly well with salty Cotija cheese and a smoky vinaigrette. Also try it with leftover grilled chicken or beef.

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White Cheddar-Chive Pimiento Cheese

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: White Cheddar-Chive Pimiento Cheese

Here's the secret to nice pimiento-cheese texture: Grate the cheese by hand, half on the large holes of a box grater and half on the small holes. Choose an aged sharp Cheddar cheese for extra bite. Chopped chives and Dijon mustard add piquant punch in place of grated onion.

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BLT Salad with Olive Vinaigrette

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: BLT Salad with Olive Vinaigrette

Ready in 20 Minutes
This rustic salad comes together in no time. Our Kalamata Olive Vinaigrette will be your go-to dressing all summer long.

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Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Tomato-and-Watermelon Salad

Combine sweet, juicy watermelon chunks with fresh tomato, onion, and a red wine vinaigrette for a salad that is the essence of summer.

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Green Goddess Dipping Sauce

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Green Goddess Dipping Sauce

No need for lots of chopping; let the food processor do all the work in this delicious herb-packed sauce.

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Tomato-Cucumber Bread Salad

Credit: Photo: Ralph Anderson

Recipe: Tomato-Cucumber Bread Salad

If you'd like to assemble the salad ahead of time, reserve croutons until just before serving; store in the refrigerator.

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Creamy Cucumber Soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Creamy Cucumber Soup

English, or hothouse, cucumbers have thin skins, few seeds, and mild flavor. English cucumbers are sold wrapped in plastic, rather than coated in wax.

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New Ambrosia

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: New Ambrosia

This recipe is a fresh way to use citrus. Sprinkle toasted sweetened flaked coconut over each serving, if desired.

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Mango Salad

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Mango Salad

Create a colorful and healthy salad by combining mango slices, tomato, cucumber, corn, basil, and a lime vinaigrette, then tossing with arugula.

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Avocado Fruit Salad

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Avocado Fruit Salad

You can prepare this salad a day ahead, but don't cut up the avocado or add garnishes until just before you serve it.

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Blueberry Salsa

Credit: Photo: Beth Dreiling Hontzas

Recipe: Blueberry Salsa

Fresh blueberries provide the sweet while jalapeño pepper, bell pepper, and cilantro provide the savory. Serve with toasted flour tortilla strips for an easy appetizer or side dish.

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Olives Scaciati

Credit: Photo: Tina Cornett

Recipe: Olives Scaciati

Double the recipe—as we did here—for a dramatic presentation that will feed a large group.

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Creamy Crab Dip

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Creamy Crab Dip

Fresh lump crab is the star of this easy dip recipe, and the flavor of Lowcountry favorite Old Bay seasoning shines through.

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Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss

This farm-fresh salad might be the prettiest way to use up that rotisserie chicken in your fridge.

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Feta-Olive-Fresh Herb Cheese Ball

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Feta-Olive-Fresh Herb Cheese Ball

This springy cheese ball will brighten up any cheese and charcuterie platter.

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Bitter Greens Salad with Lemon and Pecorino

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lauren Smith Ford; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Bitter Greens Salad with Lemon and Pecorino Recipe

This is the perfect mixed green salad. With a bright, tangy vinaigrette, it’s the perfect accompaniment to a main dish like grilled steak, fish, or chicken, or a beautiful starter salad.

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Watermelon Gazpacho

Credit: Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Watermelon Gazpacho

This summery chilled soup is the perfect appetizer for an outdoor dinner party—dressy but cool.

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Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton;

Recipe: Herbed Shrimp-and-Rice Salad

Your guests will never know this colorful, light salad was made with shrimp you didn’t cook yourself and microwaveable rice, but they don’t have to.

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Succotash Salsa

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Succotash Salsa

A summer-favorite side dish gets appetizer treatment with this easy dip everyone will love.

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Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

This fresh, 15-minute appetizer gives us another reason to love store-bought rotisserie chicken.

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Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Sesame, Tomato, and Cucumber Salad

No one will guess that the most beautiful summer salad to hit the potluck only took you 10 minutes to throw together.

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Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese

Credit: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Stuffed Endive with Herbed Goat Cheese

These veggie bites are a hostess-favorite appetizer. Why? They look pretty, they’re easy to grab-and-go, they’re not messy, and they’re so easy to put together.

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Shaved Carrot, Asparagus, and Apple Salad

Credit: Antonis Achilleo; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke, Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Recipe: Shaved Carrot, Asparagus, and Apple Salad

This springy update on a classic coleslaw recipe is light, bright and oh-so-pretty.

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Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Smoky Black-Eyed Pea Hummus

You can make a gorgeous platter of crudité and homemade pita chips to surround this Southern spin on classic hummus.

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Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

Credit: Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Watermelon, Cucumber, and Feta Salad

Add something fresh to the cookout spread with this easy, colorful salad.

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Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Melon, Mozzarella, and Prosciutto Skewers

This bite-size version of a melon salad has the perfect sweet-salty balance.

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Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Old-Fashioned Chicken Salad

There’s no need for fuss: This simple chicken salad recipe will do the trick at any luncheon.

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Smoky Brussels Sprout Slaw

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Smoky Brussels Sprout Slaw

Sweet, salty, tangy, smoky—this crunchy slaw recipe has it all, and everyone will be begging for your secret.

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Strawberry Caprese Salad

Credit: Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Strawberry Caprese Salad

Celebrate spring with this fresh salad that can be served over French baguette slices as an appetizer or mixed greens as a starter salad.

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