32 Oven-Free Recipes To Make From Now Through Labor Day

Mojo Chicken Bowls
Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

You know what can heat up a 1,000-square-foot house faster than you can say heat wave? An oven set at 375 degrees for an hour. We know all too well the struggles of cooking indoors during a brutal Southern summer. Let's skip the needless indoor sweating and take it outside to the grill or chill out with a quick stovetop flash fry, sauté, or sear.

Some fresh air and wide-open spaces will help you make your meal with a whole lot more love. We're not promising a no-cook summer, but we can most assuredly give our ovens the season off—wouldn't you say? So let's fire up the grill or turn on the burner (perhaps with a glass of something chilly in hand) in favor of these oven-free supper recipes that'll keep your house and menu cool as can be, no matter how far into the triple digits the mercury creeps this year. And you know it will.

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Grilled Chicken and Corn with Charred Scallion-Lime Butter

Grilled Chicken and Corn with Charred Scallion-Lime Butter
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Grilled Chicken and Corn with Charred Scallion-Lime Butter

It's a complete meal—all from the grill. Prep the Scallion-Lime Butter up to a day ahead, or just keep making that recipe on repeat to dress all of your grilled veggies throughout the season. We won't blame you one bit.

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Shrimp and Corn Succotash

Shrimp-and-Corn Succotash
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Shrimp and Corn Succotash

This light supper comes together on the stovetop utilizing some of the summer's brightest stars like shrimp, green beans, corn, and lima beans. If you don't have fresh limas, go ahead and swap in the frozen variety.

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Shrimp-Tomatillo Tacos

Shrimp-Tomatillo Tacos, Black Bean-Corn Tacos, and Chicken-Bell Pepper Tacos
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Recipe: Shrimp-Tomatillo Tacos

The base of these tacos is abounding with flavor thanks to fresh tomatillos, a chile pepper, shrimp, and onion. Kick them up a notch by topping each taco with sliced radishes, scallions, cilantro, and even a bit of shredded cabbage for a healthy dose of crunch.

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Green Tomato Gazpacho

Green Tomato Gazpacho in a white bowl
Photographer Victor Protasio, Food Stylist Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist Christine Keely

Recipe: Green Tomato Gazpacho

All you need to pull together this refreshing soup is a blender. You can even make it up to 24 hours ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve.

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Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes

Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes
Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch

Recipe: Pasta with Marinated Tomatoes

Skip the oven-roasted tomatoes this summer for a variety that simply marinates for 20 minutes in a mixture of olive oil, white vinegar, salt, pepper, and a bit of shallot. The season's freshest pasta sauce is coming right up.

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Goat Cheese-and-Summer Squash Pizza

Goat Cheese-and-Summer Squash Pizza
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Ruth Blackburn; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Recipe: Goat Cheese-and-Summer Squash Pizza

If you thought pizza couldn't be cooked without turning on the oven, think again. This summer pizza was made for the grill.

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Mojo Chicken Bowls

Mojo Chicken Bowls
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Mojo Chicken Bowls

The beauty in these bowls is that you can make them your own with all of the toppings your tastebuds desire. Just don't skimp on the marinating time—the chicken will need at least a full hour to make sure it holds onto all of that flavor once it hits the grill.

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Grilled Pork-and-Peach Salad With Honey-Mustard Dressing

Grilled Pork-and-Peach Salad with Honey-Mustard Dressing
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Recipe: Grilled Pork-and-Peach Salad With Honey-Mustard Dressing

Every part of this pretty salad is cooked on the grill, from the pork to the peaches to the baguette slices.

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Grilled Stuffed Poblanos

Grilled Stuffed Poblanos
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Grilled Stuffed Poblanos

Had your fill of tacos? We know, we could never either. But let's just go ahead and get this dinner on the lineup ASAP. Corn, black-eyed peas, melted cheese, and a whole lot of spice make these stuffed peppers the best thing you'll taste from now until October.

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Kale-and-Chicken Salad with Jalapeño-Lime Dressing

Kale-and-Chicken Salad with Jalapeño-Lime Dressing
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Recipe: Kale-and-Chicken Salad with Jalapeño-Lime Dressing

If you're in the mood to lighten up (and who isn't when it's this hot outside) then consider dinner found. Full of good-for-you greens and topped with convenient store-bought rotisserie chicken, this salad won't leave you want for flavor. A honey-lime vinaigrette with chopped fresh jalapeño brings the heat—but just the good kind.

11 of 32

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches
Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Caesar Salad Sandwiches

The chicken salad mixture that fills the middle of these sandwiches can be made a day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to assemble them.

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Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta

Buttermilk Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Spinach
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta

You're just 20 minutes away from getting this pasta supper on the table. In addition to the short prep time, it also has a fairly short ingredient list.

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Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl

Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Sweet-and-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl

Spice up your summer supper with a ready-in-30-minutes dinner recipe that comes together in a skillet. Each refreshing bowl is packed with flavor and lots of fresh crunch thanks to snow peas, scallions, cucumber, radishes, and a sprinkling of sesame seeds for good measure.

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Easy Steak Fajitas

Easy Steak Fajitas
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Easy Steak Fajitas

PSA: You do not need to fire up the grill for fajita night. This recipe uses one skillet (that's right, just one) to make the whole spread.

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Fried Green Tomatoes

Fried Green Tomatoes
Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Fried Green Tomatoes

This is the summer you will master the art of the fried green tomato. Let this classic recipe be your guide.

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Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss

Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss
Greg Dupree; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Recipe: Heirloom Tomato and Chicken Toss

Toss bright summer tomatoes with chicken for this light and refreshing meal.

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Ham Salad

Cheese Puffs with Ham Salad
Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Ham Salad

Cold ham is a summertime staple, and you know what that means—ham salad. Cream cheese, scallions, Creole mustard, a little spice, and a sprinkling of fresh herby flavor are all you'll need.

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Chicken Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes

Chicken Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kathleen Varner; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Salad-Stuffed Tomatoes

A rotisserie chicken helps this recipe come together in just 15 minutes with no cooking required.

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Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Mango and lime juice add a flavorful burst to these lettuce wraps.

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Tomato Tea Sandwiches

Tomato Tea Sandwiches
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Tomato Tea Sandwiches

These simple handheld sandwiches are always a crowd pleaser.

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Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Lydia Pursell; Food Styling: Toni Brogan

Recipe: Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad

Tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and basil are summer staples as far as we're concerned.

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West Indies Crab Salad

West Indies Crab Salad
Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: West Indies Crab Salad

A simple vinaigrette adds a subtle sweetness to this fresh crab salad.

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Lady Pea-and-Corn Patties

Lady Pea and Corn Patties
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Lady Pea-and-Corn Patties

If you like corn fritters, you're going to love these little cakes. Whip up a quick sauce with a cup sour cream, two teaspoons lime zest, three tablespoons lime juice, and two tablespoons cilantro.

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Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter

Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Grilled Clambake Foil Packets with Herb Butter

Make clean-up even easier with this foil packet meal.

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Grilled Grouper

Grilled Grouper
Photographer and Prop stylist: Jennifer Causey Food Stylist: Melissa Gray

Recipe: Grilled Grouper

Grouper is a versatile fish that you can easily pair with a simple side for any summer meal.

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Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette
Alison Miksch

Recipe: Summer Pasta Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

If you aren't making your pasta salad with squash, nectarines, zucchini, and the best lime vinaigrette (if we do say so ourselves) then you're assuredly missing out. Feel free to skip the toasted sliced almonds if you prefer.

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Grilled Shrimp-and-Squash Pasta with Summer Herbs

Grilled Shrimp-and-Squash Pasta with Summer Herbs
Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch; Food Styling: Anna Hampton

Recipe: Grilled Shrimp-and-Squash Pasta with Summer Herbs

Grill the toppings for this pasta so you don't have to spend as much time over the hot stove.

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Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Tina Stamos

Recipe: Shrimp-Okra-and-Sausage Kebabs

Grilled okra, shrimp, and sausage are charred perfectly in this this kebob recipe.

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Whipped Cream Corn Salad

Whipped-Cream Corn Salad
Southern Living

Recipe: Whipped Cream Corn Salad

No cook corn, in the creamiest sauce ever. Grilled chicken, burgers, and more have been begging for a side like this.

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Chicken Caprese Pasta

Chicken Caprese Pasta
Linda Pugliese; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Chicken Caprese Pasta

This lightened up pasta recipe is almost too pretty to eat.

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Tomato Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Lemon-Mint Sparklers
Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Tomato Salad with Grilled Shrimp

This is a cool and refreshing summertime supper that's just right any night of the week.

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Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad

Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad
Photo: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Recipe: Tomato, Peach, and Corn Salad

Tomato time! This fresh produce salad is a great substitute for a leafy green one.

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