14 Effortless No-Cook Summer Dishes Perfect for Lazy Days

Gazpacho

“Ensure you select only the finest, most fresh ingredients for this dish. For a touch of California, garnish the soup with some diced avocado and enjoy it alongside some crusty bread.” —Elise Bauer, Founder

Loaded Veggie Sandwich

“Pickled red onions bring a delightful zing to this sandwich. You can replace them with fresh red onions for a more robust, spicy kick, or opt for pickles for a stronger tangy crunch.” —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

Cucumber Lime Mint Agua Fresca

“The cucumber juice base of this agua fresca seems to have the effect of lowering one’s body temperature and gives new meaning to the phrase ‘cool as a cucumber’.” —Elise

Pan Bagnat (French Tuna Sandwich)

“For this recipe, I recommend tuna packed in olive oil. It’s tender and moist and the flavor of the tuna really shines. You can drain some, but not all, of the oil if you like. Just don’t press it all out, since it is very flavorful.” —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

Sun Tea

“Black tea is commonly used to make sun tea, but you can make sun tea from any flavor of tea you’d like. To get the strength you want, you may need to experiment with the number of tea bags if using a more mildly flavored tea.” —Elise

Lime Icebox Pie

“Not only could this recipe not be any easier (no mixer, oven, or special equipment required!), it’s also ideal for making ahead. The icebox cake needs to chill for at least 2 hours, freeing you up for grilling or prepping dinner.” —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

Mango Float

“If fresh mangoes are not available, use thawed and drained frozen mangoes instead. Canned mangoes are a good substitute, but are in heavy syrup, so they will add extra sweetness.” —Elizabeth Ann Quirino, Recipe Developer

Avocado Lettuce Tomato Sandwich

“The key to a delicious A.L.T. is salt. The flavor of both avocados and tomatoes shines with the addition of a little sprinkling of salt.” —Elise

Pizza Salad