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5 Light and Easy Dinner Ideas for Summer JULY 5, 2022 / KELLI NAPOTNIK / 
As summer quickly approaches, I am looking for meals that are light and easy. We are also finishing up the end of our homeschool year and I want to spend less time working and more time outside with my family. One of my favorite ways to do this is to put a meal on the table that doesn't require a hot skillet. Here are five no-cook meals you can enjoy this summer!
5. CHARCUTERIE BOARD
This is one of the easiest meals you can put together in just a few minutes. We enjoy using our favorite summer sausage along with chopped apples, grapes, crackers and cheese. Dress this meal up by selecting a couple varieties of cheese and sausage. I love that all my children enjoy eating this and especially that we are filling up on healthy fruits, whole grains and protein. You can use this meal idea for lunch or dinner!
4. CAESAR SALAD WITH LEFTOVER CHICKEN
If you find yourself with leftover chicken, use it the next day to make a caesar salad. The secret to our caesar salad is to crush a clove of garlic for every head of romaine we use. Throw the salad together with the garlic, caesar dressing of choice, parmesan cheese and chopped romaine. Top with leftover chicken pieces! This is my favorite tool for crushing garlic. It easily presses a clove of garlic into fine shavings and adds flavor to the salad without overwhelming it. Be sure to toss the salad to distribute the cheese and garlic evenly throughout. Surprisingly, my kids love this salad! The garlic really adds a unique spin to this dish. Scroll to the end of the post to see my recipe.
3. CHICKEN SALAD WRAPS
This is another recipe I make with leftover roasted chicken. I will pick the remaining meat off the bone and throw together a quick chicken salad. My favorite ingredients to add are sliced grapes (I have also used chopped apples), crushed walnuts, onion, a healthy mayonnaise option and curry powder. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve over mixed greens, spinach, or use all of the above to roll into wraps. Want to keep this gluten-free? Use iceberg lettuce to replace the wraps and add thinly sliced pickles. Serve with chips or a side of fruit. See a similar recipe to the one I use here.
 2. CHICKEN MANDARIN SALAD
This no-cook meal is fresh and citrusy. Click here to see the ingredients. This would be a tasty meal with or without the meat. There are times when I look to dress up chicken and this is a great recipe that adds lots of flavor!
1. CAPRESE SALAD
One of my favorite, light and refreshing summertime no-cook meals is the combination of succulent garden tomatoes, basil and mozzarella cheese. Make a balsamic vinegar and olive oil dressing to drizzle over top. Serve immediately as a backyard appetizer or make a meal of it by itself. Here is an easy balsamic dressing you can make at home to drizzle over your salad.
There is nothing I enjoy more than a fresh, easy meal that brings us together. Whatever the reason, I hope you will enjoy these meal ideas with your family & friends as well. I'm sharing our caesar salad recipe with you below. It is always a big hit at family gatherings and potlucks. I think you'll find the entire salad will be gone in minutes.
Toss all ingredients above with Ken's Caesar Dressing, making sure the cheese and garlic are evenly distributed.
Serve immediately and watch it disappear!
photo credit: Delish.com
photo credit: unsplash.com
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