Give Your Oven a Break

If it seems unbearable to think about using the oven on a hot day, we hear you. We collected a few recipes that let you avoid the oven and spend less time in the kitchen.

1. Southwest Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Need a quick dinner idea? Look no further than this easy meal cooked in the microwave. The sweet potatoes are filled with chicken, black beans, corn, and avocados. And you can make extras and freeze them for an easy weeknight dinner for another day.

2. Pressure Cooker Key Lime Cups

These individual servings of key lime pie cook in about 20 minutes in a pressure cooker. This mini pie recipe is a perfect, light dessert for summer!

3. Tuna Noodle Pasta Bowl

This quick version of a classic tuna noodle casserole requires no time in the oven, but just a few minutes in the microwave. It’s great for an easy lunch at work or dinner on a busy summer night.

4. No-Bake Granola Bars

Make healthy snack bars at home and customize them with your family’s favorite add-ins. All you need is a skillet for toasting old-fashioned oats and a snack bar maker to form your bars.

5. Pancake Breakfast Sandwich

Summer mornings can be hectic, but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice a delicious breakfast. This sweet and salty breakfast sandwich cooks in under 2 minutes and will be a new family favorite.

6. Cucumber-Dill Guacamole

Spicy jalapeño and cool cucumber take this staple to a new level of flavor. Chop the jalapeño , onion, lime juice, spices, and avocado together and serve with tortilla chips or fresh vegetables. If you like your guacamole extra spicy, leave the jalapeño seeds in place.

7. Blueberry Lemon Microwave Muffin

Summertime baking can be a pain, but not with this recipe. Make this individual homemade muffin in the microwave. This recipe filled with fresh citrus and plump blueberries comes together in about five minutes.

8. Microwave Omelet

If you’re looking to incorporate more summery herbs and veggies into your breakfast but don’t want to heat a skillet, here’s your recipe. It’s a quick recipe that combines eggs with leftover chopped vegetables and meats.

9. Zucchini Frittata for Two

This summery, colorful breakfast cuts back on calories and fat—egg whites are lighter. But spiralized zucchini, a hint of grated Parmesan, and chopped seasonal tomatoes add plenty of flavor. Even better, the recipe serves two.

10. No-Bake Brownie Truffles

These dense chocolate bites are great for a summertime celebration and when you want something sweet but don’t want to heat up the kitchen. Scoop the rich mixture into a mold and finish the dessert in the freezer.

11. No-Bake Peanut Butter Ice Cream Sandwiches

A clever combination of peanut butter and packaged brownie mix makes the no-bake cookie crust in this recipe. Fill it with your choice of chocolate, vanilla, or a more adventurous flavor of ice cream.

12. No-Bake Turtle Icebox Cake

Creamy caramel and chocolate paired with graham crackers and cool ice cream makes for a perfect combination. Make your own whipped cream for an extra homemade touch.

13. Summertime Spaghetti

Spaghetti cooked in the microwave gets combined with seasonal diced tomatoes, cooked chicken breasts, and broccoli florets to make this light pasta dish. Add fresh parsley and shaved Parmesan for flavor and color, then serve and enjoy!

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