Recipes for When It’s Too Hot to Cook
When the weather heats up, the last thing anyone wants is to stand over a hot hob or turn the oven on for hours.
That does not mean dinner has to become boring. With the Instant Pot, you can prep simple ingredients quickly and use them in easy summer meals that are lighter, fresher and much less effort.
Think rice bowls, pasta salads, shredded chicken, eggs, dips, potatoes and snack-style meals that can be served warm, cold or straight from the fridge.
You can batch-cook a few basics, let them cool, then use them across different meals for the next couple of days.
Good ingredients to prep include:
- Rice
- Pasta
- Potatoes
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Beans
- Lentils
- Corn on the cob
- Vegetables
Once those are ready, building summer meals becomes much easier.
Pasta Salads
Pasta salad is one of the easiest meals to make when it is too warm for heavy food.
Cook the pasta, let it cool, then mix with fresh ingredients like tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, sweetcorn, olives, herbs, tuna, chicken or mozzarella.
Easy flavour ideas include:
- Pesto pasta salad
- Tuna and sweetcorn pasta salad
- Chicken and pepper pasta salad
- Mediterranean pasta salad with feta and olives
It is great for lunch, dinner, BBQ sides or packed lunches.
Recipe inspiration:
https://instantpot.co.uk/chicken-pasta-pesto-salad/
Rice Bowls
Rice bowls are ideal for hot days because you can keep them fresh, colourful and easy to customise.
Use the Instant Pot to cook rice, then top with ingredients like shredded chicken, beans, salad, avocado, salsa, yoghurt dressing or roasted vegetables.
Try combinations such as:
- Chicken, rice, sweetcorn and salsa
- Bean and rice bowl with avocado
- Tuna, cucumber and rice
- BBQ chicken rice bowl
- Chickpea, rice and yoghurt dressing
They are filling without feeling too heavy.
Recipe inspiration:
https://eatinginstantly.com/instant-pot-rice-bowls/
Shredded Chicken for Easy Meals
Shredded chicken is one of the most useful things to prep ahead.
Cook chicken breasts or thighs in the Instant Pot with stock, garlic, herbs or BBQ seasoning, then shred and store in the fridge.
You can use it in:
- Wraps
- Salads
- Rice bowls
- Sandwiches
- Tacos
- Loaded jacket potatoes
- Picnic boxes
It makes quick meals feel much easier when you do not want to cook from scratch every night.
Recipe inspiration:
https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/instant-pot-shredded-chicken/
Eggs for Quick Summer Lunches
Boiled eggs are simple, useful and easy to prep ahead.
Once cooked and cooled, they can be used in salads, sandwiches, snack pots or egg mayo wraps. They are also handy for picnics, lunchboxes and quick protein-rich meals.
Try them with:
- Potato salad
- Green salads
- Egg mayo wraps
- Snack pots with veg and crackers
- Rice bowls
Simple, but very useful when the fridge needs easy options.
Recipe inspiration:
Dips and Snack Plates
When it is really hot, a snack-style dinner can be exactly what you need.
Use the Instant Pot to cook chickpeas, beans, lentils or sweet potatoes, then blend them into dips. Serve with flatbreads, crackers, chopped veg, salad, cheese, olives and cold meats.
Easy dip ideas include:
- Hummus
- Bean dip
- Lentil dip
- Sweet potato dip
- Garlic yoghurt dip
This is a relaxed option for evenings when nobody wants a full cooked meal.
Recipe inspiration:
https://www.delish.com/cooking/menus/g28253836/instant-pot-dips/
Potato Salads and Simple Sides
Potatoes are another useful ingredient to prep in advance.
Cook them until tender, cool them down, then turn them into potato salad with yoghurt, mayo, mustard, herbs, spring onions or chopped pickles.
You can serve potato salad with BBQ food, grilled chicken, picnic food or a simple cold plate.
It is easy, filling and perfect for summer.
Recipe inspiration:
https://tastesbetterfromscratch.com/instant-pot-potato-salad/
https://triedtestedandtrue.com/instantpotrecipes/sides/
Keep It Cool and Simple
When it is too hot to cook, the aim is not to make complicated meals. It is to have simple ingredients ready so you can pull together food quickly.
A few easy meal ideas:
- Pasta salad with chicken
- Rice bowls with beans and salsa
- Wraps with shredded chicken
- Snack plates with dips and salad
- Potato salad with boiled eggs
- Cold chicken and rice lunch pots
The Instant Pot helps with the prep, so you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying the weather.
Summer Cooking Made Easier
Hot days call for easy food, lighter meals and less time in the kitchen.
With the Instant Pot, you can prep the basics quickly and use them in simple summer recipes all week, from pasta salads and rice bowls to dips, wraps, eggs and snack pots.
Easy food, less heat, and no need to turn the oven on.
