We rounded up the best summertime cold dinners for hotter-than-hot days.
There’s twists on old classics and introductions to new recipes that are bursting withsummer’s best ingredients.
Here are our favorite dinner ideas for hot summer days that taste great hot or cold.

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Add grilled steak, chicken or salmon to make it the perfect weeknight supper.
Not a fan of shrimp?
Steak Taco Salad
Fire up the grill for this fun spin on taco night!

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The chicken salad mixture can be prepared a day ahead for extra ease when assembling your sandwiches.
Make extra Caesar dressing while you’re at it to use on a side salad.
Tropical Chicken Lettuce Wraps
These healthy lettuce wraps areno-cook and all good.

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The light chicken salad mixture brings both heat and sweet for a 15-minute recipe that’s anything but boring.
Serve in crisp butter lettuce leaves, wheat wraps, or over a bed of greens.
And the only appliance it’s crucial that you warm up is your blender.

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This light recipe feels so much more indulgent than it is.
The chicken gets cooked out on the grill, leaving your kitchen nice and cool.
Serve with a side of chips or fresh fruit.

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Then assemble the best salmon bagel you’ve ever had.
Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos
Slow and low braising will make carnitas fork-tender.
Serve the pork with tortillas, shredded cabbage, diced avocado, queso fresco, and lime wedges.

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Turn leftover chicken or rotisserie chicken into an elegant but simple chicken salad.
The juicy grapes and nutty pecans provide a nice balance to the just-sweet dressing.
Have the ingredients at room temperature so they are easy to combine.

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Bow tie pasta serves as the base to soak up all the juices.
Our Test Kitchen says it can be served at room temperature, perfect for a sweltering day.
Broccoli, Grape, And Pasta Salad
This salad does it all.

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Broccoli and pecans add crunch, while grapes add a burst of juicy sweetness.
Chill up to 24 hours before serving.
Mini Muffulettas
These cold-cut sandwiches make a great hand-held main for an outdoor party.

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They look especially festive in a red or blue-checked sandwich wrapper.
Finely chopped pickled vegetables and pimiento-stuffed olives provide a tangy punch.
We don’t mind that a bit.

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The Cajun seasoning provides all the heat we need.
Dig out a bag of potato chips and pour a frosty beer, and you’ve got it made.
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches
This luncheon favorite will always be on rotation in our kitchens.

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Dont miss our Test Kitchens tip for preventing soggy tea sandwiches.
Persian Salad Olivieh

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