No-cook meal ideas
When the temperature outside rises, nobody wants to spend ages in the kitchen. Cue these easy ‘assembly-job' dinner ideas, made with moreish combinations of shortcut ingredients from our Foodhall – zero cooking required.
Senior Food Editor
Heather TaylorLoading
What to cook when you don’t feel like cooking
We’ve all been there – it’s a hot day, you’ve just got home from work, and you’re lacking the time, energy and inclination to cook. That’s where ‘assembly-job dinners’ come in. We’re not talking scratch-cooking. This is about pulling together a handful of easy, ready-prepared ingredients for the ultimate low-fuss dinner.
As the home of picky bits, M&S is the ultimate destination for no-cook meal ideas, so keep reading for a few of our favourite combinations to try.
What’s the best food to eat without cooking?
Creating the perfect ‘girl dinner’ is all about marrying an array of your favourite flavours and textures, without the fuss. Think charcuterie, olives and cheeses alongside your favourite antipasti and a hunk of crusty bread, or a pot of our new Caesar Butter Beans (available in store) loaded onto toasted sourdough. Or maybe it's a bowl of cooling Spanish Gazpacho topped with finely chopped cucumber and tomatoes, with Cantabrian Anchovies loaded onto buttered ciabatta.
It’s all about choosing ingredients with maximum flavour that need minimum prep, so the deli section should be your first port of call. Check out some of our favourite combinations below.
8 no-cook meal ideas
Raid our deli aisle and serve up some hands-off picky bits dinners with these delicious ideas, from Spanish-inspired starters to a vibrant mezze spread.
No cook? No problem.
Published 6.18.2025
