Easy Boating Dinner Ideas for Hot Days on the Water

Some days on the water can be hot. Instead of spending time in the galley over the stove, here are easy boating dinner ideas for those warm summer days.

Salads are one idea to serve on hot days. Here are a few favorites. Of course you can use whatever ingredients your crew prefers.

Try an enhanced traditional tossed salad. A traditional tossed salad is easy to make, however, may not fully satisfy hungry appetites at dinner. Add one or more of the following ingredients for extra flavor and protein:

• Chunks of cubed cheddar cheese
• Slices or cans of lunch meat - turkey, chicken, salmon, tuna, ham
• Leftover chicken breast
• Zucchini squash slices
• Yellow squash slices


Chef’s salad: Basically a chef’s salad is an upgraded tossed salad. Add sliced hardboiled eggs, chunks of cheese and sliced ham, turkey, chicken breast or roast beef and you have a chef’s salad. Vegetables such as shredded carrots, slices of cucumber, and/or shredded red cabbage may be added as well.

Spinach salad: A spinach salad made with baby spinach leaves is cool and refreshing. Add shredded cheese, slices of ham, turkey and/or roast beef, cut up cucumbers, sliced hardboiled eggs, and black olives.

Your choice of dressing may be used for the salads.

Sandwiches: Another easy meal idea you can create without cooking is sandwiches for dinner. They are easy and heat free. Some great summer sandwiches are:

Chicken salad: Cooked or canned chicken, celery, onion, and mayo are the basics for chicken salad. Serve on bread, in a tortilla or in a croissant for variety. Add lettuce leaves to your sandwiches for a refreshing meal.

Deli style sandwiches: Present a plate or platter with a combination of the following, pass the buns, and the crew may like to make their own meal.

• Ham
• Turkey
• Roast Beef
• Chicken Breast
• Corned Beef
• Salami
• Pepperoni
• Cheese
• Cucumbers
• Pickles
• Tomatoes
• Romaine or leaf lettuce
• Green Peppers

Condiment suggestions: mustard, mayonnaise, favorite sauces.

When planning your menu, include a variety of canned meats to be used in salads or sandwiches. Suggestions - ham, tuna, salmon, chicken, turkey, corned beef.

Try some of above ideas for a cool dinner to have on board on hot days or make dinner on the boat's barbeque.