The hot days are getting closer and sometimes we just need a quick and easy meal for dinner. I love the idea of cold plate dinners because most of them can be prepared ahead of time, thinking of my Meal Prep Mondays, and then easily plated when dinner time rolls around.

I loved the idea of the cold plate special when I worked at a little diner because it was something I could actually help with very easily and I got really good at making the plates look very nice. I think these would be great to prepare in advance for the Sabbath as well!

There is really not one right way to do this but basically, at the diner, we would have a big scoop (think large ice cream scoop) of meat salad like tuna salad or chicken salad, a scoop of pasta salad, a scoop of potato salad, and a scoop of egg salad or boiled eggs but I think deviled eggs would be nice as well. The salads would be on a bed of lettuce leaves with a few sliced tomatoes and/or cucumbers and other fresh veggies for a garnish. Then we would add a pickle slice and some toast or croissants to the plate along with a scoop of cottage cheese and some fresh fruit (usually sliced peaches) or other cold dessert item. I think any pickled item like pickled beets, pickled eggs, pickled peppers, or onions would work though… use what you like, you could even through some cranberry sauce on your plate if you want.

I also think that any cold sliced meat or rolled-up lunch meat with cheese would work and you could add some sliced cheese or pimiento cheese to the plate as well. I’d also love to add some tomato or cucumber boats to stuff with the meat salad as well but that might make it a little more complicated.

These plates were very easy to put together as the cook always had everything ready in the big refrigerator. These were very popular with the guests for lunch or dinner/supper… I recently learned that (according to this post) in New Foundland they actually have four meals a day… breakfast, dinner, supper, and lunch… my family would love this idea! You will also find some great recipes in the previous link.

Here are some of our favorite recipes that we will be using for our Cold Plate Dinners or Lunches:

• Bella’s Ultimate Tuna Salad
• Markdown Meals: Chicken Salad on Croissants
• Potato Salad (with cauliflower alternative)
• Cole Slaw
• Super Simple Egg Salad, Deviled Eggs, or The Easiest Boiled Eggs Ever!
• Easy Homemade Bread
• Orange Congealed Salad, Easy Banana Pudding, or Watergate Salad in place of the cottage cheese & fruit for some plates.

Many of these dishes are ones that the kids can help with so that might be a good way to keep them occupied in the kitchen! These are also really great to have on hand for after an early holiday meal or if you’ve been visiting family and friends and plan to get home late.

I don’t think this really needs a recipe but here is a guide to print out: