When most people think about cooking during the summer, they immediately picture grills and barbecues. But on the hottest of days, do you really want to be standing over a giant furnace? Heck, even dealing with the oven is too much. Instead, turn to your slow cooker. After all, it’s not just there for soup- or stew-making in the colder months – you can actually cook breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert anytime without breaking a sweat. That’s because not only will you spend less time in the kitchen or in front of a heat source, but your crockpot can also save you work. To see what we mean, explore these 25 summer slow-cooker recipes for every occasion.
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Baby Back Ribs
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“Ribs. I had ribs for lunch. That’s why I’m doing this.” Be like Ron Burgundy and make sure you feast on mouth-watering baby back ribs at some point this summer. And withthis six-ingredient recipe from All Recipesthat requires just 10 minutes of prep, ribs don’t have to be only for special occasions. With a slow cooker, they’re so simple, you can easily enjoy them all season long.
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Banana Upside-Down Cake
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Didn’t know you could make cake in your crockpot? Well then allow us to surprise you and your family/friends/guests withthis summery recipe for banana upside-down cakefrom The Food Network. Feeling especially chill? Top the finished product with your favorite ice cream.
3 of 25
BBQ Chicken Sliders
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Slide into summer cooking with some miniature chicken sandwiches made in the comfort of your own crockpot. Like the ribs recipe earlier in this slideshow, you’ll also only need six ingredients for this meal – and one of those is Sweet Baby Ray’s barbecue sauce, an amazing condiment that goes with tons of dishes. We’re glad Natasha’s Kitchen agrees, and also glad they provided us all withthis fantastic recipefor BBQ chicken sliders.
4 of 25
Beef Nachos
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When you can’t decide between a meal and a snack, nachos are a perfect option. They’re always a crowd-pleaser (just be sure to leave out the meat if your crowd includes vegetarians), and inthis recipe from My Recipes, the hot temperature is balanced out with some cool chunks of avocado.
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Beer Brats
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Brews and brats are your summer buddies, so why not combine both of them into one delicious recipe? Family Fresh Meals offersa recipe called “The Best Crockpot Beer Brats,”and we can’t argue with a name like that. You’ll need eight hours to completely cook this dish, so be sure not to dumpallyour beer into the slow cooker – you’ll want some to help pass the time.
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Blueberry Cobbler
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When we say “every occasion,” this of course includes dessert. And since summer is blueberry season, we suggest trying your hand atthis blueberry cobbler recipefrom Crystal & Co. The ice cream isn’t required, but it’s highly encouraged.
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Chicken Caesar Sandwiches
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Salads and slow cookers don’t go well together, so swap out that chicken caesar salad for a chicken caesar sandwich. Not into the whole submarine roll thing? Serve it on a wrap, or open-faced, or even as a dip. The choice is yours; just usethis recipe from Delishto get started.
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Chili Cheese Dogs
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There are two events that make hot dogs taste even better: summer and baseball games. Get ready for the 2017 MLB All-Star Game on Tuesday, July 11 (and the rest of this season’s games) with this recipe for chili cheese dogs courtesy ofOh, Sweet Basil. As a bonus, this recipe allows you to cook everything in your slow cooker, ensuring that you won’t miss a single pitch.
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Corn on the Cob
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Leave the grill off and don’t worry about filling a huge pot - all you need to make corn on the cob this summer is your slow cooker and just a little bit of water (and butter, lemon juice, parsley, chives, and salt and pepper... but who’s counting?) Get all the infofrom Recipes That Crock right here.
10 of 25
Deep-Dish Pizza
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Crockpots: Is there anything they can’t do? Yes, it’s true, you can actually make a pizza in your slow cooker. And not just any pizza, but a doughy, mouth-watering thick-crust pizza topped with basically anything you want! Usethis recipe from Pillsbury to get started, and then let your Italian-skewed imagination run wild.
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Ham and Hash Brown Casserole
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The word “casserole” usually conjures up negative memories of disappointing dishes for many people, but insert the words “ham” and “hash brown” before it, and most folks will be on board before you even get to the ending. Head over toTaste of Home for the recipe, which only requires seven ingredients and three hours in the crockpot.
12 of 25
Melt-in-your-Mouth Meatloaf
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Meatloaf is already one of the easiest meals to make because it’s extremely difficult to screw up. (Trust us there.) Making the experience even easier, meatloaf can also be prepared in your crockpot. Check outthis “melt-in-your-mouth” versionfrom All Recipes for a loaf you’ll be proud of.
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Not only can you make cheesecake in a slow cooker, but you can also make adorable mini cheesecakes in separate ramekins and finish them with a variety of different toppings. Start withthis recipe for crustless lemon strawberry cheesecakefrom Eazy Peazy Mealz, but feel free to swirl and top your version with your favorite fruit instead. We have a wonderful sauce suggestion for this, but you’ll have to read on to find out what it is!
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Mushroom Risotto
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Most of these recipes can be viewed as “hacks” for your slow cooker, but risotto is one dish for which crockpots always work best. Check outthis easy mushroom risotto recipefrom Moms With Crockpots and see for yourself.
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Paella
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Get ready to repeatedly hear the phrase “please pass the paella,” because that’s all anyone will be saying when they spy your homemade slow cooker paella.This recipe from Delishcalls for shrimp, chicken, and chorizo, but feel free to customize the meat and seafood to your liking.
16 of 25
Peach Crumble
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If you were intrigued by the blueberry cobbler recipe but don’t care for Maine’s favorite fruit, trythis slow-cooker peach crumblefrom Chowhound instead. The crockpot will give this dessert a more caramelized quality, and you won’t have to repeatedly open the roaring inferno that is your oven.
17 of 25
Pepper Pork Chops
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The bad news? These pork chops will take about 14 hours to prepare. The good news? You’ll only spend about 20 minutes of that time in the kitchen. There are lots of slow cooker pork chop recipes out there, so feel free to do some exploring. However, we’d like to recommendthese pepper pork chops from Alton Brownof The Food Network.
18 of 25
Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches
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We’ll admit it: steak just isn’t the same when it’s not cooked on a grill. However, when it comes to a Philly cheesesteak slathered in cheese and topped with peppers and onions, the rules can be relaxed a bit. We know grilling and summer go hand-in-hand, but sometimes it’s just too darn hot. Instead, prepare your steak in the slow cooker and beat the heat without sacrificing the taste of the meat courtesy ofthis recipe from The Cooking Mom.
19 of 25
Poached Salmon
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Don’t listen to finicky fish folks, you can absolutely prepare poached salmon in a slow cooker. Servethis recipe for salmon with lemon and fresh herbsfrom The Kitchn and your family and/or guests won’t know the difference, except that it tastes better than anything they’ve ever made!
20 of 25
Semi-Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
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As the name suggests,this recipe from All Free Slow Cooker Recipesuses refrigerated buns, but the advantage is that you can make them without ever turning on your oven. You’ll also need to use a small saucepan for a few minutes, but that’s only if you want homemade caramel sauce. (And you definitely want homemade caramel sauce.)
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Shredded Beef Enchiladas
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We don’t know why hot and spicy food tastes best in the hotter months, but we’re not complaining – especially after findingthis recipe for slow-cooker beef enchiladasvia Tastes Better From Scratch. And yes, the meal totally lives up to the site’s name.
22 of 25
Spinach and Artichoke Dip
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Preparing a homemade spinach and artichoke dip doesn’t require too much time in the kitchen, but all of it will be spent standing over a steaming pot. Instead, break out your slow cooker forthis refreshing, three-cheese summer snack via Home Cooking Memoriesso you can enjoy the warm weather outside instead of melting over a hot stove.
23 of 25
Strawberry Rhubarb Sauce
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In true “every occasion” fashion, here’s a versatile strawberry rhubarb sauce that can be used in an endless number of ways. Try it atop pancakes and biscuits for breakfast, on ice cream or cheesecake for dessert, or even as a glaze for chicken at lunch or dinner. Get all the recipe infovia Taste of Home right here.
24 of 25
Sweet Potato Mash
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There’s a lot more to sweet potato mash than mashing up sweet potatoes. Likethis recipe from My Recipesstates, you’ll also need to add butter, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and salt. Still, making this satisfying side in your slow cooker is a cinch.
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Teriyaki Chicken Wings
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Don’t let any culinary curmudgeons tell you that you need a deep fryer or a grill to make good chicken wings. As Betty Crocker proves withthis recipe, all you really need is a slow cooker. Plus, Ms. Crocker will show you how to make your own teriyaki sauce at home, which surely beats any bottled variety.