Keep your oven off with these tasty summer slow cooker recipes. Skipping the comfort food for lighter, fresh and summery meals, many of which can be prepped ahead.
While you might think of your slow cooker as the perfect way to cook soups and stews, and traditionally 'wintery' foods, it's also a really hands off way to cook summery foods. BONUS- keep your oven off and your house cool!
Summer slow cooker recipes
Winter or summer, the slow cooker is one of my favorite kitchen appliances because it makes dinner so dang hands off! Putting in the effort earlier in the day often means that dinner is as simple as serving it up or cooking a batch of rice.
One great way to get a lot of bang for your buck with summer slow cooker meals is to cook a big batch of protein and use it in multiple meals. This is perfect for days when you just can't turn the oven on, and busy weeks when you want a head start on dinner.
Several of the recipes in this post are based around pre-cooking a big portion of protein or sweet potatoes.
Click to jump to:
- slow cooker chicken recipes
- slow cooker sweet potato recipes
- slow cooker pulled pork
- slow cooker beef recipes
- other slow cooker recipes
Slow cooker tips
- filling the slow cooker- a good general rule is to fill your slow cooker half full. This means you need to cook at least 2 lbs of chicken at a time in a standard 6 quart slow cooker. You may want to invest in a smaller 2.5 quart slow cooker, which is perfect to cook 1 lb of chicken.
- use the right herbs- a general rule is to add hardy herbs like rosemary and thyme at the start of cooking. Reserve soft herbs like cilantro and parsley to add just before serving
- add acid at the end- many recipes can benefit from a boost of acid (lemon juice, lime juice, balsamic vinegar etc) at the end of cooking. It really brightens up the flavor!
- taste for salt- always taste test before serving and stir in more salt if needed
- use the right cut of chicken- chicken breast cannot handle over 5 hours (on low!) in the slow cooker. If you need to cook for longer than that, consider boneless skinless chicken thighs. Bonus: brown the thighs first and they will hold together even better!
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1. Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Chicken is a staple in our diet in the summer, and the slow cooker is a great way to cook a big batch. Some of the recipes below are part of a meal prep plan, which includes cooking a batch of slow cooker chicken ahead and using it in multiple meals. You are also welcome to cook the chicken and use it immediately in the recipes.
See: 7 Ingredient Meal Prep Plan + Shopping List (Honey Lime Chicken)
2. Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Recipes
Cooking your sweet potatoes in the slow cooker is a genius way to keep your oven off in the summer. Slow cooker sweet potatoes are always perfectly creamy and tender on the inside. You can then use the sweet potato filling in various recipes, or stuff the sweet potatoes with your favorite fillings and finish them off in the oven (for a much shorter amount of time than you would otherwise have used).
3. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
There is no better way to cook tough pork shoulder than in the slow cooker! A long, slow cook time ensures the tough collagen fibres in a pork shoulder melt into the meat resulting in tender, juicy pulled pork. Use your pulled pork in a variety of summery meals so that you never get bored.
See: Pulled Pork Meal Prep Plan + Shopping List
4. Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
Just like pork shoulder, the slow cooker is a great way to cook tough cuts of beef. Since this cooks a huge batch, we have a variety of recipe options for you to use them up through the week.
More Slow Cooker Recipe Ideas
Keep your oven off by cooking your breakfast casseroles and stuffed peppers in the slow cooker! This is a great option during the warm summer months.
Suzanne Holt says
Thanks for compiling these recipes - they look delicious!
Denise says
Thanks, Suzanne! There are definitely a few I need to try!
Ashley | The Recipe Rebel says
Uh, I am SO hungry right now! Thanks so much for including me! Pinning for sure 🙂
Denise says
Ha ha...dangers of being a food blogger, right? Both of your recipes look so delicious, Ashley!
Jen @ Carlsbad Cravings says
This collection looks amazing! I want to try everything! Thanks also for featuring my recipe!
Denise says
Your Citrus Fajita Chicken looks so fresh and flavorful, Jen! I will definitely have to try it!
Denise says
I agree, too many choices! Thanks, Jessica!
Andrea @ Cooking with Mamma C says
Thanks for compiling this, Denise! What a great source of inspiration for using my favorite kitchen appliance!
Denise says
It is quickly becoming my favorite appliance as well, Andrea! Although sometimes I still feel like we're getting to know each other :S
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
I love using my crockpot in the summer. That means no heating up my house from using the oven! These are all great!
Denise says
I can only imagine how hot your house must get in California, Natalie! Slow cooker= perfect solution 🙂
Harriet Emily says
All of these recipes look so delicious! My mouth is seriously watering right now, they're all making me so hungry! Thank you for sharing such great recipe inspiration! 🙂
Denise says
Thanks, Harriet!
Jen says
Love this roundup! My slow cooker get a ton of use in the summer. Can't wait to try some of these fabulous recipes!
Denise says
Thanks, Jen! I can't wait to get started on some of these 🙂
marcie says
I love using my slow cooker year round, and it's important in the summer because we're out and about all day and there's barely time to cook! Love this round up!
Denise says
That's so true, Marcie! It's awesome to come home to the smells of dinner, isn't it?
Catherine says
Dear Denise, It all looks wonderful! A delicious roundup of summer recipes. xo, Catherine
Denise says
Thanks so much, Catherine!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
I definitely don't use my crockpot as often as I should in the summer, and now you've totally given me all the inspiration I need to keep on using it throughout the summer! Love this line-up, Denise! Thanks for including my jerk chicken tacos!
Denise says
Your jerk tacos look amazing, Sarah! Thanks so much 🙂 🙂
Lindsay@BluegrassBites says
These all look delicious, Denise! Thanks for including my Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Quesadillas in your round-up!
Denise says
Your Honey Garlic Chicken Quesadillas looked so delicious and were so creative, that I had to include them! Definitely will have to give them a try! Thanks, Lindsay 🙂
April @ Girl Gone Gourmet says
Now I want to make ALL of these recipes! Great round-up - I use my crock pot more in the summer and I definitely need more ideas. Got that solved now 🙂
Denise says
I know, I'm so hungry after looking at the post again 🙁 Thanks, April!
Olivia - Primavera Ktichen says
This is such a great collection, Denise! I definitely should use more my slow cooker in the summer too. Thanks a lot for sharing it 😉
Denise says
Thanks, Olivia! I'm feeling inspired, too 🙂
Marge says
They all look so enticing! I'm now really craving for a good burger after seeing the Banh Mi sandwich.
Denise says
Oh my goodness, that one looks amazing, doesn't it, Marge?
Ashley says
I'm guilty of the same thing! I get so much use out of mine during the colder weather but come summer I forget about it! What a great collection of recipes!
Denise says
Thanks, Ashley! I am definitely feeling inspired to try out some more summery slow cooker recipes now 🙂
Liz @ Floating Kitchen says
These are awesome, Denise! I love using my slow cooker in the summer because it doesn't heat up the house as much as the oven. Thanks for including my tacos! 🙂
Denise says
Your tacos look amazing! Thanks, Liz!