22 Tasty Summer Slow Cooker Meals for a Cool Kitchen
Your slow cooker isn’t just for winter soups and stews. Keep the kitchen heat to a minimum with these fresh and flavorful summer slow cooker meals.
Keeping your kitchen cool during peak summer temperatures is an important way to save energy costs and stay comfortable—and these summer slow cooker meals will breeze you through the season. Unlike your oven, these fresh, flavorful, and creative dishes won’t overwhelm your kitchen with heat. With tasty dinners including sloppy joes and shrimp boils, these summer slow cooker meals will have you rubbing your tummy without rubbing sweat from your forehead.
Mediterranean Chicken and Wheat Berry Salad
Equal parts light and hearty, this summer slow cooker meal is designed to be prepped in advance. The protein- and fiber-packed recipe is great for a make-ahead dinner or meal prep lunch idea, delivering an easy, healthy, and delicious meal with robust texture and flavor. While the slow cooker preps the wheat berries, shake together the citrusy dressing, then toss with rotisserie chicken or your preferred protein.
Low-Sugar Barbecue Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Just because summer slow cooker meals are easy doesn't mean they aren't healthy. For example, this low-sugar barbecue pulled pork recipe skips the store-bought sauce and dresses the tender shredded meat with a date-sweetened Paleo barbecue sauce. The recipe also calls for homemade whole-wheat hamburger buns for an entirely scratch-made meal.
Tip
If you want to eliminate bread from the meal, serve the barbecued pork over a sweet potato or bed of brown rice.
Fast or Slow Cheesy Chili Mac
Look no further than this cheesy chili mac recipe for summer slow cooker meals that will please the whole family. It’s like a mash-up of chili and mac and cheese, two comfort food favorites. The meal requires a little bit of prep time to get the ground beef browned, but after that, the slow cooker will do the work for you.
Tangy Molasses Barbecue Ribs
With just 15 minutes of prep work, this summer slow cooker recipe will be well on its way to barbecuing itself. The secret to these tangy molasses ribs lies in the rub made of brown sugar, dry mustard, smoked paprika, and garlic salt. The sweet-and-smoky spiced ribs are finished with an easy molasses- and mustard-forward homemade barbecue sauce that produces finger-licking results.
Pesto Chicken Sandwiches
Instead of making individual sandwiches for your next picnic or cookout, try one of the more creative summer slow cooker meals that serves 6 to 8 people with a single assembly. Slather ciabatta bread with pesto mayo and layer on the slow-cooked chicken, mushroom, and zucchini blend. Slice and split for a recipe that puts a Tuscan spin on the classic chicken sandwich.
Loaded Creamed Corn with Tomato and Bacon
Get ready for a loaded bowl of Southern-style goodness. This easy summer slow cooker meal features homemade creamed corn that's sweet, savory, and cheesy. The rich recipe is topped with melty Monterey Jack cheese and crispy bacon, while fresh tomatoes and parsley bring a burst of brightness to the comfort meal.
BHG Home Cook Tip
"Before serving, I stir the bacon and tomatoes into the corn and then top it with more to make sure everyone gets some," one BHG home cook shared of their favorite way to serve the loaded creamed corn meal.
Slow Cooker Taco Salad
This five-ingredient slow cooker recipe is ideal for home cooks on a budget or in a rush to get out the door in the morning. The taco salad meal can be as simple as the slow cooker meat served atop a bed of rice or wrapped in a tortilla shell. For a taco salad with all the fixings, pair the Tex-Mex-flavored ground meat with salsa, cheese, sour cream, avocado, and other toppings, and allow everyone to build personalized bowls.
Jerk Pork Wraps with Lime Mayo
The best summer slow cooker meals incorporate fresh and flavorful ingredients like this mouthwatering jerk pork wrap recipe. Jamaican jerk seasoning infuses slow-cooked pork shoulder with a bold Caribbean flavor that's tempered with a creamy lime mayo. Fresh mango salsa and crisp red pepper add sweetness and crunch to the shredded meat wraps for a tropical take on your traditional taco nights.
Slow Cooker Italian Sausage Grinders
Feeding a large crowd? Consider one of our favorite summer slow cooker meals that feeds 12. This Italian sausage grinders recipe requires light prep work—brown the ground meat and sautee the vegetables, then transfer the mixture into a slow cooker with the other ingredients and let it simmer away. Scoop the saucy meat into hoagie buns, top with cheese, and enjoy.
Tip
Tailor the spice level in your Italian sausage grinders to your crowd's preference. Opt for sweet sausage and no crushed red pepper for those who dislike heat, or choose hot sausage and a generous amount of crushed red pepper for spice lovers. Meet somewhere in the middle for those who enjoy mild spiciness.
Chicken Bratwurst and Onions with Broccoli Slaw Salad
One of the most quintessentially summer meals is brats on the grill, and this recipe puts a healthy slow cooker spin on the beloved sausage dinner. Set and forget the summer staple in a bath of garlic, onion, herbs, and apple cider. Whip up a creamy broccoli slaw for a crisp, crunchy topping, and assemble the flavorful bratwursts in whole wheat buns for an extra health-conscious touch.
Greek Sloppy Joe Pitas
Consider these light and fresh Greek pita sandwiches for your next potluck. They’re ideal for events where most guests eat while mingling and can benefit from handheld food. Slow-cooked garlicky lamb and veggies combine harmoniously with tangy feta cheese for only 300 calories per serving.
Zesty Fajita Bites
Get on a roll with another of the best summer slow cooker meals for grab-and-go bites. Juicy chicken surprises with unique flavor thanks to a combination of spicy brown mustard and fajita seasonings. The zesty meat is rolled into warm tortillas alongside crisp sweet peppers and green onions for bite-sized food no one can resist.
Buffalo Chicken Dip
This slow cooker buffalo chicken dip delivers zingy wing flavor minus the mess and the fry time. Whether you're hosting a party or whipping up a treat for the family, your loved ones will line up at the table to enjoy every last bite of this crunchy, savory snack with a hint of spice. Assemble a platter with the dip at the center and surround it with stacks of seasonal vegetables, such as sweet pepper strips and cucumber coins, for a healthier alternative to chips and pita crackers.
Tip
Avoid scrubbing crusted dip off the sides of your slow cooker by using a disposable liner for easy cleaning.
Apricot Chipotle Pork Ribs
Forget brushing and basting—these smoky, citrusy pork ribs are here to save time and reduce stress during your next backyard bash. Another of our favorite pork rib summer slow cooker meals, the sweet heat of this recipe made with apricot preserves, chili sauce, and chipotle in adobo will keep all your potluck pals coming back for more. Just be sure to provide plenty of napkins to mop up that sauce!
Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Prep one of your favorite restaurant dishes at home with this Asian chicken lettuce wrap recipe. The slow cooker meal is a healthier take on the plate you might order to-go for a light, refreshing slow cooker dinner that's delicious on a particularly scorching summer day. The recipe uses savory teriyaki sauce and Chinese-style hot mustard to pack flavor in every lettuce-wrapped bite.
Cola-Chipotle Pork Tortas
If you love our summer slow cooker meals with extremely unique flavor profiles and ingredients, this recipe will land on your must-try list. A bubbly can of cola transforms ordinary pulled pork into a remarkably distinct sandwich filling. The sweetness from the soda balances the smoky kick of the chipotle peppers for a Mexican recipe that delivers sweet, spicy, savory, and smoky notes. A topping of avocado brings in a fresh and creamy element for a summer recipe that hits all the flavor profiles.
Tip
Craving more zip? Top each torta with a pile of grapefruit-infused red onions.
Crispy Chicken and Citrus Salad with Honey-Dijon Vinaigrette
This slow cooker salad recipe starts with juicy chicken confit made of thyme, garlic, and pepper spiced leg quarters. Sweet orange slices and candied nuts balance the savory notes of the protein while peppery arugula adds a fresh crispness to the meal. The salad is dressed with a sweet and tangy honey dijon vinaigrette that perfectly marries the array of ingredient flavors in the upscale plate.
Slow Cooker Corn on the Cob
This list of summer slow cooker meals wouldn't be complete without a sweet corn recipe. The starchy vegetable is at its peak during the summer months and cooks remarkably well in a slow cooker. Wrap the ears in foil, adding butter and seasonings to the cobs if desired, and cook on low for 4 hours.
Tip
Elevate classic corn on the cob by topping your cooked ears with one of our seasoned compound butter recipes, such as tarragon butter or cowboy butter.
All-American Sloppy Joes
Saucy sloppy joes are a classic summertime crowd-pleaser. Brown the ground meat and toss the ingredients in a slow cooker, letting it stew on low for up to 8 hours. Pile the sweet, tangy sandwich filling on whole grain buns and top with homemade dill pickle slices for a little extra zing.
Slow-Cooked Pork Carnitas
Another lettuce-wrapped summer slow cooker meal is this Mexican-inspired carnitas recipe. Cinnamon, cumin, and cayenne are key ingredients in the carnitas rub, yielding smoky and spicy meat served in lettuce wraps or cabbage cups. Top the healthy boats with salsa, guacamole, lime, herbs, and avocado for a flavor- and texture-filled bite.
Low-Country Shrimp Boil
One of the most classic summer slow cooker meals is this coastal-inspired recipe. Seafood boils can be done a few ways, but this version stars juicy shrimp, andouille sausage, potatoes, and corn generously seasoned with Old Bay. Serve with melted butter, plenty of fresh lemon, and a big stack of napkins for cleanup.
Tip
The key to cooking shrimp boil ingredients properly is adding them in batches—the corn and shrimp won’t need as much time as the sausage and potatoes.
Slow Cooker Pickled Beets
Did you know you can make pickled beets in a slow cooker? A batch of these sweet, salty, vinegary veggies makes a flavorful topper for salads, hummus, crostini, or sandwiches. Pickled beets last up to two weeks in the fridge, making this summer slow cooker recipe a great make-ahead option.
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