Summer Crockpot Meal Ideas

If you have the 'hangout house' like I do, you can probably expect a few extra dinner guests during the summer months. So I wanted to share some of my go-to summer slow cooker recipes that keep the cooking easy and the house cool.

These easy slow cooker recipes are a lifesaver for busy days, whether you're planning weeknight dinners or feeding a crowd at summer parties. From flavorful pulled pork to fall-off-the-bone beef ribs, simply pop on over to this page whenever someone asks 'what's for dinner?'.

1. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

My slow cooker pulled pork recipe makes tender, juicy meat that's perfect for sandwiches, tacos, or sliders. It's an easy, set-it-and-forget-it meal for summer cookouts and BBQs.

2. Slow Cooker Crack Chicken

Crack chicken is a rich and creamy mixture of shredded chicken, bacon, and ranch seasoning for a flavor-packed dish. Serve it on buns, over rice, or as a dip with tortilla chips or crusty bread.

3. Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

My slow cooker pork carnitas are seasoned to perfection and slow-cooked until tender, then crisped up for authentic flavor. Just grab your preferred tortillas and taco toppings (fresh cilantro, pico de gallo, avocado, and cheese are my go-to's.).

4. Slow Cooker Beef Cheek Tacos

Easily make tender, flavorful barbacoa with my slow cooker beef cheeks recipe. The beef cheeks become incredibly tender in the crockpot for the easiest and most delicious tacos.

5. Crockpot Chicken Tacos

Toss boneless skinless chicken breasts, taco seasoning, onions, diced tomatoes, and salsa in your crockpot for an effortless taco night. This perfectly seasoned and saucy shredded chicken tastes great with nothing more than shredded cheese and a squeeze of lime.

6. Crockpot Mac and Cheese

This creamy crockpot mac and cheese is the ultimate comfort food made easy. You don't even have to boil the noodles, they cook until perfectly tender right in your slow cooker.

7. Crockpot London Broil

My crockpot London broil recipe makes a fork-tender and flavorful roast with rich gravy using simple ingredients. It’s an easy slow cooker beef dinner that’s perfect for summer weeknights.

8. Slow Cooker Yankee Pot Roast

My Yankee pot roast recipe includes ultra-tender beef, hearty vegetables, and rich savory gravy, all cooked to perfection in the crockpot. It’s a satisfying one-pot meal you can set and forget.

9. Slow Cooker Brisket

Slow cooker brisket turns out juicy, flavorful, and fork-tender every time and it's made using your favorite BBQ sauce. This tender brisket is great for summer entertaining, sandwiches, or a no-fuss weeknight dinner.

10. Crockpot Grape Jelly Meatballs

These crockpot grape jelly meatballs are sweet, savory, and tangy, with just 3 ingredients. They’re a crowd-pleasing party appetizer or easy dinner that’s always a hit.

11. Crockpot Cabbage

Crockpot cabbage combines tender cabbage, savory bacon, onion, garlic, and broth for a flavorful and comforting side dish. Sometimes I eat a bowl of this cabbage on its own for the full meal, it's that good.

12. Slow Cooker Three Bean Chili

My hearty slow cooker three bean chili features a blend of beans, ground beef, and a rich tomato base seasoned with homemade chili seasoning. It's an easy and satisfying crockpot meal ideal for summer gatherings or weeknight dinners.

13. Crockpot Green Beans and Potatoes

Crockpot green beans and potatoes is made with fresh green beans, tender potatoes, and bacon, in a flavorful broth. These easy veggies go with with just about anything.

14. 2-Ingredient BBQ Little Smokies

These 2-ingredient BBQ Lil Smokies are made with cocktail sausages and your favorite barbecue sauce. Serve with toothpicks for a mess-free appetizer.

15. Slow Cooker Boneless Leg of Lamb

This slow cooker boneless leg of lamb is seasoned with aromatic herbs and cooked to tender perfection for an elegant yet easy main course. It's practically fool-proof and a great recipe for anyone who hasn't made lamb before.

16. Crock Pot Butter Chicken

Tender chicken simmered in a creamy, spiced tomato sauce for a rich and flavorful dish. For an authentic meal, serve with homemade naan bread or simply ladel it over a bowl of rice. 

Portion your butter chicken into airtight containers in the fridge for an easy weekday meal prep.

17. Crockpot BBQ Beef Short Ribs

These crockpot BBQ beef short ribs are fall-off-the-bone tender and packed with bold, smoky barbecue flavor. It’s a low-effort, high-reward summer dinner recipe.

18. Slow Cooker Chicken Drumsticks

Slow cooker chicken drumsticks are juicy, flavorful, and incredibly easy to make with just a handful of ingredients. This simple and delicious chicken legs recipe is one the whole family will enjoy.

19. Slow Cooker Country Style Pork Ribs

These country style pork ribs are tender, juicy, and smothered in rich barbecue sauce for a finger-licking good summer meal. The boneless ribs are so tender and juicy with barely any effort on your end.

If you're making your side dishes in the crockpot, you can just as easily make these bbq pork ribs in the oven. See my baked boneless country style pork ribs recipe for instructions.

20. Crockpot Mongolian Beef

My Mongolian beef recipe is made with thin slices of beef cooked low and slow in a savory garlic-ginger sauce. It's perfect for serving over rice or noodles.

21. Slow Cooker Kielbasa and Sauerkraut

Slow cooker kielbasa and sauerkraut is a tangy and savory one-pot meal. It's bursting with flavor from the tangy sauerkraut, a can of light beer and yellow mustard.

22. Slow Cooker Greek Lemon Chicken and Potatoes

This slow cooker Greek lemon chicken and potatoes recipe features tender chicken thighs and soft potatoes infused with the bright flavor of lemon juice, garlic, and herbs. It's a flavorful and easy Mediterranean-inspired crockpot dinner.

23. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Slow cooker buffalo chicken is a spicy and versatile dish made with tender shredded chicken simmered in tangy buffalo sauce. Perfect for sandwiches, wraps, salads, or nachos, this easy crockpot recipe is a crowd-pleaser.

24. Slow Cooker Jerk Pork

This slow cooker jerk pork is seasoned with homemade Jamaican jerk seasoning and cooked until tender, then served over pineapple rice. It's a flavorful and tropical meal that is perfect for summertime.

25. Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken

This honey teriyaki chicken recipe features juicy shredded chicken cooked in a sweet and savory homemade teriyaki sauce. Serve it over rice or with steamed vegetables for an easy and delicious summer dinner.

26. Slow Cooker Peach Chicken

Peach chicken combines tender chicken breasts with sweet peaches and a light, flavorful sauce. It's a simple and healthy recipe that's perfect for a light lunch or dinner.

27. Mexican Street Corn Chowder

This slow cooker Mexican street corn chowder combines sweet corn, peppers, creamy broth, and zesty spices. It's one of the easiest crockpot soups that's perfect for a cozy weeknight dinner.

28. Summer Slow Cooker Cobbler

This summer slow cooker cobbler features a delightful mix of peaches and berries topped with a buttery pecan-oat crumble. It's a simple and delicious dessert that's perfect for warm-weather entertaining.

29. Slow Cooker Dump Cake

This 3-ingredient slow cooker dump cake is an easy but indulgent dessert made with pie filling, cake mix, and butter. It's perfect for potlucks, pool parties, or just because.

30. Slow Cooker Banana Pudding Cake

This banana pudding cake combines moist yellow cake mix with creamy banana pudding for a decadent dessert. It's a crowd-pleasing sweet treat for warm summer days that I created for Mashed and I know you'll love it!

31. Slow Cooker Chocolate Lava Cake

This chocolate lava cake features a rich, gooey center surrounded by moist chocolate cake. It's an indulgent crockpot dessert that's perfect for satisfying your sweet tooth.

💭 Tips For Making Easy Summer Dinners In Your Slow Cooker

1. Brown meat for deeper flavor (optional): Searing your meat on the stovetop before adding it to the pot gives it a richer, more complex flavor. This is especially nice for dishes like pulled pork or beef. But if you choose to skip this step, your food will still turn out tasty.
2. Use marinades: Not everything needs to marinate, but beef, chicken, and pork benefit from it a lot. Try to pick a marinade flavor that closely matches or complements the main recipe. My easy chicken marinades include a wide variety of flavors for different cuisines.
3. Go for 'no-cook' sides: Since the goal is to keep things simple, choose no-cook sides like salads, coleslaw, fruit salads. You could even add some crusty bread for soaking up delicious juices.
4. Adjust liquids: Fresh summer veggetables contain a lot of water. If your finished dish seems too watery, remove the lid and cook on high for 30 minutes to evaporate some of the excess liquid.
   

Which of these summer crockpot meal ideas will you be trying first? Share your favorite easy slow cooker recipes in the comments!

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