45 Summer Slow Cooker Recipes For When You're Boycotting Your Oven (2024)

45 Summer Slow Cooker Recipes For When You're Boycotting Your Oven (1)

When it's out hot out, we are basically not on speaking terms with our ovens. Summer is, to Team Delish, all about being outdoors as much as we can—camping out, grilling out, anywhere but cooped up inside. But... we still gotta eat. Enter: slow-cooker meals. Prep them in your slow cooker in the morning (or afternoon!) and forget about it 'til dinnertime. The best part? You don't have to even involve sweating over a hot stove or opening up a steamy oven with any of these 45 summer slow-cooker meals that'll have you keeping your cool, literally. 😎

Don't have a slow cooker or Crockpot? We tried all of them so you can find the best slow cookers and get to cooking up some Crockpot queso, slow-cooker pulled pork, and even a slow-cooker brownie. Want to use your slow cooker but don't want to make too much food? Try all our best Crockpot recipes for two.

We love how slow cookers help tenderize tougher cuts of meat by cooking them low and slow. Need proof? Try our Crockpot pork chops and slow-cooker beef tacos, and you'll be fully convinced of the power of a slow cooker. They're also great for cooking up some of our favorite party dips, and it'll keep them warm all day long for any of those summertime celebrations on your calendar. Whether you choose to make our slow-cooker hot crab dip or Crockpot buffalo chicken dip, you really can't go wrong.

For even more ideas for keeping cool while cooking, check out our favorite slow-cooker desserts, no-cook summer appetizers, and no-bake desserts. We also rounded up 75 of our absolute best set-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker meals so you can keep slow cooking all year round.

Crockpot Spinach Artichoke Dip

If spinach-artichoke dip is one of those things you get really excited about at a party but you feel like it takes too much effort, this slow-cooker version is for you. Don’t bother turning on the oven (especially when you have other appetizers to bake—cranberry brie bites, perhaps?).

Get the Crockpot Spinach-Artichoke Dip recipe.

Crockpot Pepper Steak

Pepper steak is a straightforward, savory sweet stir-fry that we think works amazingly when made in a slow cooker. The steak gets very tender, and it takes on some of the qualities of your favorite beef stew while still staying true to the original.

Get the Crockpot Pepper Steak recipe.

Slow-Cooker Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken

This slow-cooker creamy lemon herb chicken spends all day bubbling along and results in everything you want in a meal: delicious, comforting, and easy. By cooking low and slow, the humble chicken breast is transformed into something that melts in your mouth. Lemon, herbs, and garlic infuse the chicken with loads of flavor with some cream at the end to round out the sauce.

Get the Slow-Cooker Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken recipe.

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Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken

Pulled chicken is made so easy in the slow cooker, and this version includes brown sugar, a little Italian dressing, and bourbon for a bit of smokiness. Dress these up with homemade coleslaw for the greatest dinner with zero effort.

Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe.

Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip

Fact: A party is only as good as the Buffalo dip you serve. The best part? Your slow cooker will keep it warm and ready for dipping! Go all out and make a batch of homemade soft pretzels to serve with it.

Get the Crockpot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

Slow-Cooker Beef & Broccoli

In the world of Chinese-American classics, you can’t beat beef and broccoli. And while you can always order take-out, here at Delish, we’re so obsessed that we’ve found multiple ways to make it at home: in a pan on the stove, and now in a slow cooker.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Chili

Our classic beef chili is already quick enough to make on a weeknight, but this slow-cooker recipe is even easier. Sautéing the beef and onion will definitely lead to more flavor, but if you want to just throw everything into the slow cooker all at once, it'd be totally fine. Just be sure to top your bowl with plenty of Fritos!

Get the Slow-Cooker Beef Chili recipe.

Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos

Throw a beef chuck roast—which has a strong beefy flavor and needs time to tenderize—an onion, and some spices in the slow cooker before you head out for work and come home to a Tex-Mex masterpiece.

Get the Slow-Cooker Beef Tacos recipe.

Slow-Cooker Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wings

Any true sports fan knows that Game Day isn't complete without Buffalo ranch something. These are doused in ranch seasoning and sprinkled with fresh chives for extra flavor.

Get the Slow-Cooker Buffalo Ranch Chicken Wings recipe.

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Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi

Everything about Tuscany speaks to us: the landscape, the history, the art, and, of course, the food! The central Italian region has inspired many of our favorite hearty recipes, like creamy Tuscan chicken, saucy Tuscan butter shrimp, and Tuscan chicken pasta. This time, we’re doubling down on the comfort by giving meatballs and gnocchi the Tuscan treatment, in one dish.

Mini BBQ Chicken Sliders

Sliders—in any variation—are a BBQ must-have. We find this recipe for mini BBQ chicken sliders impossible to resist. It's got some homemade coleslaw on top and served on super soft, super fluffy rolls.

Get the Mini BBQ Chicken Sliders recipe.

Slow-Cooker Chocolate Chip Cookie

Believe your eyes: You can make a skillet cookie now in your slow cooker! Never waste your time scooping out individual cookies again.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

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Slow-Cooker Short Ribs

Few things feel as special—and as satisfying—as a well cooked beef short rib. This version is fall-off-the-bone tender and insanely flavorful, thanks to a quick sear before slow cooking and a Korean-inspired sauce that would make anything taste good.

Get the Slow-Cooker Short Ribs recipe.

Crockpot Mac & Cheese

Homemade macaroni and cheese is a process. But this slow-cooker mac & cheese makes cooking up the staple a breeze. Everything—including the pasta!—cooks in a slow cooker. And in the end you have just ONE DISH to clean.

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Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Looking for a low effort, stick-to-your-ribs dinner? You've come to the right place. This Tex-Mex inspired soup is hearty, delicious, and endlessly riffable depending on what you're craving. We highly encourage you mix and match your favorite toppings, too. Try crushed Fritos, cubed avocado, roasted pumpkin seeds, pickled or fresh jalapeños, pickled red onions... whatever floats your boat.

Get the Crockpot Chicken Enchilada Soup recipe.

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Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks

These chicken drumsticks are the perfect game-day treat. They're super tender and crazy flavorful with a gingery, garlicky glaze. Broiling is an optional step, but it really takes them to a whole other level. Fall apart meat and crispy skin? Sign us up!

Get the Crockpot Chicken Drumsticks recipe.

Slow-Cooker Chicken Pozole

Enjoy the comfort of this Mexican favorite without any of the work. If you're looking for something more classic, check out our best-ever pozole.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chicken Pozole recipe.

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

The secret to really good pulled pork is cooking it low and slow, and lucky for you, a slow cooker makes the drawn-out process a breeze. This on a potato roll plus pickles and coleslaw (and potato chips, if you're feeling crazy) = absolute perfection.

Get the Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.

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Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Slow cookers can not only make your lives easier, but they can also make fajitas easier. You won't get a smoking hot sizzle tray, but you will get perfectly tender fajitas that are full of flavor. Make sure to top with sour cream, cheese, and pickled red onions.

Get the Crockpot Chicken Fajitas recipe.

Slow-Cooker Salmon

Think of this recipe as a base for all future slow-cooked seafood dinner recipes. Feel free to switch up the citrus you use, make a bed of sliced onions or leeks, or throw in some herbs like rosemary or thyme. You could even swap out lemon juice and broth for white wine and melted butter.

Get the Slow-Cooker Salmon recipe.

Mackenzie Filson

Mackenzie Filson is a food writer and contributing digital food producer at Delish. Her favorite ice cream flavor is chocolate-pine. If wine was an astrological sign she'd be a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. She's never met a bag of Spicy Sweet Chili Doritos she didn't eat in one sitting.

45 Summer Slow Cooker Recipes For When You're Boycotting Your Oven (2024)

FAQs

How do I use a slow cooker instead of an oven? ›

Converting temperatures and cook time

The general rule is the high setting cooks about twice as fast as the low setting. Converting a recipe to slow cooking works the best with dishes that are cooked at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) or lower in the oven or those that are cooked on the stove.

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What is the oven temperature equivalent to a slow cooker? ›

Slow cookers generally operate between 190°F (on the low setting) and 300°F (on the high setting). In comparison, when using an oven as a slow cooker, you'll typically set the temperature between 325°F (similar to the low setting) and 375°F (resembling the high setting).

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Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between the two settings isn't a higher temperature, it's the time it takes for the slow cooker to reach the simmer point. On high, that's around three to four hours, and on low, it's seven to eight, according to Crock-Pot. So imagine if your dinner is cooking away on high all day while you're at work.

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Is a slow cooker good for the summer? ›

It's hot enough outside so let's keep it as cool as possible inside. Slow cookers will help you save money both inside and outside the home. This small appliance is much more energy-efficient than your oven and stove, while also keeping your AC bill down by not heating up your home.

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How do you mimic a slow cooker on the stove? ›

If you don't have a slow cooker, you can slow cook right on stovetop using a cooking pot that has a heavy build (like a Dutch oven) so it can disperse heat evenly to the food cooking inside. You should cover it well with a lid, keep the heat low and keep checking food in between so it does not run out of liquid.

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Why is a slow cooker better than an oven? ›

Not only are slow cookers ideal for people who want to leave dinner to simmer away and attend to other errands, they work out to be one of the cheapest appliances to cook with in the kitchen. The electricity usage of an electric oven is estimated to be around two to 2.2kWh, compared to a slow cooker at just 0.7kWh.

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Is it better to cook on high or low in a slow cooker? ›

Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting.

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How do you slow-cook meat in the oven? ›

Place roast on rack inside a roasting pan, or something deep and wide, if you don't have a roaster. Place roast in oven at temperature for 1 hour. after the hour, turn temperature down to 200 and let site for about 4 hours. This will net you a medium to rare roast with a flavourful outer cuts.

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What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

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Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on overnight? ›

The short answer: Yes. slow cookers are made to cook food for extensive periods of time (some can be left up to 24 hours). But, of course, follow safe practices outlined in your instruction manual, and keep the appliance on low or warm, as opposed to high, overnight.

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Can you put everything in a slow cooker the night before? ›

Make-ahead when possible: If your slow cooker has a removable insert, assemble the ingredients the night before and refrigerate the entire insert overnight. It's important to note that starting with cool ingredients may lengthen cooking time (but be sure to keep them out of the temperature danger zone).

Can I leave my slow cooker on high all day? ›

Yes, so long as the lid is on and the liquid is topped up. Crock pots are designed to run for long periods of time, that is kinda their thing.