17 Summer Crockpot Recipe Ideas to Keep Your Kitchen Cool
1. BBQ Pulled Pork
Tender, fall-apart pulled pork simmers all day in a sweet and tangy homemade barbecue sauce lending wonderfully sticky caramelized edges to shredded meat ready for topping baked potatoes or salad conveniently without heating up kitchen in warm months. Simply coat pork shoulder first with spices before browning all over stovetop. Then transfer to slow cooker pouring over favorite homemade or store bought sugar free bbq sauce cooking on low 8 hours until shreds easily with forks soaked beautifully.
Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder
- Chili powder, paprika, garlic powder
- Sugar free barbecue sauce
Recipe
2. Hawaiian Chicken
Boneless skinless chicken thighs become infused with quintessential Hawaiian flavors including pineapple, soy sauce, brown sugar and ginger conveniently slow cooking until incredibly fall apart tender ready for shredding and serving in lettuce wraps or over cauli rice. Simply mix sauce ingredients together before pouring over chicken thighs and cooking on low heat 6 hours Fully submerged in sweet, yet slightly salty pineapple glazed mixture as chicken shreds beautifully absorbing essence of tropics through every bite.
Ingredients:
- Boneless skinless chicken thighs
- Pineapple juice
- Soy sauce
- Brown sugar alternative
- Ginger
- Garlic
Recipe
3. Corn Potato Chowder
Creamy, spoon-coating potato corn chowder conveniently simmers hands-off allowing veggies to break down beautifully thickening broth without requirement of excess dairy for perfect lighter summer soup minus heating up kitchen. Simply stir together broth, diced potatoes, corn and aromatics into slow cooker before cooking low for 6 hours allowing flavors to develop magnificently with little stirring or effort required making this no fuss soup summer go-to ready all season.
Ingredients:
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Yukon gold potatoes, diced
- Frozen corn
- Celery, carrots, onion, garlic
- Thyme
Recipe
4. Peach Salsa Pork
Juicy sweet summer peaches transform into quick chunky salsa lending wonderful bright contrast against salty rich pork shoulder roast conveniently cooked low and slow all day becoming fall apart tender ready to shred mixing back through vibrant fruit studded mixture for irresistible interplay of flavors ready to enjoy taco style or even stuffed into buns for carnita style sandwiches.
Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder roast
- Peaches, diced
- Red onion
- Jalapeño
- Lime juice
- Cilantro
Recipe
5. Italian Meatballs
Flavorful lean beef and pork meatballs require just simple mix of eggs, breadcrumbs and seasonings before browning round in batches then transferring gently into slow cooker with ample marinara sauce allowing to continue cooking low and slow for at least 4 hours until tender ready to toss with zoodles or shirataki noodles for lighter summertime version of spaghetti without heating up kitchen significantly convenient to make for hot nights ready anytime.
Ingredients:
- Lean ground beef
- Ground pork
- Eggs
- Breadcrumbs
- Sauce of choice
- Zucchini or shirataki noodles
Recipe
6. Lemon Garlic Chicken
Simple chicken quarters or bone in chicken thighs bake incredibly moist and flavorful subtly infused with bright essence of fresh lemon, garlic and herbs conveniently in slow cooker without heating up kitchen ready after long lazy simmer to use diversely for meals all week long. Simply place chicken quarters seasoned generously with dried herbs into slow cooker topped amply with fresh lemon slices, whole garlic cloves and chicken stock set to low cooking 6 hours until chicken tenderizes fully ready for easy dinners.
Ingredients:
- Chicken quarters or bone in thighs
- Lemon slices
- Garlic cloves, peeled
- Chicken stock
- Dried thyme, rosemary, oregano
Recipe
7. Cranberry Pork Roast
Festive cranberry sauce conveniently doubles as the base for incredible sweet and tangy braised pork roast when simmering together with orange juice allowing flavors to mingle slowly into pulled pork filling ready to stuff into warmed Hawaiian rolls for easy summer bbq sandwiches without heating up kitchen. Shred pork after 8 hour cook time before mixing with more sauce ready to pile high into rolls for perfect sandwich utility all summer long inspiration.
Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder roast
- Whole berry cranberry sauce
- Orange juice
- Onion soup mix
Recipe
8. Teriyaki Chicken
Incredibly convenient teriyaki chicken emerges incredibly juicy, beautifully glazed and full of Asian essence thanks to lazy hands-off braising smothered in flavorsome sauce made easily from soy sauce, mirin, brown sugar, ginger and garlic ready to shred diversely for meals after only 4 hour cook time in slow cooker without heating kitchen much for perfect meal solution during hottest summer months.
Ingredients:
- Chicken thighs, boneless skinless
- Soy sauce
- Mirin
- Minced garlic and ginger
- Brown sugar substitute
Recipe
9. Beef Fajita Bowls
Tender chunks of beef braise slowly all day in a mixture of tomato juice, taco seasoning and fresh lime juice conveniently infusing meat beautifully with zesty Tex Mex profile ready to lift with slotted spoon over fresh greens topped generously with roasted veggies like peppers and onions with desired cheesy toppings for customized fajita bowls ready fast without heating kitchen much during sweltering summer weeknights.
Ingredients:
- Beef chuck roast, cut into chunks
- Zesty tomato or veggie juice
- Fajita seasoning
- Lime juice
- Onion and bell peppers
- Desired toppings like cheese, Greek yogurt etc.
Recipe
10. Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Delicious chicken meatballs conveniently mix together with Italian seasoning, egg, Parmesan and almond flour conveniently needing only 15 minutes active time before nestling gently into slow cooker with warmed marinara sauce cooking 4 hours on low allowing meat to soak up sauce beautifully ready for tossing with shirataki noodles if desired resulting in lighter version of classic chicken parm entree without heating up kitchen significantly.
Ingredients:
- Ground chicken
- Egg
- Grated parmesan
- Italian seasonings
- Marinara sauce
- Shirataki noodles (optional)
Recipe
11. Caprese Chicken
shallow bath of garden fresh tomato basil sauce blankets conveniently over chicken breasts pierced subtly with slivers of garlic allowing meat to cook gently without drying out absorbing incredible flavor conveniently ready after only 3 hours to remove shredding chicken before tossing back into sauce along with freshly added quartered tomatoes and torn mozzarella ready for topping cauliflower rice without requiring stove or oven convenient inspiration.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts
- Marinara or tomato basil sauce
- Garlic cloves, halved
- Quartered cherry tomatoes
- Fresh mozzarella balls or cubes
Recipe
12. Vegetarian Quinoa Chili
Protein packed quinoa and beans come together wonderfully creating hearty, stew-like vegetarian chili ready conveniently in slow cooker without needing stovetop browning lending wonderful vegan dinner full of spices, vegetables, herbs and beans perfect for summer weeknights when avoiding firing up kitchen during warmer months. Prepare easily by simply mixing all ingredients together in slow cooker in morning letting meld flavors together 8 hours for amazing wholesome meat free meal.
Ingredients:
- Quinoa, rinsed
- Black beans
- Diced tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Onion, bell pepper, carrots
- Chili powder and cumin
- Vegetable broth
Recipe
13. Ranch Chicken Tacos
Flavorful shredded ranch style chicken fills warmed corn tortillas beautifully conveniently slow cooking in creamy mixture of spices and broth becoming fall apart tender ready to mix with fresh crunchy coleslaw creating perfect cool balance of textures ready for embellishing further with desired tacos toppings for cheesy, saucy taco creations prepared without needing stove or oven convenient for lazy summer weeknight dinners during warmer months.
Ingredients:
- Chicken breasts or thighs
- Condensed cream soup
- Ranch packet
- Chicken broth
- Corn tortillas
- Shredded green cabbage
Recipe
14. Pineapple Brown Sugar Ham
Beautiful boneless ham roast conveniently slow cooks incredibly moist and flavorful first pierced generously with whole cloves stuck subtly within meat before getting topped amply with sweet sticky glaze made simply from brown sugar, pineapple juice and spicy dijon mustard allowing mixture to caramelize further during extended cooking then basting occasionally resulting in impressive lacquered exterior beautifully sliced for serving inspiration.
Ingredients:
- Boneless smoked ham roast
- Whole cloves
- Brown sugar
- Pineapple juice
- Spicy Dijon mustard
Recipe
15. Strawberry Balsamic Pork
Juicy bright strawberry balsamic mixture conveniently reduces down concentrating flavor beautifully smothering conveniently over hearty pork shoulder roast slow cooking all day until fork tender ready for shredding mixing back through deep colored fruity glaze ready for spooning into warmed Hawaiian rolls or over greens contrasting wonderfully sweet yet tangy flavor ready without needing oven or stove to heat kitchen.
Ingredients:
- Pork shoulder roast
- Strawberry preserves
- Balsamic glaze
- Chicken broth
- Salt and pepper
- Hawaiian rolls or salad (for serving)
Recipe
16. Coconut Chickpea Curry
Velvety coconut curry braising liquid conveniently infuses wonderfully into protein packed chickpeas slow cooking gently all day allowing flavors to meld beautifully ready to serve after 8 hours cooking over fluffy cauliflower rice or quinoa for completely vegetarian summer meal conveniently prepared without needing oven or stove making this perfect during warmer summer weather to keep kitchen cool for easy healthy convenient plant based meal.
Ingredients:
- Chickpeas, drained
- Full fat coconut milk
- Curry powder
- Frozen spinach
- Chicken or vegetable broth
- Cauliflower rice or quinoa (to serve over)
Recipe
17. Bacon Jam Sliders
Sweet, savory, sticky bacon jam fills conveniently inside warmed Hawaiian rolls conveniently crowned with crumbled goat cheese lending wonderful balance to salty richness ready to grab for perfect summer appetizer or party bites conveniently prepared hands off in slow cooker to keep kitchen cool all day long resulting in irresistible crowd pleasing bacon bomb bites ready anytime inspiration calls.
Ingredients:
- Bacon
- Blackberry jam
- Balsamic vinegar
- Hawaiian rolls, split
- Goat cheese crumbles
