Why You Should Cook Slow This Summer
Summer time is well underway here in in the Rocket City! We are enjoying lots of swimming and playing and not spending a whole lot of time in the kitchen.
You know, before I had kids, I thought slow cookers were just for winter time and for moms that worked outside the home. BOY WAS I WRONG! We seem to use our slow cooker for something every day in the spring and summer. It saves us so much money, keeps the house cooler, and us from the drive-thru on those crazy busy, fun-filled summer days!
Here is a list of our favorite summertime slow cooker recipes. I would love to hear what are some ways you use the slow cooker this time of year! Leave your favorites and links in the comments to share with other busy families.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes – These are NOT your ‘from a can’ sloppy joe’s you remember as a kid! These are homemade and absolutely DELICIOUS. I love that I can brown the meat then toss everything in the crock pot including the fresh bell pepper and onion and have a homemade meal waiting on us when we get home from our summer activities. Throw them on a bun with a steamed vegetable and fruit, and you have a whole meal in no time at all. *Bonus* The leftovers are EVEN BETTER!
Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes – We have been having stuffed baked potatoes for dinner once a week! We rotate the toppings, from pulled bbq chicken to leftover taco meat. There are so many options – I make enough potatoes in the crock-pot for dinner, and for the kids and I have some the next day for lunch. Topping a baked potato with last night’s meat and veggies is a great and delicious way to use up leftovers too. Finding out I could ‘bake’ our potatoes in the slow cooker has put potatoes on our menu quite a bit, which is awesome because they are healthier than french fries and so inexpensive!
Advertisement. Content Continues Below.
Slow Cooker Pulled BBQ Chicken – This BBQ Chicken makes a delicious filling for quesadillas and wraps and a topping for baked potatoes and salads. I love to buy whole chickens on sale and use them this way!
Slow Cooker Pulled Bourbon Chicken – We absolutely LOVE this pulled bourbon chicken served over rice and steamed broccoli.
Easy Slow Cooker French Dips – These French Dips are my hubby’s favorite! They are also one of the easiest recipes I have made. These are SO good with Southern Style Green beans.
Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup – Who says soup is for winter time? We have this soup year-round! It is SO delicious and incredibly fast and easy to put together, less than 10 minutes. I love having these delicious and easy to throw-together recipes in my back pocket for busy days. It’s recipes like these, that save me from the drive-thru!
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili – We have a family tradition at our house to have this ready and waiting for us after we get home from a LONG, fun day at Point Mallard Water Park! Because, seriously, who has the energy to cook after going down that ‘toilet bowl’ slide with their 9 year old 20 times? NOT ME.
Slow Cooker Beer Sausage ‘Dawgs’ – This is our newest favorite slow cooker recipe – just the quick and hearty meal to have ready after a long day of playing!
3 Ingredient Slow Cooker Apple Sauce – Cold apple sauce is such a great snack for the kiddos when they come inside to cool off. Having a batch of this homemade in the fridge is great! Once you have tried it homemade, you won’t ever want to go back to the store-bought kind and this recipe is so easy, you won’t have to. *BONUS* Your house will smell HEAVENLY while it cooks!
Advertisement. Content Continues Below.
Slow Cooker Italian Zucchini & Tomatoes – We usually use our slow cooker for our entrees, because we prefer our veggies raw, roasted, or grilled (or pan fried in bacon grease!). But this is a SERIOUSLY delicious way to use up those summer zucchini and tomatoes we will all have coming out our ears soon.
Rainy Day Sweet & Smokey BBQ Ribs – You don’t have to wait for a rainy day to make these ribs! And after you see how easy and delicious they are, why would you?
WHO KNEW? Using our slow cooker in the summer saves us money, keeps the house cooler, and my family far away from the temptation of the drive-thru.
You Might Also Like…
- RecipeJoes Kitchen Takeovers on RCM
- Where Kids Eat Free in Huntsville Every Day of the Week
- Summer Pot Luck Recipes to Bring to the Picnic or Reunion
This article was originally published in 2014 and has been updated with current information.
Advertisement
We are always looking for slow-cooker recipes for our family. This compilation is fantastic and I can’t wait to eat our way through, delicious bite by bite. Awesome post here!
Thank you so much! Hope you love them all!
Wow, great line up, what blows me away is the baked potatoes. What a great idea for summer, so you don’t have to put the oven on, so trying that!!!
Thank you so much, Tara!
Wow Brandi girl – outstanding line up of slow cooker recipes. I don’t use mine much but you have me thinking. And I am with Tara, who knew you could do baked potatoes in there?
Thank you, Patty!
I totally love the idea of slow cooking this summer and such wonderful recipes!! Yum!! Very nice selection!!
Thank you, Kecia!
Wow! You know I am always looking for fast and delicious! You have hit the trifecta with recipes that also stay on budget! I am so looking forward to trying every one of these recipes. Potatoes in the crockpot. Who knew?!
Thank you, Amy! I hope you try them and love them! <3
These are fabulous recipes, Brandi! I love using my slow cooker all year round. No need to heat up the kitchen if you don’t have to!
Totally, Sarah! Thank you!
What a great post and collection, there really is something there for every palette.
Thank you so much, Janette!
These are some beautiful slow cooker suggestions Brandi! I have no idea which one to choose. They all look mouthwatering! Can I have them all?
lol! Thank you, Katerina!
I cannot wait to try ALL of these! As a full-time WAHM with two energetic boys home this summer, these recipes will be a life saver! Thanks so much, Aunt Bee!
Thank you so much, Stephenie! I hope your boys love the recipes too!
My friends and followers are going to LOVE this. Great job Brandi. Hard works pays off!!
Thank you, Libby! This was a lot of work, but it was a LABOR OF LOVE! HA! Thanks for sharing with your friends and followers!
Impressive writing and collection of fabulous recipes!! Wonderful resource!
Awwwww! Thank you, Michaela!
What a great collection. I can’t wait to try some of them out. I know in our family we use our slow cooker more in the summer than the winter. We are busier so meals are more rushed and it’s hot outside so a slow cooker means I don’t have to heat up my kitchen to have a yummy dinner on the table!
Exactly, Brandy! Thank you so much!
These are some great recipes. I love using my slow cooker year round, but especially in the summer when stove makes the house so hot!
Me too, Michelle! Thank you!
Brandi, EVERYTHING here looks scrumptious. I’m very guilty of not using my slow cooker and only use it a couple of times a year. I need to take stock of your recipes here and try a few of them.
Thank you, Shelby! I hope you try them and love them!
G’day! What a great round up with lots of tummy recipes!
Cheers! Joanne
Thank you, Joanne!
What a amazing grouping of summer recipes Brandi. No need to heat up your kitchen!
Thank you so much, Nancy!
G’day Should be yummy, not tummy…perhaps my mind interpreted as yummy for my tummy 🙂
Fired the typist this morning again! 🙂
Cheers! Joanne
LOL Joanne! either one works! haha!
These all look AMAZING! Can’t wait to try them all! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Shanna!
OMG I can’t wait to get home and try out those slow cooker baked potatoes! Your other recipes look very tempting as well. Looks like I’ve got a shopping list to make out for this week! Thanks so much Aunt Bee!
Thank you so much!
This is exactly what I need! We just moved and cooking has been a challenge since half of my kitchen is still packed, but my slow cooker isn’t! I’ve already planned out a couple of recipes for next week! Thank you!!!!
That is so awesome! Good luck with unpacking!
Thanks for having Brandi over today, Rocket City Mom! Love her recipes! 🙂
Joy, thank you! That is so sweet!
What a great collection of recipes! We are so busy during the summer months, eating at different times. Slow cooked meals are the perfect solution for our family’s busy schedule!
Thank you, Sandra!
This is an absolutely fantastic round-up! Wonderful effort!
Awww! Thank you, Nicole! I had so much fun doing this!
Wow, I bet this took a LONG time to pull together. So excited to have this many options in one place for my slow cooker. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I’m making a slow cooker recipe tomorrow–leaving inspired!
That is so awesome Heather! I am glad I could inspire you to use your slow cooker!
Brandi!! What an awesome collection! Although we live in Florida, I still use my slow cooker all year ’round and can’t wait to try some of your recipes! Kudos to you on a job well done!
Thank you so much, Linda! We use ours year ’round as well! 🙂
These recipes look scrumptious Brandi! Please share at my BBQ part at Moore or Less Cooking! Nettie <3
Thank you so much Nettie! I sure will!
What a great collection of recipes! I especially like the Italian Zucchini and Tomatoes. And I didn’t know you could cook Baked Potatoes in the slow cooker – that’s genius! You asked for favourite recipes and links – One of my favourite slow cooker recipes for summer is my Chinese Style Beef https://www.21stcenturyhousewife.com/index.php/2012/07/chinese-style-beef-in-the-slow-cooker/
WOW! April that recipe looks fantastic! Thank you so much for sharing! It is on my list to try! 🙂
So pinning!!! This is perfect for my summer menu plans!!
Hugs
Thank you so much, Evelyn! I hope you enjoy them!
I use mine all the time!!! I love a roast with potatoes, carrots, onions and GRAVY