18 easy slow cooker recipes for summer nights so you can sit back, relax and not spend hours around a hot stove or oven! I discovered the convenience of summer crockpot meals about a year ago and I can’t wait to try all of these ideas this year.
There are so many benefits to crockpot meals in the summer! I love to make them on the weekends, specifically. We live on a lake and the last thing I want to do when getting in around 6 or 7 PM is make dinner. Especially when I have to get my kids fed and ready for bed and do the whole night time routine!
If you have sports activities or social events that take up time on the weekdays or weekends, these recipes can be a game-changer. The one disadvantage that slow cooker meals have is that sometimes you have to cook an additional side to make it a well-balanced meal. Therefore, I have tried to note that with each recipe so you know what to expect.
Of course, you can always take shortcuts when needed! Need more veggies? Just microwave some frozen vegetables for an easy side. Or, buy a salad kit. Batch cook rice or quinoa the day prior and store in the fridge until you’re crockpot meal is ready. Or, just use a microwaveable rice packet.
18 Delicious Summer Slow COoker Dinners
I tried to pick recipes with minimal prep: the focus is on easy, well-balanced meals. Keep this list on hand or use as inspiration to find some other summer crockpot meals.
1. Crock Pot Chicken Caesar Sandwiches (Two Healthy Kitchens)
These chicken Caesar sandwiches are super easy to throw together with minimal prep. The chicken salad is served on a whole wheat bun with a Greek yogurt dressing. The only thing missing is a side of fruit or vegetables! Watermelon would be an easy, no-cook addition to this meal. Leftovers would make a healthy lunch the next day!
2. Slow Cooker Beef Fajitas (Fit as a Mama Bear)
These beef fajitas are low prep and perfect to come home to after a long or busy day. Steak and peppers are cooked in a flavorful broth with a homemade, healthy fajita seasoning. Cook on low for 8 hours – all you need to do is have tortillas on hand and any other toppings you prefer.
3. Easy Crockpot Stuffed Pepper Casserole (Bless This Meal)
This is a meal that takes just 2 hours in the crockpot, so it’s ideal for those busy nights where you don’t want to turn the stove on. It combines savory beef, rice, tomatoes, bell peppers, and melted cheese. That’s it! This recipe makes 6 servings so you might have leftovers for the next day, too.
4. Slow Cooker Steak Chili (The Dinner Bell)
If you’re craving a hearty, comforting meal, give this slow cooker steak chili a try. This recipe calls for the meat to be seared then cooked in a crockpot on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. There are beans for some extra fiber and diced tomatoes in the chili as well.
5. Easy Slow Cooker Beef Brisket (Chew Out Loud)
If you’re intimidated by cooking beef brisket in a smoker or with wood chips, this easy slow cooker recipe requires just 5 ingredients and 10 hours of cooking time. Set it, forget it, and pair with your favorite add-ons. Make a quick and easy salad (or just buy a salad kit), mashed potatoes, or microwave some frozen veggies.
6. Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers (The Cookin Chicks)
I really like this recipe because it the prep time is less than 10 minutes. Essentially, you’re just cutting up the sausage, bell peppers and onions. Serve it over pasta, on a sandwich, mashed potatoes, or a microwaved bag of cauliflower rice. So simple and perfect for an easy dinner.
7. Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken (Love From the Oven)
These Hawaiian flavors are perfect for summer! Chicken is combined with pineapple chunks, bell peppers, and a sweet brown sugary sauce. This would be delicious served over rice or quinoa (not included in the recipe). You could use leftover rice from the night before or cook some up earlier in the day so you can just eat this meal when it’s ready.
8. Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil (The Magical Slow Cooker)
A classic seafood boil that screams “summer” and is a well-balanced meal in one pot. it features sausage, shrimp, red potatoes, corn, and red onion with lots of fresh herbs and spices. Eat it as is or with a side salad or bread!
9. Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Chicken (Valerie’s Kitchen)
For a healthier Chinese alternative, try this easy sweet and sour chicken with colorful bell peppers and chunks of pineapple. You will also need to cook up some rice or quinoa to serve it over.
10. Slow Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowl (Two Healthy Kitchens)
An easy Mexican burrito bowl with less than 10 minutes of prep! Serve with rice, over lettuce, or just with some tortillas or chips. I love that there are fiber-packed beans, a mixture of fresh and canned veggies, and lean protein from the chicken.
11. Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas (The Oregon Dietitian)
Since Mexican-inspired crockpot meals are so well-balanced and low maintenance, I have included these chicken enchiladas. The perfect balance of convenience and nutrition with just 7 ingredients. Of course, you can easily customize with your favorites and have an easy meal on the table for busy nights.
12. Crock Pot Barbeque Burgers (Dizzy Busy and Hungry)
These barbeque burgers are great for when you’re craving a burger but don’t want to fire up the grill. Slow cooking the meat results in the juiciest, most flavorful burgers. There is an extra step in this recipe: caramelizing the onions. Then, just add your favorite burger toppings. Don’t forget to include an easy vegetable!
13. Slow Cooker Pork Roast (Get Inspired Everyday)
This slow cooker pork roast features carrots and potatoes so there is no need to add on any sides with this recipe! There is a little bit of cooking, like searing the pork shoulder, prior to dumping everything in the crockpot. Cook and cover on low for 7-9 hours and you have delicious, fall off the bone meat with veggies.
14. Buffalo Chicken Crockpot Pasta
This is an easy, dump-and-go buffalo chicken pasta featuring a cottage cheese sauce for additional protein. This recipe needs to be cooked on low for about 4 hours. The noodles are added in at the 4 hour mark and cooked perfectly al dente. Each serving has 48 grams of protein!
15. Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Bowls (Kalyn’s Kitchen)
A light and refreshing Greek chicken bowl packed with veggies. The chicken cooks in the slow cooker along with a Greek-inspired cooking sauce. It’s served with bell peppers and cauliflower rice (which requires additional cooking) as well as a Greek salsa. You could store the salsa on the side for easy meal prep, too!
16. Crockpot Sloppy Joes (I Heart Eating)
For these crockpot sloppy joes, you’ll need to brown the meat and then dump everything in the slow cooker to make the flavorful sauce. This recipe takes about 3-4 hours on low – but you could just switch your crockpot to the warm function if you prepare it earlier in the day. Serve with a side salad or fruit but the sauce does have some veggies in it!
17. Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork (Chew Out Loud)
This list wouldn’t be complete without some BBQ pulled pork! To save some time, make the dry rub up to 7 days earlier. For the most tender meat, cook on low for 10 hours. Just prep in the morning and let the crockpot do all the work for you. This recipe could feed a crowd or be stored for easy meal prepping for the week.
18. Crockpot Vegetables and Ground Pork Pasta Casserole (Noble Veggies)
A well-balanced pasta that the whole entire family will love! The first step: cook the ground pork and soften the veggies. Add everything into the slow cooker except the pasta – which you will throw in about 30 minutes prior to when you’re ready to eat. No need to add any sides or veggies with this one.
19. Creamy Coconut and Tomato Chicken with Chickpeas
With very few ingredients, this is a super easy crockpot meal featuring a flavorful broth with coconut milk and tomato sauce. This is a good recipe to start in the morning and cook on low for 8 hours – resulting in a well-balanced meal high in protein and fiber. Serve with your preferred grain to soak up all the flavor from the sauce!
As always, I just want to help other moms prioritize their health and alleviate some stress with easy meals. I hope this list does just that! Feel free to follow along for more easy recipes and healthy eating strategies.