You probably use your slow cooker all winter long to make soups, stews, and hearty meals. But as it turns out, there are plenty of ways to cook with your favorite gadget all summer long. Here are some low-maintenance, totally delicious recipes to try.
1. Slow Cooker Jambalaya
You can make this classic Creole recipe with whatever protein you have on hand, like any combination of sausage, shrimp, and chicken breast. It's all tossed together in creamy rice stewed in tomatoes and chicken broth with plenty of spices. Get the recipe for slow cooker Jambalaya here.
2. Slow Cooker Creamed Corn
You can use either fresh or frozen corn to make this decadent summer side. Just toss the corn into the slow cooker with milk, butter, cream cheese, yogurt, and some spices. Get the recipe for slow cooker creamed corn here.
3. Slow Cooker Pulled BBQ Chicken
Chicken gets coated in a mixture of chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, Italian seasoning, and your favorite barbecue sauce, then it's slow-cooked until you can easily shred it with a fork. Get the recipe for slow cooker pulled BBQ chicken here.
4. Slow Cooker Peanut Butter Chicken
If you don't feel like grilling chicken satay, try this Thai-inspired recipe made with chicken breasts, peanut butter, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and lime juice. Get the recipe for slow cooker peanut butter chicken here.
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5. Slow Cooker Carnitas
If you're cooking for a big family or crowd, carnitas are a serious fan favorite. All you have to do is rub the pork with seasoning, add some orange juice, sliced garlic, jalapeños, and onion, and let it cook until tender. Serve the carnitas in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, or on top of nachos. Get the recipe for slow cooker carnitas here.
6. Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil
Treat yourself to a shrimp boil this summer, but let your slow cooker do the work. This simple yet festive recipe features shrimp, corn on the cob, and Andouille sausage cooked in Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, hot sauce, garlic, and onion. Get the recipe for slow cooker shrimp boil here.
7. Five-Ingredient Slow Cooker Steak Fajitas
All you need to make this fajita filling is any beef sliced into strips, bell pepper, onion, salsa, and fajita seasoning. Serve with tortillas and your favorite toppings like guacamole, pico de gallo, cilantro, and sour cream. Get the recipe for five-ingredient slow cooker steak fajitas here.
8. Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Chowder
This Mexican-inspired corn chowder, loaded with bacon, Cotija cheese, chipitle peppers in adobo, and lots of spices is exactly what you'll crave on breezy summer nights. Get the recipe for slow cooker Mexican street corn chowder here.
9. Slow Cooker Asian Pork Ribs
The majority of the cooking for these sticky, glazed ribs occurs in the slow cooker. Once the meat is tender, you'll want to finish them in the broiler. the recipe for slow cooker Asian pork ribs here.
10. Slow Cooker Barbecue Ribs
Or let your slow cooker do the work on these classic barbecue ribs. If you want to save yourself even more effort, go ahead and use your favorite store bought BBQ sauce instead of making it from scratch. Get the recipe for slow cooker barbecue ribs here.
11. Slow Cooker Honey Teriyaki Chicken
The only active cooking required is making the sauce, which takes about five minutes of stirring together cornstarch, sugar, honey, soy sauce, vinegar, garlic, and ginger. From there, everything goes into the slow cooker. Get the recipe for slow cooker honey teriyaki chicken here.
12. Slow Cooker Asian Pork Noodles
Pork, broccoli, sugar snap peas and boy choy cook entirely in the slow cooker in a savory, spiced broth. Once the meat is cooked through and you're almost ready to eat, add the noodles. Get the recipe for slow cooker Asian pork noodles here.
13. Slow Cooker Greek Chicken Gyros
If you can plan ahead, marinate the chicken with olive oil, oregano, basil, thyme, and garlic. Once cooked, serve the shredded chicken in pita bread with your favorite veggies and a drizzle of hummus or tzatziki. Get the recipe for slow cooker Greek chicken gyros here.
14. Slow Cooker Shrimp and Crab Bisque
Full of lump crab meat and shrimp, this seafood bisque works either as an appetizer or a stand-alone meal. Get the recipe for slow cooker shrimp and crab bisque here.
15. Slow Cooker Turkey Bolognese With Zoodles
Classic spaghetti Bolognese gets lightened up for summertime with zucchini noodles and a meat sauce made with ground turkey. Get the recipe for slow cooker turkey Bolognese with zoodles here.
16. Slow Cooker Eggplant Lasagna
Layers of lasagna noodles, cheese, and marinara sauce get jazzed up with sliced eggplant. You can always add even more veggies like zucchini or spinach. Get the recipe for slow cooker eggplant lasagna here.
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17. Lettuce Wraps
Rather than go out to PF Chang's, make this Chinese-inspired recipe at home with very little fuss. You can use whatever ground meat you like best. Cook it in a mix of hoisin, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sesame oil with shredded veggies and water chestnuts, then serve in lettuce cups. Get the recipe for lettuce wraps here.
18. Slow Cooker Korean Beef Tacos
This Korean-inspired beef gets tons of flavor from brown sugar, soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, ginger, and jalapeño. Serve it in tacos, on a bed of rice, or even in sliders. slow cooker Korean beef tacos here.
19. Slow Cooker Macaroni 'n' Cheese
There's no wrong time of year to make mac 'n' cheese. This slow cooker side dish takes great what whatever you're cooking on the barbecue. Get the recipe for slow cooker macaroni 'n' cheese here.
20. Slow Cooker Banh Mi Rice Bowls
The recipe calls for banh mi bowls made with pork slow cooked in soy sauce, garlic, jalapeño, and brown sugar, but you could easily swap in chicken or beef. Get the recipe for slow cooker banh mi rice bowls here.
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21. Slow Cooker Salmon With Creamy Lemon Sauce
After cooking the salmon in your slow cooker, pop it into the oven for about five minutes so it gets a nice crispy sear. Get the recipe for slow cooker salmon with creamy lemon sauce here.
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