15 Best Slow Cooker Recipes for Summer

Next backyard party, let your slow cooker handle the heat.

By
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud
Devan Grimsrud

Devan Grimsrud is a Berlin-based writer, editor, and recipe developer originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working in television production with James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Zimmern, she relocated to Berlin and became the managing editor at Kitchen Stories, an international digital cooking platform with millions of active users. 

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Published August 15, 2025
Devan Grimsrud
Three tacos filled with pulled pork cabbage and cilantro on a white plate
Elise Bauer

When I think of slow cooker recipes, I often think of big batch stews for winter, or mini meatballs for game days. These are great uses for the Crock-Pot, of course, but the summer cookout might be this tool’s real time to shine. As delicious as burgers, steaks, and barbecue chicken are, they require someone sweating over the coals. Pulled meats for tacos and sandwiches made in a slow cooker don't. They also don't heat up the kitchen or require that you work too hard—and how can that be a bad thing?

So if you're looking to switch up your next backyard summer gathering, dust off your slow cooker and make these recipes—from mains to sides, appetizers, and even breakfast.

  • Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pulled Pork

    Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper Pulled Pork

    Simply Recipes / Garrett McCord

    "While you could use this pulled pork in all sorts of ways (steamed buns, tacos, sandwiches...), I personally enjoyed mounding it on a bun slathered with chili-mayo and topped with sweet-n-sour pickled red onions."—Garrett McCord, Recipe Developer

  • Italian-Style Beef

    large plate of Italian Style Beef

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "I usually braise the beef in the oven so I can stick to using just one pot, but you can transfer the beef and braising liquid to a slow cooker instead and cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours. The resulting meat is super tender, and will shred at just the sight of a fork."—Molly Adams, Recipe Developer

  • Slow Cooker Cider Pulled Pork

    A top down shot of pulled pork in a slow cooker, ready to be served

    Simply Recipes

    "This recipe is intended to feed a crowd or leave you with ample leftovers. Let the pork cool, then cover and transfer the inner pot with the pulled pork to the fridge. It will keep for up to 3 days."—Summer Miller, Recipe Developer

  • Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans

    A bowl of Boston baked beans, ready to serve

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Why pre-soak the beans? You don't have to (see this great Russ Parsons article in the LA Times about why you don't need to soak beans), but not doing so in this recipe will increase the cooking time."—Elise Bauer, Founder

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  • Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken

    Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken in a slow cooker, being pulled apart with two forks

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Use boneless skinless chicken thighs because they have more internal fat, more flavor, and they hold up better to long slow cooking than breasts."—Elise

  • Slow Cooker Spinach Feta Dip

    Spinach feta dip in the slow cooker

    Simply Recipes / Nick Evans

    "You can use fresh or frozen spinach for this dip! My preference is fresh, because when you sauté with olive oil and a pinch of salt, it really brings out the spinach flavors."—Nick Evans, Recipe Developer

  • Texas-Style Pulled Pork

    Texas-Style Pulled Pork in a large bowl with two forks

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Kaitlin Wayne

    "A classic Central Texas rub is usually equal parts black pepper and salt—and that’s it. I flipped the script a bit and added a touch of sugar with a hint of garlic powder and smoked paprika for extra oomph."—Cynthia Christensen, Recipe Developer

  • Mississippi Chicken

    Angled view of a blue platter and a serving spoon with shredded chicken and pepperoncini

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Morgan Hunt Glaze / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Lindsey Lower

    "Consisting of tender chicken breasts, pepperoncini, and ranch dressing seasoning, it could not be easier to make in the slow cooker or the oven. It's deliciously salty, savory, and briny, perfect for spooning over rice or noodles for a satisfying dinner."—Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

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  • Cowboy Beans

    Overhead view of a pot of cowboy baked beans.

    Simply Recipes / Eliezer Martinez

    "Make sure to read through our simple directions before the recipe to make these beans in a slow cooker instead of on the stovetop as written."—Devan Grimsrud, Writer

  • Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

    Meatballs in a slow cooker filled with tomato sauce with a spoon lifting a meatball out of the sauce.

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "I opted to use lean meat for this recipe—90/10 beef and turkey sausage. The meatballs stay juicy even after the long simmer in the sauce without the extra fat. The lower fat content still makes tender, flavorful meatballs because the fat that is there doesn’t really cook off."—Summer Miller, Contributor

  • Slow Cooker Pulled Pork With 5-Spice

    Slow Cooker Chinese Pulled Pork

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Chinese 5-spice is a common spice rub for Chinese cooking. If it's not available at your local market, you can make your own. We've included one recipe below, and there are several others online to choose from."—Elise

  • Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole

    A slice of french toast casserole ready to serve with maple syrup on top

    Simply Recipes / Jessica Gavin

    "Instead of individually dipping and pan-frying each custardy slice of bread, add everything to the slow cooker, soak it overnight, then let the slow cooker work its magic in the morning!"—Jessica Gavin, Recipe Developer

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  • Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry

    Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry

    Simply Recipes / Sabrina Modelle

    "I like to serve the steaming hot curry over a bowl of chopped raw spinach. The heat from the curry wilts the spinach perfectly as you stir it all together. I also love to add a nice squeeze of lime juice to wake the whole thing up and add some brightness."—Sabrina Modelle, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

    Easy Slow Cooker Shredded Chili Chicken Chili in the crockpot
    Emma Christensen

    "The slow cooker time for this chili is really flexible, so you can adapt it to suit your schedule. The chicken just gets more tender the longer you let it cook. If you're running late, it's fine if the chili continues to cook on the "low" setting or "warm" setting for a little longer past the 8-hour mark. Try not to push it too much longer, though, or else the chicken starts to become mushy."—Emma Christensen, Former General Manager

  • Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos

    A plate of pulled pork tacos

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    "Browning the roast first will help pull out wonderful flavor from the meat, as well as intensifying the spice from the chiles and cumin. If you have the kind of slow cooker that allows you to do that in the cooker pan itself, great! Then, you only need one pot. Otherwise, you can easily brown the pork roast on the stovetop."—Elise

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