10+ Summer Crockpot Recipes for Easy and Delicious Warm-Weather Meals

Summer crockpot recipes are honestly a lifesaver when it’s just too hot to turn on the oven. You can toss your ingredients in, set the slow cooker, and let it do its thing while you go about your day.

You get tasty dinners with barely any effort, and your kitchen stays cool.

These recipes usually stick to simple ingredients and don’t require much fuss. Perfect for when you’re busy or just want to chill.

With the crockpot doing most of the heavy lifting, you’ve got more time for summer stuff. No need to stress about dinner simmering away.

Ingredients

• Depends on the recipe, but you’re looking at basic proteins, veggies, spices, and some kind of broth or sauce.

Cooking Instructions

1. Prep your ingredients as the recipe says.
2. Dump everything in the crockpot.
3. Set the temp—low or high, easy.
4. Let it cook for the recommended time: usually 4-8 hours on low (about 200°F / 93°C) or 2-4 hours on high (about 300°F / 149°C).
5. Check if it’s done, then serve it up.

1) Pulled Pork with BBQ Sauce

Pulled pork in the slow cooker just hits different in the summertime. You can throw it in before work and come home to juicy, fall-apart meat.

The pork shoulder chills all day in tangy BBQ sauce, soaking up all that flavor. You can use your favorite bottled sauce or whip up a homemade one if you’re feeling ambitious.

Serve the pulled pork on soft buns, over rice, or even with a crisp salad. It’s a crowd-pleaser, honestly.

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (boneless)
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• ½ cup cola or root beer (optional)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Season pork shoulder with salt and pepper.
2. Toss sliced onion and garlic into the slow cooker.
3. Put the pork shoulder on top.
4. Pour BBQ sauce and cola (if you want) over it.
5. Cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
6. Shred the pork and mix with the sauce.
7. Serve hot however you like.

2) Cowboy Casserole

Cowboy Casserole is hearty, simple, and made for summer crockpot days. You’ve got ground beef, potatoes, beans, and melty cheese all layered up.

The slow cooker brings out all the flavors, and you barely have to lift a finger. Just layer, set, and let it go.

Want to switch it up? Use your favorite beans or toss in some chili powder for a little kick.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 4 cups sliced potatoes
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown ground beef and onion in a skillet.
2. Spray the crockpot with cooking spray.
3. Layer half the potatoes, then half the beef mixture, and half the beans. Sprinkle salt.
4. Repeat layers, top with cheese.
5. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until potatoes are tender.
6. Serve warm.

More details here: Crockpot Cowboy Casserole recipe.

3) Slow-Cooker Pepper Steak

Slow-Cooker Pepper Steak is easy and packed with flavor. You get beef strips, bell peppers, and onions that turn super tender after hours in the crockpot.

The sauce is savory, a little sweet, and comes together with broth, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Serve it over rice for a no-fuss dinner.

It’s honestly a solid way to get your veggies in without much work.

Ingredients

• 1 lb beef strips (sirloin or flank steak)
• 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, green), sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 cup beef broth
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 2 tbsp cold water

Cooking Instructions

1. Put beef strips, bell peppers, and onion in the slow cooker.
2. Mix broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic powder, and ginger. Pour over the beef and veggies.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Mix cornstarch and cold water, then stir into the slow cooker.
5. Cook on high for 15-20 more minutes until the sauce thickens.
6. Serve over rice.

More details: slow cooker pepper steak recipe.

4) Garlic Pork Roast

Garlic pork roast in the slow cooker just works for summer. You get super tender, garlicky meat with hardly any effort.

Season the pork roast with garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss some potatoes, carrots, and onions in there for a full meal.

Add a splash of broth to keep things juicy. Let it go on low for 6 to 8 hours, and you’ve got dinner.

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 lb pork roast
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, sliced
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 4 potatoes, quartered
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Rub garlic, salt, and pepper all over the pork.
2. Place onions, carrots, and potatoes in the slow cooker.
3. Set the pork roast on top.
4. Pour chicken broth over everything.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, until pork is tender.

Check out the Garlic Pork Roast slow cooker recipe for more.

5) Slow Cooker Blackberry Pork Tenderloin

If you want something a little different, try this blackberry pork tenderloin. The pork cooks slowly until it’s juicy, and the blackberries add a sweet-tart kick.

Season the pork with herbs like rosemary and sage for extra flavor. The blackberry jam makes the sauce thick and glossy.

Serve it with rice or a fresh salad for a summery vibe.

Ingredients

• 2-pound pork tenderloin
• 1 tablespoon dried rubbed sage
• 1 tablespoon crushed dried rosemary
• 1 cup fresh blackberries
• 1/4 cup blackberry jam

Cooking Instructions

1. Rub pork with sage and rosemary.
2. Place pork in the slow cooker.
3. Add blackberries and blackberry jam on top.
4. Cook on low for 6–8 hours or high for 3–4 hours.
5. Serve warm with sauce spooned over.

More info: Punchfork.

6) Cola Beans

Cola beans are kind of quirky but so good. The cola gives the beans a sweet edge, and the bacon adds a smoky bite.

Layer baked beans, chopped bacon, and brown sugar in the slow cooker. Pour cola over everything to keep it saucy.

Let it cook low and slow so the flavors blend. It’s a great side for BBQs or picnics.

Ingredients

• 4 cans baked beans
• 6 slices bacon, chopped
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 can cola (about 12 oz)

Cooking Instructions

1. Layer half the beans in the slow cooker.
2. Add half the bacon and half the brown sugar.
3. Pour in half the cola.
4. Repeat with the rest of the beans, bacon, brown sugar, and cola.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
6. Stir before serving.

Full recipe: Cola Beans recipe.

7) Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken

Slow-cooker salsa chicken is as easy as it gets. Just chicken breasts and your favorite salsa—seriously, that’s it.

The chicken gets super tender and shreds easily. You can use it for tacos, sandwiches, or just serve it over rice.

Add some taco seasoning or chili powder if you want to spice it up. The slow cooker handles the rest.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 cup salsa
• Optional: 1 tablespoon taco seasoning

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Pour salsa over the chicken.
3. Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours (about 150-160°C) or low for 6-8 hours (about 75-80°C).
4. Shred chicken with two forks and mix with the salsa.

More details: slow cooker salsa chicken recipe.

8) Mexican Street Corn Chowder

This chowder brings the flavors of Mexican street corn into a creamy, cozy soup. Sweet corn and potatoes make it hearty, while a splash of cream gives it richness.

You just toss everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work. Chipotle peppers add a bit of smoky heat, but you can adjust that to taste.

I like to pile on toppings—avocado, bacon, cilantro, and cotija cheese. They make each spoonful pop with flavor.

It’s surprisingly light for a chowder, but still filling enough for dinner. Honestly, I love how you can set it and forget it while the house starts to smell amazing.

Ingredients

• 4 cups corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 2 medium potatoes, diced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup cream
• 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, chopped
• 1 tsp cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Avocado, bacon, cilantro, cotija cheese for topping

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss corn, potatoes, chicken broth, chipotle peppers, cumin, salt, and pepper into your slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until the potatoes get soft.
3. Stir in the cream and let it cook another 15 minutes.
4. Ladle into bowls and top with avocado, bacon, cilantro, and cotija cheese.

For more on this recipe, see Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Chowder.

9) Slow-Cooker Memphis-Style Ribs

You don’t need a grill to get tender Memphis-style ribs—just a crockpot. The ribs turn out soft and packed with flavor.

A dry rub with smoked paprika gives them that signature smoky taste. After slow cooking, you can pop them under the broiler or on the grill for a crispy crust.

It’s a solid way to enjoy ribs without the hassle. If you’re after that classic Memphis flavor but want something easy, this is the ticket.

Ingredients

• 2 racks of pork ribs
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, pepper, salt, and brown sugar together.
2. Rub the spice mix all over the ribs.
3. Lay the ribs in the slow cooker.
4. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours, until they’re tender.
5. If you want, finish the ribs on the grill or under a broiler for 5-10 minutes at 400°F (204°C).

10) Lemon Pesto Chicken Casserole

Lemon Pesto Chicken Casserole is one of those easy summer meals that feels special but takes almost no effort. The lemon and pesto together make the chicken taste bright and tangy.

I like serving it over rice or pasta, but honestly, it’s good on its own, too. The slow cooker keeps the chicken juicy and lets the flavors really soak in.

You can prep it ahead, toss it in the crockpot, and forget about it until dinner. Plus, it freezes well, so you can stash leftovers for another night.

Ingredients

• 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 whole lemon, sliced
• 1 jar of pesto sauce (about 6-8 ounces)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Put the chicken breasts right at the bottom of the crockpot.

2. Spoon the pesto sauce over the chicken, spreading it out as evenly as you can.

3. Lay the lemon slices on top of the pesto.

4. Set the crockpot to low and cook for 4-6 hours, or crank it up to high for 2-3 hours if you’re in a hurry.

5. Before you serve, cut into the chicken to make sure it’s cooked all the way through.