Summer Slow-Cooker Recipes

Root beer and chipotle peppers yield pulled pork that's sweet, spicy, smoky and marvelously tender—perfect for wrapping in a tortilla with cheese and vegetables.

Shredded Pork Tacos

A surprise ingredient, root beer, adds sweetness to this roast and its dark sauce. Try leftover pork in quesadillas or stir it into ramen noodles.

Pulled Pork Sandwiches with Root Beer

Somen are thin Japanese wheat noodles. Find them at Asian groceries or large supermarkets, or substitute vermicilli in this light chicken soup.

Soy-Ginger Soup with Chicken

If you love gyros, give these easy sandwiches a try. Compared to chops, this slow-cooked roast is a budget-friendly way to cook lamb. 

Lemony Lamb Pitas

Here's a dinner kids and moms love! Kids for the flavor, moms because the franks and meaty filling cook together. If it's party or potluck fare, everything can sit for up to one hour on the low-heat setting.

Beefy Chili Dogs

Tomatillos (the key ingredient in green salsa) look like green tomatoes with papery husks. Although they can be eaten raw, we like to cook tomatillos with other ingredients to mellow and balance their tart flavor.

Tomatillo Chicken Soup

Chili powder and sliced pickled jalapeño chile pepper turn up the heat on these slow-cooked chicken breasts. Add a cream cheese sauce before serving, and sprinkle with bacon, if you like.

Jalapeño Chicken Breasts

Sweet hoisin and rice vinegar flavor slow-cooked beef chuck pot roast in these low-carb wraps.

Asian Lettuce Wraps

Scoop this versatile chicken-pork filling into toasted tortillas for taco night, combine with hot rice to stuff into flour tortillas for burritos or serve on a hoagie bun for a more traditional sloppy joe sandwich.

Tex-Mex Chicken Sloppy Joes

Peppery soy-ginger flavors lean turkey breast tenderloins. For a nutritious meal, serve with rice and a crisp cabbage slaw.

Sesame Turkey

The three-pepper homemade Cajun seasoning adds lots of fiery flavor to this slow-cooker version of jambalaya. We've used no-salt-added and reduced-sodium products to create a healthier main dish.

Chicken & Shrimp Jambalaya

Medium to hot salsa adds a touch of heat to this favorite meal. Simmer the meat and veggie mixture for up to eight hours for a classic sandwich filling—and set some aside for Spicy Beef Taco Salad the next day.

Spicy Beef Sloppy Joes

Beans, tomato, onion: it’s a hearty vegetarian chili stuffed inside a bell pepper. If you’re looking for extra kick, top with pepper jack instead of mozzarella.

Chili Bean Stuffed Peppers

Slow-cook bratwurst and onions in apple cider vinegar for juicy results. Earthy caraway keeps the sweet dish grounded, and a cool bite of broccoli slaw salad adds crunch.

Chicken Bratwurst and Onions with Broccoli Slaw Salad

Juicy peaches and berries add a tart pop to dense, moist cake. Feeling extra summery? Top with frozen yogurt.

Peaches and Berries Cake

A side salad in the slow cooker: crazy or brilliant? We say brilliant. Add pistachios at the end for some crunch on top of creamy avocados and tender carrots.

Lemony White Bean and Carrot Spinach Salad

Thank the slow-cooker for those crispy, golden-brown edges. Thank the jalapeno for that spicy kick.

Onion-Jalapeno Corn Bread

This recipe yields more cumin-spiced shredded pork than you’ll need for a weeknight meal. Our advice: Store in the freezer for up to a month, then thaw and use in a quick chili. 

Cuban Pork and Black Bean Melts with Mustard Dressing and Pickled Red Onions

Upgrade pork with tangy-sweet teriyaki and toasty sesame flavor. Crisp carrots, pea pods and yellow peppers brighten an Asian slaw that's almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

Teriyaki Pork with Asian Slaw

Don’t let the short ingredient list fool you: these chicken wings have huge flavor. That’s because they’re slow-cooked in a zingy garlic-and-ginger peanut sauce, with a pop of lime for good measure.

Thai Chicken Wings with Peanut Sauce

Pair this tart compote with waffles or pancakes for a decadent brunch. Or, top with vanilla ice cream for a twist on apple pie à la mode. 

Sherried Fruit

We thought slow-cooking potatoes in garlic and onions would be a good idea. Then we added horseradish aioli… and realized we created a perfect summer side dish.

Party Potatoes with Creamy Aioli

Click below for more great slow cooker recipe ideas for main dishes, dessers, appetizers, soups and side dishes.