Too Hot to Cook: Summer Slow Cooker Meals

If you’ve moved your slow cooker to the back of the cabinet for the summer, this post is for you. Summer is the perfect time of year to rely on your slow cooker. It won’t heat up your kitchen the way your oven and stove top will. Plus it’s a smart way to prepare meals while you’re out enjoying the beautiful weather.

We’ve gathered five tempting slow cooker meals that are all ideal for summer: beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetarian. We’re confident at least one of these will make it into your next weekly meal plan.

Summer Slow Cooker Recipes: Cuban Shredded Beef

This recipe from Little Spice Jar calls for searing chuck roast on the stovetop, then slow cooking it with tomato sauce, bell pepper, onion, green chiles, herbs and spices. Then serve it with rice and black beans for a complete meal. It's known as ropa viejo in Cuba, and it's one of the country's signature dishes.

Cut three slits in the uncooked roast and stuff a clove of garlic into each one. Then sear each side until brown. Both of these steps will amp up the flavor of your beef, even before you add the other ingredients. After it has simmered on low for eight hours, the beef will shred easily. Be sure to have chopped fresh cilantro to sprinkle on top.

We especially like this recipe because it’s easy to make year round. There aren’t any seasonal ingredients you won’t be able to find in October or March.

Summer Slow Cooker Recipes: Chicken Caesar Sandwiches

One of the easiest ways to use your slow cooker in the summer is to make meaty sandwich, wrap, or taco fillings. This recipe from Delish looks like it would be delicious on bread, in a wrap, or in lettuce cups. Add plenty of romaine to whatever vehicle you choose, and it will be a full meal.

Note that the written recipe calls for adding the first five ingredients listed, but the video shows the first six. Definitely be sure to add the cup of Parmesan cheese. The recipe also specifies chicken breast, which can dry out if there isn’t enough liquid. Keep an eye on the liquid level, and consider reducing the heat to low if your chicken is cooking quickly.

Again, this is another recipe that’s perfect for any time of year. In warm weather, serve it with a crisp salad, and in cold weather, pair it with a bowl of soup.

Summer Slow Cooker Recipes: Mexican Pork Carnitas

We already featured a delicious pork carnitas recipe in our Taco Tuesday post, but we wanted to call attention to this one from Isabel Eats. First, it doesn’t call for searing the pork before adding it to the slow cooker, which means less excess heat in your kitchen. Second, this recipe includes a whole array of spices, plus lime juice and cumin, to give it depth of flavor.

Best of all, these pork carnitas only take four hours of cooking on high. This is the recipe to have on hand when you start wondering what’s for dinner, and it’s already past noon. Dice some onions, chop some cilantro, and mix those into the pork before loading up soft tortillas or crunchy taco shells.

Once more, we love how this recipe isn’t limited by seasonal ingredients. Add it to your Taco Tuesday rotation!

Summer Slow Cooker Recipes: Cioppino

San Francisco is known for cioppino, or fisherman’s stew. It’s a blend of tomatoes, herbs, spices, and a variety of seafood. This recipe from The Spruce has all the details for making cioppino in your slow cooker.

The most difficult part of making this dish will be sourcing fresh seafood, especially if you live inland. The recipe does state that canned clams are fine, but when in doubt, buy what’s fresh and leave out what’s not. If shellfish is off the menu, you can make cioppino with whitefish alone.

We definitely agree that sourdough bread is a must, as it’s another food for which San Francisco is famous. Don’t worry about baking your own when it’s hot out. Grab a loaf from your favorite bakery instead.

Summer Slow Cooker Recipes: Skinny Veggie Lasagna

We’re normally suspicious of recipes with “skinny” in the name, because we wonder what key ingredients have been left out. But this recipe from Pinch of Yum has everything necessary for a delicious vegetarian lasagna: ricotta, mozzarella, tomato sauce, and real pasta noodles.

Cook it on high or on low, but there’s one important point we want to highlight: Let the lasagna sit for an hour after the active cook time is complete. Leave the lid on to retain heat. This resting time will ensure all the liquid from the tomato sauce and vegetables have been absorbed. The lasagna will be easier to cut and look prettier on your plates.

While this lasagna is a great way to cook with summer vegetables like zucchini and tomatoes, it’s also just as doable in the midst of winter. Fill it with any sort of veggies you like, any time of year.

Summer Slow Cooker Recipes: Product Recommendations

If you don’t already own a slow cooker, there’s no time like the present. Or you may have one, but you’ve discovered it isn’t big enough to make as much food as your family needs.