15 Easy Summer Crockpot Recipes
These easy summer Crockpot recipes are the perfect way to get dinner on the table and enjoy longer days at the pool or in the park with your kids. Keep your kitchen cool and meal prep fast and easy by using this awesome kitchen appliance all year long.
When we head to the coast for our annual family vacation, I love to make summer Crockpot meals so I can enjoy more time at the beach and less time in the kitchen.
But easy summer Crockpot recipes aren't just for family vacations, they're a brilliant dinner solution to use back at home while the kids are off on summer break.
I love knowing we can enjoy our adventures during the day and come home to a dinner that's already made.
BONUS: Using a slowcooker means I'm not heating up the kitchen when the temps outside are soaring!
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Why the Crockpot is Perfect for Summer
Most people think of their slowcookers in the fall and winter for cozy stews but I think a Crockpot is the perfect summer kitchen tool.
A Crockpot helps you keep your house cool since you don't need to turn on the oven and heat up the whole kitchen.
But when you're trying to enjoy summer vacation with your kids, a slowcooker is even better because you can enjoy your family time all day long and come home to an easy homemade dinner that is waiting for you.
Now THAT feels like a break!
Easy Summer Side Dishes
The list of Crockpot meals below all cook the main dish for you.
To round out your meal plan, just add a few of the following easy side dishes:
- Fresh Summer Fruit: Watermelon, peaches, pineapple, strawberries, whatever you can find locally will taste even better!
- Tortilla Chips & Salsa: There are a lot of taco-inspired meals on the list that would taste great with chips and salsa.
- Frozen Potatoes: Tater tots, frozen french fries or potato wedges, or even prepared mashed potatoes would be an easy fix.
- Rice: Buy bags of rice from the freezer section and you could just pop them right into the microwave.
- Bagged Salad & Dressing: Buy a big bag of salad, a package of croutons, some cherry tomatoes, and your favorite prepared dressing for easy salads all week.
- Raw Veggies & Dip: Grab a bag of baby carrots, raw broccoli, celery, or bell peppers and a container of your favorite veggie dip.
More Easy Summer Meals
Are you planning a week at the beach for your family, too? Don't miss my easy vacation meals for beach rentals, I've put together the entire meal plan plus shopping list for you.
If you're heading out for a family reunion at the beach, you may prefer my 40 easy meals for large groups on vacation.
Summer Crockpot Recipes
Keep your kitchen cool and dinnertime easy with these delicious Crockpot recipes for summer. Pop everything in the slowcooker in the morning and spend more time enjoying your summer break with family.
Chicken tacos are a lighter way to do Taco Tuesday during your beach trip. Add this shredded chicken meat to a tortilla or rice bowl or use it for a taco salad. Pair it with my favoriteย pineapple salsaย right on top or aย spicy peach salsaย with tortilla chips for an easy side dish.
This easy slowcooker jambalaya is perfect for summer with the spicy sausage and tender shrimp.
You can eat it as a low carb stew or serve it over jasmine rice for a heartier meal.
This easy slow cooker corn chowder has crispy bacon and sweet corn kernels on top. You could enjoy it as a light dinner now or freeze it for later!
Serve a southern classic pulled pork bbq platter with ease. Shred the slowcooker pulled pork and serve it as sandwiches or on a plate with your favorite easy side dishes like baked beans, crispy coleslaw, or chilled potato salad.
Sloppy joes are always a great choice, but this slowcooker version keeps them heated up and ready so when the kids are starving after a day at the pool, dinner is all ready to be served! Serve with potato chips or toss a bag of frozen french fries.
This crockpot chicken chili is perfect for using with plenty of fresh summer produce for toppings. You could eat it as a rice bowl with fresh corn, tomatoes, or even bell peppers and top it with sour cream and shredded cheese. Don't forget the fresh green onions for sprinkling over the top!
Another delicious slowcooker shrimp recipe for summer is this spicy stew loaded with summer corn and peppers. Serve it alongside fresh baked biscuits or a batch of cornbread for an easy going dinner.
You can enjoy this tender shredded chicken tossed in your favorite BBQ sauce by itself as a barbecue platter or you could turn it into:
- BBQ Chicken Rice Bowls
- Barbecue Chicken Pizza
- Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches
These awesome bbq chicken sliders start with the slowcooker bbq chicken I just mentioned. These sliders are one of my favorite ways to use that tender, sweet chicken.
I love this sweet slowcooker bourbon chicken when I'm not in the mood for a traditional taco. You could wrap this up in a pita, serve it over rice, or even make a fun variation on nachos with a sprinkle of blue cheese crumbles and green onions.
I love sundried tomatoes during the summer. This cream Tuscan chicken pasta is a satisfying pasta dinner that won't heat up the kitchen.
Pile up the tender shredded Italian beef on crispy sub rolls with provolone cheese and sandwich relish. This spicy sandwich is just what you need to go with a cold beer or chilled glass of wine after a day in the hot sun.
This delicious spicy Crockpot creamy chicken makes the absolute best Mexican rice bowls when topped with pico de gallo or salsa, extra sweet corn, and fresh green onions or cilantro.
Summer dinners are meant to be easy, why not use one of these Crock Pot Sandwiches for the main dish and just serve a big platter of fresh watermelon and a bag of chips?
These family-favorite cheesy potatoes have a crispy cornflake topping and pair well as a side dish for most of the meals on this list but could even bulk up something easier like plain hot dogs or hamburgers on the grill.
Make these easy sweet potatoes so you can enjoy a stuffed potato with pulled pork, BBQ chicken, or the chicken taco filling.
Use them as an easy side dish for your summery dinner with butter and brown sugar added to the filling.
More Easy Cooking Tips
If you want to get dinner to the table faster and easier, don't miss these other great family dinner tips:
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