Summer Slow Cooker Dinners

July 8, 2021

Are you tired of scrambling to get dinner ready or eating out again after practice? Not in the mood to cook because it’s been a dang hot summer, and there’s nothing worse than having to turn on your oven or stovetop when you’re already overheated and in a rush. After a long day at the fields or a busy day running kids everywhere, the last thing you want to do is spend your evening cooking!

Let your slow cooker do all of the work with these 15 summer slow cooker recipes! Whether you’re craving tacos, baby back ribs, or even Indian-style butter chicken, your slowcooker can take care of you. With these fun and unique recipes, you can sit down to a family dinner after practice every night this week without heating up your kitchen! Don’t have a slowcooker? I really like this one –> https://amzn.to/3hMXLhq

A quick note before you dive in. You may notice many of these recipes come are from keto/paleo/etc type websites. With so many different allergies, food preferences, sensitivies and lifestyles, I wanted to give you recipes that had minimal ingredients and processed foods. As always with cooking, feel free to swap things in and out and make recipes your own thing for your family!

Want to know more about how to apply these recipes to your athlete’s nutrition? Grab your copy of one of our programs like Fueling the Female Athlete or the Pow(h)er Method.

Slow Cooker Chicken Teriyaki

The recipe by Strength & Sunshine is gluten free and soy free! Using homemade teriyaki sauce and chicken, this is one simple slow cooker recipe the whole family will love!

Slow Cooker Shredded Beef Sliders

Craving BBQ but don’t want to turn on the oven or wake up in the middle of the night for the smoker? I get it. This recipe by Homemade in the Kitchen has you create your own bbq sauce and coleslaw, but in the words of the wise Barefoot Contessa, storebought is fine. Note this recipe also is for 4 servings. If it’s been a long day or your athlete puts some food away, consider doubling the recipe.

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas are a favorite in our house. The 10-minute prep in this recipe from Little Sunny Kitchen makes it a winner in our book. Not only is this a vibrant and flavorful meal, but it’s also extremely versatile so you can use the meat for tacos, nachos, or our favorite – burrito bowls.

Colorado Pork Green Chili

How often do you have plans to make something in the crockpot and forget to start it in the morning? That can’t just be me right? That’s why I love this recipe by Chelsea at Maes Menu – she includes directions to make it on the stovetop, in the crockpot and in the instapot. Made with green chilies, salsa verde, and tender pork loin, this is a great one to keep in your rotation.

Slow Cooker Apricot Chicken

This amazing recipe from The Dizzy Cook for Apricot Chicken only has 7 ingredients and the prep is 5 minutes or less. When you’re running out the door for the day, you can throw this in and still get the girl to morning practice on time! Also note that this recipe can be doubled and frozen!

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

This spicy seasoned chicken with chipotle peppers and green chilies marinaded in the slow cooker all day is a great recipe by Fannetastic Food if you like to prep a bunch of protein and use it through the week. We like this on burrito bowls, nachos, sometimes the kids will just snack on it out of the fridge.

Crockpot Baby Back Ribs

Slow-cooked ribs glazed with BBQ sauce and finished on the grill are a favorite in our house. Lori at Foxes Love Lemons‘ recipe is also great on the 4 hour setting, which means if you forgot to start dinner this morning, not all hope is lost.

Creamy White Chicken Chili

This white chicken chili by Barley & Sage is great to prep the night before since there is some pepper dicing. Of course you could use canned and throw it all together in the morning but the fresh peppers make such a difference! This lighter chili recipe with 3 kinds of peppers, cream cheese, and tons of flavor cooked together all day in your slow cooker