Take the Heat Out of the Kitchen! 19 Summer Crock-Pot Recipes

Crock-Pots are a cold-weather essential, but if you're accustomed to putting your slow cooker away from April to September, you may want to reconsider and get that puppy back on your countertop now. These delicious recipes do what the grill cannot, allowing your dinner to cook itself while you head off to work, Summer camp carpool duty, pool parties, or whatever else the day has in store.

From pulled pork sandwiches to light soups and even Crock-Pot ribs, you're guaranteed to find a few great meal ideas to get your family through the rest of the Summer.

— Additional reporting by Lisa Horten

01
Grilled Pineapple Pork Sandwiches
Pinch of Yum

Grilled Pineapple Pork Sandwiches

These grilled pineapple pork sandwiches scream Summer, in our opinion.

02
Crock-Pot BBQ Chicken
Sweet Peas and Saffron

Crock-Pot BBQ Chicken

Who needs pulled pork when you can cram sandwiches with this delicious — and easy! — slow-cooker BBQ chicken?

03
Crock-Pot Ribs
Well Plated

Crock-Pot Ribs

Sure, ribs are best cooked on a hot grill, but if you're looking to avoid hot cooking altogether, these Crock-Pot ribs mean you can have your Summer rib dinners without all the fuss.

04
Slow-Cooker Shrimp Boil
Damn Delicious

Slow-Cooker Shrimp Boil

You could wrap up all of these shrimp boil ingredients in tin foil and grill it, sure, but when it's hot out and you want to enjoy a meal without sweating your butt off, this slow-cooker version is the way to go.

05
Slow-Cooker New England Chicken Chowder
Creme de la Crumb

Slow-Cooker New England Chicken Chowder

A kid-friendly take on clam chowder for pickier eaters, this slow-cooker New England chicken chowder may be soup, but it's a delicious starter or entree for a Summer night at home with the AC on high.

06
Korean Pineapple Pork Lettuce Wraps
Half Baked Harvest

Korean Pineapple Pork Lettuce Wraps

Not only do these Korean pineapple pork lettuce wraps have sweet and juicy pineapple inside, but the fact that they're served as lettuce wraps also helps keep things light on extremely hot days.

07
Strawberry Basil Crock-Pot Cobbler
The Cookie Rookie

Strawberry Basil Crock-Pot Cobbler

Fruit cobblers are the perfect Summer dessert, and this strawberry basil slow-cooker cobbler topped with a scoop of ice cream sounds like heaven right about now.

08
Slow-Cooker Spicy Blueberry Chipotle Beef Nachos
Slow Cooker Gourmet

Slow-Cooker Spicy Blueberry Chipotle Beef Nachos

Nachos are a great low-key weeknight dinner, and these spicy blueberry chipotle beef nachos will have your whole family reaching for second and third helpings.

09
Crock-Pot Carne Asada Tacos With Watermelon Salsa and Minty Lime Crema
Dishing Out Health

Crock-Pot Carne Asada Tacos With Watermelon Salsa and Minty Lime Crema

Crock-Pot carne asada tacos with watermelon salsa and minty lime crema — need we say more to convince you of how delicious this Summer meal would be?

10
Homemade Sloppy Joes
The Cookie Rookie

Homemade Sloppy Joes

Don't buy the canned stuff — you can make the meat for these homemade sloppy joes in your slow cooker!

11
Slow-Cooker Luau Pork Rice Bowls
Creme de la Crumb

Slow-Cooker Luau Pork Rice Bowls

How incredible and fresh do these slow-cooker luau pork rice bowls look?!

12
Slow-Cooker Enchilada Quinoa
Show Me the Yummy

Slow-Cooker Enchilada Quinoa

Fresh ingredients go into these packed enchilada quinoa bowls, which can be customized to each of your kids' topping preferences.

13
Buffalo Chicken Tacos
Shugary Sweets

Buffalo Chicken Tacos

Tacos are an easy weeknight meal, and the fact that these buffalo chicken tacos taste good whether piping hot or at room temperate is only a plus on hot Summer days.

14
Slow-Cooker Stuffed Peppers
Slow Cooker Gourmet

Slow-Cooker Stuffed Peppers

Even though these slow-cooker stuffed peppers are filled to the brim with delicious rice, beans, cheese, and more, they still make for a nice, light Summer dish.

15
Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder
Damn Delicious

Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

Corn chowder is a perfect Summer dinner appetizer, and this slow-cooker soup recipe makes it easy to prep without heat.

16
Italian Chicken
Flickr user richardgaywood

Italian Chicken

A lighter take on chicken parmesan, this easy Italian chicken pairs perfectly with a side of pasta or roasted veggies.

17
Slow-Cooker Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake
Flickr user pathlost

Slow-Cooker Lemon Poppy-Seed Cake

Kids and parents alike will delight in this light and lovely lemon poppy-seed cake from Real Simple — no oven required!

18
BBQ Shredded Pork
Flickr user julishannon

BBQ Shredded Pork

A cookout-ready meal (without having to turn on the grill), these shredded pork sandwiches will appease a crowd.

19
Crock-Pot Balsamic Pork Roast
Flickr user anotherpintplease

Crock-Pot Balsamic Pork Roast

This easy balsamic pork roast is worthy of a dinner party but easy enough to make for your family's weeknight supper.