40+ Fresh & Easy Summer Slow Cooker Recipes
If you’re looking for ridiculously easy fresh summer slow cooker recipes to keep your kitchen cool this season, these are the best crockpot recipes to keep things simple during the warm summer months. Includes recipes organized by chicken, dump-and-go, beef, sides & vegetables.
5 star review
“So grateful for this compilation! It is EXACTLY what I was looking for in terms of ingredients and ease – this is going to get us through the summer (and beyond, if I’m honest). Thanks so much. ”
– Tess
Summer is Still Slow Cooker Season!
Don’t put away that slow cooker just yet, because I’ve got the best (and easiest!) summer slow cooker recipes. And, as a healthy habits expert, I’m here to say that hands-off fresh and flavorful slow cooker meals are such a great way to stick to nourishing habits year round. Plus, these kid-friendly recipes are perfect for hot nights when you can’t stand to turn on the oven or stove, busy weekends, and gatherings like cookouts, BBQs & potlucks. Just like my fall and dump-and-go crock pot collections, these all have easy to find ingredients and simplified prep steps. I hope you enjoy!
Chicken Recipes for Summer (in the Slow Cooker!)
2-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken (w/ Breast Meat)
This wildly easy 2-ingredient slow cooker BBQ chicken can be prepped in no time using store-bought or homemade sauce, yielding deliciously tender and versatile pulled chicken breasts. Perfect for meal prep on busy weeks!
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs) and chipotle BBQ sauce (or store bought barbecue sauce).
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Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
Slow cooker Greek chicken combines just 4 ingredients like lemon, garlic and Greek yogurt to create a fresh, delicious high-protein meal you can use in a number of ways. Stuffed in pita piled with veggies or in a bowl with rice or pita, it's a Greek-inspired slow cooker recipe that you will find yourself making week after week!
Ingredients: Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, chicken.
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Incredible Slow Cooker Drumsticks (4-Ingredients!)
Get delicious, fall-off-the-bone meat with this easy slow cooker drumsticks recipe that just uses 4 ingredients!
Ingredients: smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, chicken drumsticks, BBQ sauce.
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5-Ingredient Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Thighs
Wondering if it’s possible to get succulent, melt-in-your mouth chicken thighs in the slow cooker, made with just 5 ingredients and prepped in under 5 minutes? Well, the answer is a resounding YES. Slow cooked and bathed in a simple BBQ sauce–this is the chicken thigh recipe you won't be able to get enough of.
Ingredients: chicken thighs, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, BBQ sauce.
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Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
The easiest, most delicious slow cooker chicken recipe yet! Slow cooker honey garlic chicken requires only 5 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep time to produce sweet, savory, and sticky chicken.
Ingredients: soy sauce, honey, garlic, lime juice, boneless chicken thighs (or boneless skinless chicken breasts), cornstarch.
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Easy Crockpot Cilantro Lime Chicken
Easy to make and oh-so satisfying, this crockpot cilantro lime chicken is perfect for stuffing into warm tortillas or bowls! It’s elevated by the most flavorful homemade cilantro lime sauce and can be made with either chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), fresh cilantro, lime juice, garlic cloves, cumin, avocado oil, honey (optional) and salt.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos (No Salsa)
Friends, these are the best shredded slow cooker chicken tacos ever! Using only 6 ingredients, and with the option to use no salsa, it's a simple time-saving, dump-and-go recipe that will allow you to celebrate Taco Tuesday every week!
Ingredients: garlic, cumin, chili powder, salt, chicken, salsa.
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Slow Cooker Green Chili Chicken (5-Ingredients!)
With a short list of simple, real food ingredients this slow cooker green chili chicken is an easy and flavorful meal prep protein. Plus, there are so many ways you can use this chicken, you won’t get bored!
Ingredients: chicken, tomatillo salsa, salt, cream cheese, diced green chilis
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Easy Slow Cooker Satay Chicken (w/ Coconut Milk)
Slow cooker satay chicken is a flavorful, versatile meal made with chicken thighs, coconut milk, and curry paste. A simplified take one Thai peanut chicken, it's a delicious and easy dinner recipe that's not only quick to prepare but also a great meal prep protein option. You wont believe how flavorful the end result it!
Ingredients: chicken, salt, peanut butter, coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, brown sugar, lime juice, fish sauce.
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Slow Cooker Chicken with Cherry Tomatoes & Basil
This fresh & simple slow cooker chicken with cherry tomatoes and basil is an easy meal that draws on the flavors of bruschetta for a simple, flavorful meal. Let me show you how simple it is to make!
Ingredients: chicken, roma or cherry tomatoes, garlic, basil, balsamic vinegar, olive oil and salt.
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Slow Cooker Tropical Pulled Chicken
Naturally sweet, tangy and oh-so delicious, Slow Cooker Tropical Pulled Chicken is a breeze to throw together and makes for a nourishing dinner everyone will love!
Ingredients: chicken breasts or chicken thighs, gluten-free tamari, honey, grated ginger, canned crushed pineapple, tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder and salt.
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6-Ingredient Slow Cooker Enchilada Chicken
This easy recipe for shredded chicken for enchiladas is totally simple, completely delicious and the perfect weeknight crockpot recipe. With just 6-ingredients and no pre-cooking, let me show you how easy this fresh & simple enchilada chicken is to make!
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), onion, garlic powder, cumin, lime juice, tomato sauce, chili powder and salt.
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5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Hot Honey Chicken
Slow cooker hot honey chicken just got a whole lot got easier! For this simplified version, chicken thighs slow cook to tender, juicy perfection in a simple 5-ingredient sweet & spicy homemade hot honey sauce. With the option to finish it under the broiler for sticky caramelization and serve with crunchy toppings in a hot honey chicken sandwich, this is a doable and oh-so delicious meal that will have you licking your fingers!
Ingredients: honey, brown sugar, white vinegar, garlic, salt, red pepper flakes, chicken thighs.
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Slow Cooker Peach Chicken with Basil
Slow Cooker Peach Chicken with Basil combines juicy peaches, balsamic vinegar, and fresh basil for an easy, flavorful dinner anytime. Easy enough to throw together on a weeknight, this one’s bound to become a new family-favorite recipe!
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), onion, balsamic vinegar, peaches, basil, garlic powder and salt.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Burritos (w/ Rice!)
The easiest burrito filling to make in the slow cooker, these slow cooker chicken burritos include chicken (thighs or breasts), beans, corn, rice, enchilada sauce, and cheese; all quickly cooked in the crockpot and then rolled in warm tortillas. Perfect to eat now, take on-the-go, or freeze for later.
Ingredients You'll Need: salt, granulated garlic, paprika, chili powder, chicken, pinto beans, corn, enchilada sauce, cream cheese, rice, Mexican cheese, tortillas.
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Quick Slow Cooker Shredded Chicken Breast (2-Ingredients!)
This is the easiest slow cooker chicken breast recipe with just 2-ingredients and no pre-cooking. It's quick; just 2-3-hours on low, and perfect for everything from meal prep to salads, wraps, casseroles, to freeze, and to use as a rotisserie chicken replacement.
Ingredients: chicken breasts, salt, garlic powder
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Dump Recipes for Summer
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Tenderloin (5-Ingredients!)
Just over here officially changing the pulled pork game with my ridiculously good slow cooker BBQ pulled pork tenderloin. With just 5-ingredients, 5 minutes of prep, and no pre-browning, it slow simmers in a simple spice blend and BBQ sauce (store bought or homemade) for the most epic melt-in-your mouth pulled pork ever.
Ingredients: pork tenderloin, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, BBQ sauce.
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Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Ribs (w/ Brown Sugar Rub)
These slow cooker ribs (baby back or St. Louis-style) start with a sweet-smoky brown sugar rub, cook low and slow, then are finished under the broiler or on the grill. The result is fall-apart tender pork with caramelized edges and rich, smoky-sweet flavor, no babysitting required!
Ingredients You'll Need: pork ribs, onion powder, granulated garlic, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, brown sugar, and barbecue sauce.
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Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers
Wildly easy to prepare with crowd-pleasing results, Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers requires no browning and makes a simple weeknight dinner. It’s a party go-to, that’s guaranteed to please!
Ingredients: sweet Italian sausage, bell peppers, onions, and jarred marinara sauce.
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Slow Cooker Greek Pork Tenderloin (5-Ingredients!)
This succulent & savory 5-ingredient Greek pork uses pork tenderloin, zesty lemon, garlic, and creamy Greek yogurt for an incredibly juicy and tender Greek pulled pork (hands-off cooking for the win!). Yes, it’s incredibly simple, yet this shredded pork is still so flavorful and versatile.
Ingredients: Greek yogurt, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, pork tenderloin.
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Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Shoulder or Butt (No Searing!)
This slow cooker pulled pork is sweet, smoky, and fall-apart tender and is made with pork butt or shoulder + a flavorful homemade sauce. No searing, no stress, just a delicious hands-off dinner that will have everyone clamoring for seconds!
Ingredients: ketchup, honey, mustard, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, smoked paprika, chili powder, granulated garlic, onion powder, salt, and pork shoulder or pork butt.
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Easy Slow Cooker Chicken and Corn Soup
Brimming with sweet corn, succulent chicken, and hearty potatoes, this easy slow cooker chicken and corn soup is a simple dump-and-go recipe. Since you can use fresh or frozen corn, this soup is perfect for any time of year!
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or chicken thighs), sweet corn (fresh or frozen), chicken stock, celery, carrots, onions, yellow waxy potatoes, garlic, cream cheese (traditional or plant-based) and salt.
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Juicy Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs in Marinara (No Egg)
Full of fresh herbs like basil, and slow simmered in a simple marinara sauce, this slow cooker turkey meatball recipe is packed with protein, and made without breadcrumbs or eggs. Plus, there's no pre-cooking, so it's super easy to prep and the meatballs come out juicy and will truly melt-in-your-mouth.
Ingredients: ground turkey, marinara sauce, basil, spinach, onion, garlic powder, parmesan and salt.
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Buffalo Turkey Meatballs (Crockpot or Oven-Baked)
Tender, juicy, and super delicious, these Buffalo ground turkey meatballs are simple to prepare, and come together simply and easily in the slow cooker or baked in the oven; no pre-cooking required! Doused in a spicy homemade Buffalo sauce, let me show you how easy it is to make.
Ingredients: ground turkey, grated onion, almond flour (or breadcrumbs), nutritional yeast (or parmesan cheese), granulated garlic powder, cayenne pepper sauce, butter, and salt.
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Slow Cooker Creamy Corn Chowder (Vegetarian)
This easy slow cooker corn chowder is a breeze to prep, and is a veggie-packed vegetarian recipe that’s luxuriously creamy without a drop of cream. A surprisingly simple yet deliciously vibrant soup that can be made with fresh or frozen corn!
Ingredients: russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn, broth, coconut milk, onion, garlic, white wine vinegar and other spices
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Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs
Pineapple Teriyaki Meatballs are a quick 30 minute or easy make-ahead crockpot dinner with ground chicken, crushed pineapple, and a homemade naturally sweetened teriyaki sauce.
Ingredients: ground chicken (or pork or turkey), green onion, garlic, ginger, coconut aminos, crushed pineapple, pineapple juice, honey, arrowroot powder (or corn starch), almond flour (or oat flour) and water.
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Sunshine Lemon Chicken Chowder (Crockpot, Instant Pot, Stovetop!)
Light, nourishing, and bursting with flavor this Sunshine Lemon Chicken Chowder makes for an easy weeknight dinner or for anytime. Can easily be made in the slow cooker, Instant Pot, or stovetop.
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or thighs), baby potatoes, celery, cauliflower, onion, chicken stock, coconut milk (or cream), lemon juice, turmeric and other seasonings
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Summer Crockpot Soup (w/ Chicken & Veggies)
Simple to make and bursting with fresh summer flavors, this light summer soup is made simple in the crockpot with chicken, and plenty of vegetables. A mostly hands-off recipe, just chop, drop, and dinner's done!
Ingredients: chicken breasts (or thighs), chicken stock, zucchini, tomato sauce, leafy greens, onion, chili powder, cumin and other seasonings
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Slow Cooker Carnitas (Loin Roast or Shoulder)
This slow cooker carnitas recipe is super easy to prepare and yields wildly delicious, succulent results everytime. Serve the carnitas warm as a filling for tacos, burritos or in bowls for an easy weeknight dinner win!
Ingredients: pork loin roast (or pork shoulder), orange juice, lime juice, cumin, mild chili powder, garlic powder and salt.
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Beef Crockpot Recipes For Hot Weather
Easiest Slow Cooker Ramen Noodles (with Beef!)
Comforting, savory and slurpable, this recipe for slow cooker ramen noodles combines lean ground beef, vibrant vegetables, and a super simple sauce in the crockpot for a delicious and nearly effortless meal.
Ingredients: ground beef, slaw mix, carrots, garlic, low sodium tamari (or soy sauce), chicken stock, brown sugar, ramen noodles.
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Slow Cooker Taco Meat (No Pre-Cooking!)
You will not believe how easy this dump-and-go slow cooker taco meat recipe is! Made simply with ground beef, spices, and salsa, it requires no pre-cooking and no chopping, so it's perfect for feeding a crowd, as a super easy dinner idea or as protein meal prep!
Ingredients: ground beef, salsa, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, mild chili powder, and salt.
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Slow Cooker Flank Steak
This ultra tender slow cooker flank steak recipe could not be easier to make, and yields the most delicious, tender flank steak for tacos, sandwiches and more!
Ingredients: flank steak, chili powder, smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, brown sugar, olive oil and salt.
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Easiest Slow Cooker Shredded Beef (for Tacos + More!)
Perfectly spiced and incredibly easy to prepare, this slow cooker shredded beef is super versatile and makes the best beef tacos, enchiladas + more! You'll love how it saves you time (no searing required) with the most succulent, delicious results.
Ingredients: boneless beef chuck-eye roast, onion, tomato paste, cumin, mild chili powder, smoked paprika, lime juice and salt.
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Easy Slow Cooker Beef Meatballs (in Marinara)
These tender, juicy, melt-in-your mouth slow cooker meatballs could not be simpler to make! Requiring no pre-cooking or pre-browning, these ground beef meatballs simmer low and slow in a simple Italian marinara sauce for the ultimate meatball dinner. Bring on the spaghetti!
Ingredients: ground beef, parmesan, onion, garlic, Italian breadcrumbs (gluten free or traditional), egg, salt, marinara sauce.
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Summer Sides & Veggies
Sweet Summer Crock Pot Corn on the Cob
Friends, crock pot corn on the cob is the easiest way to prepare sweet, buttery, and tender corn on the cob all year round, and is especially perfect for warm summer months when you want to keep the kitchen cool and feed a crowd. And, other than cleaning the corn, this recipe is completely hands off, leaving you more time to prepare a main dish or spend time with your friends and family!
Ingredients: corn, olive oil, salt, butter.
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Incredible Slow Cooker Baked Beans (w/ Canned Beans!)
These simple homemade slow cooker baked beans truly are incredible. Perfectly sweet & just the right amount of saucy, they come together easily with 3 types of canned beans, a hint of brown sugar, and hit of smokey, rich bacon.
Ingredients: bacon, red onion, garlic, smoked paprika, chipotle chili powder, pinto beans, kidney beans, Northern or white beans, salt, apple cider vinegar, BBQ sauce, ketchup, yellow mustard, brown sugar.
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Slow Cooker Ratatouille (with Fresh Summer Veggies!)
Slow cooker ratatouille is a French stew filled with seasonal, bright, and fresh vegetables cooked together low and slow in a rich garlicky tomato sauce.
Ingredients: eggplant, salt, olive oil, red onion, tomato paste, garlic, white wine, bell pepper, zucchini, yellow squash, tomato, Italian seasoning, black pepper.
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Slow Cooker Green Beans (w/ Bacon!)
Packed with flavor, these super easy slow cooker green beans are a simple side dish slow cooked to tender perfection. Using fresh green beans and smokey bacon it's a mostly hands-off recipe fit for the holiday table or as a delectable vegetable side!
Key ingredients: Green beans, bacon, chicken stock, garlic, smoked paprika, butter.
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Slow Cooker Honey Glazed Carrots
Elevate everyday carrots with this incredibly easy and elegantly simple side. Perfect for every day dinners, brunch, and special holiday spreads; these slow cooker carrots make an impressive vegetable side dish and are easy to make with carrots, honey (or maple syrup) and just a touch of butter.
Ingredients: carrots, butter, lemon zest, maple syrup and salt.
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Slow Cooker Collard Greens
This easy slow cooker collard greens recipe combines humble collard greens with simple spices for a lusciously tender and delicious side dish you’ll want to make on repeat.
Key ingredients: collard greens, chicken stock, ham hock, apple cider vinegar.
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Slow Cooker Potatoes
These slow cooker potatoes are the definition of simple and delicious. All you need are a handful of pantry ingredients and a crockpot. Easy prep for weeknight dinners, but this classic, cozy recipe makes a great addition to the holiday table too!
Ingredients: small potatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and salt.
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No-Fuss Slow Cooker Baked Russet Potatoes (No Foil!)
Yes, you can make the perfect baked Russet potatoes in the slow cooker! With just 3-ingredients, this is the easiest, hands-off method to make fluffy, steamy slow cooker jacket potatoes with almost no effort, and no foil required.
Ingredients: Russet potatoes, olive oil and salt.
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Slow Cooker Summer Peach Chicken & Basil + More Easy Summer Slow Cooker Recipes
This Summer Slow Cooker Peach Chicken with Basil is super simple to make & tastes amazing! I love how quickly this sweet & savory summer dish comes together. Plus more fresh & easy summer slow cooker recipes that'll save you from having to turn the oven on during the warmer months!
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, or thighs
- 1 medium yellow onion, very thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, plus more for marinating the peaches
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 6 medium peaches sliced (peeled or unpeeled), sliced
- 1 teaspoon sugar
To Add at the End
- ¼ cup tightly packed basil leaves, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- Hot sauce for serving, optional
Equipment
Instructions
- Place the sliced onions in the bottom of a 6-quart slow cooker. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, garlic powder, and 2 tablespoons vinegar. Stir in peach slices from 4 peaches.
- Sprinkle the chicken with 1 teaspoon salt, then nestle into the peach-onion mixture, making sure they're covered with some of the peach-onion mixture.
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-5 hours or until the chicken is cooked through.
- While the chicken is cooking, dice the remaining peaches. Add to a bowl, along with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir to combine, then cover and set aside or refrigerate.
To Add at the End
- When ready to serve, turn off the heat, and remove the chicken to a cutting board. Shred the chicken with two forks or dice
- Drain half the cooking liquid from the slow cooker. Add the shredded chicken, butter, and the diced marinated peaches, stirring to combine.
- Serve sprinkled with the fresh basil and hot sauce if using) over rice, in buns, or with crusty bread to soak up the extra juices.
Notes
- The flavor and sweetness of your peaches and the quality of the balsamic vinegar will significantly impact your final results. If your peaches aren’t very ripe and sweet, add a teaspoon or two to the cooking mixture, as well as to the marinated peaches.
Nutrition Information:
Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 222kcal, Carbohydrates: 4g, Protein: 32g, Fat: 8g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 107mg, Sodium: 651mg, Potassium: 604mg, Fiber: 0.4g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 166IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 16mg, Iron: 1mg
Did you make this recipe?If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!
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Love this post (35+ easiest summer crockpot recipes) since i love the simplicity of crock put recipes. BUT why can’t i add recipes i want directly from the post. One has to go to the recipe, actually find the recipe, then add it to their board, mine being pinterest. I know you make money from links but damn, I’m looking for recipes. Don’t want to know your life story, what you do every day, i just want some recipes, and maybe find some tools you really like.
Terry, sorry you don’t like the way this recipe round-up is structured. I agree it can be cumbersome to click back and forth to pin, but I’m constrained by the website template, so in order to provide a full recipe round up with lots of options to select from, this is our best option. Also, I don’t make money off of links, and I haven’t included anything about my life story in this post (just a few helpful notes to help you make the most of the free recipes), so I’m not sure where you’re getting that. Regardless, I do hope you’re able to find a few summer recipes to enjoy!
When do you add the 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar?
Thank you!
I realize you add it at the beginning. I was reading it as you add a teaspoon of the vinegar, like the salt and the garlic
powder.
Thanks!
Oh good, glad you figured it out, Holly, I hope you enjoy!
So grateful for this compilation! It is EXACTLY what I was looking for in terms of ingredients and ease – this is going to get us through the summer (and beyond, if I’m honest). Thanks so much.
Tess, yay, so happy to hear this collection is helpful! Here’s to more ease in summer cooking–and beyond!
Hi,
How can these be adjusted for stove top or instapot cooking?
Thanks!
Hi Isabel, yes, most of the recipes include notes on how to adapt them for the stovetop or instant pot. Just click into each recipe for those notes.
Could one use frozen peaches in this? Thanks
Liz, yes, you can! You might need to add a bit of extra time (15-30 minutes) if you add them directly from frozen, but otherwise you should be good to go!
Looking forward to trying several of these! In the collage at the top of the page there is a photo of a dish with chicken, limes, oranges, and what looks like garlic. Which recipe is that? I can’t find it in your list.
Hi Alicia, if you click on any of those images it will take you to the recipe! However I think you’re referring to this slow cooker citrus chicken. Let me know if that’s not it and I’ll keep looking for you!
Thank you! That looks to be the one. I tried clicking on the image in the collage as you suggested, but nothing happens. In any case, thanks for the link! I’m excited to try the citrus chicken.
Alicia, oh good, I’m glad that’s the one! Thanks for letting me know that when you click the image it isn’t working, too. I’ll look into that and see if I can fix it. I hope you enjoy the citrus chicken. Cheers!
What a beautiful selection of recipes! Unique and lots of variety. I’ll be coming back to this post again and again. Thank you!
Yay, so happy to hear you’ve found so many easy slow cooker recipes to try, Kristyn! I hope you enjoy them all!
Hi! Is this recipe able to be prepped and frozen? And if so, can it be added straight to the crockpot from the freezer? How would that change the cook time?
Hi Taylor, I haven’t tested it, but I think it could work. For food safety reasons I can’t recommend adding frozen chicken to the slow cooker, so if you do freeze it I might suggest you defrost in the fridge overnight first. I hope that helps!