7 Easy Summer Crockpot Meals: Delicious Recipes for Hot Weather

When the weather gets hot, the last thing anyone wants to do is spend hours in the kitchen cooking a big meal. That’s where the crockpot comes in handy! Crockpot cooking is perfect for summer because it allows you to make delicious, hearty meals without heating up your whole house.

Crockpot meals are easy to prepare – you just throw all the ingredients in the pot, set it, and forget it. Then when it’s time to eat, you have a hot, satisfying meal ready to go. Plus, crockpot recipes are usually quite budget-friendly since they use inexpensive cuts of meat and lots of vegetables.

Here are some of the easy summer crockpot meal ideas to try:

Pulled Pork

Pork shoulder or pork butt cooks up perfectly tender and juicy in the crockpot. You can make delicious pulled pork sandwiches or serve it over rice or mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 lb pork shoulder or pork butt
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

How to Make:

• Place the pork shoulder or pork butt in the slow cooker. 
• Top the pork with the sliced onion and minced garlic.
• In a small bowl, mix together the barbecue sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Pour this sauce over the pork.
• Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the pork is very tender and shreds easily.
• Remove the pork from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred it into bite-sized pieces.
• Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir to coat it in the cooking juices.
• Serve the pulled pork on buns or over mashed potatoes, rice, or coleslaw.

Shredded Chicken

Chicken breasts or thighs become amazingly soft and shreddable when cooked low and slow in the crockpot. You can use the shredded chicken in tacos, salads, soups, and more.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 cup chicken broth or stock
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

How to Make:

• Place the chicken breasts or thighs in the slow cooker. 
• Pour the chicken broth or stock over the chicken.
• Sprinkle the oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper over the top.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or until the chicken is very tender.
• Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred it into bite-sized pieces.
• Return the shredded chicken to the slow cooker and stir to coat it in the cooking liquid.
• Use the shredded chicken in tacos, salads, soups, or any other dish you like!

Beef Stew

Even in the summer, a hearty beef stew hits the spot. The crockpot makes the beef super tender and melting. Serve it with crusty bread or over mashed potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 3 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

How to Make:

• Place the beef stew meat in the slow cooker.
• Add the beef broth, diced potatoes, sliced carrots, diced onion, and minced garlic.
• Sprinkle in the bay leaves, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
• Stir everything together until well combined.
• Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-6 hours, until the beef and vegetables are very tender.
• Remove the bay leaves before serving.
• Ladle the beef stew into bowls and serve hot.

Chili

Whether you make it with ground beef, turkey, or beans, chili is a crowd-pleasing crockpot meal. It’s filling yet light enough for summer.

Ingredients:

• 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cans (15 oz each) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 can (15 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 tbsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

How to Make:

• In a skillet, cook the ground beef or turkey over medium heat until browned and crumbled. Drain any excess fat.
• Transfer the cooked meat to the slow cooker.
• Add the diced onion, minced garlic, diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, kidney beans, black beans, chili powder, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Stir all the ingredients together until well combined.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
• Serve the chili hot, topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped onions, or crushed tortilla chips.

Vegetable Soup

Load up your crockpot with your favorite fresh summer veggies like zucchini, corn, and tomatoes for an easy, healthy soup.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups diced carrots
• 2 cups diced celery
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups diced potatoes
• 2 cups green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 6 cups vegetable or chicken broth
• 2 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

How to Make:

• Add all the ingredients to the slow cooker – the carrots, celery, onion, garlic, potatoes, green beans, diced tomatoes, broth, thyme, oregano, salt, and pepper.
• Stir the ingredients together until well combined.
• Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the vegetables are very tender.
• Taste and adjust any seasonings as needed.
• Ladle the vegetable soup into bowls and serve hot.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

This Mexican-inspired soup is full of tender chicken, beans, corn, and crunchy tortilla strips. Top it with avocado, cheese, and sour cream.

Ingredients:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Tortilla chips, avocado, shredded cheese, and sour cream for serving

How to Make:

• Place the chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
• Add the chicken broth, diced tomatoes, black beans, frozen corn, diced onion, minced garlic, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and cayenne pepper (if using).
• Stir everything together until well combined.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is cooked through and shreds easily.
• Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks.
• Return the shredded chicken to the soup.
• Taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.
• Serve the chicken tortilla soup hot, topped with crushed tortilla chips, diced avocado, shredded cheese, and sour cream.

Pot Roast

A classic pot roast with potatoes, carrots, and onions is simple to make in the crockpot. The meat gets incredibly tender and flavorful.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 lb beef chuck roast
• 1 onion, sliced
• 3 carrots, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 3 potatoes, peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

How to Make:

• Place the beef chuck roast in the slow cooker.
• Arrange the sliced onion, carrot pieces, and potato cubes around the roast.
• Sprinkle the minced garlic over the top.
• In a small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper.
• Pour the broth mixture over the beef and vegetables in the slow cooker.
• Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the beef is very tender.
• Remove the roast from the slow cooker and use two forks to shred or slice the meat.
• Scoop out the cooked vegetables from the cooking liquid.
• Serve the shredded pot roast and vegetables together, either on a platter or in individual bowls.
• Spoon some of the cooking liquid over the top.

The great thing about crockpot meals is that they’re totally hands-off. Just dump the ingredients in the pot in the morning, turn it on, and come home to a delicious dinner ready to serve. No hot ovens or stove tops required!

Many crockpot recipes also make great leftovers, so you can enjoy the extra servings for lunches or easy dinners later in the week. And clean-up is a breeze since the crockpot is the only dish that gets dirty.

So, if you’re looking for easy, low-effort meal ideas to keep you and your kitchen cool this summer, give crockpot cooking a try. With these simple and tasty recipes, you’ll have plenty of delicious options to choose from.