Find slow cooker recipes to make for summer

In a heat wave, it’s the last thing you want to do: turn on the oven or stir something constantly in the pan. Why not let your slow-cooker do the cooking while you remain cool?

Slow cookers emit very little heat, unlike ovens or air fryers. Preparing in the morning, before temperatures soar, allows you to enjoy a meal at night without feeling the heat.

If you want to feed a family or host friends, but also have something delicious and easy, then these slow cooker summer recipes are for you.

Why slow cook in the summer?

• Cool your kitchen down
• It uses less energy than an oven or a hob
• Set it and Forget it. Spend more time at your favorite beach and less cooking.
• Ideal for big batches of meals and leftovers.

Here are six of the best summer-friendly slow cooker recipes – including meat-free, family-friendly, and Mediterranean-inspired options.

1. Pull-pork wraps

Inspirational quotes Country Living recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 white/yellow onions, chopped
• 2 cloves chopped garlic
• 1 cup of barbecue sauce plus more to serve
• ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tbsp Light Brown Sugar
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tbsp chilli powder
• 1 tbsp of ground cumin
• 2 tsp mustard powder
• Water or chicken stock, 1 cup
• Salt and Pepper
• 4 lb boneless trimmed pork
• Tortillas for serving

Method:

1. Add the onion, garlic and barbecue sauce to the slow-cooker. Add salt and pepper.
2. Season the pork and add it to the slow-cooker. Cook 5–6 hours on high or 10–11 hours on low until it shreds easily.
3. Remove the pork and shred it.
4. Simmer cooking liquid in a saucepan until reduced (16–18 mins), then toss pork in the sauce.
5. Serve in wraps and top with extra sauce.

2. Spanish chicken

Inspirational quotes BBC Good Food recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 white/yellow onions, sliced
• 12 chicken thighs with skin removed, bone in
• 225g chorizo, thickly cut
• 3 Mixed Peppers, Chopped
• Green or black pitted olives – 150g
• Dry white wine 300ml
• 300ml chicken stock
• 1 tbsp tomato purée

Method:

1. After 5 minutes, add the onion to a slow cooker.
2. In the same pan, brown chicken and chorizo. Transfer to a cooker.
3. Add peppers, olives and other ingredients.
4. Deglaze pan with wine, stock, and tomato purée; pour over chicken.
5. Cover the pot and cook it on low for six hours.

3. Vegetarian Chilli

Inspirational quotes Country Living recipe.

Ingredients:

• Two tins chopped tomatoes
• 1 tbsp chilli powder
• Cumin 2 tsp
• 1 tsp of coriander
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 onion, cut into pieces
• 1 carrot, sliced
• 1 poblano pepper, chopped
• ¾ cup water
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 can of rinsed black beans
• 1 tin rinsed kidney beans
• Serve with sour cream, grated cheese, spring onions and coriander.

Method:

1. Add all ingredients to the slow cooker (except beans and toppings).
2. Cook 7–8 hours on low or 5–6 hours on high.
3. Stir in beans, cook 8–10 mins more.
4. Serve with toppings.

4. Aubergines with Feta

Inspirational quotes BBC Good Food recipe.

Ingredients:

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 Red onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves crushed
• 500g of aubergines, sliced in half lengthways
• 300g ripe tomatoes, quartered
• 1 fennel bulb, sliced
• 50g Sun-dried tomatos
• 1 tsp coriander seeds
• Salt and Pepper

Dressing:

• Chop parsley, basil or chives into small pieces.
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• Juice of one lemon
• 2 tsp. capers

To serve:

• 100g feta cheese
• 50g flaked almonds toasted
• Crusty Bread

Method:

1. Pour half of the oil into the slow cooker. Add onion and the garlic.
2. Layer tomatoes, fennel seeds, sun-dried tomato, and coriander in the cooker. Brush remaining oil on aubergines. Season.
3. Cook 6–8 hours on low until soft.
4. Blitz dressing ingredients.
5. Transfer the veg onto a plate, drizzle with dressing and top with almonds and feta.

5. Ginger chicken with cabbage salad

Inspirational quotes Country Living recipe.

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup apricot jam
• 2 tbsp. ketchup
• ¼ cup soya sauce
• 2 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 2 lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs
• 4 cloves of garlic, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 red jalapeño, chopped
• ¼ cup rice vinegar (divided)
• Salt and Pepper
• 1 cup white Rice
• ¼ red cabbage, sliced
• 2 Spring Onions, chopped
• 1 tablespoon chopped coriander
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• Sesame seeds (to serve)

Method:

1. Add ginger, jam, ketchup and soy sauce to the slow cooker. Add chicken, garlic, onion, and jalapeño.
2. Cook 3.5–4.5 hours on high or 5.5–6.5 on low. Stir in 2 tbsp of vinegar and shred the chicken.
3. Cook rice as directed.
4. Combine cabbage, spring onions and coriander with remaining oil, vinegar, and oil. Season.
5. Serve the chicken over rice and top with slaw.

6. Ratatouille

Inspirational quotes BBC Good Food recipe.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 Red onion, sliced
• 2 garlic cloves crushed
• 2 aubergines, diced
• 3 courgettes, sliced
• 3 Mixed Peppers, Chopped
• 1 tbsp tomato purée
• 6 tomatoes ripe, chopped
• Handful of basil chopped
• A few thyme stems
• 1 can plum tomatoes
• 1 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar
• 1 tsp Brown Sugar
• Salt
• Optional: Focaccia to serve

Method:

1. Sauté onion in oil for 8 mins. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Stir in courgettes and peppers, then fry for 5 minutes. Add courgettes, peppers and stir fry for 5 minutes more.
3. Add tomato purée, tomatoes, herbs, canned tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, and salt.
4. Transfer to slow-cooker. Cook 5–6 hours on low.
5. Sprinkle with basil. Serve with focaccia.´

These slow cooker meals are more than just heat-savers – they’re flavour-packed, budget-friendly, and ideal for weekday cooking.

Slow cooking in the summer is one of your best kitchen tricks, whether you are cooking for yourself or a family.

What’s your favorite slow cooker summer recipe? Share it with us in the comments.

All lifestyle news are available.