26 Summer Slow-Cooker Recipes You'll Want to Make Year-Round

As much as we love a no-cook dinner, there are times when the heat just can’t take away our craving for certain dishes. (We’re looking at you, pulled pork.) Luckily, there’s an easy fix: break out your handy, dandy slow cooker. You can whip up everything from family-friendly chicken dishes to no-fuss desserts with ease—and without heating up your entire kitchen. You can even make ribs in the slow cooker! In this easy recipe, the seasoning paste transforms into a savory dipping sauce. Slather it on the ribs and pop them on the grill just before serving for a final char. They’re the summer weeknight dinner everyone will devour.

Using up your garden haul of bell peppers has never been simpler, thanks to your slow cooker (and this stuffed peppers recipe)! Just stir all the filling ingredients together (raw ground beef included), then stuff the mixture into the peppers and let the cooker do the rest. Top with sour cream for a nourishing dinner your whole family will love.

A blend of ancho, pasilla and chipotle chiles simmers into a bold, aromatic sauce that slow cooks pork shoulder until it shreds effortlessly. Pile it into warm corn tortillas with your favorite toppings for an easy set it and forget it dinner.

A rich beef ragu simmers low and slow with wine, milk and a Parmesan rind for hours until deeply savory and tender. Ladle it over spaghetti with plenty of grated Parmesan for a cozy dinner that mostly cooks itself.

It takes little more than peaches, mixed berries and some sugar to whip up the filling for this fruity dessert, and the pecan-studded topping is the perfect complement.

The hardest part about making this creamy corn dip is having to wait (and smell it!) while it’s in the slow cooker. Simply mix together the frozen corn, cream cheese, jarred pimentos, diced jalapenos and spices, then get your tortilla chips ready!

Barbecue is serious business in a lot of Southern families, and Trisha's is no exception. Throughout her childhood in Georgia, her father's pulled pork-an all-day project-was a must at summer get-togethers. Now Trisha has figured out a way to adapt her dad's recipe for the slow cooker, so she won't have to keep disappearing to tend to the meat.

You don't have to live by the shore to enjoy a good old-fashioned New England-style shrimp boil. Use a slow cooker to cook potatoes and seasonings, then add the corn, shrimp and sausage to cook in the flavorful broth at the end.

Potato salad may never be the same after you make it in a slow cooker. Crispy bacon adds flavor and texture to this summertime staple.

This recipe turns amazing ribs into an easy-to-prepare meal. Let the slow cooker do all the work all day, then just finish them in minutes on the grill.

This 5-star recipe is so good fans say you'll make it again and again. Best of all, it requires only 15 minutes of hands-on work.

This slow-cooked cobbler is a great use for frozen peaches and so easy to make. Add some toasted, chopped pecans for a little Southern flair.

Ree cooks her ribs in a slow cooker, then uses the juices as the base for her mouthwatering sauce, flavored with honey, soy sauce and rice vinegar.

Hosting a summer BBQ? Prepare this simple creamed corn ahead of time and let the slow cooker do its job while you tend to the grill.

Why wait till Thanksgiving to fill up on turkey? With this recipe, you can turn a bone-in turkey breast into tacos any night of the week. Prep the meat in the morning, then sit down to a ready-to-eat meal at the end of your day.

This colorful cobbler is very juicy, but the sweetened berry "sauce" is so delicious it's worth spooning up. If you don't have time to make the sour cream topping, a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar or a dollop of vanilla yogurt works well, too.

Season the ribs with brown sugar and chipotle chile powder before slow-cooking, then brush them with chipotle barbecue sauce, sweetened with a touch of agave, under the broiler. No one will be able to resist the finger-licking-good meat.

When a recipe calls for almost 5 cups of Cheddar, you know it'll be filled with cheesy goodness. Evaporated milk and whole milk add creaminess to this fan-favorite, and a dash of paprika on top lends Southern flair.

The moist environment of a slow cooker works double duty on cheesecake: It prevents cracks from forming and helps achieve a smooth and creamy texture. We love this dessert topped with ripe summer peaches.

Put the days of store-bought baked beans behind you. Dress up dried beans with Ree's easy recipe, featuring molasses, brown sugar and bacon.

Although this dough has no color, it is light and airy, like the soft inside of a loaf of French bread. The other surprising part is there's no need to let it rise. You can go directly from making the dough to baking with no waiting around. Magic.

Keep your oven (and home) cool this summer with a seasonal fruit cobbler baked in the slow cooker. Sprinkle with toasted almonds for some extra crunch.

Coconut milk and curry paste provide the flavorful base for this easy dinner. Don't be surprised if slow-cooking becomes your new favorite way to cook boneless chicken thighs!

Busy families, this recipe is for you. Enjoy the comfort of homemade lasagna, without the lengthy assembly time that often accompanies the dish. The slow cooker makes the entire process really simple.

These slow-cooked onions and peppers will upgrade your next fajita night like no other. Seasoned with cumin, smoked and sweet paprika, and sugar, they go with chicken as well as they do beef.