20 easy recipes to make this summer. Simple meals, side dishes, salads, slow cooker recipes, and desserts!
I have made a list of some of my favorite summer recipes for you all in one place! I am not a huge fan of cooking meals in the summer. We are all busier during the summer, and it’s hot so you don’t want to heat your kitchen up with using the oven or stovetop. So below are some recipes that use the slow cooker, (no heating up your kitchen!) simple meals that are quick to cook, no bake desserts, and easy side dishes.
20 Easy Summer Recipes: Slow Cooker Meals
Who said the slow cooker was only for winter?? I love to use my slow cooker for summer, it’s a nice set it and forget it for meals. All these recipes are done in the slow cooker, so no heating up the kitchen with using the oven or stovetop! Yay! Feel free to tweak them to your liking.
Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
Delicious slow cooker baby back ribs, all done in the crock pot! Meat that just falls off the bone, cooked in a homemade BBQ sauce!
These ribs are super easy to make, just a little browning under the broiler and then cooking it in the crock pot in some BBQ sauce for about 4-6 hours. You don’t even have to flip them over, just let them slowly cook! For summer, instead of broiling them, throw them on a grill for a few minutes to sear them, then throw them in the slow cooker!
Root Beer Crockpot Pulled Pork
Delicious slow cooker pulled pork rubbed with spices and cooked in root beer and apple juice. Easy to make and feeds a crowd.
This recipe is so easy to make. Just put everything in the slow cooker and let it cook! No searing beforehand or any kind of prep.
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Delicious sloppy Joes all done in the slow cooker! With simple ingredients, it’s easy to feed the whole family.
Don’t forget to toast the buns, makes it that much more delicious! I like to use little buns, or even slider buns for these, just makes them a little less…sloppy.lol.
Crockpot Carnitas
Delicious crockpot carnitas cooked with spices, lime juice, orange juice, and coke. Makes great tacos, enchiladas, or nachos!
When the pork is done, just take it out and shred it with some forks, but don’t toss the juice in the slow cooker! That juice tastes great served over the meat in tacos and enchiladas. So make sure you save it.
My favorite is to serve these in the mini street taco soft shells topped with my Creamy Chipotle Sauce! The sauce has a bit of a spicy kick to it and goes perfect with the pork.
Corned Beef Sliders (corned beef cooked in the slow cooker)
Corned beef sliders oven baked with Swiss cheese and Thousand Island dressing. Delicious and easy weeknight meal or appetizer!
They are a quick and easy weeknight meal! Even easier if the meat is leftover, but if not, you can just pop the meat in the slow cooker for the day!
You do pop these sandwiches in the oven for a bit to melt the cheese, but you don’t have to! If you don’t want to heat up the oven, just assemble the sandwiches and the warm corned beef will melt the cheese enough.
20 Easy Summer Recipes: Quick and Easy Meals
Here are some quick meals to make that do use the stovetop but with minimal time. Feel free to throw the last two recipes on the grill!
Cheesy Chicken Quesadillas
Toasty and flavor packed cheesy chicken quesadillas. An easy weeknight or lunch meal to satisfy any craving.
These Quesadillas are flavor packed to the max! Marinating the chicken before cooking it, then sauteing the onions in a little brown sugar and butter before combining both in the Quesadilla, brings a big flavor.
Southwest Chicken Wraps
Southwest chicken wraps with a zesty flavor, makes a quick and healthy lunch! Filled with lettuce, tomato, black beans, corn, and red pepper.
Try cooking up a bunch of this chicken in the seasoning at the beginning of the week. Then when you need a quick lunch it’s just a matter of minutes before these are done. So quick and a good way to keep on track with eating healthy.
Brisket Grilled Cheese Sandwiches
A savory brisket grilled cheese sandwich smothered in cheddar and Monterey jack cheeses. A quick and easy meal that is an upgrade from a grilled cheese sandwich.
Make it easy on yourself and use leftover brisket or use the Jack Daniels brisket. It is so easy since it is cooked already and the BBQ sauce is on them already too, adding BIG flavor to the sandwich!
Baked BBQ Chicken Wings
Crispy oven baked chicken wings, seasoned and then smothered in BBQ sauce. Perfect appetizer or an easy weeknight meal!
I know these say baked, but in the summer you can take these out on the grill with the same cooking instructions. About 30 minutes on each side. I always use a meat thermometer to check my temperature to make sure these are done before eating!
Bacon Turkey Burgers
Turkey Bacon Burgers smothered with garlic aioli BBQ sauce. So juicy and deliciously topped with a toasted brioche bun. A perfect weeknight meal made in minutes!
For the summer, take these patties to the grill! Just use a meat thermometer and cook the burgers to the internal temperature of165 degrees F.
I use an aioli sauce that is pre-made from the store and then just add my favorite BBQ sauce on top of that. I have also added some sliced avocados and arugula leaves. So go ahead and experiment with this and add whatever you like on your burger!
20 Easy Summer Recipes: Delicious Summer Salads and Sides
Your classic sides for the summer. Easy to throw together with little to no baking or cooking.
Italian Pasta Salad
Easy Italian pasta salad that is bursting with color and flavor! Lots of veggies and tri-color pasta make this a beautiful side dish for a party.
This pasta salad is so super easy to make. Just grab yourself a bottle of Italian dressing ( you might have one already in your fridge!), some pasta, and whatever veggies you happen to have!
Homemade Baked Beans
Homemade baked beans that are made with crispy bacon, onion, green pepper, molasses, and brown sugar. Easy to throw together and tastes even better when made ahead.
For the summer, throw all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 5 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. Chop up the bacon into small pieces before adding it to the slow cooker. Stir occasionally so that it doesn’t stick to the bottom.
Tangy Cucumber Salad
Sweet and tangy cucumber salad in a homemade red wine vinegar dressing. Perfect summer salad to use up your garden vegetables!
It is so easy! Basically cut up all the veggies, make the dressing, and let it soak in the dressing.
7 Layer Salad
A classic 7 layer salad that is crisp with a creamy dressing. Full of chopped lettuce, celery, green pepper, onions, cheese, tomatoes, and bacon, this salad makes a quick and easy side dish!
This salad is super easy to make! Probably only took about 15 minutes to put the whole thing together. This is a great dish to bring to summer parties. You can make it ahead of time, just leave the dressing off until you go to serve it.
5 Minute Blender Salsa
A delicious blender salsa that is done in 5 minutes. Fresh tomatoes make it taste like it’s from your favorite restaurant!
This salsa is loaded with fresh ingredients that give it lots of flavor! I love to use my garden tomatoes for this salsa. However, you can also use canned tomatoes if you don’t have any fresh ones, just make sure it is a good brand that is flavorful, or you can try the fire roasted tomatoes.
20 Easy Summer Recipes: Summer Desserts
Great snack mixes to take on the go and no bake recipes to choose from!
Scotcharoos
Scotcharoos are a rice krispie treat made with peanut butter and topped with a chocolate butterscotch mix. With only 6 ingredients these are super easy to make!
These are a “no bake” dessert too! However, you do have to use the stovetop to melt the sugar and corn syrup for a couple minutes. Then use the microwave to melt the chocolates for a minute or so, but then it’s done!
You can cut these up into big bars or little bars. If you cut it up into little bars they will make about 30-40 bars. They also freeze well!
No Bake Cheesecake Squares
Light and fluffy cheesecake squares topped with crushed graham crackers. A no bake dessert that is fast and delicious!
These cheesecake squares are super easy to make and take no time at all! It is a no bake dessert and only takes a couple hours in the fridge to set.
The light and fluffy texture makes these cheesecake squares a perfect spring or summer dessert! Also serves a lot of people, since it is made in a 9×13 dish, so easy to bring to a party or summer BBQ.
No Bake Peanut Crunch Candy
Super fast no bake peanut crunch candy, made with Captain Crunch Peanut Butter cereal and almond bark! Easy birthday and holiday treat!
I especially like this recipe because it doesn’t require you to use the oven. All you need is a cool place to let them set.
Marshmallow Pops
Marshmallow pops make an easy kids treat. Made with marshmallows, melted almond bark and sprinkles. Decorate to match any holiday or party theme!
These cute marshmallow pops are so easy to make and make a perfect treat to hand out at parties!
Puppy Chow
Easy and addicting puppy chow recipe. A fast and delicious snack made with Crispix cereal, peanut butter, milk chocolate, and powdered sugar.
I love how fast this recipe is made! Super easy and quick for those last minute snack ideas.
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