Top 5 Summer Crockpot Recipes That You Cannot Miss Out On!

Cozy winter nights, thick steaming chicken stews, hearty chili peppered throughout the meal – you know what we are talking about. Yes, crockpot-cooked dishes. Those who think these recipes are restricted to winter evening family gatherings can now check out a handful of summer crockpot recipes. With a combo of meat, braised brisket, and baked beans – here are a couple of easy healthy crockpot recipes that you can cook this summer! 

Top summer crockpot recipes you must see 

Note – In terms of measurement – the US standard is used. 

Here are some of the quick recipes that you must check out this season – 

1. Salsa Verde Chicken Tostadas 

You do not need to have tortillas in tacos. There are times – you may have it crunchy and baked – in tostadas! This is one of the summer crockpot recipes that is both healthy and tasty – absolutely crisp to serve. Here’s how to make it –

What do you need? 

. Chicken breasts (skinless/boneless, 2 pounds) 

. Packed Salsa Verde and Instant Refried Beans (you can choose your brand, 1 jar of salsa verde and 2 packs of refried beans) 

. Diced avocados (2)

. Queso Fresco (2 cups) 

. Tostada shells (16 large) 

. Cilantro (1 bunch, chopped)

How to make it?

. Add salsa verde to the chicken and coat it well. Cover it and cook for 6 hours on low flame. Once it is cooked, you will have to shred the chicken and transfer it back to the crockpot after mixing it with pepper and salt. 

. The beans have come packed, and you will have to prep them for the dish. Boil the beans in hot water and let it simmer. Stir it in between and let it stay for 5 minutes. 

. For the final presentation – you will have to place the tostada with the shredded chicken, beans, queso fresco, cilantro and avocado combo. 

. You can grace this dish with any topping of your choice. 

2. Pulled Pork Carnitas 

When talking of summer crockpot recipes, there’s no chance you can miss out on pork dishes. A universal favorite; just make sure you slice out the fat before you cook this dish. Here’s how to recreate it – 

What do you need? 

. Lean pork sirloin (2 pounds) 

. Fresh Thyme and Cumin (1/2 tablespoons) 

. Garlic (1 clove – thinly sliced) 

. Sea salt and olive oil (1 tablespoon) 

. Red grapefruit juice (1 cup) 

. Chopped red onion (1/2 cup) 

. Pepper (as per taste) 

. Fresh cilantro (chopped) and lime 

How to make it? 

. Add the pork sirloin to the crockpot and coat it with grapefruit juice and seasonings. Cook it on low flame for 6 hours. Once cooked – remove the pork and shred it. 

. Put a skillet on low flame and add olive oil to it. Cook the pork in it till the edges become golden. Keep stirring it and flipping it over for better cooking on both sides. Do it constantly for 8-10 minutes. 

. When the edges of this becomes crispy, you will have to pour the broth in from the cooker and keep stirring it in at a lower flame. 

. Finally, remove the cooked pork and grace it with cilantro and lime juice before serving. 

3. Crockpot Chicken Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Sauce 

Another of the chicken recipes that you cannot miss on a crockpot is – tacos, especially with chicken stuffed and sauced with cilantro. Before you jump into creating one of the most-opted summer crockpot recipes – you will have to shred the chicken and make the avocado-cilantro sauce. If you are not a fan of cilantro sauce or wish to seek a replacement – you may opt for chipotle aioli. 

What do you need? 

. For the taco meat – 

. Chicken breasts (skinless/boneless – 3)

. Salsa (1 cup) 

. Taco seasoning (2 tablespoons) 

. Salt (as per taste) 

. For the cilantro sauce – 

. Jalapeno and Avocado (1 medium-sized). Peel and seed the avocado and stem and quarter the jalapeno. 

. Cilantro leaf and water (1/2 cup each) 

. White vinegar (2 teaspoons) 

. Garlic (2 cloves) 

. Topping to put – 

. The must-need are – Queso fresco, cilantro, avocado, and red onion) 

. Corn or Flour Tortillas (8) 

How to make it? 

. Before jumping into the recipe, you have to shred the chicken with either a hand mixer or beat the breast pieces in the crockpot once you are done cooking. 

. For curating the sauce – you will have to add all the ingredients (avocado, jalapeno, cilantro, garlic, water, vinegar, and salt) in a blender and mix until it becomes smooth. 

. Add the ingredients mentioned above, without water, in a crockpot and keep stirring. After 5 minutes of stirring, cover it and let it cook for 5.5-6 hours (if you place it on low heat, as we suggested) or 3.5-4 hours (if on high flame). 

. Now you have to go in for shredding the chicken and blending it with the sauce. Cook it uncovered on low flame for 60 minutes to allow the spices to seep in. 

. Now you will have to – heat the tortillas and make the tacos. To make the tortillas, you must wrap them in semi-damp paper towels and microwave them for 20 seconds. Once that is done – you will have to take one tortilla at a time – and cook it for 30 seconds flipping it over and about. Keep them aside. 

. Use tongs to put shredded chicken in the tortillas. Drizzle with cilantro sauce and top it with shredded cheese, red onions, or as per choice. 

. Your chicken tacos crockpot is ready! 

4. Fire Roasted Tomato Shrimp Tacos 

For those who thought Mexican wasn’t healthy enough, this pot of shrimp tacos is what you need! Change the spices as per your choice and add on a couple of chopped red and green onions, avocado, cotija cheese, greek yogurt, and jalapeno peppers. 

What do you need? 

. Medium-sized shrimps peeled and tails removed (1 pound – fresh or frozen) 

. Minced garlic (1 teaspoon) 

. Chunky salsa and chopped onion (1/2 cup each)

. Chopped bell pepper (2/3 cup) 

. Garlic (minced – 1 teaspoon) 

. Avocado oil/Olive oil (1 tablespoon) 

. Cumin/ Chilli powder/ Cayenne pepper or paprika (1/2 teaspoon each) 

. Chopped cilantro (2 tablespoons) 

. Black pepper/ Kosher salt (as per taste) 

. Diced fire-roasted stewed tomatoes (14.5 ounces) 

. Corn/Flour tortillas (you may choose low-carb)

. Optional toppings – avocado, chopped green onion, sour cream, jalapeno pepper) 

How to make it? 

. This is another of the most-wanted summer crockpot recipes that you cannot miss out on. You will have to start by peeling the shrimp. Keep them on a paper towel. Once done – put it in the crackpot and lace it with olive oil. Then add – bell pepper, onion, garlic and combine them together. 

. Now put in the tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, paprika, salsa, pepper, and salt (if required). Combine these together. Coat the shrimp and the vegetables with this spice mix and place it in the crockpot. You either place it on low heat (2-3 hours) or high flame (90 minutes – 2 hours). While it is being cooked – stir it once in the middle. 

. How will you check if the shrimps are done or not? They will look opaque, quite like steamed shrimps. 

. Use tongs to fill in the tacos. Use toppings as per your taste. 

5. Crockpot Blueberry Crisp  

Ever heard of a crockpot dessert? This is one of the most – opted summer crockpot recipes that you must try since, compared to the rest of the desserts served – this is low on calories and, with an oats combo, is surely healthier! 

What do you need? 

. Fresh blueberries (4 cups) 

. Light brown sugar/ White whole wheat flour/ Regular oats (1/2 cup each) 

. Granulated sugar / Fresh lemon juice (2 tablespoons) 

. Lemon zest (1 teaspoon) 

. Cinnamon (1/2 teaspoon) 

. Salt and Nutmeg (as per taste, maximum a pinch) 

. Butter (4 tablespoons, room temperature) 

How to make it? 

. You will have to start by spraying the crockpots with cooking spray. That done – you will have to line down the blueberries. 

. Blend the lemon zest and juice with sugar – and keep it aside. 

. Now in another mixing bowl – blend light brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, salt, and nutmeg with the oats. Piece the butter into the smallest chips and mix it together. 

. Sprinkle this mixture over the blueberries. Put it under the cover and cook on low flame for 2.5 hours. After that, remove the cover and cook it for another 30 minutes. 

. If you are in the mood, you can spread a dash of honey over this mixture before serving. 

Wrapping up 

There are a couple of things you must remember before cooking up any of the mentioned summer crockpot recipes. You must choose cheap cuts – briskets, thighs to shoulders. Also, you have to trim the fat from the meat before you start cooking. When you are using a crockpot, do reduce the amount of liquid. Set the cooking settings at low while using all-purpose flour to thicken the sauces. 

If you have any hacks for slow cooking up your sleeve – do share them in the comments section.