Easy Summer Dinners: No-Cook and Slow Cooker Recipes

On these hot days in late summer, making supper without heating up the kitchen can be a challenge. I want to provide a delicious meal, but I want to do it without standing at an outdoor grill or without a 375 degree oven causing the air conditioners to work extra hard.

My best tool on these days is the crock pot. While talking with Whitney this past weekend, she was remarking at how many recipes done in the slow cooker include ingredients like creamed soups. In my opinion, those kind of recipes add calories, sodium, and a dish that’s too heavy for a 90 degree day.

This Crock Pot Turkey Meatloaf is a light option, and is so good! On Sunday morning I put potatoes wrapped in foil in the bottom of my slow cooker, then I lined my crock pot with a purchased liner. When we were ready to eat, the meatloaf was cooked perfectly and was a cinch to clean up, and the potatoes were also ready! That was a blessing to come home to!

This Greek Panzanella Salad is a hearty salad made with French Bread. It’s just a matter of cutting up the bread and the vegetables, then tossing with a vinaigrette 30 minutes before dinnertime.

A recipe like these Honey-Lime Enchiladas could be made using a purchased rotisserie chicken. It will eliminate the need to roast chicken breasts. They only need 30 minutes in the oven. Chicken Taco Salads is another good option for using a rotisserie chicken. You could also make these Crock Pot Chicken Tacos and use the meat not just for tacos, but for salads, enchiladas or a quesadilla.

If you need a dessert, this Crock pot Hot Fudge Spoon Cake is amazingly decadent!

It is possible to cook a delicious supper and not die of a heat stroke in the process!

Which of these recipes do you want to try?