Italian Beef Hoagies
You'll need just five ingredients to feed a crowd these tender and tangy Italian beef sandwiches. On weekends, I start the roast the night before, so I can shred it in the morning. —Lori Piatt, Danville, Illinois
See what else you can make in your slow cooker on a hot day.
Slow-Cooked Cajun Corn
My husband loves corn on the cob, and I love this slow cooker recipe because I don't have to stand at a hot stove. We like a little spice, so the Cajun seasoning works well for us, but any spice blend works. —Audra Rorick, Scott City, Kansas
Super Easy Country-Style Ribs
Growing up, our mom made sweet, tangy, smoked country style ribs. How I loved coming home from church to the delicious aroma as soon as I walked through the door. —Stephanie Loaiza, Layton, Utah
Tex-Mex Shredded Beef Sandwiches
Slow cooker meals, like this shredded beef sandwich, are my favorite kind. After I get a few ingredients into the slow cooker, I can do my own thing. Plus, I have a hearty, satisfying meal when I come home! —Kathy White, Henderson, Nevada
Slow-Cooked Smokies
I like to include these little smokies smothered in barbecue sauce on all my appetizer buffets since they're popular with both children and adults. —Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Creamed Corn
Five ingredients are all you'll need for my popular creamed corn recipe. It's wonderful no matter what the occasion is. Try it on a barbecue buffet or holiday menu. —Barbara Brizendine, Harrisonville, Missouri
"Secret's in the Sauce" BBQ Ribs
A sweet, rich sauce makes this BBQ ribs recipe so tender that the meat literally falls off the bones. And the aroma is wonderful. Yum! —Tanya Reid, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Slow Cooker Fruit Compote
I use canned goods and my slow cooker to whip up an old-fashioned treat that’s loaded with sweet fruits. It makes a cozy dessert or even a change-of-pace side dish for large parties. —Mary Ann Jonns, Midlothian, Illinois
Lemon Chicken with Basil
No matter when I eat it, this tangy slow-cooked chicken reminds me of summer meals with friends and family. —Deborah Posey, Virginia Beach, Virginia
Sausage Pepper Sandwiches
Peppers and onions add a fresh taste to this zippy sausage filling for sandwiches. It's simple to assemble, and it's gobbled up quickly. —Suzette Gessel, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches
My husband is a huge fan of pulled pork sandwiches, so my sister shared this incredibly easy recipe with me. At potlucks and family dinners, nobody can get enough of this root beer-braised version. —Carolyn Palm, Radcliff, Kentucky
Italian Mushrooms
Only four ingredients create a rich and flavorful side dish that we love to eat with beef and mashed potatoes. —Kim Reichert, St. Paul, Minnesota
Slow-Cooker Kalua Pork & Cabbage
My slow cooker pork has four ingredients and less than 10 minutes of prep. The result tastes just like the kalua pig slow-roasted all day in an underground oven. —Rholinelle DeTorres, San Jose, California
Slow-Cooked Green Beans
I spent hours in search of sides for a cooking demo to present to women from my church. These easy green beans became my star attraction. —Alice White, Willow Spring, North Carolina
Slow-Cooked Cherry Pork Chops
I mixed and matched several recipes to come up with this one. I'm always happy to adapt recipes for my slow cooker. It's so easy to prepare a meal that way. —Mildred Sherrer, Fort Worth, Texas
Cheddar Spirals
Our kids just love this cheesy pasta and will sample a spoonful right from the slow cooker when they walk by. Sometimes I add cocktail sausages, sliced Polish sausage or cubed ham to make it into a hearty dinner. —Heidi Ferkovich, Park Falls, Wisconsin
Sweet and Savory Brisket
I like this recipe not only because it makes such tender and flavorful beef, but because it takes advantage of a slow cooker. It's wonderful to come home from work and have this mouthwatering dish waiting for you. The beef doubles as a warm sandwich filling, too.—Chris Snyder, Boulder, Colorado
Creamy Hash Brown Potatoes
Convenient frozen hash browns are the secret behind the cheesy slow-cooker potatoes I cook up for potlucks and big group gatherings. —Julianne Henson, Streamwood, Illinois
Minister's Delight
A friend gave me this recipe several years ago. She said a local minister's wife fixed it every Sunday, so she named it accordingly —Mary Ann Potter, Blue Springs, Missouri
Sweet and Savory Ribs
My husband, Randy, and I love barbecue ribs, but with our busy schedules, we rarely have time to fire up the grill. So we let the slow cooker do the work for us. By the time we get home from work, the ribs are tender, juicy and ready to devour.—Kandy Bingham, Green River, Wyoming
Carolina-Style Vinegar BBQ Chicken
I live in Georgia, but I appreciate the tangy, sweet taste of Carolina barbecue chicken. In fact, my sons are more likely to show up to dinner if they know I'm serving this slow cooker recipe. —Ramona Parris, Canton, Georgia
Slow-Cooked Potatoes with Spring Onions
I love the simplicity of this recipe, as well as the ease of preparation with my slow cooker. And everyone always likes roasted potatoes, even my pickiest child! If desired, top with shredded or crumbled cheese. —Theresa Gomez, Stuart, Florida
Marmalade Meatballs
We had a pre-Superbowl potluck at work, so I started cooking these meatballs in the morning. By lunch time they were ready. They were a big hit! —Jeanne Kiss, Greensburg, Pennsylvania
Slow-Cooker Meatball Sandwiches
Our approach to meatball sandwiches is a simple one: Cook the meatballs low and slow, load into hoagie buns and top with provolone and pepperoncini. —Stacie Nicholls, Spring Creek, Nevada
Slow Cooker Beef au Jus
It's easy to fix this roast, which has lots of onion flavor. Sometimes I also add cubed potatoes and baby carrots to the slow cooker to make a terrific meal plus leftovers. —Carol Hille, Grand Junction, Colorado
Cheddar Creamed Corn
I brought this super easy recipe to a school potluck once and it was gone in no time. I’ve been asked to bring it to every function since. —Jessica Maxwell, Englewood, New Jersey
Chocolate Peanut Drops
This is a recipe that I got from a friend, who got it from her sister, and between the three of us we've handed it out everywhere! The chocolaty candies couldn't be easier to make in the slow cooker and depending on the size of your spoon, you can get dozens of candies from one batch. So easy and great for gifts.—Anita Bell, Hermitage, Tennessee
Slow Cooker Luau Chicken
As long as you’re cooking bacon for breakfast, save some for the slow cooker. In four hours, you’ll be saying aloha to lunch! —Cindy Lund, Valley Center, California
Spicy French Dip
If I'm cooking for a party or a family get-together, I can put this beef in the slow cooker in the morning and then concentrate on other preparations. It's a time-saver that never fails to get rave reviews. —Ginny Koeppen, Winnfield, Louisiana
The post 5-Ingredient Slow Cooker Recipes to Make This Summer appeared first on Taste of Home.
Emily Racette Parulski