Let's face it: You'll already be sweating all summer, so any excuse not to make it any worse is welcomed. That includes avoiding turning on the oven if at all possible, but of course, how else is dinner going to get on the table? Take a cue from Ree Drummond: "Throw everything in a slow cooker. Turn on. Go live life." And while you may often think of pulling out the best for the chillier months, you'd be surprised just how versatile summer slow cooker recipes!

If you think about it, there are plenty of classic American dishes for all those barbecues and holiday weekends: creamy mac and cheese, delectable ribs, and corn on the cob, for example.

Instead of turning on the stove or firing up the grill, let your handy do the work. Plus, summer Crock-Pot recipes also free up so much prep time. Wouldn't you rather take a dip in the pool than worry about chopping all those veggies for dinner? Thought so.

Speaking of summer vegetables, there are also plenty of ways to highlight the bountiful produce of the season like , , and even a for dessert! Of course, it wouldn't be a slow cooker list without some heartier fare like , , and , so you have a variety of options―no oven required.