The Ultimate List of Summer Dinners Your Family Will Love

If your summer days are packed with pool days, road trips, or just chasing after sticky popsicle-covered kids, the last thing you want to stress over is dinner or be in the kitchen all day. That’s why I put together this huge list The Ultimate List of Summer Dinners Your Family Will Love which is full of our family’s favorite warm weather meals. Everything from slow cooker sandwiches to fun pasta salads and BBQ bites.

These are my tried and true recipes from my kitchen that are easy, family-approved, and perfect for laid back summer nights.

Whether you’re planning a backyard get together or need something hands off for a busy weeknight, there’s something here for everyone!

Slow Cooker Sandwiches & Sliders

Slow Cooker Birria Sliders These juicy birria sliders are packed with tender slow-cooked beef and tons of flavor. They’re perfect for game day or feeding a crowd, just add slider buns and watch them disappear.

Slow Cooker Arby’s Roast Beef and Cheddar Sandwiches This copycat version is spot on! Slow cooked beef, tangy sauce, and melty cheddar piled high on buns, it’s like the fast food fave but even better homemade.

Slow Cooker Chopped Cheese Sandwiches These chopped cheese sandwiches are messy, melty, and totally crave worthy. The slow cooker makes it so easy to pull off this New York bodega classic at home.

Slow Cooker Roast Beef Po Boys Tender roast beef in a rich gravy layered on crusty French bread, it’s pure comfort food with a Louisiana twist.

Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sandwiches Smoky, saucy, and perfect for summer nights. These BBQ beef sandwiches are an easy win with a bag of chips and some cold lemonade.

Slow Cooker BBQ Ranch Chicken Sandwiches Sweet, tangy, and a little creamy thanks to ranch dressing, these pulled chicken sandwiches are a summer staple.

Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork That hint of root beer gives this pulled pork such a fun twist. Super kid friendly and perfect for sliders or tacos.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken Sliders Sweet and savory shredded chicken served up on Hawaiian rolls, easy to make, and even easier to eat.

Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches Who says Caesar salad can’t be dinner? These chicken Caesar sandwiches are fresh, flavorful, and so simple to throw together.

Taco-Inspired Favorites

Big Mac Smash Tacos The viral recipe we had to try, and it delivered! All the flavor of a Big Mac in taco form. Kids love them, adults do too.

Slow Cooker Rotel Tacos Cheesy, creamy, and packed with flavor. These Rotel tacos are the ultimate crowd-pleasing dinner.

Slow Cooker Copycat Chipotle Barbacoa Beef That rich, smoky flavor you crave from Chipotle, made easier in the slow cooker. Perfect for burrito bowls, tacos, or nachos.

Slow Cooker Honey Lime Chicken Tacos Sweet, tangy, and zesty, these tacos bring serious flavor with minimal effort. A total summer win.

The Ultimate Fry Bread Tacos Recipe Crispy homemade fry bread topped with seasoned meat and all the fixings, basically a taco night upgrade!

BBQ & Cookout Slow Cooker Mains

Slow Cooker Hawaiian BBQ Chicken Sweet pineapple and tangy BBQ come together in this family-favorite chicken dish. Just add rice or rolls!

Slow Cooker Firecracker Chicken A little sweet, a little spicy, this firecracker chicken is bursting with bold flavor.

Slow Cooker Honey BBQ Drumsticks Sticky, sweet, and so easy to make. These drumsticks are always the first to go at dinner.

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Drumsticks Dr. Pepper gives these drumsticks a fun, flavorful twist. Totally kid-approved!

Slow Cooker Dr. Pepper BBQ Meatballs Perfect as a main dish or party appetizer, these meatballs are sweet, tangy, and super easy to make.

Slow Cooker BBQ Country Ribs Fall-apart tender ribs that practically make themselves. Great for Sunday dinners or summer gatherings.

Slow Cooker Cherry Cola Ribs Cherry cola adds a bold, slightly sweet kick to these saucy slow-cooked ribs.

Slow Cooker Brisket No smoker required! This brisket is rich, tender, and packed with that classic BBQ flavor.

One-Pot & Bowl Meals

Slow Cooker Queso Chicken Cheesy, creamy, and totally comforting, this queso chicken is amazing over rice or in tortillas.

Slow Cooker Chicken Ramen A cozy twist on takeout ramen, this slow cooker version is easier than you think and super slurpable.

Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans Hearty, meaty, and slightly sweet, cowboy beans are a full-on meal in a bowl.

Slow Cooker Frito Pie Chili, cheese, and crunchy Fritos, this one’s just plain fun and always a family fave.

Kielbasa & Smoked Sausage Dishes

BBQ Baked Kielbasa This simple kielbasa dish is sticky, sweet, and perfect for tossing on a summer plate with some mac and cheese.

Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Kielbasa Only a few ingredients, but BIG flavor. These sweet and savory sausage bites are great for dinners or parties.

Slow Cooker Hawaiian Lil Smokies Lil smokies get a tropical twist with pineapple and sweet BBQ sauce, an easy snack or summer dinner idea.

Chicken & Cold Salads

Jalapeno Popper Chicken Salad Spicy, creamy, and loaded with bacon and cheese, this is not your average chicken salad.

Copycat Chicken Salad Chick Classic Carol A spot-on copycat of the popular chain’s classic chicken salad. Perfect for sandwiches or scooping with crackers.