37 Easy Summer Side Dishes for the Slow Cooker

Read Time: 17 mins

37 Easy Summer Side Dishes for the Slow Cooker2/37 Slow-Cooked Summer Squash 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooked Summer Squash Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 50 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: We love squash, but I got tired of fixing just plain squash and cheese. I decided to jazz up the dish a bit. This was a huge hit with my family. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 111 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 12mg cholesterol, 442mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber),

6g protein

6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat. Check out these slow-cooked dinners, too. 3/37 Slow-Cooked Corn on the Cob Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooked Corn on the Cob Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 10 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I like to eat corn all year long, so I came up with this recipe. It’s my favorite side to serve when I make sloppy joes. You can use a butter substitute for a skinny version of this corn. —Teresa Flowers, Sacramento, California Nutrition Facts: 4 pieces: 161 calories, 9g

fat (6g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 118mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (7g sugars, 2g fiber), 4g protein. 4/37 Buffalo Wing Potatoes 4 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Buffalo Wing Potatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 6 hours 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I was getting tired of mashed and baked potatoes, so I decided to create something new. This potluck-ready recipe is an easy and delicious twist on the usual potato dish. —Summer Feaker, Ankeny, Iowa Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 182 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 9mg cholesterol, 382mg sodium, 32g

carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein

carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 1/2 fat. 5/37 Black-Eyed Peas 8 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Southern Black-Eyed Peas Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour 5 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I find that pork is the secret to a good black-eyed peas recipe. A double dose of ham for flavor and slow, gentle cooking creates this perfect side dish. —Emory Doty, Jasper, Georgia Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 359 calories, 11g fat (3g saturated fat), 5mg cholesterol, 788mg sodium, 48g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 14g fiber),

20g protein

20g protein. 6/37 Crockpot Mashed Potatoes 29 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Crockpot Mashed Potatoes Recipe photo by Christine Ma for Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 20 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Sour cream and cream cheese give richness to these smooth make-ahead potatoes. They are wonderful for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner since there’s no last-minute mashing required. —Trudy Vincent, Valles Mines, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 210 calories, 11g fat (7g saturated fat), 27mg cholesterol, 670mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 4g fiber), 3g protein. 7/37 Jalapeno Corn 5 Reviews Test Kitchen

This comforting and creamy corn side dish is appealing to almost everyone

Approved Creamy Jalapeno Corn Recipe photo by Jackie Alpers for Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This comforting and creamy corn side dish is appealing to almost everyone. It gets its spicy kick from jalapeno peppers.—Judy Carty, Wichita, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 251 calories, 16g fat (10g saturated fat), 46mg cholesterol, 275mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 6g protein. 8/37 Oregano Green Beans with Toasted Pine Nuts 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Oregano Green Beans with Toasted Pine Nuts Recipe photo by Taste of

This super easy side dish is a wonderful picnic or potluck recipe

Home Total Time 5 hours 15 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This super easy side dish is a wonderful picnic or potluck recipe. It’s a beautiful, surprising mix that leaves guests and family raving. You can substitute any kind of nut for the pine nuts or even replace them with fresh berries. —Wolfgang Hanau, West Palm Beach, Florida Nutrition Facts: 1 cup: 94 calories, 6g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 191mg sodium, 10g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 4g fiber), 3g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat. 9/37 Slow-Cooker Citrus Carrots 3 Reviews Test

These carrots are yummy and so simple to make

Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Citrus Carrots Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 25 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: These carrots are yummy and so simple to make. The recipe is from my mom, who tweaked it a bit to suit her taste. You can make this dish a day in advance and refrigerate it until needed. Then just reheat it before serving! —Julie Puderbaugh, Berwick, Pennsylvania Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 136 calories, 4g fat (2g saturated fat), 8mg cholesterol, 208mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (18g sugars, 5g fiber), 1g protein. 10/37 Onion-Garlic

Stir in hot sauce if you like a bit of heat

Hash Browns Test Kitchen Approved Onion-Garlic Hash Browns Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 20 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Quick to assemble, this is a simple recipe I’ve cooked many times. Stir in hot sauce if you like a bit of heat. I also like to top the finished dish with a sprinkling of shredded cheddar cheese. —Cindi Hayward-Boger, Ardmore, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 110 calories, 5g fat (3g saturated fat), 10mg cholesterol, 136mg sodium, 15g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 2g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1 starch, 1

This version of vegan baked beans doesn’t need an oven

fat. 11/37 Vegan Baked Beans Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooker Vegan Baked Beans Recipe photo by Laura Scherb for Taste of Home Total Time 9 hours 30 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This version of vegan baked beans doesn’t need an oven. The slow cooker makes it the ultimate hands-off party dish. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 294 calories, 1g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 161mg sodium, 60g carbohydrate (27g sugars, 9g fiber), 13g protein. 12/37 Kentucky Spoon Bread 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Kentucky Spoon Bread Recipe

It’s a popular side dish served all year long

photo by Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is a traditional Kentucky recipe. It’s a popular side dish served all year long. If you’ve never tried spoon bread before, I think you’ll find it’s tasty and comforting. —Caroline Brown, Lexington, Kentucky Nutrition Facts: 1 serving: 192 calories, 7g fat (4g saturated fat), 87mg cholesterol, 433mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (8g sugars, 1g fiber), 8g protein. 13/37 Green Beans in Bacon Cheese Sauce Test Kitchen Approved Green Beans in Bacon Cheese Sauce Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time

5 hours 10 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I like to take this side dish to potlucks, because it is easy to make and always popular. —Karen Lewis, Pleasant Grove, Alabama Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 137 calories, 6g fat (3g saturated fat), 16mg cholesterol, 817mg sodium, 14g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 7g protein. 14/37 Slow-Cooked Ranch Potatoes 24 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Slow-Cooked Ranch Potatoes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 7 hours 15 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Even after seven years, my family

still asks for this tasty potato and bacon dish

still asks for this tasty potato and bacon dish. Try it once and I’ll bet your family will be hooked, too. —Lynn Ireland, Lebanon, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 230 calories, 12g fat (6g saturated fat), 33mg cholesterol, 545mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein. 15/37 Slow-Cooked Broccoli 18 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 2 hours 50 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This family-favorite side dish is quick to fix and full of flavor. Because it simmers in a slow cooker, it frees up my oven for

other things

other things. That’s a tremendous help when I’m prepping a big meal at home. —Connie Slocum, Antioch, Tennessee Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 159 calories, 11g fat (6g saturated fat), 25mg cholesterol, 431mg sodium, 11g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 6g protein. 16/37 Cheddar Creamed Corn 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 3 hours 10 min Servings 9 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I took 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,

Molasses and maple syrup give it a slight sweetness

New Jersey Nutrition Facts: 1/2 cup: 272 calories, 20g fat (12g saturated fat), 56mg cholesterol, 317mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein. 17/37 Boston Baked Beans 36 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved New England Baked Beans Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: For a potluck or picnic, you can’t beat this classic side that starts with a pound of dried beans. Molasses and maple syrup give it a slight sweetness. —Pat Medeiros, Tiverton, Rhode Island Nutrition Facts: 2/3 cup: 385 calories, 5g fat (2g

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