The Ultimate Slow Cooker Meal Plan for August

Day 1: Butter Chicken Meatballs

My husband and I love meatballs, and we love butter chicken. Before an appetizer party, we had the brilliant idea to combine these two loves, and the new creation got rave reviews! Want them as a main dish? Just serve with basmati rice. —Shannon Dobos, Calgary, Alberta

Dessert: Warm Rocky Road Cake

Day 2: Luau Pork Lettuce Wraps

I first made this recipe when our family took a trip to a beach house in Florida. On my night to cook, I did a luau theme and used this recipe as the appetizer. These are still a favorite today! —Joyce Conway, Westerville, Ohio

Dessert: Pineapple Upside-Down Dump Cake

Day 3: BBQ Chicken Sliders

Brining the meat overnight helps make these BBQ chicken sliders taste exceptionally good. Plus, they're so tender, they melt in your mouth. —Rachel Kunkel, Schell City, Missouri

Side Dish: Simple Vegetarian Slow-Cooked Beans

Day 4: Beer Brat Chili

My husband and I love this chili because it smells so good as it simmers in the slow cooker all day. I can't think of a better way to use up leftover brats. He can't think of a better way to eat them! —Katrina Krumm, Apple Valley, Minnesota

Dessert: Slow-Cooked Blueberry Grunt

Day 5: Fabulous Fajitas

I've enjoyed cooking since I was a girl growing up in the Southwest. When friends call to ask me for new recipes to try, I suggest these flavorful fajitas. It's wonderful to put the beef in the slow cooker before church and come home to a hot delicious main dish. —Janie Reitz, Rochester, Minnesota

Side Dish: Creamy Jalapeno Corn

Day 6: Makeover Slow-Cooked Mac 'n' Cheese

This recipe is a clear example of comfort food at its finest; it's rich, hearty and extra cheesy. And because it's made in the slow cooker, it's also extremely easy. —Shelby Molina, Whitewater, Wisconsin

Dessert: Slow-Cooker Lava Cake

Day 7: Fiery Sweet Chicken Thighs

This dish combines my love of spicy hot Thai food with a sweet, almost barbecuelike sauce. —Eve Gray, Marietta, Georgia

Side Dish: Smoky Baked Beans

Day 8: Peppered Meat Loaf

I came up with this easy dinner one day while experimenting in the kitchen. Everyone who tries it, loves it! —Laura Burgess, Mount Vernon, South Dakota

Side Dish: Corn and Broccoli in Cheese Sauce

Day 9: Pot Roast Hash

I love to cook a “Sunday style” pot roast for weeknights. Make it into pot roast hash for any day of the week. —Gina Jackson, Ogdensburg, New York

Dessert: Slow-Cooked Bread Pudding

Day 10: Easy Poached Salmon

In 46 years of marriage, we had never tasted salmon until a friend told me about poaching it in a low cooker. I tried it and got flaky, moist results with little fuss. I added some soy sauce for extra flavor. — Johnna Johnson, Scottsdale, Arizona

Side Dish: Au Gratin Garlic Potatoes

Day 11: Slow-Cooked Flank Steak

My slow cooker gets lots of use, especially during the hectic summer months. I can fix this flank steak in the morning and forget about it until dinnertime. I serve it with noodles and a tossed salad. —Michelle Armistead, Keyport, New Jersey

Dessert: Slow-Cooker Peach Crumble

Day 12: Beef & Veggie Sloppy Joes

I’m always looking for ways to serve my family healthy and delicious food, so I started experimenting with my favorite veggies and ground beef. I came up with this favorite that my three kids actually request! This healthy take on sloppy joes reminds me of my own childhood. —Megan Niebuhr, Yakima Washington

Side Dish: Cowboy Calico Beans

Day 13: Simmered Turkey Enchiladas

I discovered a different way to serve economical turkey thighs. I simmer them in tomato sauce, green chiles and seasonings until they're tender and flavorful, then serve them in tortillas with our favorite fresh toppings. —Stella Schams, Tempe, Arizona

Side Dish: Cheesy Slow-Cooked Corn

Day 14: Tender Barbecued Chicken

After a long day at work, a slow-cooked meal is a great help. One of my family's favorites is this moist slow-simmered chicken. For an appealing look, choose a darker brown barbecue sauce. —Jacqueline Blanton, Gaffney, South Carolina

Side Dish: Stewed Zucchini and Tomatoes

Day 15: 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

Dessert: Apple Pie Oatmeal Dessert

Day 16: Chili Coney Dogs

From the smallest kids to the oldest adults, everyone in our family loves these hot dogs. They’re so easy to throw together in the morning or even the night before. —Michele Harris, Vicksburg, Michigan

Dessert: Slow-Cooker Cherry Pear Buckle

Day 17: Chicken Soft Tacos

My family loves these tacos. The chicken filling cooks in the slow-cooker, so it’s convenient to throw it together before I leave for work. At the end of the day, I just have to roll it up in a soft taco shell with the remaining ingredients and dinner’s ready in minutes. The chicken also makes a great topping for salad. —Cheryl Newendorp, Pella, Iowa

Side Dish: Slow-Cooker Polenta

Day 18: Blackberry Sriracha Chicken Sliders

Dump everything in a slow cooker and watch these spicy-sweet sliders become an instant party time classic. —Julie Peterson, Crofton, Maryland

Dessert: Fudgy Peanut Butter Cake

Day 19: Fruited Pork Chops

Here's one of my favorite slow-cooker recipes. I often prepare these tender chops with pineapple sauce for guests and serve them with brown rice. —Cindy Ragan, North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania

Side Dish: Sweet and Tangy Beets

Day 20: Soy-Ginger Pot Roast

My husband really likes roast beef, and I really like my slow cooker. I brought in Asian influences for an all-day pot roast with some oomph. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas

Dessert: Slow-Cooker Chocolate Pots de Creme

Day 21: Squash & Chicken Stew

We created a satisfying stew that’s nutritious, loaded with flavor and family-friendly. Slowly simmer chicken thighs with stewed tomatoes, butternut squash, green peppers and onion for meal-in-one convenience. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Dessert: Old-Fashioned Tapioca

Day 22: Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket

When my husband and I were both working full-time, we loved this recipe's 10-hour cook time. The beef brisket tastes so good after simmering all day in the crockpot, and the chili sauce adds a unique touch to the gravy. — Anna Stodolak Volant, Pennsylvania

Side Dish: Simple Saucy Potatoes

Day 23: Pork Burritos

As a working mother, I depend on my slow cooker to help feed my family. We all love the spicy but slightly sweet flavor of these tender burritos. —Kelly Gengler, Theresa, Wisconsin

Side Dish: Spaghetti Squash with Tomatoes and Olives

Day 24: Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches

These sandwiches make a standout addition to any buffet line. Make sure to have plenty of small cups of broth for everyone to grab. Dipping perfection! —Holly Neuharth, Mesa, Arizona

Side Dish: Slow-Cooked Bean Medley

Day 25: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Of all the recipes I make in my slow cooker, this Crock-Pot bbq chicken is my most treasured. If you enjoy your barbecue sweet with a little spice, this will be your new favorite, too. —Yvonne McKim, Vancouver, Washington

Side Dish: Slow-Cooked Corn on the Cob

Day 26: Southwestern Nachos

Guests will go crazy when you serve this cheesy nacho casserole with tender chunks of slow-cooked pork. The recipe makes two heaping pans, and you don’t need to worry about filling the chip bowl—the tortilla chips are conveniently baked right in the dish! —Kelly Byler, Goshen, Indiana

Dessert: Strawberry-Banana Pudding Cake

Day 27: Tropical BBQ Chicken

Here is my favorite slow-cooker recipe. The delicious, slightly spicy sauce will win you over, too! —Yvonne McKim, Vancouver, Washington

Dessert: Tropical Compote Dessert

Day 28: Barbecue Brats & Peppers

We live in brat country, and this barbecue-style recipe feeds a crowd. The sauce gives it a welcome change from the same old grilled bratwurst. — Maria Zrucky, Kronenwetter, Wisconsin

Side Dish: Buffalo Wing Potatoes

Day 29: Slow-Cooked Peach Pork Chops

“I played around with many variations of this recipe until I came up with one that was just right,” Bonnie Morrow writes from Spencerport, New York. “The warm peaches make an excellent side dish for the pork.”

Dessert: Peachy Summer Cheesecake

Day 30: Slow Cooker Chickpea Tagine

While traveling through Morocco, my wife and I fell in love with the complex flavors of the many tagines we tried. Resist the urge to stir this dish too much, as it will break down the veggies. Add shredded cooked chicken in the last 10 minutes, or serve with grilled fish. —Raymond Wyatt, West St. Paul, Minnesota

Dessert: Chocolate-Raspberry Fondue

Day 31: Texas Chili Fries

The delicious chili goes together in minutes and then cooks while you run errands. The only way to make it even better is to pour it over crisp french fries and sprinkle with cheese. —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

Dessert: Slow-Cooker Key Lime Fondue