16 Spring Crock-Pot Recipes To Try This Season

Just because the warm weather no longer calls for cozy stews or delicious hearty chilis, that doesn’t mean it’s time to put the magical slow cooker away. Spring Crock-Pot recipes exist, and they are just as great as the winter ones. As any slow cooker aficionado can attest, Crock-Pots can make life infinitely easier.

I am ALL about the set-it-and-forget-it attitude of a slow cooker. What is better than popping in some ingredients on your way out to work, and coming home that night to a delicious ready-to-eat meal? Nothing, that’s what. No longer do you have to spend the evening waiting for dinner in the oven, or cleaning pan after pan — your Crock-Pot does the bulk of the cooking (although it doesn’t clean itself, but who knows what the future has in store).

The weather is finally warm enough to be outside, and you deserve to enjoy it, which is all the more reason why slow cooker recipes are even more appropriate for the springtime. Let your Crock-Pot do all the cooking for you while you go enjoy the sun and catch up on all the vitamin D you’ve been missing. Plus, Crock-Pots do so much more than full dinners. You can make breakfasts, dips, and even desserts. Here are some of my favorite spring slow cooker recipes.

1. Orange Chicken

Try this Asian-inspired dish from A Farm Girl's Dabbles for a twist on the classic chicken slow cooker recipes.

2. Easy Crock-Pot Borscht

When was the last time you made borscht? A Pretty Life in the Suburbs has the perfect recipe. Just look at that bright color!

3. Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken

Please a crowd with this tasty balsamic chicken from Apron and Sneakers.

4. Spiced Lamb Gyros

Lamb gyros AND fries. It doesn't get any better than this recipe from Climbing Grier Mountain.

5. Chicken Ramen Noodle Soup

Yes, you can make ramen in a slow cooker. Just take it from A Spicy Perspective.

6. Chipotle Dr. Pepper Pork

You read that correctly — this pulled pork recipe has Dr. Pepper in it, and it is amazing. Thanks to Ari's Menu for the recipe.

7. Sloppy Joes

Sloppy joes are the ultimate warm weather food. Head over to A Farm Girl's Dabbles for the recipe.

8. Peach Pavlova with Bourbon Whipped Cream

If you haven't made desserts with your slow cooker yet, what have you been doing? You have to make this amazing peach treat from A Beautiful Mess.

9. Ranch Sloppy Joes

This twist on the classic sloppy joe dish is from Cooking For Keeps and has both chicken and ranch, so it's basically perfect.

10. Homemade Hummus

Throw together this crowd-pleasing dish in your slow cooker thanks to Big Girl Small Kitchen.

11. Slow Cooker Beans, Tomatoes, and Onion Salad

Yeah, you can make salads in Crock-Pots too. The possibilities are endless. Apron and Sneakers has the full recipe to make your mouth water.

12. Spiced Baby Back Rib Tostadas

How good does a tostada sound right now? Climbing Grier Mountain's amazing rib dish can't be beat.

13. Crock-Pot Raspberry Chipotle Chicken

Ari's Menu is back at it again with another amazing chicken dish, this time with raspberries. Hooray!

14. Easy Quiche

You can host a brunch and let your slow cooker do all the cooking with this quiche recipe from A Spicy Perspective.

15. Pineapple Chicken

Skip the takeout tonight, and try this pineapple dish from Damn Delicious.

16. Triple Chocolate Custard

I can't say no to this chocolate dish from A Beautiful Mess.

For more ideas, check out Bustle on YouTube.

Images: A Farm Girl's Dabbles, A Pretty Life in the Suburbs, Apron and Sneakers (2), Climbing Grier Mountain (2), A Spicy Perspective (2), Ari's Menu (2), A Beautiful Mess (2), Cooking For Keeps, Big Girl Small Kitchen, Damn Delicious