Get the most out of your summer: These 5 slow cooker meals are perfect for enjoying out in the sun

On a hot summer's day, it can often seem a daunting task to make the house even hotter by firing up the oven for dinner. Adding unnecessary oven heat to already-overbearing summer heat is a thought just about as appealing as spending your summer cooped up in a sweaty sauna. Luckily, this conundrum is easily remedied by using your slow cooker to beat the summer heat! With a cool kitchen and your slow cooker ready and waiting, all you really need are some light, refreshing dinner recipes to make this a summer to remember!

Soak up the sun with these 5 fantastic slow cooker recipes!

For a bright, healthy dinner that’s sure to refresh you, look no further than these amazing Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps from Cooking Classy. Moist chicken and tangy Asian spices come together to produce this amazing dish—perfect for enjoying on a hot summer's day!

Get the full recipe here.

This recipe for Slow Cooker Apple Barbecue Ribs from Cincy Shopper is not messing around when it comes to flavor. It’s no secret that apple and pork are one of the most mouth-watering food marriages out there, and with only seven simple ingredients needed to produce this incredible version of sticky pork ribs, there is no excuse not to make these this week!

Get the full recipe here.

When you need a party dish that’s easy to make, mini sausages are an obvious choice. This recipe wraps them in smoky bacon and then cooks them in brown sugar so that they become crisp and glazed. The salty-sweet combination is totally addictive.

Get the full recipe here.

Teriyaki sauce makes a terrific marinade or basting sauce for grilled fish or chicken, but this flavorful mix can do so much more. In the recipe below, it serves as a sauce in the slow cooker that turns into a glaze for meatballs. The pineapple gives it a distinctively tropical appeal.

Get the full recipe here.

As far as I’m concerned, every summer party should center around a pot of warm, gooey cheese dip and a bowl of crunchy tortilla chips. I mean, how can you even call it a party without some chips and dip? The recipe below is simple to make in a slow cooker and is always a crowd-pleaser.

Get the full recipe here.