During the spring months, after a long winter of heavy cooking, you may want to indulge in lighter recipes that reflect the springtime mood. While many crockpot recipes are for hearty, comfort food best enjoyed during the winter months, the truth is a crockpot is a handy kitchen tool year around. You do not have to ditch your crockpot during warm weather.
Crockpots are perfect for creating delicious meals with minimal effort, regardless of the season. In spring, when the weather starts to warm up and you may be looking for lighter fare, there are plenty of options for using your crockpot to make fresh seasonal food.
So, if you are looking for easy and delicious spring crockpot recipes, we have ten suggested recipes. Our recipes include delicious chicken dishes, juicy meatballs, flavorful vegetables, and even delectable desserts. These crockpot recipes are perfect for busy weeknights or entertaining guests without spending too much time in the kitchen. Moreover, they are tailored to the season and will help you make the most of spring weather.
Blueberry Peach Cobbler
You can make this blueberry peach cobbler without turning on your oven, and your kitchen will smell fantastic while making it. This recipe calls for frozen fruit and can take between two and a half to five hours to make, depending on whether you choose to make cobbler on low or high heat. Furthermore, it is a versatile recipe. You can modify it by using other spring fruits such as cherries, blackberries, or strawberries.
Cilantro Lime Chicken
This versatile recipe is a great choice for meal-prepping in advance for the week. You can use any boneless chicken – breasts, thighs, or tenders will do. There is no need to mix the seasoning separately; just dump everything in the slow cooker for an easy one-pot meal. After cooking, you can easily shred the chicken and serve it over rice. For extra flavor, add delicious toppings like sour cream, red onions, and avocado.
Easter Ham
If you want to spend more time with your family and less time in the kitchen, then this crockpot ham recipe is perfect for Easter or any other occasion. To make this glazed ham, you will need your largest crockpot. First, create the glaze on the stovetop. Then, glaze the ham and cook it on low for four to five hours. You will need to flip the ham once halfway through cooking and remember to baste the ham two to three times during the process.
Honey BBQ Meatballs
To make these easy crockpot meatballs, you will need grape jelly, BBQ sauce, honey, and parsley. In a mixing bowl, combine the grape jelly, BBQ sauce, and honey until the ingredients are well blended. Then, place the meatballs in a crockpot, pour the mixture over them, and stir to coat. Ensure that the meatballs are evenly coated in the sauce by occasionally stirring them in the crockpot. Cook for an hour on high heat or two to three hours on low heat. If you like, sprinkle parsley on top before serving.
Lemon Chicken Orzo Soup
This delicious spring chicken soup is both filling and delicious. To save time, you can shred rotisserie chicken for this recipe and use frozen vegetables. In fact, with this versatile recipe, you can mix up your choice of vegetables and use cabbage, spinach, zucchini, or green beans instead. While this recipe is easy to prepare, it does require some prep work upfront. However, the effort pays off in the end.
Lemon Spoon Cake
This crockpot lemon spoon cake consists of six simple ingredients: lemon cake mix, eggs, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. The cake has a crisp crust and a gooey center, making it simply delicious. Additionally, it is extremely easy to make, perfect for when you are pressed for time and craving something sweet.
Mediterranean Chicken with Roasted Vegetables
This simple yet flavorful dish is perfect for enjoying during the spring and summer months. This dish's Mediterranean flavors come from fresh basil and dried oregano. Moreover, the vegetables are roasted without any oil, giving them a crispy texture without the added fat. You can add additional ingredients such as fried chorizo, olives, or chili flakes to enhance the dish with some extra texture and spice.
Peach Cobbler
You can enjoy a satisfying peach cobbler without warming up the whole house using this easy-from-scratch recipe. Simply combine peaches, cornstarch, and sugar in your crockpot. Next, cook your cobbler on low for two to three hours or on high for three to four hours. Once the filling appears bubbly, it is ready to serve. Remember to resist the temptation to peek into the crockpot during the first two hours to prevent the cobbler from collapsing. If the cobbler collapses, it will require a longer cooking time.
Shredded Tacos
This five-ingredient crockpot chicken taco recipe will transform your taco nights with minimal effort. To prepare the chicken, combine chicken breasts, zesty salsa, your choice of seasonings, and spicy green chilies in your slow cooker. If you need a side for your shredded tacos, consider making these flavorful crockpot pinto beans.
The leftover chicken can also be used to make hearty burritos, loaded nachos, or added to salads or wraps. Furthermore, the leftovers can be stored in an air-tight retainer for up to three days or frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to three months.
Spring Risotto
Risotto is a flavorful Italian dish made by cooking short-grain rice with broth until it becomes creamy. Traditionally, cooks slowly add warm broth to rice in a pot, stirring until the rice absorbs the broth. However, with far less effort, you can prepare this delicious spring risotto in your crockpot in just about an hour. If you need guidance while preparing this recipe, there is also a video available at the provided link.
Other Crockpot Recipes to Consider
In addition to these perfect spring crockpot recipes, here are some additional crockpot recipes you might enjoy.
- Classic Crockpot Pork Recipes – We did not include any pork recipes on our list, but here are some of our favorite crockpot pork recipes.
- Continental Chicken – For the meat lovers in your family, this recipe for Continental Chicken contains chicken, bacon, and dried beef.
- Crockpot Meatless Recipes – For the vegetarians in your family, here is a selection of meatless crockpot recipes.
- Crockpot Side Dishes and Breakfast Recipes – If you need ideas for crockpot side dishes and breakfast recipes, our list includes asparagus and cheese, French toast casserole, scalloped potatoes, and cheesy creamed corn.
- Crockpot Beef Taco Casserole Recipe – If you need a recipe to celebrate Taco Tuesday during the spring months, this straightforward beef taco casserole recipe is perfect and feeds the whole family.
Final Thoughts
You do not have to retire your crockpot during warm weather. In fact, it is an ideal alternative to oven cooking during the warmer months. All ten of these recipes are perfectly suited for the springtime. From mouth-watering chicken entrees to juicy meatballs, flavorful vegetables, and even yummy desserts, our recipes will satisfy your spring cravings and allow you to spend more time enjoying the spring weather with your family.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©zoryanchik/Shutterstock.com.