photo by special dark

Preparing food in a slow cooker works well during the summer months. It’s a hands-free way to cook without heating up your kitchen. You can bring it outside, plug it in and cook with it, so it’s a great alternative to backyard grilling. Cleanup is a snap, too. Here are four easy, tasty meals. Enjoy!

Cranberry Pork Chops

6 bone-in pork loin chops
1 (16-ounce) can jellied cranberry sauce
1/2 cup apple juice or cranberry juice
1/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons spicy-brown mustard
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cold water
salt and pepper, to taste

Place pork chops in a slow cooker. Mix cranberry sauce, juice, sugar and mustard until smooth; pour over chops. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 8 hours or medium for 5 to 6 hours, until meat is tender. Remove chops; keep warm. In a saucepan, combine cornstarch and cold water until smooth. gradually stir in cooking juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in salt and pepper. Serve over chops.
Optional: Pork chops can be grilled 6 minutes on each side, too. — Lisa C., Texas

Slow-Cooker Pizza

1 pound hamburger, browned and drained
1 extra-large jar spaghetti sauce (3-pound size) or two regular-sized jars
1 pound box rotini or elbow macaroni, cooked al dente
2-plus cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
sliced pepperoni, to taste
1 tablespoon minced garlic
Italian seasoning, to taste

Brown and drain the hamburger, then add half the sauce in with the meat. Layer meat/sauce, noodles, cheese and pepperoni, and repeat layers until slow cooker is full, ending with a layer of sauce. Cook on low for 5 hours. Shortly before serving, add more cheese to the top and allow it to melt.
Optional: Add your favorite pizza toppings such as sausage, chopped onions, peppers, mushrooms, etc. You can also substitute potatoes for the pasta and cook on high for 4 hours or until potatoes are tender, and serve with chicken or pork. — Amy, Ohio

Slow-Cooker Ribs

1 (10.5-ounce) can beef broth
3 tablespoons honey mustard
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup honey barbecue sauce
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 tablespoon brown sugar
3 pounds pork ribs or chops

In a slow cooker, mix together beef broth, honey mustard, honey, barbecue sauce, soy sauce, maple syrup and brown sugar. Place ribs in slow cooker so the sauce covers them. Cook on high for 5 hours, or until the meat falls easily from the bones. — Melissa, e-mail

Sweet-and-Sour Chicken

1-1/2 cups sliced carrots
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tablespoons quick-cooking tapioca
3-pound chicken, cut into pieces
8-ounce can pineapple chunks, in juice
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon instant chicken bouillon
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt
cooked rice, for serving

Place first three ingredients into the bottom of a slow cooker. Sprinkle with tapioca. Add chicken. In a separate bowl, combine pineapple, brown sugar, vinegar, soy sauce, bouillon, garlic powder, ginger and salt. Pour over chicken. Cover. Cook on low for 8 hours. Serve over cooked rice. — Patty, Idaho

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