I made 4 cookout foods in a slow cooker and they were all perfect for Labor Day weekend

Erin McDowellSep 3, 2022, 02:34 IST

I made four dishes perfect for a late summer cookout, including buffalo wings and pulled pork, in a slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

I made four dishes, including buffalo wings and pulled pork, in a slow cooker.
I thought the buffalo wings were among the best I've ever had.

The next slow-cooker appetizer I made was a personal favorite for summer cookouts: Buffalo chicken wings.

The Buffalo sauce ingredients in a bowl.Erin McDowell/Insider

Then I added my chicken wings to the slow cooker and poured the sauce on top.

Buffalo wings in a slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

The Buffalo wings cooked in the slow cooker for three hours on low.

The Buffalo chicken wings on a sheet pan.Erin McDowell/Insider

Once the wings were done, I served them with some blue cheese dressing.

The finished Buffalo chicken wings.Erin McDowell/Insider

The wings were some of the best Buffalo wings I've ever had.

The finished Buffalo chicken wings.Erin McDowell/Insider

I also made Martha Stewart's decadent three-cheese slow-cooker macaroni and cheese.

The cheeses inside the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

One of the best parts about this recipe is that you don't have to sit around waiting for the macaroni to boil.

Macaroni and cheese ingredients in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

The cheese added a ton of flavor, especially the smoked Gruyere, while the onions made the dish even more delicious.

Cooked mac and cheese in the slow cooker topped with breadcrumbs.Erin McDowell/Insider

My only complaint was that the bottom layer of macaroni and cheese could have been creamier — it was a little watery compared to the top layers.

A spoonful of the finished mac and cheese.Erin McDowell/Insider

I also made slow-cooked pulled pork sandwiches.

The pork shoulder with tomatoes and onions in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

After cooking the meat on high for six hours, as the recipe told me to do, it still wasn't as fork-tender as I wanted.

The finished pork shoulder.Erin McDowell/Insider

The recipe recommends serving the pulled pork in a sandwich with coleslaw and pickles.

The finished pulled pork sandwich with coleslaw on a bun.Erin McDowell/Insider

The last slow-cooker cookout food I made was Buffalo chicken dip.

The cream cheese mixture in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

I then added a layer of shredded chicken to the slow cooker.

The cream cheese mixture and chicken in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

Next, I poured Buffalo wing sauce over the chicken-and-dip mixture and added a layer of shredded American cheese.

The Buffalo chicken dip ingredients in the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Insider

After cooking on low for three hours, the dip was hot and bubbling in the slow cooker.

The cooked Buffalo chicken dip.Erin McDowell/Insider

The dip was perfectly creamy, spicy, and cheesy — another successful slow-cooker recipe that's perfect for a cookout.

Eating the Buffalo-chicken dip with a chip.Erin McDowell/Insider

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