I made 5 cookout foods in a slow cooker and they were all perfect for the 4th of July

Erin McDowellJul 2, 2024, 21:55 IST

I made popular cookout foods in a slow cooker, including a creamy Buffalo chicken dip.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Ahead of the Fourth of July weekend, I tested five popular cookout foods in a slow cooker.
I thought the Buffalo wings I made in a slow cooker were among the best I've ever had.

When planning a summer cookout, a Crock-Pot or slow cooker is a great tool to make prepping easier.

Fourth of July weekend is one of the most popular times for Americans to host cookouts. WalletHub and the National Retail Federation reported that US households will spend $9.4 billion on food alone for Fourth of July cookouts and celebrations this year, and roughly two-thirds of Americans will attend a Fourth of July picnic.

Ahead of the Fourth of July, I tried making five different dishes that I would typically make for a cookout, but this time I made them in my slow cooker. I loved the ease of using the slow cooker and also thought it would be an ideal way to transport hot dishes to a party.

From Buffalo-chicken dip to wings and pulled pork, all of the recipes turned out perfectly — no stove required.

The first recipe I made was potato salad, something I make for every cookout.

The chopped potatoes in a black slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I made the dressing by mixing whole-grain mustard and all-purpose flour.

The mustard and flour mixture in a bowl.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I added the dressing, a chopped sweet onion, and three chopped celery stalks to the potatoes along with the mustard dressing.

The finished potato salad with bacon.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

While I definitely enjoyed the finished potato salad, I wasn't sure if it was worth the long cooking time.

The finished potato salad.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

The next cookout food I made was Martha Stewart's decadent three-cheese slow-cooker mac and cheese.

The cheeses inside the slow cooker.Erin McDowell/Business 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/Business Insider

The cheese packed this dish full of flavor, especially the smoked Gruyere, while the onions made it even more delicious.

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

I also made slow-cooked pulled-pork sandwiches.

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

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/Business 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/Business Insider

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

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

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

The finished Buffalo chicken wings.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

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

The finished Buffalo chicken wings.Erin McDowell/Business Insider

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

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

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