You know what’s the worst during summer? Turning on your oven. As if you aren’t shvitzing enough already, oh sure, let’s turn on the oven to make dinner and make the house 20 degrees warmer.

Crockpot cooking might seem more like a winter essential, but actually throwing dinner into your crockpot is a lot easier, and a lot cooler, then turning on that oven. So don’t break a sweat — let your crockpot be your secret to staying cool this summer, for weeknight cooking and even Shabbat! Here’s some favorite recipes to try:

• Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos from Belle of the Kitchen
• Lettuce Wrap Pulled Beef Tacos with Guacamole
• Easy Whole Chicken in a Slow Cooker from The Kitchn
• Crockpot Tomato Sauce
• Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken from Lemon Tree Dwelling (substitute olive oil for butter)

• Latin-Inspired Vegetarian Cholent
• Crockpot Root Beer BBQ Drumsticks from The Frugal Girls
• Easy Slow Cooker Barbecue Brisket from Simply Scratch
• Israeli-Inspired Crockpot Stuffed Peppers

And for Dessert:

• Slow Cooker Rice Cardamom Pudding with Peaches from MyRecipes.com
• Slow Cooker French Toast Bread Pudding from Better Homes & Gardens