As summer sizzles, we have great news about your Smart Cooker: It doesn’t heat up your kitchen. So, as the mercury rises, keep cool and enjoy some of our CHEF iQ summertime favorites!

Basic Pesto
Have some extra basil on hand? Make a batch of pesto. It’s brighter tasting than store-bought, and it’s delicious on sandwiches, in soups, and mixed into vinaigrettes. It also freezes well, so you can savor it after summer, too.

Pesto Chicken Pasta
Step up your chicken with homemade or store-bought pesto. This one-pot dish makes for an easy summer dinner. To beat the heat, you can even serve this meal cold as a mouthwatering pasta salad.

Simplest Pulled Pork 
If you love a pulled pork sandwich but don’t love sweating over a smoker, this recipe is for you. Ready in an hour, this dish delivers all that flavor with very little effort.

Beer-Steamed Clams 
Enjoy that summer clam shack feeling without leaving home with this fantastic briny meal. Make it even better with an ice-cold beer!

Vietnamese Noodle Salad 
This cold and refreshing treat, bursting with fresh herbs, translates into ideal summer eating. This salad features seared tofu, but you can swap in whatever protein you please!

Whiskey Mint Lemonade
Whip up the perfect patio cocktail. Fresh lemon juice, strong whiskey, and mint make this summer libation something special. This recipe makes a big batch—which is perfect for your next barbecue!