Slow-Cooker Spicy Barbacoa Soft Tacos from Bev Cooks

Spicy Barbacoa Beef, made into soft tacos with guacamole and corn.  (Photo from Bev Cooks.)

I love the endless varieties of shredded meat taco-ish concoctions you can make with the slow cooker. When I saw this particular version of Spicy Barbacoa Soft Tacos from Bev Cooks pop up in my feed reader, I knew this was a recipe that a lot of you would enjoy.  The beef cooks with with chipotle peppers in adobo sauce, cumin, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder and Mexican oregano, so these tacos have lots of flavor going on.

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Shredded Chicken from The Kitchn

Barbecued Shredded Chicken to make in the slow cooker!  (Photo from The Kitchn.)

Happy Memorial Day weekend everyone!  Here's one more holiday recipe suggestion for your slow cooker before I take a couple of days off to spend the weekend with my family.  This Slow Cooker Barbecue Shredded Chicken from The Kitchn can also be made in a pan in the oven, but if it's starting to get hot where you live, I'm guessing the slow cooker seems like a better idea.

Slow-Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches from Elly Says Opa!

Italian Beef Sandwiches feature slow-cooked meat served in a roll with hot peppers and a flavorful broth.  (Photo from Elly Says Opa!)

(For Friday Favorites we spotlight past recipes that you may have missed, and these Slowcooker Italian Beef Sandwiches from Elly Says Opa look perfect for eating outside for a holiday picnic!

To make the delicious beef for these Slowcooker Italian Beef Sandwiches from Elly Says Opa, start with a well-browned lean beef roast, add garlic, beef broth, Italian herbs, onion powder, and a touch or Worcestershire sauce, and then let the beef cook on low until it slices easily or shreds apart.  This can be done in 4-5 hours, but Elly says she often cooks it all day while she's at work.  No matter what, you must serve the sandwiches with some hot (or sweet) Giardiniera peppers, like they do in Chicago.

Slow-Cooker Boston Baked Beans from Andrea Meyers

Baked beans cooked in the slow cooker would make a great side dish for a Memorial Day barbecue!  (Photo from Andrea Meyers.)

Like I promised, here's another slow cooker idea that might be great for your Memorial Day barbecue, or just for a good side dish for dinner outside any time.  These Slow Cooker Boston Baked Beans from Andrea Meyers are so easy that Andrea's nine-year-old son helped with the preparation.  The recipe starts with dry, soaked beans (or use Andrea's quick-soak method) and then the beans cook all day while you're busy enjoying the holiday!

Slow-Cooker Fruity Pulled Chicken from Coconut and Lime

Sandwiches with fruity pulled chicken sound great for a summer meal!  (Photo from Coconut and Lime.)

As everyone in the U.S. counts down to Memorial Day, I thought I'd share recipes that are good for outdoor eating, and these sandwiches featuring Fruity Pulled Chicken from Coconut and Lime sound to me like something I'd love to eat out on the deck or by the pool.  The chicken is cooked in the slow cooker, so there's no worry about heating up the house, and Rachel says this is a version of pulled chicken that's not so spicy, although it does have a little bit of heat.