Main Dish
Start with a basic recipe for whole chicken prepared in a slow cooker, then take a tip from reviewers and cook the bird on a bed of carrots, onions, and potatoes with a little bit of broth or wine for moisture. You'll want to start this dish in the morning.
Side Dish
Just in case the weather is still too warm to fire up the stove, we chose a side dish that requires no cooking at all.
Dessert
This simple dessert calls for a little peeling and slicing, then a simple batter topping, and a bit of oven time. Let it bake while you have dinner, then serve it warm with a scoop of ice cream.
Wine Pairing
A slow-cooked chicken makes wine pairing easy. White is the classic choice, of course. But in this case, let the weather decide. If summer's still scorching, try a Sauvignon Blanc. A solid match with chicken, Sauvignon Blanc will also play well with the fresh tomatoes and zucchini in the corn salad. But if the weather's mild, use Sunday dinner as an excuse to return red wines to the table. You can't go wrong here with a lighter red, an Oregon Pinot Noir, a French Gamay, or Italian reds like Barbera or Chianti Classico. The sprinkle of paprika makes this chicken dish particularly red wine friendly.