Is there anything better than sitting down to a hot, delicious, homecooked meal? We say it’s when an easy-to-use and easy-to-clean kitchen appliance does most of the work. In honor of busy home cooks everywhere, we’ve rounded up 28 of our favorite recipes made in the slow cooker. Whether you’re craving weeknight comfort, party-ready snacks, international flavors, or just trying to get dinner on the table without a ton of work, these gems from the crockpot have got you covered.
Slow Cooker Pork Tacos al Pastor
Tropical fruit and a stint in the slow cooker turn lean, budget-friendly pork tenderloin into a Mexican-inspired showstopper. Pineapple chunks, fresh cilantro, and your favorite salsa add layers of flavor to this easy dump version of tacos al pastor.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Tacos al Pastor
Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken
This riff on chicken with 40 cloves of garlic is an easy midweek meal that will make your kitchen smell amazing. Get a jump on prep with pre-peeled garlic cloves that turn mellow and slightly sweet in the slow cooker.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Garlic Chicken
Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
You can’t go wrong with a classic, especially when it only takes five minutes of prep. Frozen chopped peppers and onions are a time-saving shortcut in this set-it-and-forget-it version of sloppy Joes.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes
Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna
Plant-powered, nutrient-rich, Italian-inspired comfort food has never been this easy. Yellow squash and zucchini replace half of the noodles in this lightened-up take on vegetable lasagna.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Veggie Lasagna
St. Louis Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
In the barbecue hall of fame, sweet-tart and saucy St. Louis-style pork holds a special place. The slow cooker makes it easy to serve a crowd using budget-friendly pork shoulder and a simple homemade sauce with ketchup and vinegar kick that delivers the twang.
Get the recipe: St. Louis Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
Slow Cooker Potato-Cauliflower Soup
This velvety, vegetarian soup is so rich and creamy, you won’t believe it’s dairy-free. Cannellini beans are the surprise ingredient that adds thickness and protein to potato-cauliflower soup garnished with crispy root vegetable chips.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Potato-Cauliflower Soup
Homemade No-Knead Slow Cooker Bread
This impossibly easy no-knead bread makes it easy to whip up homemade toast and slices for sandwiches, anytime. The five-ingredient white loaf rises and bakes in the crockpot before getting a golden-brown finish under the broiler.
Get the recipe: Homemade No-Knead Slow Cooker Bread
Pulled Buffalo Beef Salad with Parmesan Croutons
Surprise the Buffalo wing-lover in your life with this low-carb dinner packed with protein and flavor. Buffalo-ranch dressing brings the zing to fork-tender shredded beef over crunchy greens with homemade Parmesan croutons.
Get the recipe: Pulled Buffalo Beef Salad with Parmesan Croutons
Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
Enjoy trendy birria any night of the week with this easy recipe starring budget-friendly pork shoulder. Serve the saucy, smoky meat inside cheesy griddled tacos one night, then use the leftovers for hearty bowls with quinoa, rice, or your favorite grain later in the week.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
Barbecue Cheddar Meatloaf
This stick-to-your ribs meatloaf takes its cues from cheeseburgers. Ranch seasoning and barbecue sauce add a kick of bold flavor to lean beef studded with peppers and onions topped with melty cheddar.
Get the recipe: Barbecue Cheddar Meatloaf
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Mac and Cheese
This mashup of two kid-friendly meals is an easy way to put more plant power on the table and satisfy mac n’ cheese cravings at the same time. Elbow noodles cook directly in the cheesy sauce made with timesaving, pre-chopped veggies and two kinds of beans.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili Mac and Cheese
Filipino-style Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo
While there are many regional variations of chicken adobo, a traditional dish popular throughout the Philippines, all feature a bright, vinegar-forward sauce. We recreated that tang in the slow cooker using white vinegar, soy sauce, bay leaves, and black peppercorns for flavorful, never-dry chicken thighs served over rice.
Get the recipe: Filipino-style Slow Cooker Chicken Adobo
Faux Chicken Pho
The comforting Vietnamese soup known as pho (pronounced “fuh”) is just what the doctor ordered when you’re nursing a cold or just a case of the cold weather blahs. Our slow cooked recipe is layered with umami-rich flavors using authentic ingredients like fish sauce, star anise, and ginger.
Get the recipe: Faux Chicken Pho
Slow Cooker Chili-Cheese Dogs
These loaded dogs make it easy to get that summer vacation feeling any time of year. Canned chili, diced green chilies, and cheddar add loads of crowd-pleasing flavor to all-beef hot dogs cooked hands-free in the slow cooker.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chili-Cheese Dogs
Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
This versatile recipe lets you come home to warm fixings for any Tex-Mex meal you’re craving. Slow cooked salsa chicken with black beans and rice works as a stand-alone bowl or as a satisfying filling for tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and more.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken
Slow Cooker Pecan Monkey Bread
There’s no monkeying around with this brunch showstopper that’s also a gooey, finger-friendly dessert. The crockpot turns chunks of refrigerated biscuit dough into caramel-glazed, pecan-studded monkey bread made to tear and share.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Pecan Monkey Bread
Slow Cooker Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons
We’ve got the solution for rainy day blues right here: classic tomato soup and grilled cheese. This plant-powered version topped with oven-toasted grilled cheese croutons comes together in a snap so you can get back to that book or board game with the family.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese Croutons
Slow Cooker Mississippi Roast
This internet-trendy braised beef makes enough to serve a hungry family of four two different, protein-packed meals. Whole pepperoncini with the brine bring the zing to shreddy beef chuck roast that’s equally delicious over mashed potatoes and piled high onto sandwiches topped with melted Swiss.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Mississippi Roast
Slow Cooker Chicken Pozole Verde
Traditional Mexican pozole takes hours on the stove to coax out deep, meaty flavor balanced with mild spice. Our simple slow cooked version made with chicken thighs, hominy, and poblano peppers gets a jumpstart from jarred salsa verde.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Pozole Verde
Slow Cooker Veggie Broth
The next time you’ve got vegetable scraps or past-its-prime produce in the fridge, toss it in the freezer, not the trash. The slow cooker makes it easy to create savory, from-scratch vegetable stock using mix-and-match leftovers and water.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Veggie Broth
Slow Cooker Matzo Ball Soup
The star of every Passover Seder is now a breeze to make whenever you feel like a bowl of time-tested comfort food. Roasted chicken wings add savory richness to this soup with fluffy matzo balls that get extra lift from seltzer.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Matzo Ball Soup
Citrus Beef Lettuce Cups
A trio of fresh citrus and garlic make this slow cooked beef sing with bright, complex flavor. Serve it in romaine lettuce leaves for a Paleo-friendly dinner the whole family will devour.
Get the recipe: Citrus Beef Lettuce Cups
Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
You’ll never miss the meat in this warmly spiced curry brimming with southeast Asian flavors. Chickpeas and acorn squash star in a plant-powered stew with fresh basil and coconut milk served over jasmine rice.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Red Curry Chickpeas and Squash
Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken
A complex-tasting but simple-to-make sauce gives these jerk chicken thighs a punch of fiery flavor. Just toss the combo of fresh aromatics, lime juice, allspice, and serrano chilies (or sub habanero peppers to crank up the heat) into the blender for a bold marinade that doubles as the cooking liquid.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Jerk Chicken
Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Sliders
When you’re trying to feed a crowd and stretch a buck, budget-friendly pork shoulder is a great choice. The crockpot makes it easy to serve juicy, fall-apart pulled pork sammies with next-to no effort and just five ingredients.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Sliders
Curried Carrot-Ginger Soup
This vegetarian soup is impressive enough for company and easy enough to make any time the temperature starts to drop. Fresh ginger, curry powder, and garlic add warm spice to a creamy combo of nutrient-rich sweet potatoes and carrots blended with vegetable broth.
Get the recipe: Curried Carrot-Ginger Soup
Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
A little honey goes a long way in this sweet-savory one pot meal that you’ll want to make on repeat. Budget-friendly chicken thighs cook along with broccoli in an umami-rich sauce that’s also delicious with pork.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
Slow Cooker French Onion Soup
Turn your kitchen into a Parisian bistro with classic French onion soup made crockpot easy. Thinly sliced yellow onions turn sweet, golden, and perfectly caramelized in this crowd-pleaser topped with toasted bread and melty Swiss.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
Slow Cooker Cheese Fondue
No special equipment required for this dippable dinner that no cheese-lover can resist. The crockpot works to both cook and serve the luscious combo of three cheeses with white wine and garlic
using the warming function to keep it perfectly melty.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken and Broccoli
