There’s nothing better than walking into your kitchen after a long day and being greeted by the smell of dinner already done. That’s the magic of the slow cooker — it works while you don’t.
From soups and stews to hearty pastas and easy weeknight meals, these 24 slow cooker recipes are simple, flavorful, and designed to make your day smoother. Just toss in the ingredients, set it, and come home to comfort.
1. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Classic comfort food that practically makes itself.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs beef stew meat
- 4 carrots, sliced
- 3 potatoes, cubed
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tsp thyme, 1 bay leaf
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
- Cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours until tender.
How to Serve It
Serve hot with buttered bread or over mashed potatoes.
2. Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
Rich, creamy, and ready with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 2 cups heavy cream
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 12 oz fettuccine pasta
Instructions
- Add chicken, cream, and garlic to crockpot.
- Cook on low 4 hours; shred chicken.
- Stir in cheese and cooked pasta before serving.
3. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Perfectly tender pork with bold smoky flavor.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork shoulder
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Mix sauce and spices; pour over pork.
- Cook on low 8 hours; shred and mix with juices.
4. Slow Cooker Chili
A crowd-pleasing classic full of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 can kidney beans
- 1 can diced tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 tbsp chili powder
Instructions
- Brown beef; add to slow cooker with remaining ingredients.
- Cook on low 6–8 hours.
5. Crockpot Chicken Tacos
Taco night has never been easier.
Ingredients
- 3 chicken breasts
- 1 cup salsa
- 1 tsp cumin
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Combine ingredients in slow cooker.
- Cook on low 6 hours; shred chicken and serve in tortillas.
6. Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Juicy, fork-tender perfection with classic flavors.
Ingredients
- 3 lb chuck roast
- 4 carrots, chopped
- 4 potatoes, cubed
- 1 onion, quartered
- 2 cups beef broth
Instructions
- Add roast and vegetables to slow cooker.
- Cook on low 8 hours until tender.
7. Crockpot Mac and Cheese
Rich, cheesy, and kid-approved.
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
- ½ cup butter
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to crockpot.
- Stir occasionally; cook low 2½–3 hours.
8. Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice
An easy, hearty meal in one pot.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 can cream of chicken soup
Instructions
- Add ingredients; cook low 5–6 hours until rice is tender.
9. Slow Cooker Lasagna
All the flavor of oven-baked lasagna with zero effort.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- 8 lasagna noodles
- 2 cups ricotta cheese
- 2 cups mozzarella
Instructions
- Layer sauce, noodles, and cheese in crockpot.
- Cook low 4–6 hours until noodles are soft.
10. Crockpot Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Comfort in a bowl — thick, rich, and satisfying.
Ingredients
- 5 potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add potatoes, onion, and broth.
- Cook low 8 hours, then mash slightly and stir in milk and cheese.
11. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Sweet, sticky, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup soy sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Mix sauce; pour over chicken.
- Cook low 6 hours or high 3 hours.
12. Crockpot Meatballs
Perfect for spaghetti or sandwiches.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs frozen meatballs
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- ½ cup water
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to slow cooker.
- Cook low 6 hours.
13. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
A cozy classic that cooks itself.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 4 cups broth
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 2 cups egg noodles
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except noodles.
- Cook low 6 hours; add noodles last 20 minutes.
14. Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
Tender beef in a rich, creamy sauce.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs stew beef
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 1 cup sour cream
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except sour cream.
- Cook low 8 hours; stir in sour cream before serving.
15. Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone ribs without firing up the grill.
Ingredients
- 2 racks pork ribs
- 1 cup BBQ sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Coat ribs with sauce and sugar.
- Cook low 8 hours, then broil briefly for caramelization.
16. Crockpot Vegetarian Chili
Loaded with flavor, no meat required.
Ingredients
- 2 cans beans (mixed)
- 1 can corn
- 1 can tomatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 tbsp chili powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients.
- Cook low 6–8 hours.
17. Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Warm spices and creamy sauce make this dish irresistible.
Ingredients
- 2 chicken breasts
- 1 can coconut milk
- 2 tbsp curry paste
- 1 onion, diced
Instructions
- Mix all ingredients in crockpot.
- Cook low 6 hours; serve with rice.
18. Crockpot Pork Carnitas
Perfectly seasoned Mexican-style pork.
Ingredients
- 3 lbs pork shoulder
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 cup orange juice
Instructions
- Add all ingredients.
- Cook low 8 hours, then broil for crisp edges.
19. Slow Cooker Balsamic Chicken
Tangy, tender, and packed with flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 tsp garlic powder
Instructions
- Mix sauce; pour over chicken.
- Cook low 6 hours or high 3 hours.
20. Crockpot Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Smooth, cheesy, and perfectly comforting.
Ingredients
- 3 cups broccoli florets
- 3 cups broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add broccoli and broth; cook low 6 hours.
- Blend lightly and stir in milk and cheese.
21. Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken
Sweet and savory takeout-style meal at home.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breasts
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ¼ cup honey
- 2 cloves garlic
Instructions
- Add all ingredients.
- Cook low 6 hours, shred before serving.
22. Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
A wholesome dinner that cooks itself.
Ingredients
- 4 bell peppers
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup rice
- 2 cups tomato sauce
Instructions
- Stuff peppers with beef and rice.
- Pour sauce over and cook low 6 hours.
23. Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken
Bright, zesty, and full of Mediterranean flavor.
Ingredients
- 4 chicken thighs
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 4 garlic cloves
- ½ cup chicken broth
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to crockpot.
- Cook low 6 hours until tender.
24. Crockpot Apple Crisp
Sweet, cozy, and perfect for dessert.
Ingredients
- 5 apples, sliced
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 cup oats
- ½ cup butter
Instructions
- Layer apples, sugar, and cinnamon.
- Top with oats and butter.
- Cook low 4 hours until tender.
Set It, Forget It, and Enjoy
Slow cookers are a busy cook’s best friend — minimal prep, maximum payoff. These recipes prove that with just a few simple ingredients, you can make meals that taste like they took all day (because they did!).
Save this list for your next meal plan — your future self will thank you. 🍲
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