96 Slow-Cooker Recipes That'll Give You Back Some Much-Needed Time (2024)

Set and forget your way to some pretty incredible meals.

By Mackenzie Filson
96 Slow-Cooker Recipes That'll Give You Back Some Much-Needed Time (1)

We can all agree that a crock-pot is kind of a miracle appliance, whether you're cooking for the whole family, are slow cooking just for two, or need to feed a party. Though we bet you've already got some tried and true recipes (hello standbys like pulled pork and beef chili), why stop there? Slow cookers can do everything from breakfast to dessert (seriously!), so what are you waiting for? Check out these 95 slow-cooker recipes, then set it and forget it!

There is NOTHING better than coming home from a long day to a home-cooked meal, and the slow cooker makes it easy, whether you're a beginner cook or someone with more experience who's constantly on the run. Classics like chicken Alfredo, pepper steak, , chicken cacciatore, and more might just taste even better in the crockpot (and are certainly way more hands-off than their skillet or baking dish counterparts). We've even got some recipes on this list you might have never thought you could make in a slow cooker. Trust us, you can make everything from pizza to meatballs (like in our slow-cooker Tuscan chicken meatballs with gnocchi) to in yours!

We also love how much easier a slow cooker makes cooking up all of your party faves. Consider making your favorite dips and appetizers in your crockpot to save yourself a whole lot of stress and prep time. If you're low on oven or grilling space during game days, movie nights, or cookouts, use your slow cooker to make BBQ brown sugar pulled chicken, Buffalo ranch wings, chicken tinga tacos, or . Grab a pack of slider buns or tortillas and you'll be ready to party!

Your slow cooker can even make sweets, and our crock-pot banana cake, our slow-cooker chocolate chip cookie, our crock-pot hot cocoa, and our pumpkin spice slow-cooker oatmeal are proof. Whether you're making them for a crowd over the holidays or during the warmer months when you can't bear to turn on the oven, they're sure to satisfy.

Loving the possibilities of countertop appliances? Check out all our best air-fryer recipes and Instant Pot recipes next!

1

Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken

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Pulled chicken is made so easy in the slow cooker, and this version includes brown sugar, a little Italian dressing, and bourbon for a bit of smokiness. Dress these up with homemade coleslaw for the greatest dinner with zero effort.

Get the Brown Sugar BBQ Chicken recipe.

2

Slow-Cooker Korean Beef

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This is not a drill: If you toss a pot roast (we went for bottom round roast, which doesn't break the bank) in the slow-cooker with a bunch of spices and soy sauce, you'll have killer Korean beef for dinner!

Get the Slow-Cooker Korean Beef recipe.

3

Slow-Cooker Garlic-Parmesan Chicken

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When you think Parm + chicken, you may be thinking of the melty, saucy chicken Parm, but you might like this version even more. All the flavor from the chicken thighs, butter, garlic, and thyme seep into the tender baby potatoes for a fully satisfying, comforting meal.

Get the Slow-Cooker Garlic-Parmesan Chicken recipe.

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4

Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili

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Unlike traditional Texas chili, this one contains lots of beans, making it a high-protein vegan dish. A mix of vegetables come together with quinoa and beans, then marry with an array of spices to create a delicious and satisfying chili even meat-lovers will want seconds of.

Get the Slow-Cooker Quinoa Chili recipe.

5

Slow-Cooker Pizza

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Pizza night just got even easier. While you can absolutely use a store-bought dough for this recipe, feel free to try our homemade pizza dough too.

Get the Slow-Cooker Pizza recipe.

6

Slow-Cooker Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken

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By cooking low and slow, the humble chicken breast is transformed into something that melts in your mouth. Lemon, herbs, and garlic infuse the chicken with loads of flavor with some cream at the end to round out the sauce.

Get the Slow-Cooker Creamy Lemon Herb Chicken recipe.

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7

Slow-Cooker Chocolate Chip Cookie

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If you love crispy edges and gooey centers on your chocolate chip cookies, you've gotta make this cookie cake in your slow cooker. Never waste your time scooping out individual cookies again!

Get the Slow-Cooker Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.

8

Slow-Cooker Ribs

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Just because you don’t have a giant smoker doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy and share a tender, well-seasoned rack of ribs. The prep is simple: Rub them with your favorite dry rub, load them into the slow cooker, smother them with BBQ sauce, and cook them completely hands-free until they’re falling off the bone.

Get the Slow-Cooker Ribs recipe.

9

Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip

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Fact: A party is only as good as the Buffalo dip you serve. The best part? Your slow cooker will keep it warm and ready for dipping! Go all out and make a batch of homemade soft pretzels to serve with it.

Get the Crock-Pot Buffalo Chicken Dip recipe.

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10

Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

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The secret to really good pulled pork is cooking it low and slow, and lucky for you, a slow cooker makes the drawn-out process a breeze. This on a potato roll plus pickles and coleslaw (and potato chips, if you're feeling crazy) = absolute perfection.

Get the Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork recipe.

11

Slow-Cooker Chex Mix

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We LOVE homemade baked Chex Mix, but it can be a little hands-on (you've got to stir it every 15 minutes!). Making it in your slow cooker is way easier.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chex Mix recipe.

12

Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

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Sure, everyone loves chicken noodle soup, but for some of us, there's nothing that soothes the soul like a big bowl of chicken tortilla soup. That goes double when it's made in your slow cooker.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe.

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13

Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken

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This slow-cooker meal made with only 4 ingredients is really something to celebrate. The chicken falls apart and becomes immensely tender, and is delicious alongsidea the familiar flavors of chunky salsa and taco seasoning, and brightened up with bursts of lime juice. Serve this over rice, in lettuce cups, or as tacos.

Get the Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken recipe.

14

Slow-Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi

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For this recipe, we’re doubling down on the comfort by giving meatballs and gnocchi the Tuscan treatment, in one dish. What makes this even better? It all comes together in the slow cooker.

Get the Slow-Cooker Tuscan Chicken Meatballs With Gnocchi recipe.

15

Shredded Beef

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The flavor profile for our shredded beef recipe mimics our carne asada with the use of garlic, scallions, orange juice, and chipotle chiles in adobo, which makes it the perfect addition to taco night, your favorite leafy green salad, or a buttery, toasted brioche bun.

Get the Shredded Beef recipe.

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16

Crock-Pot Spinach Artichoke Dip

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If spinach-artichoke dip is one of those things you get really excited about at a party but you feel like it takes too much effort, this slow-cooker version is for you. Don’t bother turning on the oven (especially when you have other appetizers like cranberry brie bites to bake).

Get the Crock-Pot Spinach-Artichoke Dip recipe.

17

Crock-Pot Pepper Steak

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Pepper steak is a straightforward, savory sweet stir-fry that we think works amazingly when made in a slow cooker. The steak gets very tender, and it takes on some of the qualities of your favorite beef stew while still staying true to the original.

Get the Crock-Pot Pepper Steak recipe.

18

Slow-Cooker Chicken Alfredo

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We love a nice creamy Alfredo, and this zero effort version of chicken Alfredo might be our new favorite. It's a perfect recipe for a date night or busy weeknight.

Get the Slow-Cooker Chicken Alfredo recipe.

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19

Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs

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Grape jelly on meatballs might not sound like an ideal combo, but trust us, it is! The sweet jelly mixed with smoky BBQ sauce is a match made in heaven.

Get the Slow-Cooker Grape Jelly Meatballs recipe.

20

Slow-Cooker Creamy Chicken & Potato Soup

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Prep everything in the morning and then come home at night to this delightful slow cooker soup that will please everyone. No need to sear or use any other skillet. It's hearty and filling and just the thing you need to life up your spirits.

Get the .

96 Slow-Cooker Recipes That'll Give You Back Some Much-Needed Time (2024)

FAQs

What is the equivalent of 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

Cooking Conversions for Slow Cookers
Traditional Oven or Stovetop LowLow Slow Cooker Setting (about 200°F)High Slow Cooker Setting (about 300°F)
15-30 minutes4-6 hours1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours
35-45 minutes6-8 hours3-4 hours
50 minutes- 3 hours8-10 hours4-6 hours

Is 3 hours on high the same as 6 hours on low slow cooker? ›

15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low. 2-4 hours, cook it for 4-6 hours on High or 8-12 hours on Low.

Can I leave the slow cooker on low overnight? ›

Yes, you can leave your slow cooker on all day or overnight. However, if you are planning to leave your slow cooker on overnight, make sure it's on a low heat.

What happens if you slow cook on high instead of low? ›

Let's say you want to slow cook a pork roast recipe that calls for 8 hours on Low, but you need it done in much less than 8 hours. Switching to High for the sake of time savings can leave you with a roast that's dried out or even burned on the exterior, but undercooked and not at a food-safe temperature in the center.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

The difference is the time it takes to reach that temperature. Low: 7-8 hours to reach the simmer point. High: 3-4 hours to reach the simmer point.

Why putting a tea towel over a slow cooker? ›

Try putting a tea towel over the top of the slow cooker before replacing the lid. This absorbs the excess moisture, thickening the dish and deepening its flavours. The cloth can be replaced with a fresh one when needed, but usually one tea towel during the final couple of hours will do the trick.

Why put paper towel under crockpot lid? ›

According to slow-cooking expert Sarah DeGregorio, author of Adventures in Slow Cooking, lining the lid with a paper towel soaks up the extra steam and prevents it from dripping back onto the face of the dish.

Why put foil under the lid of a slow cooker? ›

Crock pot tip - add aluminum foil to cover the lid. The heat bounces off from the lid and allows your food to cook faster. Also, you will not lose any of the steam that usually evaporates.

What is the best meat to slow cook? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Is it better to start a crockpot on high or low? ›

If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe. Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low.

Should food be covered with liquid in a slow cooker? ›

Water or liquid is necessary to create steam. When cooking meat or poultry, the water or liquid level should cover the ingredients to ensure effective heat transfer throughout the crock. Some manufacturers of slow cookers recommend adding liquid to fill the stoneware 1/2 to 3/4 full.

Is it better to cook chicken on high or low in crockpot? ›

We found that the only way to cook chicken (and turkey) in a slow cooker is on the low setting and for a relatively short amount of time.

How do I convert slow cooker time from high to low? ›

If a recipe calls for cooking on the HIGH setting for three hours, you can cook it for seven hours on the LOW setting instead. Or if a recipe calls for eight hours on HIGH, it can be cooked for up to 12 hours on LOW.

How much does it cost to run a slow cooker on low for 8 hours? ›

At the time of writing, and in accordance with the current energy price cap, the cheapest slow cooker will cost you around 2.5p to run for an hour. For eight hours, this will set you back 20p.

What temperature is equivalent to low on a slow cooker? ›

The low setting of a slow cooker ranges from 190°F to 200°F. To mimic this in an oven, set your temperature to approximately 325°F. The high setting of a slow cooker ranges from 290°F to 300°F; in oven terms, this is roughly equivalent to 375°F.

Can you cook chicken on low for 8 hours? ›

A great rule of thumb is: For a whole chicken – Place it in your slow cooker breast side down. Cover with the lid and cook on High for around 4-5 hours or Low for 6-8 hours.

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