There's nothing like coming home on a cold, icky day and walking into a house filled with yummy dinner smells! Here are 31 easy
Tips
- If you use your Crockpot or
slow cooker a lot buy a second one. This way you're not frantically scrubbing the crockery insert out fifteen minutes before you need to leave for work. - Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs just before serving to brighten the flavors and add some visual appeal.
- Add a squeeze of lemon or lime just before serving - same reason.
- Prep as much as possible at the beginning of the week. Chop all the onions, celery, and carrots. Rub the seasoning on the meat... whatever you can do to save time when you're ready to cook.
- You can make your own ready- to- cook
slow cooker meals by adding everything except the liquid to a bag and vacuum sealing it. No need to freeze - it will be good for at least the week. - Always spray the inside of the crock with nonstick spray before using - it makes cleanup so much easier.
Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes
Chicken comes out tender and juicy in a slow cooker. I prefer using boneless, skinless chicken breast but thighs, or chicken pieces, or even a whole chicken all work well.
I've included a recipe for cornbread dressing in the
Green Chicken Pozole (Pozole Verde)
Green chicken pozole (posole verde) is the Mexican version of chicken soup. Tender chicken, chewy hominy, and peppers simmer all day in the slow cooker making your kitchen smell delicious. Stovetop instructions included, too!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos
Make these easy slow cooker tequila lime chicken tacos for a flavorful, melt-in-your-mouth Tex-Mex dinner. Perfect for busy weeknights and meal prepping! Serve with rice, refried beans, and a tangy frozen margarita or pitcher of fruity sangria.
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Creamy White Chicken Chili in the Crockpot
Prize winning creamy white chicken chili filled with beans, vegetables, and cream cheese has just 5 minutes prep time. This is the ultimate comfort food! A family favorite that's budget pleasing, too. Make it in the slow cooker or on top of the stove.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup
A soul warming chicken soup full of Southwestern flavor that you make in the slow cooker. Your house will smell amazing!
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Slow Cooker Cornbread Dressing
Easy crockpot cornbread dressing has all the flavor of the traditional recipe but frees up valuable oven space! It comes out light and fluffy every time. It's the perfect holiday side dish!
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Cheesy Enchilada Soup
Cheesy enchilada soup is cream with a bold south of the border flavor. Make it on top of the stove in less than 30 minutes or toss everything in the slow cooker and let it simmer to perfection while you run errands. It's perfect for busy weeknights - just make a quick salad and set out a bowl of tortilla chips to go with this family-friendly soup!
Check out this recipe
Slow Cooker Beef Recipes
One of the best things about making beef in a crockpot is that you can use inexpensive cuts and they'll come out tender and delicious. Be sure to trim any excess fat or your dish may be too greasy.
Slow Cooker Steak Sandwiches
This southwestern steak sandwich recipe starts with tender beef is seasoned with Texas style seasonings then slow cooked to buttery perfection.
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Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
Lean beef is slow cooked in the crockpot until it is melt in your mouth tender and juicy then piled high in crusty baguettes. Add your favorite toppings and you've got an easy Italian beef sandwich that will get rave reviews from your family!
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Beef Pot Roast and Jalapeno Cheese Grits
This is the best slow cooker pot roast recipe ever -- so easy and when you pair that tender, falling apart beef with the creamy, jalapeno cheese grits you won't need to call the family to dinner more than once. Not only does it make the whole house smell like Sunday at Gramma's; it tastes amazing. Easy recipe.
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Easy Cabbage Rolls (Galumpkis) Recipe
Polish stuffed cabbage rolls are filled with rice and beef, and simmered all day in a slow cooker with a tomato and sour cream sauce. You'll need a can of tomato soup for this one. It just isn't the same without it.
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Stuffed Pepper Soup
This hearty stuffed pepper soup recipe has all of the flavor of classic stuffed peppers in a comforting soup that can be made in the slow cooker or on top of the stove. Ro*Tel tomatoes add a little kick that warms you up on the chilliest day!
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Slow Cooked Beef Ragu Sauce
Rich, thick slow cooked beef ragu is full of flavor from chuck roast that is simmered in a combination of vegetables and herbs. Super easy!
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Easy Crockpot Meatballs
Easy crockpot meatballs are melt in your mouth tender and juicy with big Italian flavor. There's no need to precook them before dropping in the slow cooker, either. And, they freeze like a charm, cooked or uncooked.
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Cowboy Soup
This kid friendly cowboy soup recipe is budget friendly but sure doesn't taste like it! Beans, beef, and macaroni are packed into a hearty tomato broth for a soup with plenty of flavor. It's very different from the Texas style chili you might be used to but once you try it you'll be hooked.
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Old Fashioned Beef and Noodles Recipe
This simple, crockpot beef and noodles recipe is classic comfort food that's packed with old fashioned goodness. Melt in your mouth beef and a rich, savory gravy is spooned over buttery noodles - the perfect way to bring the family to the table on a busy weeknight.
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Perfect Pot Roast
This easy, slow cooker pot roast is full of flavor. Tender beef, onion, carrots, celery, potatoes, and herbs simmer in a beef stock and red wine sauce until you can't stand the wait any longer!
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Crockpot Swiss Steak
Slow cooker swiss steak is an easy recipe for an old fashioned favorite. This is comfort food at its best - inexpensive, filling, and deliciously reminiscent of your grandmother's kitchen. Freezes well.
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Slow Cooked Beef with Red Eye Gravy
Super tender, this slow cooked shredded beef in red eye gravy is a little spicy, a little sweet, and very yummy. Use it in buns, tortillas, or spooned over rice, mashed potatoes, or grits!
Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa: Tender, Spicy & Easy
Succulent, spicy, butter tender beef, barbacoa is a classic Mexican dish. Use it in tacos, burritos, over mashed potatoes... you name it. This is super easy and extremely delicious!
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Best Crockpot Beef Stew (Bowl Me Over)
Best Crockpot Beef Stew starts with beef, slowly simmered in the slow cooker until the beef is spoon tender. Stuffed with carrots and potatoes, this is an easy meal that tastes AMAZING! Let your crockpot do the work while you do take all the credit!
Check out this recipe
Beef Stroganoff (Bowl Me Over)
Tender morsels of beef, sweet onions and earthy mushrooms all combine in the slow cooker to make easy crock pot Beef Stroganoff! This classic recipe typically reserved only for special occasions is transformed into an easy weeknight meal
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Cranberry Sweet Sour Meatballs (Swirls of Flavor)
Sweet and sour meatballs with cranberry sauce is an easy recipe that cooks itself in your slow cooker. Store bought frozen meatballs simmer in your crockpot with just 4 more ingredients for amazingly saucy meatballs.
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Beef and Beer Stew (A Communal Table)
Beer, bacon and caramelized onions all come together in this hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Caramelized Onions and Beer. Known as Carbonnade Flamande in Belgium, this slow cooker beef stew is flavored with just the right amount of warming spices!
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Pork Recipes
We don't eat a lot of pork around here but when we do it's usually an easy
Shredded Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa
Fresh, spicy-sweet mango salsa over pulled pork tacos is a match made in Tex-Mex heaven! Easy to make - perfect on fish tacos, chips, or chicken tacos, too. The best use of leftover pulled pork, ever!
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Braised Pork and Red Cabbage
Braised pork and red cabbage is an easy slow cooker meal for chilly days. Toss it in the crock pot and dinner is ready when you get home.
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Italian Pork Roast (All Our Way)
Italian Pork Roast braised with milk, fresh herbs, and lemony polenta is a recipe that takes simple ingredients and turns them into a down-right mouthwatering dish.
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Low Carb Ginger Pork (Low Carb Yum)
You can still enjoy sweet meat marinades on low carb. This slow cooked crock pot sweet lime ginger pork recipe is cooked in a delicious sweet sauce.
Check out this recipe
More Recipes for the Crockpot
Slow cooker recipes that didn't fit anywhere else.
Slow Cooker Polenta Cake With Caramelized Pears (All Our Way)
This simple cake has a golden color from the cornmeal and a texture that is both rustic and delicate at the same time. The sliced pears on the bottom of the pan caramelize as the cake bakes in the slow cooker. Each delicious bite is full of a bright lemon flavor made just sweet enough. The Polenta-pear cake is very satisfying with your morning cup of coffee, tea or as an incredibly tasty snack.
Check out this recipe
Warm Spiced Cranberry Punch (Everyday Eileen)
Nothing makes the house smell festive and tastes absolutely amazing than Warm Spiced Cranberry Punch! A non-alcoholic punch filled with great fruit flavored juice and spices!
Check out this recipe
beth shepherd says
My biggest is coming up with new meals for the family. Thank you!
heather s says
Making sure things aren't bland. It is like they are either bland or over-seasoned.
Emma R Galindo says
Saves time an the food comes out delicious!
Mary Beth Elderton says
Right now, my biggest frustration is making something flavorful but also healthy...and easy.
Jammie says
My worst frustration is finding something everyone can eat.
Scott D says
My frustration is somethings trying to get a recipe to cook for one only or two.
William Krawic says
how much seasoning I need
Christine Yvonne Groce says
My husband is vegetarian and I am not. So planning a meal that will please both of us is quite a challenge.
Diane Allstadt says
Coming up with new meal ideas with ingredients I already have on hand
Kari B says
The hardest part about meal time is planning what to eat and getting everything from the grocery store.
kathy Persons says
deciding what to have and pre planning
christopher h says
my biggest frustration is coming up with interesting dishes that can be prepared quickly
Rosalie Lavertue says
My granddaughter said grandma can't cook Hopefully winning a crock pot will help me be a better cook
Lauren Peterson says
I hate trying to make everything finish cooking at the same time.
Rose says
My biggest mealtime frustration is having the time and energy to get it all done after a long day! By the time I get all the ingredients prepped and ready, I'm exhausted and tempted to order a pizza.
Anne Higgins says
My biggest frustration has been coming home from work, tired and having to prepare a meal (trying to rush and sometimes drying out my meat too much) rather than owning a great slow cooker (this will be my first) that will have dinner ready when I arrive home! So excited at the chance to own my own slow cooker - I will get years of great use from it.
Jacquelyn Cannon says
Making sure that my ingredients are flavorful in the dish
Linda G says
My biggest thing is cooking a variety, tired of the same thing.
Ellie Wright says
My biggest frustration is cooking something that everyone likes.
augrim says
I don't like to spend a lot of time in the kitchen. The easy-slow-cooker could be cooking while I can be relaxing.