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Keep the kitchen cool and save time by using these delicious and easy slow cooker recipes. Crockpot recipes are simple and SO delicious.
Time-Saving Meals
Slow cooker dinners save time on busy days! These comforting meals can be prepped the morning of, so they’re ready to enjoy when you are. The following easy slow cooker recipes are “dump and go”, have few ingredients, or require little prep time. Whether you’re looking for an easy main dish or soup, there’s an easy crock pot recipe here for you!
For slow cooker tips & tricks, scroll to the bottom of this post!
Whip up our classic pot roast with gravy, brisket with a side of beans, or any of these family favorite recipes! These are on repeat at our house and will soon be at yours.
4.99 from 120 votes
Crock Pot Pot Roast
This crock pot pot roast recipe is tender and flavorful. It takes only 3 minutes of prep time and then the slow cooker does the rest!
This Easy Beef Stroganoff recipe is simple and flavorful. Served with egg noodles, this creamy stroganoff made in the slow cooker is a classic Sunday dinner recipe and is perfect to enjoy any night of the week.
This Crockpot Orange Chicken is simple, and tastes even better than takeout. With breaded chicken pieces covered in a phenomenal orange sauce and cooked to perfection in a slow cooker, it’s a recipe the whole family loves!
Keep weeknight dinner simple with any of these comfort food favorites!
5 from 12 votes
Best Slow Cooker Pork Chops
These Simple and delicious Slow Cooker Pork Chops are sure to become a family favorite. They are so tender and juicy and are topped with an amazing gravy that we love to serve over the chops and mashed potatoes!
Many of these delicious soups require minutes of prep and several can even be made vegan! It’s always a good time for a warm and comforting bowl of soup.
4.98 from 42 votes
Chicken Taco Soup
Our favorite chicken taco soup is a dump-and-go slow cooker favorite, it's perfectly spiced and easily doubled!
With a combination of chicken, potato, white beans, carrots, spinach and more, this chicken Florentine soup is hearty and absolutely delicious. It tastes similar to Olive Garden's recipe, but it's made in the slow cooker!
Nothing like a warm bowl of tortilla soup on a chilly winter day! This lighter version of chicken tortilla soup is healthy, flavorful, and packed with delicious ingredients.
Homemade slow cooker turkeyHomemade Crock Pot Turkey Chili is hearty and packed with flavor. With only 10 minutes of prep, it's perfect any day of the week!chili is hearty and packed with flavor. It is loaded with beans, ground or chopped turkey, and spices!
Slow cooker. Here we use crock pot and slow cooker interchangeably. In either case, we are referring to the classic crock pot with a heated ceramic pot on all sides.
Temperature setting. The LOW setting generally takes twice as long to cook a dish than using the HIGH setting. Most dishes can cook for 6-8 hours making them a perfect dish to come home to after a long day of work.
Filling. Aside from a few appetizers, most recipes are designed to be cooked in a 5-6 qt appliance. For a proper cook, food should take up at least ½, but not more than ¾ of the pot.
Clean up. Use a crock pot liner for easier cleanup.
Lid tips. Avoid removing the lid because a significant amount of heat escapes and you’ll need to add up to 20 minutes to get the pot back to the right temperature.
Set a reminder! Do not completely forget about your cooking food as it can overcook in the pot.
Prep Ahead of Time?
Thaw any meats overnight so they’re ready to go into the pot. Chop any vegetables and keep them in the fridge. (Potatoes can be kept in water in the fridge so they don’t brown. Drain before adding to the pot). Set out the spices or canned goods on the counter so they’re ready to use.
Many meals can be prepared ahead and kept in the freezer until you want to use them. See the individual posts for more info about freezing them ahead of time.
When do I Add Dairy to a Crock Pot Recipe?
Add dairy products like milk, cream, and cheeses during the last 30 minutes of cooking. Cream cheese seems to hold up well and can be added at the beginning.
Adding Veggies?
Cut larger root vegetables about the same size. These include beets, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, turnips, and carrots. These can cook for several hours.
Don’t add tender vegetables like baby spinach, peas, sautéed mushrooms, corn, and artichoke hearts until the last 5-10 minutes of cooking time.
Precook rice or Pasta?
Rice and pasta are tricky to cook in the crock pot. Follow what the recipe instructs. If adding it dry, the recipe is designed to accommodate it. If the recipe says to precook it and add it at the end of the cooking time, then follow that instruction otherwise it will overcook and become mushy.
Add Extra Flavor?
Aromatics. Onion, bell peppers, celery, and garlic are commonly used aromatics and should be activated before use. They are typically sautéed in a pan to get their flavor going, then added to the crock pot.
Broth. Using vegetable, chicken, or beef broth instead of water adds a lot of extra flavor to the dish.
Fresh herbs. just be sure to add them during the last 20-30 minutes of the cooking time.
Sweetener. Adding brown sugar or a bit of honey can sweeten a dish and cut through acidity, which is especially helpful when making a recipe that includes tomatoes.
Can I Cook Frozen Meat in a Slow Cooker?
Frozen raw meat is not recommended for crock pots. Be sure to put your meat in the fridge the night before so it’s ready use.
Do I Need to Brown Beef Before Adding it to a Slow Cooker?
Many recipes call for browning beef before adding it to the pot. I will always make sure to brown ground beef for the best flavor and texture so that the oil and fat can be removed. Other meats don’t have to be browned. It just depends on your preference.
What Meat Cooks Best in the Slow Cooker?
Beef cuts that work well include chuck roast, rump roast, eye of round, shank, and brisket.
Pork shoulder and loin also cook well in a slow cooker.
You can’t go wrong with chicken as long as you don’t overcook it – dark meat, chicken thighs, and chicken breasts are all great choices.
Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!