30 Slow Cooker Recipes That Will Save Your Busy Week (2024)

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Everyone needs quick and easy recipes in their back pocket. These 30 slow cooker recipes will keep you well-fed while saving you precious time!

Rachel Knecht

Rachel Knecht turned her home baking into a career in 2016 when she began working as the head baker at The Greenbean Coffeehouse in Seattle, WA. Afterwards, she started Baking with Rachel (her blog), began teaching kids' cooking classes, and recipe tested for the cookbook "Let's Stay In" by Ashley Rodriguez.

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and

Summer Miller

Summer has spent the last 12 years working in food media and she's the author of the award-winning book "New Prairie Kitchen."

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Updated November 30, 2021

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30 Slow Cooker Recipes That Will Save Your Busy Week (1)

I always look forward to the winter holidays: baking cookies, decorating the Christmas tree, hosting family and friends, and attending once-a-year parties that are happening around every corner. Let’s be honest: All the bustling excitement over the holidays makes weeknight dinners challenging.

Cue the slow cooker. I use it as much as I can during this time of year. Not only does it save me time from having to prep and cook dinner in the evening, the type of meals I crave this time of year are ones that turn out well in the slow cooker—they warm foods like casseroles, stews, and chili.

Slow cookers range in size and function. For most of our recipes, you’ll need one that can hold 4 to 6 quarts. For the best results, don’t fill it more than three-fourths of the way up. Any more, it could bubble over and take much longer to cook. If you add too little? It may cook too quickly or unevenly.

Most slow cookers have three settings: high, low, and warm. Some will automatically switch to the warm setting when the cooking time is over. The temperature on high is about 300℉and on low, about 200℉. The warm setting is about 165℉. Most recipes give you the option to cook on high or low. Choose whichever fits your schedule best.

Slow cookers are great for hearty stews and pot roasts, but they also work well for casseroles, and even desserts! Below, you will find hearty, family-friendly slow cooker recipes to make busy weeknights easier.I hope you’ll find one that suits your needs.

Slow Cooker Taco Soup
Take a little time in the morning to brown the ground beef and onions before adding them to your slow cooker. When you return home from work the only decision you have to make is: sour cream or no sour cream?
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Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Sear the beef before adding it to the slow cooker for extra flavor. Let it cook all day then toss in the egg noodles while you set the table.
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Slow Cooker Chickpea Curry with Sweet Potatoes and Red Peppers
Slow cookers aren’t just for meat lovers. Vegetables and beans love a good, long soak too.
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Slow Cooker Guinness Beef Stew
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Guinness is one of my favorite beers, which is why I love this stew. If you love Guinness, you’ll love this stew too.
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Continue to 5 of 30 below.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thigh Tacos
Use this spicy chicken to fill tacos, burritos, enchiladas, or quesadillas. Let your imagination be your guide!
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Slow Cooker Cider Pulled Pork
If you have an army to feed, this pulled pork recipe is for you. It takes a little time so save it for a Sunday supper then eat leftovers all week. Feel free to replace the apple cider in this dish with apple juice and make it anytime you please.
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Slow Cooker Bourbon Short Ribs with Cheesy Grits
For a gluten-free version of this dish, toss the short ribs in a light dusting of gluten-free flour or cornstarch before browning instead of all-purpose flour.
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Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken
Not all slow cooker recipes are meant to stew for eight hours. Layer the ingredients for this Moroccan chicken into your slow cooker, and 2 1/2 hours later, your house will be filled the aroma of cumin, ginger, and coriander.
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Continue to 9 of 30 below.
Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup
Canned pumpkin isn’t just for pie. Combine it with garlic, carrots, onions, and celery for a savory and healthy soup!
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Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Need a back pocket recipe for when you have a busy day ahead and you’re hosting company for dinner? Chuck some chuck roast into a slow cooker before heading out to work. It will take eight to ten hours for the beef to get super tender, just in time for your guests. Prep the ingredients the night before to make prep even easier in the morning.
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Slow Cooker Honey Chipotle Chicken Tacos
Chicken thighs cook along with chipotle peppers and its adobo sauce for an even more flavorful take on chicken tacos. These freeze well, so make a double batch for another busy day. Future you will thank you!
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Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Soup
This hearty chicken and rice soup is just the meal everyone wants to eat when it’s cold outside. Use par-cooked wild rice since it cooks a lot quicker and add it when you have about 35 minutes left to cook the soup. Any earlier and the rice will turn into mush.
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Continue to 13 of 30 below.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin with Balsamic Honey Glaze
Pork loin is as easy as can be when it’s seared and placed in the slow cooker for just a couple of hours. For a slow cooker recipe, this is really quick! A fattier pork loin works better than a leaner tenderloin, which could dry out if overcooked. Serve it with crusty bread to sop up the delicious honey balsamic sauce.
See Also
10 Savory Saffron Recipes to Make Any Meal a Special Occasion
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Slow Cooker Lamb Stew with Pomegranate Molasses
Tired of pork or beef? Try lamb! For this recipe, feel free to use lamb leg or shank if a shoulder cut isn’t available. Pomegranate molasses is a sweet and tangy syrup often used in Middle Eastern recipes. You can find it online and at well-stocked grocery stores.
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Slow Cooker Cajun-Spiced Stuffed Peppers
Spice up your weeknight dinner with these easy stuffed peppers cooked in a slow cooker. The ground beef filling requires zero chopping, which is always a win in my book. It’s also a great recipe to use up leftover rice.
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Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice Casserole
This chicken and rice casserole is cozy, comforting, and somewhat unique—it’s seasoned with cumin and cinnamon. The flavor combo works! Use either bone-in or boneless chicken and long grain rice. Keep an eye on the rice. If it looks dry add more liquid.
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Continue to 17 of 30 below.
Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Pot roast doesn’t need to be a special occasion meal. Make it during the week for no other reason than just because you can. Prep the ingredients the night before and then set it on low before you head to work. When you return, it’ll be fork tender. Don’t forget the gravy! Simmer two cups of the cooking liquid with cornstarch just before serving.
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Slow Cooker Honey Buffalo Chicken Wings
A finger food like wings for dinner are a little messy but always a fun way to end the day. After the chicken wings cook in the slow cooker, you will reduce the sauce it cooked in to thicken it a bit. Brush the sauce over the wings and broil them until the skin is a little charred. Serve withranch dressingand lots of napkins. Leftover wings can be shredded and served over rice bowls the next day.
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Slow Cooker Mexican Pulled Pork Tacos
Pork tacos are one of our favorite meals. I rub the pork roast the night before. Serve with warm corn tortillas, cotija cheese, and your favoritesalsa. Freeze leftovers and use them forburritosthe following week (or month)!
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Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese
A box of mac and cheese sometimes just doesn’t cut it for my hungry crew. So this simple homemade recipe is the only way to go. This creamy slow cooker mac and cheese leans on a mix of cheeses and a genius ingredient: evaporated milk.It adds milk flavor without making it too soggy and mushy.
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Continue to 21 of 30 below.
Cheesy Slow Cooker Sausage Balls
Make these sausage meatballs in marinara sauce and serve them in as many ways as you can imagine, like over pasta or rice, in a sub, or just as is. Wet your fingers to keep the balls from sticking while you roll them.
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Slow Cooker Dr Pepper Pulled Pork
Technically BBQ season is over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy pulled pork sandwiches. If you don’t love Dr Pepper, it’s okay to use whatever cola brand you prefer. Please make thepickled red onions—they are so simple and a must for building the sandwiches.
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Slow Cooker Jambalaya
Try this New Orleans favorite with a little less effort with the help of a slow cooker. Creole seasoning, tomatoes, chicken, and sausage are cooked on high for three hours. Then, shell-on shrimp is added and cooked for 45 minutes. For easier peeling, use kitchen shears to cut the shells up the back of the shrimp. Don’t remove the shells—it helps keep the shrimp from overcooking.
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Slow Cooker Chinese Pulled Pork
The sauce here is so flavorful. It’s made with hoisin sauce, ginger, garlic, Chinese Five Spice powder, and soy sauce. Shred and pile them into Hawaiian dinner rolls or tuck them into Chinese steamed buns. Either way, everyone will love them.
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Continue to 25 of 30 below.
Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
Upgrade pasta night with these slow cooked meatballs! The mix of ground beef and turkey sausage ensures light and tender meatballs every time. Use a cookie scoop to make portioning these even easier. Feel free to prep the prior night and then add it all into the slow cooker before heading out for the day.
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Slow Cooker Turkey Stew with Mustard and Root Vegetables
This hearty turkey stew is made with turkey thighs, potatoes, and mustard greens. I hope you love mustard because it is seasoned with yellow mustard, dry mustard powder, whole grain mustard, and a little chili powder! It will warm you from the inside out.
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Slow Cooker Beef and Bean Chili
Chili is a no-brainer for easy weeknight meals and this recipe is no different. Brown the ground beef and onions in a separate skillet before adding it to the slow cooker. You could skip that part, but you’ll miss out on all the flavor the browning adds. Top with homemade crispy tortilla strips, sour cream, and grated cheddar or serve it over hot dogs for epic chili dogs!
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Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Chili
No separate searing required for this easy chicken chili. Cook it in the slow cooker for six to eight hours and then, shred the chicken using two forks. Toss in the beans and corn and serve it with cheese, avocado, cilantro, and sour cream.
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Continue to 29 of 30 below.
Slow Cooker Orange Almond Rice Pudding
Of course we wouldn’t forget dessert! If you love kheer, you’ll love this sweet rice pudding flavored with almonds and oranges. Make it vegan by using coconut milk instead of the milk and cream. Fresh orange slices and crunchy almonds are perfect toppings.
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Slow Cooker Banana Bread Pudding
Take banana bread up a notch with this decadent banana bread pudding. Soak the cubed bread for up to a day in advance in the custard before cooking it in the slow cooker for a couple of hours. I wouldn’t skip the homemade caramel sauce.
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