50 Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Want to Try Right Now
Updated: Aug. 20, 2020Need a hearty helping of comfort food? This collection of our best-ever slow cooker recipes has got you covered.
Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
“A couple of nights a week our family ends up eating in shifts because everyone is going every which way, all at the same time. Having a hearty soup simmering in the slow cooker is an easy way to give them all a warm meal.” —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York
Roast Beef and Gravy
“This is by far the simplest way to make roast beef and gravy. On busy days, I can put this main dish in the slow cooker and forget about it. My family likes it with mashed potatoes and fruit salad.” —Abby Metzger, Larchwood, Iowa
Slow-Cooker Cheesy White Lasagna
“Here’s my best version of my favourite food—lasagna! The recipe is a winner, so it’s worth the extra prep. You’ll have plenty of time to plan side dishes while the main dish is cooking.” —Suzanne Smith, Bluffton, Indiana
All-Day Red Beans and Rice
“My family loves New Orleans-style cooking, so I make this authentic dish often. I appreciate how uncomplicated it is. And its smoky ham flavour is scrumptious.” —Celinda Dahlgren, Napa, California
Apple-Dijon Pork Roast
“This recipe takes less than five minutes to assemble and is delicious. I like to serve the roast with rice, then use the tangy sauce as a gravy for both.” —Cindy Steffen, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
Beef Roast Dinner
“Because this healthy dish is slow-cooked, you can use less expensive roasts with results as mouthwatering as the more costly cuts. Change up the veggies for variety, nutrition or to suit your tastes!” —Sandra Dudley, Bemidji, Minnesota
Brats with Sauerkraut
“I’ve made many variations of this excellent main dish. The bratwurst can be plain, smoked or cheese-flavoured, served whole or cut in slices, with a bun or without. It would be popular at a party or potluck.” —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Chicken Cassoulet Soup
“After my sister spent a year in France as an au pair, I created this lighter, easier version of traditional French cassoulet for her. It uses chicken instead of the usual duck.” —Bridget M. Klusman, Otsego, Michigan
Chicken Merlot with Mushrooms
“Slow cooked and savoury, this dish is perfect for any night of the week, and is sure to become a staple in your home.” –Shelli McWilliam of Salem, Oregon
Corn and Broccoli in Cheese Sauce
“Save room in the oven by making this savoury side in your slow cooker. It is a standby in my house. My daughter likes to add leftover ham to create a hearty main course.” —Joyce Johnson, Uniontown, Ohio
Cowboy Calico Beans
“This is a tradition at the table when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls’ weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us!” —Julie Butsch, Hartland, Wisconsin
French Onion Soup with Meatballs
I got the idea for how to make this soup after I went to a brewhouse restaurant that put ale in their gravy. I make this every time the weather starts to cool down in the fall—it’s comfort food for the soul. —Crystal Holsinger, Surprise, Arizona
Fruity Pork Roast
“I like using the slow cooker for our meals because it gives me time for other preparations, frees the oven, and it usually doesn’t matter if you serve it later than planned. The fruit in this recipe, which I adapted, gives the pork a special flavour.” —Mary Jeppesen-Davis, St. Cloud, Minnesota
Ground Beef Spinach Alfredo Lasagna
“With two types of sauces, ground beef, spinach and three kinds of cheese, this dish is super hearty and goes beyond the expected. When serving, be sure to scoop all the way down to the bottom of the slow cooker so everyone gets a good taste of all the yummy layers.” —Deborah Bruno, Mira Loma, California
Herbed Slow-Cooker Chicken
“I use my slow cooker to prepare these well-seasoned chicken breasts that cook up moist and tender. My daughter, who has two young sons to keep up with, shared this great recipe with me several years ago. I now rely on cooking chicken in a slow cooker many days a week.” —Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Italian Chicken Chardonnay
“One day I needed to have dinner ready when we walked in the door after work and school. So I altered a skillet dish that my family likes into this delicious slow-cooker meal, and it was ready and waiting when we got home. It’s perfect for an everyday meal but nice enough for company, too.” —Judy Armstrong, Prairieville, Louisiana
Italian Shredded Pork Stew
“Need a warm, soothing meal for a blustery night? Throw together this slow-cooked stew loaded with sweet potatoes and kale. And the shredded pork is oh-so-tender!” —Robin Jungers, Campbellsport, Wisconsin
Lamb and White Bean Chili
“I created a fresh take on chili using lamb and Moroccan seasoning with a feta and almond garnish. It was so exciting and tasty to my husband and son, I made a second batch almost right away. If you like a spicier chili, add harissa paste or use medium salsa instead of mild.” —Arlene Erlbach, Morton Grove, Illinois
Lemon Red Potatoes
“Butter, lemon juice, parsley and chives enhance this simple side dish. I usually prepare these potatoes when I’m having company. Since they cook in the slow cooker, there’s plenty of room on the stove for other dishes.” —Tara Branham, Austin, Texas
Machaca Beef Dip Sandwiches
“The winning combination of beef, cumin, chili powder and the spicy heat of chipotle peppers makes these sandwiches game-day food at its finest!” —Karol Chandler-Ezell, Nacogdoches, Texas
Mango & Coconut Chicken Soup
“I love preparing dinner in a slow cooker because it’s ‘carefree cooking.’ This chicken dish uses ingredients that I love, such as coconut milk, edamame and fresh ginger. The Asian-style entree is perfect for a potluck party.” —Roxanne Chan, Albany, California
Satay-Style Pork Stew
“Thai cuisine features flavours that are hot and sour, salty and sweet. This one-dish pork satay balances all of them using ginger and red pepper flakes, rice vinegar, garlic, lime juice and creamy peanut butter.” —Nicole Werner, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Shredded Green Chile Beef
“This Tex-Mex pulled beef roast is tender, slightly spicy, juicy, and so delicious served over mashed potatoes or rice. The beef also makes the best soft tacos you’ve ever had. Save any leftover pulled beef in the liquid to prevent it from drying out.” —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, Virginia
Shrimp Marinara
“Flavourful marinara sauce simmers for just a few hours. Right before mealtime, toss in the shrimp to cook quickly. Serve over hot spaghetti for a delicious weeknight dish that feels dressed up.” —Sue Mackey, Jackson, Wisconsin
Slow-Cooker Beef Stroganoff
“No more standing and stirring at the stove. This creamy Stroganoff preps in a skillet, then cooks all day while you’re away.” —Sarah C. Vasques, Milford, New Hampshire
Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast with Cranberry Gravy
“I created this dish when I was craving Thanksgiving dinner, and it was still over a month away. You get all the bells and whistles of Thanksgiving dinner in no time, Add a vegetable, some mashed potatoes and you’re ready to eat.” —Cynthia Gerken, Naples, Florida
Slow-Cooked Bean Medley
“I often change the variety of beans in this classic recipe, using whatever I have on hand to total the five cans called for. The sauce makes any combination delicious! It’s a gluten-free side dish that’s popular with just about everyone.” —Peggy Gwillim, Strasbourg, Saskatchewan
Slow-Cooked Beef Brisket
“When my husband and I were both working full-time, we loved this recipe’s 10-hour cook time. The beef brisket tastes so good after simmering all day in the crockpot, and the chili sauce adds a unique touch to the gravy.” —Anna Stodolak Volant, Pennsylvania
Slow-Cooked Corned Beef
“It’s not luck; it’s just an amazing Irish recipe. With this in the slow cooker by sunrise, you can be sure to fill seats at the dinner table by sundown.” —Heather Parraz, Rochester, Washington
Slow-Cooked French Onion Soup
“My husband and I love French onion soup, so I wondered if I could turn it into a less labour-intensive dish by altering my recipe to work in a slow cooker. The rich, cheesy result was an instant winner at home.” —Ronda Eagle, Goose Creek, South Carolina
Slow-Cooked Potatoes with Spring Onions
“I love the simplicity of this recipe, as well as the ease of preparation with my slow cooker. And everyone always likes roasted potatoes, even my pickiest child! If desired, top with shredded or crumbled cheese.” —Theresa Gomez, Stuart, Florida
Slow-Cooker Chickpea Tagine
“While travelling through Morocco, my wife and I fell in love with the complex flavors of the many tagines we tried. Resist the urge to stir this dish too much, as it will break down the veggies. Add shredded cooked chicken in the last 10 minutes, or serve with grilled fish.” —Raymond Wyatt, West St. Paul, Minnesota
Slow-Cooker Frittata Provencal
“This recipe means that a delectable dinner is ready when I walk in the door from work. The meatless slow cooker meal also makes an elegant brunch for lazy weekend mornings.” —Connie Eaton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Slow-Cooker Pasta e Fagioli
“This chunky soup is good to the last spoonful. It’s my go-to recipe because it’s so hearty and we all always want more.” —Penny Novy, Buffalo Grove, Illinois
Slow-Cooker Sauerbraten
“My family is of German Lutheran descent, and although we enjoy this traditional beef roast, I never liked the amount of time and fuss it takes to make it. This recipe is so good and oh-so-easy. It’s great served with dumplings, spaetzle, veggies or a salad.” —Norma English, Baden, Pennsylvania
