17 slow cooker favorites that take the pressure off dinner

Some nights, dinner feels like one more thing piled onto an already full plate. These 17 slow cooker favorites step in, doing the heavy lifting while you get on with your day. Just set it, walk away, and come back to a meal that tastes like you’ve been tending it for hours.

Crockpot Cheesy Salsa Chicken on a plate with rice and sauce. — Crockpot Cheesy Salsa Chicken. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Slow Cooker Cowboy Sloppy Joes

Two sloppy joe sandwiches topped with sliced jalapeños and sauce are served on a metal tray lined with parchment paper, with a striped napkin underneath. — Slow Cooker Cowboy Sloppy Joes. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Bold with just the right kick, these Slow Cooker Cowboy Sloppy Joes are packed with bacon, jalapeños, and tangy BBQ sauce for big flavor in every bite. The beef simmers into a rich, saucy filling that’s perfect piled high on toasted buns. Finished with a layer of melty Colby Jack, it’s the kind of easy meal that takes the pressure off dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cowboy Sloppy Joes

Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder

A bowl of creamy potato corn chowder topped with bacon and cheese, next to a wooden spoon, bread slices, and a green plant on a red checkered cloth. — Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This slow cooker chicken corn chowder is perfect for busy nights. Chicken, baby potatoes, and sweet corn simmer into a creamy soup finished with melty cheese and crispy bacon. Just load the slow cooker, turn it on, and let dinner handle itself.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Corn Chowder

Slow Cooker Meatball Stew

A white bowl filled with a vegetable and meatball stew, garnished with peas and parsley, sits on a red checkered cloth next to fresh parsley, bread, and a wooden spoon. — Slow Cooker Meatball Stew. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This slow cooker meatball stew is cozy, filling, and easy to pull together on a busy day. The meatballs turn perfectly tender while the vegetables soften and soak up all that goodness. As it simmers, the broth builds a rich, savory flavor that makes every bowl taste like it took all day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Meatball Stew

Slow Cooker Rump Roast

A plate of pot roast with sliced beef, baby potatoes, carrots, and onions, garnished with rosemary, sits on a table next to a green towel and a slow cooker. — Slow Cooker Rump Roast. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Slow Cooker Rump Roast is one of those dinners that rewards a little planning ahead. The beef turns fall-apart tender while the vegetables soak up all that rich, savory broth as it cooks low and slow. Set it up earlier in the day, and you’ll be glad you did when a hearty, no-stress meal is waiting for you.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Rump Roast

Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

A bowl of creamy orange soup garnished with black pepper and a cilantro leaf, with a spoon resting inside the bowl. Another identical bowl is partially visible in the background. — Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup takes the pressure off dinner and lets the crockpot handle the heavy lifting. Simply add everything to the pot, set it, and walk away. It cooks into a smooth, creamy soup with warm, gentle spices in every spoonful.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup

Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin

Plate with sliced roasted pork loin, mashed potatoes, and Brussels sprouts, set on a wooden table with a blue cloth and a glass of iced tea in the background. — Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Let the slow cooker do the heavy lifting with this bacon-wrapped pork loin that turns out unbelievably tender. As it cooks, the bacon and brown sugar melt together into a sticky, sweet-and-savory glaze. It looks impressive on the table but couldn’t be easier to pull off on a regular night.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin

Slow Cooker Maid Rites

A sloppy joe sandwich with pickles on a sesame bun served with crinkle-cut French fries on a plate. — Slow Cooker Maid Rites. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

These slow cooker Maid-Rites simmer gently until the beef turns tender and full of rich, savory flavor. The meat cooks down into perfectly loose crumbles that are easy to scoop and stack. Spoon it onto soft buns and finish with mustard and pickles for that classic, no-fuss sandwich everyone loves.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Maid Rites

Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops

A plate of mashed potatoes topped with slices of cooked meat, sautéed onions, and herbs, served with Brussels sprouts. — Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

These slow cooker apple butter pork chops turn out fork-tender with a sweet-savory sauce that clings to every bite. As they cook, the apple butter breaks down into something rich and comforting that fills the house with the best smell.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Butter Pork Chops

Crockpot Cheesy Salsa Chicken

Crockpot Cheesy Salsa Chicken makes it easy to put a flavorful meal on the table without overthinking it. The salsa adds a bold, zesty kick while the cheese melts into every bite. Just let it simmer away in the slow cooker and enjoy a dinner that takes the pressure off your evening.
Get the Recipe: Crockpot Cheesy Salsa Chicken

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

A bowl of creamy corn garnished with chopped chives, placed on a red checkered cloth with a wooden spoon and white ceramic pitchers in the background. — Slow Cooker Creamed Corn. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Slow Cooker Creamed Corn turns out rich, buttery, and totally worth the little bit of prep. Sweet corn simmers low and slow with cream cheese, butter, and a gentle touch of Cajun spice for big flavor. By the time you’re ready to serve, everything’s hot, ready, and one less thing to think about.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamed Corn

Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos

Tray of shredded pork tacos with diced onions and lime wedges, accompanied by a bowl of dipping sauce. — Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

These slow cooker shredded pork tacos cook up tender and packed with sweet, smoky, savory flavor, thanks to a surprising splash of Coca-Cola. The soda helps create a rich, caramelized taste as the pork simmers low and slow. Pile it into warm tortillas for an easy dinner that feels anything but ordinary.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Shredded Pork Tacos

Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken

A stuffed chicken breast topped with herbs is served on mashed potatoes with a side of steamed broccoli on a white plate. — Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

Slow cooker lemonade chicken turns out juicy and tender, with a bright, sweet citrus flavor in every bite. The lemonade adds a little something special that makes the whole dish feel cozy and comforting. Served over rice or mashed potatoes, it feels like a warm welcome home at the end of the day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lemonade Chicken

Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Two bowls of chili topped with avocado slices, sour cream, shredded cheese, and cilantro. Sliced lime and cheese bowl in the background on a marble surface. — Slow Cooker Taco Soup. Photo credit: Real Life of Lulu.

This slow cooker taco soup simmers away while you go about your day. Tender chicken, hearty meatballs, warm spices, and shredded cabbage cook together into one cozy, filling bowl. Just top with avocado, cilantro, lime, and sour cream and dinner’s ready.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Taco Soup

Brown Sugar Crockpot Pork

Shredded pork on a white plate. — Brown Sugar Crockpot Pork. Photo credit: Trina Krug.

Ready to dust off your crockpot and turn a simple pork shoulder into something everyone will rave about? This Brown Sugar Rub Crockpot Pork cooks low and slow, creating a rich, bold flavor with perfectly caramelized edges. It’s the kind of easy, crowd-pleasing meal that disappears fast at the table.
Get the Recipe: Brown Sugar Crockpot Pork

Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

Plate of chicken with a creamy sauce, served with potatoes and carrots, garnished with parsley. — Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken is one of those tried-and-true dinners you’ll come back to again and again. It’s comforting, flavorful, and wonderfully straightforward. With just six simple ingredients, it couldn’t be easier to get on the table.
Get the Recipe: Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

Easy Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes

Close up of diced potatoes with melted white cheese on top. — Easy Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes. Photo credit: MOON and spoon and yum.

These slow cooker roasted potatoes are about as easy as it gets when it comes to a Crockpot recipe. Just toss everything in and let the slow cooker handle the work for you. Before you know it, you’ll have a perfectly tender, flavorful potato side dish ready for the table.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Roasted Potatoes

Pork Chops in Crockpot Recipe

Tender pork chops slow-cooked with a savory sauce. — Pork Chops in Crockpot Recipe. Photo credit: Intentional Hospitality.

These crockpot pork chops are an easy, set-it-and-forget-it dinner that brings plenty of flavor to the table. Just add everything to the slow cooker and let it do the work while the pork cooks up tender and juicy. It’s a simple recipe that makes dinnertime feel a whole lot easier.
Get the Recipe: Pork Chops in Crockpot Recipe