Some days leave little time to stand over the stove, but dinner still needs to get done. These 21 slow cooker recipes let the main cooking happen in the pot, with choices ranging from chicken and pork to beef stew, soups, and family-size casseroles. A few need a quick sear, stir, or finishing step, while others can simmer with little attention. Pick one that fits your schedule and let dinner cook while you take care of the rest of the day.
Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken
Tangy, buttery juices make Crock Pot Mississippi Chicken a flavorful dinner with very little work at the stove. Chicken breasts cook with ranch seasoning, au jus mix, pepperoncini peppers, their brine, and butter until the meat is tender enough to pull apart. The recorded recipe makes four servings in about four hours. Pile the chicken onto soft rolls or spoon it over mashed potatoes, letting the seasoned cooking juices do most of the work on a busy evening.
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Slow Cooker Mac n Cheese
Creamy pasta with plenty of melted cheese makes Slow Cooker Mac n Cheese an easy side to bring to a family dinner. Uncooked macaroni cooks with cheddar, mozzarella, whole milk, evaporated milk, and butter, so there is no separate pot of boiling water to manage. Paprika adds a little extra seasoning without taking over the familiar flavor. The recorded recipe makes eight servings in just over three hours. Serve it warm with roasted vegetables or alongside the main dish at a weekend meal.
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Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast
Tender pork with a gently tangy finish gives Slow Cooker Mississippi Pork Roast plenty of dinner options once the cooking is done. Pork shoulder spends the day in the slow cooker with ranch seasoning, au jus mix, butter, pepperoncini peppers, and a little of their brine. The recorded recipe makes eight servings in just over eight hours. Shred the pork for sandwiches or serve thick pieces with potatoes, saving any leftover meat for another meal later in the week.
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Crockpot Marry Me Chicken
Rich cream sauce and tender chicken make Crockpot Marry Me Chicken a dinner that needs only a simple side. Chicken breasts cook with broth, heavy cream, Parmesan, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, and a pinch of red pepper flakes. The recorded recipe makes three servings in a little over four hours, giving a small household enough for dinner without a large batch of leftovers. Spoon the sauce over pasta or rice and finish with fresh basil before serving.
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Slow Cooker Potato Soup
Thick and creamy, Slow Cooker Potato Soup turns everyday potatoes into a full bowl of dinner. Cubed potatoes cook with chicken broth, onion, and garlic, while milk, butter, flour, cheddar, and sour cream give the soup its richer finish. The recorded recipe makes six servings in just over three hours. Top each bowl with cooked bacon and green onions, then add crusty bread when the evening calls for something filling without much work at the stove.
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Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs
Savory gravy coats every bite of Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak Meatballs, making them especially easy to serve over a simple side. Frozen meatballs simmer with beef broth, brown gravy mix, onion soup mix, ketchup, and Worcestershire sauce; a cornstarch slurry thickens the gravy toward the end. The recorded recipe makes six servings in just over six hours. Spoon the meatballs over mashed potatoes or buttered noodles when you want a familiar dinner without shaping and browning meatballs yourself.
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Slow Cooker Pork Chops
Tender pork under a creamy garlic sauce makes Slow Cooker Pork Chops a substantial main dish for an ordinary weeknight. Boneless chops cook with heavy cream, grated Parmesan, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning, creating a sauce that can go straight onto the plate. The recorded recipe makes four servings in a little over four hours. Add green beans or a baked potato on the side, and spoon the extra sauce over everything just before dinner.
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Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken
Chicken and vegetables share one pot in Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken, so there is less to coordinate at dinnertime. Chicken breasts cook with baby potatoes, carrots, dry ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, and heavy cream. The recorded recipe makes six servings in a little over eight hours, with the potatoes and carrots already included alongside the meat. Serve straight from the cooker, adding a simple green salad if the table needs something crisp.
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Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Fork-tender beef and mushrooms give Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff its familiar rich flavor without hours of stirring. Stewing beef cooks with onion, cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, and garlic powder; sour cream is added near the end. The recorded recipe makes six servings in a little over six hours. Cook the egg noodles separately while the beef finishes, then ladle the creamy mixture over them for dinner.
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Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin
Sweet and savory sauce turns Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin into a sliced main dish that works for a family supper. Pork tenderloin cooks with apple cider vinegar, honey, soy sauce, Dijon mustard, garlic, ginger, and warm spices. The recorded recipe makes six servings in a little over four hours, with flour listed to help finish the sauce. Serve the sliced pork with rice or roasted vegetables and spoon the cooking sauce over the top.
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Slow Cooker Nacho Meatballs
Cheesy sauce with a little chili heat makes Slow Cooker Nacho Meatballs easy to put out as an appetizer or a casual dinner. Frozen homestyle meatballs warm in a mixture of tomatoes with green chiles, Velveeta, taco seasoning, and heavy cream. The recorded recipe makes six servings in a little over four hours. Scatter scallions over the top and serve with toothpicks, or spoon the meatballs into bowls alongside tortilla chips.
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Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Soft vegetables and tender beef make Slow Cooker Pot Roast a full dinner that spends most of its time in one pot. Chuck roast cooks with onion, carrots, garlic, potatoes, mushrooms, beef stock, red wine, and tomato paste. The recorded recipe makes eight servings in just over five hours. Slice or pull apart the beef and serve it with the vegetables, spooning the cooking liquid over each plate instead of making a separate sauce.
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Slow Cooker Beef Stew
Deep, savory broth surrounds tender chunks of beef in Slow Cooker Beef Stew, with potatoes and carrots cooking in the same pot. Chuck roast, onion, beef broth, tomato paste, red wine, bay leaves, Worcestershire sauce, and thyme build the flavor as the stew simmers. The recorded recipe makes eight servings in just over eight hours. Ladle it into bowls with bread on the side, and refrigerate the extra portions for another cold evening.
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Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
Small meatballs and tender vegetables make Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup a lighter change from rich roasts and casseroles. Frozen beef or turkey meatballs simmer in chicken broth with carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder; small pasta and spinach complete the bowl. The recorded recipe makes six servings in just over five hours. Serve with toasted bread for dipping, adding the pasta and greens at the recipe’s directed stage so they keep their texture.
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Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole
Golden tater tots and melted cheese give Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole a hearty finish after the filling cooks. Browned ground beef goes into the cooker with corn, onion, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, cheddar, and frozen tater tots. The recorded recipe makes six servings in just over five hours, though the beef needs browning before it goes in. Scoop generous portions into bowls when you want a filling dinner with the meat, potatoes, and vegetables already together.
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Slow Cooker Ribs
Saucy, tender meat makes Slow Cooker Ribs easier to plan for a family dinner without tending a grill for hours. Baby back ribs are seasoned with brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper before cooking with barbecue sauce. The recorded recipe makes four servings in about four hours and 20 minutes. Cut the ribs into portions and serve with coleslaw or corn, setting out napkins for the sticky sauce.
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Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Creamy broth with a gentle kick makes Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili a welcome change from tomato-based chili. Chicken cooks with white beans, corn, diced green chiles, onion, broth, cumin, oregano, and garlic powder, then cream cheese and cream give it a richer finish. The recorded recipe makes six servings in about four hours and 25 minutes. Ladle into bowls and set out tortilla chips or chopped green onions for an easy dinner on a busy night.
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Pulled Pork Sliders
Soft buns piled high with saucy pork make Pulled Pork Sliders easy to serve when dinner needs to feed more than a few people. The linked slow-cooker version cooks pork shoulder with barbecue sauce, beer, ketchup, and brown sugar before the meat is shredded. Coleslaw and a mayonnaise dressing finish the sliders. The recorded recipe makes 16 servings in about six hours and 15 minutes. Build the sandwiches just before serving so the buns stay soft instead of soaking through.
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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Citrusy, seasoned pork makes Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas a flexible filling for tacos, rice bowls, or a platter of warm tortillas. Pork shoulder cooks with cumin, oregano, chili powder, onion, garlic, orange juice, lime juice, and chicken broth. The recorded recipe makes eight servings in about five hours and 25 minutes, with olive oil also listed for searing. Shred the meat when it is tender and put out avocado and red onion so everyone can build their own plate.
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Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf
A cheese-filled center gives Slow Cooker Taco Meatloaf a different finish from traditional meatloaf. Ground beef mixes with onion, green chiles, taco seasoning, crushed nacho cheese chips, eggs, milk, and Monterey Jack, while taco sauce and Colby Jack add flavor on top. The recorded recipe makes six servings in a little over six hours. Serve thick slices with a green salad or rice, adding sour cream or tomatoes if you like taco-style toppings.
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Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
Juicy chicken in a creamy tomato sauce makes Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs a dinner that only needs a side of rice or bread. Bone-in thighs cook with sweet onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and spinach, with cream and Parmesan rounding out the sauce. The recorded recipe makes six servings in about four hours and 15 minutes. Spoon the sauce over each serving and add a simple vegetable alongside if you want more color on the plate.
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