Do you always seem to be in a rush or scrambling to get dinner on the table? Are you sick of spending an hour sweating over a stove to make dinner just to eat it in 10 minutes? Check out this list of the 40+ Best Slow Cooker Recipes to make that next weeknight dinner a breeze.
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Why You Should Trust These Are The Best Slow Cooker Recipes You Can Make
- Cookbook Author: I'm the author of nine cookbooks. Most of them being best sellers. I spend hours upon hours in the kitchen and know a great pan when I use one.
- Experienced Reviewer: I've done various reviews in the past, so I have a wealth of knowledge about kitchen gadgets and what makes one better than another.
- Gadget geek!: I'm a self-proclaimed food tech enthusiast and have been known to purchase (and review) just about any kitchen appliance I can get my hands on.
How To Use A Slow Cooker
One of the reasons slow cookers are loved by so many is because of how easy they are to use. The ease of use is directly impacted by how many functions your slow cooker offers. While the way you use your slow cooker can vary slightly depending on which model you have, the process for cooking in one is generally the same:
- Add food
- Add liquid
- Set temperature (this can be customized on some models)
- Some digital models allow you to set the cooking time
- Forget you're cooking (not really--but it seems like it sometimes)
- Enjoy your meal when the cooking time is complete
Digital Slow Cookers Vs Manual Slow Cookers
If you're looking for more cooking options to further customize your slow cooker recipes, consider purchasing a digital slow cooker. If you're concerned about ease of use and value simplicity in your food prep, consider a manual slow cooker. Confused about the difference in the two? Let me give you a small breakdown of what makes them different:
Manual Slow Cookers
Manual slow cookers are the most simple when it comes to functionality. Generally a manual slow cooker will have a knob that turns to select the different cooking functions. The cooking functions that they typically offer are:
- Low
- High
- Warm
Digital Slow Cookers
Digital slow cookers are for the home cook that likes to be able to customize their slow cooking experience a little more than they can with a manual slow cooker. This type of cooker has a digital panel that lets you adjust cooking functions with the push of a button and monitor the time remaining on a digital display. These are the most common cooking functions you can adjust with a digital slow cooker:
- Set custom cooking time
- Low tempeature
- High temperature
- Keep Warm
- Some offer adjustable cooking temperature controls
Not sure which slow cooker is right for you? Read my article on How To Choose A Slow Cooker to help you decide.
How Much Liquid Do You Put In A Slow Cooker?
The amount of liquid you need to put in your slow cooker to make the best slow cooker recipes can vary depending on the dish you're making. One of the most common mistakes people make when using their slow cooker is using too much liquid.
Depending on the ingredients you're using, you may need to adjust the amount of liquid you add to your crock. Ingredients such as meat and veggies will release liquids as they cook and create the moisture they need to create steam and cook perfectly.
If you're wanting a soup or stew, go ahead and fill a good portion (around half) of your crock with water. If you're attempting to make pulled meat for wraps or sandwiches, or a perfectly steamed vegetable side dish, go ahead and skip the water.
The best way to ensure you're not using too much liquid is to use a reliable and tested recipe. All of the recipes listed below have been tested and give specific liquid measurements to take all of the guesswork out of your slow cooking experience.
Slow Cooker Temperature Settings High vs. Low
If you're an old school slow cooker user, you're probably used to converting low temperature cook times to high temperature cook times (or the other way around) to get dinner on the table a little quicker or slower depending on how your day plays out.
While this isn't an exact science, let me give you a few pointers to help you adjust cooking times according to heat settings if you're not familiar with making these adjustments on your own.
High
The high-temperature setting is best for dishes that you want done in a short amount of time that don't contain large portions of meat.
This setting will bring the liquids in your pot to the boiling point in 4 hours. It is not a guarantee that your food will be cooked thoroughly within this time frame. It is best used for soups or stews that have precooked ingredients or bite sized pieces of meat that are going to be shredded to add to other dishes.
If the recipe you're using calls for cooking on low temperature for anything less than 6 hours, don't try to use the high setting to speed up the process. If it has a cook time of 7+ hours, you can usually reduce the cooking time by 2/3 and cook on the high-temperature setting.
Low
Cooking your slow cooker recipes on the low setting is the best way to get the best flavor. Many recipes recommend using the low setting to slowly infuse the flavors of the ingredients into the dish. This setting will bring the liquid in your dish to the boiling point in 6 hours.
Generally, if a recipe suggests using the high-temperature setting, you can often adjust to the low setting and double the cooking time to achieve the same results.
Note: You should always use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of any protein to ensure it is safe to consume at the end of every cooking cycle.
Can You Put Raw Meat Into A Slow Cooker?
There are mixed opinions on whether you should cook raw meat in a slow cooker. When people refer to meat as "raw" in this situation, they mean without searing or browning it first.
The short answer to this is yes. You can put raw meat into a slow cooker and still achieve totally safe to eat food.
Do I Have To Brown Meat Before Slow Cooking?
As I previously mentioned, you don't HAVE to brown or sear your meat before you add it to your slow cooker. However, depending on the cut of meat or the recipe you're preparing, it can significantly improve the overall flavors.
When you sear a cut of beef or pork, it helps to trap in some of the juices in the meat and locks in the delicious flavors. If you don't sear the meat before you add the liquid and other ingredients the flavors from the proteins can seep out into the liquid you added and dilute the overall flavor of your dish.
What Can You NOT Cook In A Slow Cooker?
Let me start this off by saying that we are NOT the slow cooker police. Virtually anything can be made in a slow cooker, but the quality of the food that you prepare can be directly impacted by preparing it in a slow cooker.
Here are a few different types of foods that are best made with a different kitchen gadget for the best results:
- Pasta
- Pastries
- French Fries
- Fried Chicken
- Dairy
- Dishes with Alcohol
Best Slow Cooker Recipes
Slow Cooker Recipe Round Up
Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches are best quick and easy chicken sandwich recipe. Inspired by a chicken caesar salad my recipe uses- chicken, caesar dressing, broth, Parmesan and fresh lemon are cooked in a slow cooker and shredded.
This slow cooker healthy beef chili recipe is one of our favorites to make for an easy delicious dinner. Full of goodies and totally customizable for what’s in your fridge.
This slow cooker Mexican beef stew is perfect on a cold day. It’s a quick toss and go recipe.
Crockpot chicken parmesan soup is flavored with a parmesan tomato broth and spiced with Italian seasonings. Top it with crusty croutons and melted cheese, and you've got a mouth-watering unraveled chicken parmesan dinner!
Chuck beef slow cooked in a rich, homemade tomato sauce and paired with pappardelle pasta makes this beef ragu recipe a family staple.
This Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken is a favorite family meal with a prep time of just minutes!
Have you ever tried making your own apple butter? If not, you should give it a try with this very easy, homemade apple butter recipe that you can make using a crockpot, Instant Pot, or cook on your stove top!
Love Chicken Pho? Did you know you can make it at home in your Crock Pot? Homemade Chicken Pho is easier than you may think!
My keto broccoli cheese slow cooker soup is easy, low in carbs, gluten-free and thickened with only cheesy goodness. It’s a rich thick low carb broccoli cheese soup that everyone will enjoy.
This slow cooker vegan chili recipe will delight your taste buds. It’s not only wholesome but delicious and easy to make. A vegan twist on this classic comfort food for those chilly days ahead makes for a healthy dinner packed with nutrients brimming with flavor!
The BEST slow cooker pot roast! Includes how to choose the cut of meat for pot roast, prep tips, freezing pot roast, & an easy pot roast slow cooker recipe.
Crock-Pot Tuscan White Bean Soup is a healthy and easy dinner that is packed with vegetables and so much flavor. It comes together with just 15 minutes of prep!
Here’s an amazing recipe for pulled pork made in a slow cooker, with a special sauce that packs a little kick creating a unique, Southern BBQ burger.
This is the best split pea soup you will ever have. Nobody will know it's vegan or that it's so easy to make.
Tender bell peppers stuffed with an ultra flavorful filling. The slow cooker does ALL the work for you: no browning beef or boiling rice required!
This easy crack chicken slow cooker recipe is so creamy and delicious. It’s made with chicken thighs that are slow-cooked to tender shredded perfection, ranch, cheddar, bacon, cream cheese, cream and green onions.
Mashed potatoes in the slow cooker are so tender and flavorful. The simple Side dish is perfect for any meal.
Easy Crockpot Sausage & Tortellini Soup ⋆ Mimosas and Motherhood
If you’re a big fan of easy, family-friendly meals, you’ve got to try this creamy and delicious crockpot sausage and tortellini soup. With just 6 simple (and cheap!) ingredients, this is sure to become one of your favorites.
Slow cooker turkey carnitas are an easy and healthy way to enjoy the flavorful Mexican dish! Just add all the ingredients to the slow cooker and let it do all the hard work for you!
Learn how to make White Chocolate Fudge (in a slow cooker) without a lot of effort! This incredible white fudge recipe is made with just four ingredients.
An absolutely delicious copycat Cracker Barrel fried apples recipe you can make right at home in your slow cooker.
Chicken and broccoli is combined in a creamy and cheesy sauce, perfect for topping noodles or rice!
Slow cooker lamb shanks, a match made in heaven and the perfect way to keep those glorious hunks of meat soft and juicy. Slowly braised in a red wine and vegetable-rich stock these are the perfect centre piece to any meal!
https://delightfulplate.com/slow-cooker-vietnamese-pulled-pork-banh-mi/
Make delicious Dump and Start Crockpot Chicken Fajitas with almost no effort. This perfect family meal is super flavorful, versatile, and budget-friendly.
Spanish beef stew is so easy to make in the slow cooker but decadent enough to serve to guests at a dinner party.
Tender beef stew meat cooks together with just a few ingredients for this easy hearty Peppered Beef. Serve over rice for a easy weeknight meal.
Looking for an easy keto casserole? Here ya go! This Slow Cooker Keto Meatball Casserole Recipe is a great addition to add to your meal rotation!
Love chicken? Then you have got to try this slow cooker Jamaican style coconut curry chicken. Succulent chicken thighs (boneless and skinless) are marinated, seared and braised in the crock pot for several hours.
A delicious hearty beef and pumpkin stew that is cooked in the slow cooker. Paleo and low carb friendly and ideal for a healthy meal during pumpkin season.
Cabbage Roll Soup gives you all those classic flavors of a cabbage roll, but in a hearty and comforting soup. Minimal prep required to make this hearty cabbage soup.
Make your barbecue complete by putting these Vegan Baked Beans on the table! This smoky and flavorful side dish is easy to prepare and it's all made in one pot. It’s also a freezer-friendly recipe and perfect for family dinners or Sunday meal prep.
Slow cooker thai peanut chicken is an easy and delicious main dish that takes almost no effort and tastes absolutely amazing. Chicken thighs are slow cooked in a flavorful homemade peanut sauce that is suprisingly dairy free!
These easy Crock Pot Chicken thighs are perfectly tender with a delicious Asian flare.
Dessert in the slow cooker? It's a thing! A wonderful dessert any time of year, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Pudding Cake is a super easy recipe and sure to please those chocolate peanut butter lovers in your life and have them coming back for more!
Juicy and easy, this recipe will teach you how to cook pork loin in the crock pot that is a hit with the whole family. This recipe makes a sizeable amount for dinner and is super simple to throw in your slow cooker with just a few ingredients.
Super easy pour and cook Slow Cooker Chana Masala recipe! This recipe is a very easy way to get a restaurant-style chana masala at home that is full of flavor!
Super simple, no fuss, authentic Indian Butter chicken. This Slow Cooker Butter Chicken recipe is the adaptation of my famous Instant Pot Butter Chicken! Enjoy the recipe that's loved by tens of thousands of people.
This Slow Cooker Chipotle Chicken Recipe is perfectly tender, moist and full of delicious chipotle flavor. Serve it with tortillas, or as a taco salad to keep things low carb.
These Cranberry Meatballs are the perfect appetizer for your next get together. Make a delicious party food in just 10 minutes with 6 simple ingredients!
Slow Cooker Safed Chicken Korma or a White Chicken Korma is a rich, creamy, mildly-spiced but very flavorful dish that takes little to no effort to make in your slow cooker. You'll get a traditional Indian korma without the effort that goes into cooking traditional Indian food.
More Articles On How To Cook
- Maillard Reaction
- What Is Sous Vide?
- Pot In Pot Cooking
- Why Did I Get The Instant Pot Burn Message?
- 6 Most Important Buttons On Your Instant Pot
If you love this list of the Best Slow Cooker Recipes, make sure you share them with your friends on Facebook and Pinterest so they can try them too.
Originally Published November 18, 2020
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