There is a specific kind of relief in walking through the door on a cold evening and smelling dinner that you do not have to cook. That is the whole pitch for a slow cooker in fall.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting my blog!
Here are the recipes I load up in the morning and forget about until dinner, sorted by how you plan to use them. Roasts and brothy soups can go all day on low. Chili and chicken thighs are better on a shorter high setting.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email and we’ll send the recipe directly to you!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from The Yummy Bowl.
Soups and Stews
Set it in the morning, come home to dinner. These build deep flavor over hours with zero stirring.
THE BEST Slow Cooker Creamy Beef Stew
Slow Cooker Italian Meatball Soup (with Orzo)
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Paula Deen Taco Soup (Slow Cooker)
Roasts and Shredded Meats
Cheaper cuts turn fall-apart tender, and one batch feeds you for days in sandwiches, tacos, and bowls.
Slow Cooker Pepperoncini Ranch Pork Roast
Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork
RECIPE
Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken
Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Tinga Tacos
Easy Slow Cooker Rump Roast
5-Ingredient Barbecue Slow Cooker Ribs
Chili and Beans
The most forgiving thing a slow cooker does. Dump, stir once, and it only gets better the longer it goes.
Viral Crock Pot White Chicken Chili With Cream Cheese
Pumpkin Chili (30-Minutes!)
Chicken Chili With White Beans
Fast Slow Cooker Wins
Weeknight-friendly recipes that do not need eight hours. Three to four hours on high and dinner is done.
Crockpot Mongolian Beef (Crazy Good Sauce!)
Slow Cooker Beef & Broccoli (Soy-Free)
RECIPE
Crockpot Chicken Enchilada
Crock Pot Chicken Cacciatore With Chicken Thighs
Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Recipe (In Crock pot)
Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes
Vegetarian Slow Cooker Dinners
Beans, lentils, and squash are what the slow cooker was built for, so this is the section where you can skip the meat entirely and not feel like you gave something up. All of these are from blogs I actually cook from.
Butternut Squash Red Lentil Stew
Slow Cooker Lentil Curry
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili with Quinoa
Vegetarian Crockpot Lentil Soup
Slow Cooker Mushroom Risotto
My Favorite Slow Cookers
You do not need a fancy one, but you do need one with a real timer that flips itself to warm. That single feature is the difference between dinner waiting for you and dinner drying out. These are the three I recommend when people ask.
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
Buy Now →BEST OVERALL
Hamilton Beach Set and Forget 7-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
Hamilton Beach Set and Forget 7-Quart Programmable Slow Cooker
Buy Now →BEST SET AND FORGET
Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Hamilton Beach Stay or Go 6-Quart Slow Cooker
Buy Now →BEST FOR POTLUCKS
A 6 or 7 quart is the size worth owning. It holds a whole pork shoulder or a double batch of chili, and anything smaller means cooking twice when people come over.
My Best Slow Cooker Tips
A slow cooker is nearly foolproof, but a few things separate a great pot from a watery, washed-out one.
- Brown ground and cubed meat first. Whole roasts and chicken thighs are fine going in raw, but ground beef and stew meat taste much better with a real sear. It is ten extra minutes for a lot more flavor.
- Fill it half to two-thirds full. Too empty and it scorches, too full and it will not come up to temperature. Most 6 to 7 quart cookers are happiest with a family-sized batch.
- Layer root vegetables on the bottom. Potatoes, carrots, and onions cook slower than meat, so put them closest to the heat and pile the protein on top.
- Add dairy, fresh herbs, and quick vegetables at the end. Stir in cream, sour cream, peas, or spinach in the last 20 to 30 minutes so they do not curdle or turn to mush.
- Do not lift the lid. Every peek adds 20 to 30 minutes because all the heat escapes. Trust the recipe and walk away.
- Reduce a thin sauce on the stove at the end. If the pot looks watery, pour the liquid into a saucepan and simmer it down for a few minutes, then pour it back over the meat.
Slow Cooker FAQs
Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker?
Yes. Whole roasts, chicken thighs, and chicken breasts are safe to add raw. Ground meat and stew meat are also safe but taste noticeably better if you brown them first.
Should I cook on high or low?
Low for anything you want falling apart, like roasts and stew. High is roughly half the time and better for chicken breast, ground meat, and recipes with quick-cooking vegetables.
Can I leave a slow cooker on while I am at work?
Yes, on the low setting, for the time range in the recipe. Modern slow cookers are built for it. Do not use the keep-warm setting to actually cook, though.
Do I need to add water to a slow cooker?
Usually much less than you think, since it barely loses any liquid. Follow the recipe. If anything, slow cooker dishes often end up too watery, not too dry.
Before You Go
Pick one roast and one chili for the week and you have covered five dinners with about 20 minutes of hands-on work. For more, see my cozy soup recipes and easy ground beef dinners.
More You'll Love
Join TYB
Insider
Get access to exclusive recipes,
weekly meal plans, printable
grocery lists, and AD-FREE
browsing designed to make
mealtime easier.
