31 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes for 2021

There's nothing like coming home on a cold, icky day and walking into a house filled with yummy dinner smells! Here are 31 easy slow cooker recipes that (mostly) have less than 15 minutes of prep time AND will make coming home the best part of the day.

Tips

• If you use your Crockpot or slow cooker a lot buy a second one. This way you're not frantically scrubbing the crockery insert out fifteen minutes before you need to leave for work.
• Add a sprinkle of fresh herbs just before serving to brighten the flavors and add some visual appeal.
• Add a squeeze of lemon or lime just before serving - same reason.
• Prep as much as possible at the beginning of the week. Chop all the onions, celery, and carrots. Rub the seasoning on the meat... whatever you can do to save time when you're ready to cook.
• You can make your own ready- to- cook slow cooker meals by adding everything except the liquid to a bag and vacuum sealing it. No need to freeze - it will be good for at least the week.
• Always spray the inside of the crock with nonstick spray before using - it makes cleanup so much easier.

Slow Cooker Chicken Recipes

Chicken comes out tender and juicy in a slow cooker. I prefer using boneless, skinless chicken breast but thighs, or chicken pieces, or even a whole chicken all work well.

I've included a recipe for cornbread dressing in the slow cooker because I like to bring home a rotisserie chicken and have chicken and dressing - or lay cooked chicken over the top and add gravy.

Green Chicken Pozole (Pozole Verde)

Green chicken pozole (posole verde) is the Mexican version of chicken soup. Tender chicken, chewy hominy, and peppers simmer all day in the slow cooker making your kitchen smell delicious. Stovetop instructions included, too!

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Slow Cooker Tequila Lime Chicken Tacos

Boneless chicken slow cooks all day absorbing the flavors of the cooking liquid. When you're ready to eat the meat is falling apart tender and ready to be added to your favorite tortilla. If you prefer not to use tequila then pineapple juice will work just fine. Serve this dish with rice, refried beans, and a tangy frozen margarita or pitcher of fruity sangria. 

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Creamy White Chicken Chili in the Crockpot

Prize winning creamy white chicken chili filled with beans, vegetables, and cream cheese has just 5 minutes prep time. This is the ultimate comfort food! A family favorite that's budget pleasing, too. Make it in the slow cooker or on top of the stove.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Fajita Soup

A soul warming chicken soup full of Southwestern flavor that you make in the slow cooker. Your house will smell amazing!

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Slow Cooker Cornbread Dressing

Easy crockpot cornbread dressing has all the flavor of the traditional recipe but frees up valuable oven space! It comes out light and fluffy every time. It's the perfect holiday side dish!

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Quick and Cheesy Enchilada Soup

Creamy with a bold south of the border flavor this cheesy enchilada soup goes together fast. It's perfect for weeknights - just make a quick salad and set out a bowl of tortilla chips to go with this family friendly soup!

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Slow Cooker Beef Recipes

One of the best things about making beef in a crockpot is that you can use inexpensive cuts and they'll come out tender and delicious. Be sure to trim any excess fat or your dish may be too greasy.

Slow Cooker Steak Sandwiches

This southwestern steak sandwich recipe starts with tender beef is seasoned with Texas style seasonings then slow cooked to buttery perfection.

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Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Lean beef is slow cooked in the crockpot until it is melt in your mouth tender and juicy then piled high in crusty baguettes. Add your favorite toppings and you've got an easy Italian beef sandwich that will get rave reviews from your family!

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Beef Pot Roast and Jalapeno Cheese Grits

This is the best slow cooker pot roast recipe ever -- so easy and when you pair that tender, falling apart beef with the creamy, jalapeno cheese grits you won't need to call the family to dinner more than once. Not only does it make the whole house smell like Sunday at Gramma's; it tastes amazing. Easy recipe.

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Easy Cabbage Rolls (Galumpkis) Recipe

Polish stuffed cabbage rolls are filled with rice and beef, and simmered all day in a slow cooker with a tomato and sour cream sauce. You'll need a can of tomato soup for this one. It just isn't the same without it.

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Stuffed Pepper Soup

This hearty stuffed pepper soup recipe has all of the flavor of classic stuffed peppers in a comforting soup that can be made in the slow cooker or on top of the stove. Ro*Tel tomatoes add a little kick that warms you up on the chilliest day!

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Slow Cooked Beef Ragu Sauce

Rich, thick slow cooked beef ragu is full of flavor from chuck roast that is simmered in a combination of vegetables and herbs. Super easy!

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Easy Crockpot Meatballs

Easy crockpot meatballs are melt in your mouth tender and juicy with big Italian flavor. There's no need to precook them before dropping in the slow cooker, either. And, they freeze like a charm, cooked or uncooked.

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Cowboy Soup

This kid friendly cowboy soup recipe is budget friendly but sure doesn't taste like it! Beans, beef, and macaroni are packed into a hearty tomato broth for a soup with plenty of flavor. It's very different from the Texas style chili you might be used to but once you try it you'll be hooked.

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Old Fashioned Beef and Noodles Recipe

This simple, crockpot beef and noodles recipe is classic comfort food that's packed with old fashioned goodness. Melt in your mouth beef and a rich, savory gravy is spooned over buttery noodles - the perfect way to bring the family to the table on a busy weeknight.

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Perfect Pot Roast

This easy, slow cooker pot roast is full of flavor. Tender beef, onion, carrots, celery, potatoes, and herbs simmer in a beef stock and red wine sauce until you can't stand the wait any longer!

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Crockpot Swiss Steak

Slow cooker swiss steak is an easy recipe for an old fashioned favorite. This is comfort food at its best - inexpensive, filling, and deliciously reminiscent of your grandmother's kitchen. Freezes well.

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Slow Cooked Beef with Red Eye Gravy

Super tender, this slow cooked shredded beef in red eye gravy is a little spicy, a little sweet, and very yummy. Use it in buns, tortillas, or spooned over rice, mashed potatoes, or grits!

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Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa: Tender, Spicy & Easy

Succulent, spicy, butter tender beef, barbacoa is a classic Mexican dish. Use it in tacos, burritos, over mashed potatoes... you name it. This is super easy and extremely delicious!

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Best Crockpot Beef Stew (Bowl Me Over)

Best Crockpot Beef Stew starts with beef, slowly simmered in the slow cooker until the beef is spoon tender. Stuffed with carrots and potatoes, this is an easy meal that tastes AMAZING! Let your crockpot do the work while you do take all the credit!

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Beef Stroganoff (Bowl Me Over)

Tender morsels of beef, sweet onions and earthy mushrooms all combine in the slow cooker to make easy crock pot Beef Stroganoff! This classic recipe typically reserved only for special occasions is transformed into an easy weeknight meal

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Cranberry Sweet Sour Meatballs (Swirls of Flavor)

Sweet and sour meatballs with cranberry sauce is an easy recipe that cooks itself in your slow cooker. Store bought frozen meatballs simmer in your crockpot with just 4 more ingredients for amazingly saucy meatballs.

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Beef and Beer Stew (A Communal Table)

Beer, bacon and caramelized onions all come together in this hearty Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Caramelized Onions and Beer. Known as Carbonnade Flamande in Belgium, this slow cooker beef stew is flavored with just the right amount of warming spices!

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Pork Recipes

We don't eat a lot of pork around here but when we do it's usually an easy slow cooker recipe!

Shredded Pork Tacos with Mango Salsa

Fresh, spicy-sweet mango salsa over pulled pork tacos is a match made in Tex-Mex heaven! Easy to make - perfect on fish tacos, chips, or chicken tacos, too. The best use of leftover pulled pork, ever!

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Braised Pork and Red Cabbage

Braised pork and red cabbage is an easy slow cooker meal for chilly days. Toss it in the crock pot and dinner is ready when you get home.

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Italian Pork Roast (All Our Way)

Italian Pork Roast braised with milk, fresh herbs, and lemony polenta is a recipe that takes simple ingredients and turns them into a down-right mouthwatering dish.

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More Recipes for the Crockpot

Slow cooker recipes that didn't fit anywhere else.

Slow Cooker Polenta Cake With Caramelized Pears (All Our Way)

This simple cake has a golden color from the cornmeal and a texture that is both rustic and delicate at the same time. The sliced pears on the bottom of the pan caramelize as the cake bakes in the slow cooker. Each delicious bite is full of a bright lemon flavor made just sweet enough. The Polenta-pear cake is very satisfying with your morning cup of coffee, tea or as an incredibly tasty snack.

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Warm Spiced Cranberry Punch (Everyday Eileen)

Nothing makes the house smell festive and tastes absolutely amazing than Warm Spiced Cranberry Punch! A non-alcoholic punch filled with great fruit flavored juice and spices!

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Vegan Cacciatore (Veggies Save the Day)

Slow Cooker Cacciatore features chickpeas and potatoes instead of the traditional chicken.

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You May Need...

There are a couple of things that will make all of the difference in your slow cooking meal plan. One, of course, is a slow cooker. The other is a vacuum sealer that will make your life in the kitchen SO much easier!

If you need a slow cooker this 6 quart slow cooker from Hamilton Beach is the own I own, the one I love, and the one I give to each of the kids when they move out.

A vacuum sealer is priceless. I never thought I needed one until I had one... now I don't know what I'd do without it. It's perfect for saving time by prepping ahead.