Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (2024)

Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can help create layers of flavor in any weeknight dinner, from hearty stews to satisfying chicken dishes. It can take your comfort food to the next level, like a fall-off-the-bone pulled pork sandwich, cozy chicken noodle soup, or sweet and sour brisket. All it takes are a few simple ingredients and minimal hassle (if you're able to plan ahead). Even desserts can benefit from a Crockpot; cheesecake cooked in a slow cooker gets an incredible silky texture because the machine steams the cake as it bakes. F&W has plenty of easy slow cooker recipes, including glazed pork ribs with white beans and meatballs that are equally great served in a bowl with spaghetti or on a hoagie roll. Read on for our very best slow cooker recipes, from Dutch oven to electric Crockpot.

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Slow Cooker Burnt Honey Barbecue Chicken

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (1)

When it’s so blazing hot outside that you can’t bear the thought of firing up the grill, this no-fuss slow cooker barbecue chicken recipe will come to the rescue. A quick sear in a cast-iron skillet awakens the flavors of the herbs and spices and gives the chicken a nice crust that makes the finished barbecue taste more authentic.

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02of 25

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (2)

Prepared in a 6-quart slow cooker, this three-cheese version of the American comfort food gets a nice kick from a generous pinch of cayenne, while buttery breadcrumbs give it a great crunch.

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03of 25

Filipino Chicken Adobo with Bacon and Bay Leaves

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (3)

This bright and deeply savory preparation is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. This Dutch oven recipe is rich with umami from rendering bacon fat and adding the cooked bacon pieces into the broth.

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04of 25

Slow Cooker Barbecued Pulled Pork

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (4)

Serve the pulled pork with coleslaw and pickles, or mound it on hamburger buns and top with coleslaw and thinly sliced onion and dill pickles.

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05of 25

Dutch Oven Classic Beef Stew

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Hearty chunks of beef turn tender after a low and slow trip in your favorite Dutch oven; potatoes join the party during the tail end of cooking to retain their texture.

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06of 25

Buttered Rum

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (6)

This luxurious, velvety drink is just the thing to sip on a cool night — and using a slow cooker makes it especially easy to pull together. Heat the cream and butter first, slowly so that the mixture doesn't break. Then whisk in dark brown sugar, followed by spiced rum, salt, and a Moroccan spice mix. The end result is a richly flavored batch of drinks perfect for entertaining.

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07of 25

Harissa White Bean Stew with Turmeric Yogurt

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (7)

Cookbook author Sarah DiGregorio adds depth and heat to her hearty white bean stew by adding harissa twice: first for the long simmer in the slow cooker, then at the end, to finish the dish with some bright heat. This stew will keep in the fridge for up to four days, so it's a perfect make-ahead meal.

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08of 25

Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (8)

This flavor-packed Cuban stew, featuring shredded flank steak, tomatoes, and olives, can be made up to two days in advance.

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09of 25

Slow Cooker Sour Cream Cheesecake

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (9)

Cheesecake cooked in a slow cooker has an unbelievably silky texture because the machine steams the cake as it bakes. The toughest part about making it is resisting the urge to peek inside the slow cooker — the lid must stay closed to retain heat.

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10of 25

Slow Cooker Glazed Pork Ribs with White Beans

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (10)

Baby back ribs, Great Northern beans, white wine, tomatoes, chicken broth, and more come together for a hearty, satisfying meal.

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11of 25

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Brisket

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A few hours in the slow cooker and this beef dish will be melt-in-your-mouth delicious by the time you're ready to eat it.

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12of 25

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Napa Cabbage and Pickles

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (12)

Napa cabbage and thinly sliced sour pickles add texture and tang to this substantial stew. Searing the pieces of beef chuck before putting them in the slow cooker gives the dish a rich flavor.

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Slow Cooker Classic Beef Stew

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (13)

Be sure to use boneless chuck roast for this recipe, which has excellent marbling and flavor.

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14of 25

Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

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These meatballs can be served simply in a bowl, but they are equally delicious with spaghetti or on a hoagie roll.

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15of 25

Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

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This warming Eastern European short rib stew is best served in deep bowls over buttery noodles.

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16of 25

Slow Cooker Coconut Pork Curry

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (16)

For this dish, pork shoulder gets cooked with bold ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, curry powder, cumin, and turmeric. The flavors intensify and penetrate the meat after four hours in the slow cooker.

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17of 25

Slow Cooker Sunday Sauce on Spaghetti

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (17)

This indulgent Sunday sauce recipe includes pork shoulder, pancetta, sweet Italian sausages, and plenty of garlic.

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18of 25

Slow Cooker Pasta Bake

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (18)

Valerie Bertinelli’s slow cooker baked ziti is super simple — it only takes 15 minutes of active time and is ready in an hour and 45 minutes. If you’re really short on time, you can buy the vegetables pre-cut from the store.

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19of 25

Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks with Lemon, Dill, and Feta

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (19)

Lamb shanks are slow cooked to perfection with herbs and spices, giving this dish a complex flavor through a simple method.

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20of 25

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

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After just 25 minutes of prep and initial cooking, it's set-it-and-forget-it for this cozy classic. The soup is done when the chicken is tender, six to eight hours later. If you prefer your pasta al dente, add it after the chicken has cooked.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Wings

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (21)

These slow cooker turkey wings are first braised until tender and then broiled to a crispy finish.

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22of 25

Slow Cooker Ethiopian-Spiced Chicken and Black Lentil Stew

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In this intensely comforting spiced chicken and black lentil stew, bold ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and white wine simmer slowly with an Ethiopian spice blend called berbere.

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23of 25

Slow Cooker Asado de Puerco (Pork and Tomatillo Stew)

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (23)

Make this classic Mexican dish in your slow cooker for ease and extra flavor. Hominy provides texture and savory corn goodness in the tangy tomatillo sauce; the cilantro garnish adds a pop of freshness to the bowl.

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Slow Cooker Ham Hock and Chickpea Stew

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (24)

Split pea soup was the inspiration for this robust stew. Like split peas, chickpeas need to simmer for a long time, making them great for a slow cooker.

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25of 25

Slow Cooker Moroccan-Spiced Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Almonds

Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (25)

This warming chicken dish is slow cooked in Moroccan spices and best served on couscous with a sprinkle of toasted almonds.

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Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the number one crockpot? ›

Best Overall: All-Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker with All-in-One Browning, 7-Quart. This is so much more than a slow cooker. The All-Clad Gourmet Slow Cooker can saute, brown meat, simmer stews and cook rice!

What is the difference between a slow cooker and a crockpot? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

Can I put frozen chicken in the crockpot? ›

Information. It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

What is better than a Crockpot? ›

An Instant Pot does have more functionality (like sautéing, pressure cooking, slow cooking, and acts as a rice cooker, steamer, and warmer!) than a slow cooker, but if you don't plan to use all of its extra functions and just prefer the simplicity of a slow-cooker, then you might prefer a Crock-Pot.

What is the most popular size Crockpot? ›

The 6- or 7-quart models are among the most popular, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best choice for everyone. (By the way, here's our favorite slow cooker brand.) Find yourself among the descriptions below to learn which slow cooker we'd recommend for you.

Can you put raw burger in crockpot? ›

Absolutely, which is why you should always adjust times and amounts as needed. Smaller amounts of slow cooker hamburger only need a few hours before they are done.

How many people will a 4 quart crockpot feed? ›

Choose from 3 heat settings—high, low, and warm—for cooking flexibility and control with whatever you're making. The 4-quart capacity feeds 4+ people and is perfect for making family meals. Use the manual warm setting to keep food warm while you are serving, or for heating up leftovers.

Is a slow cooker worth buying? ›

So, in conclusion, slow cookers are great. They're a convenient, cost-effective, and versatile kitchen appliance that can be used to make a wide range of delicious meals with minimal effort. Whether you're cooking for your partner or entertaining guests, a slow cooker is nice to have in any kitchen.

Why do they call it crack chicken? ›

Lansing, Michigan is home for the Crack Chicken. A great seasoning for all your favorite foods. Started in 2003, customers tried our famous chicken and came back for more. Their addiction to this delicious taste made them call it Crack Chicken, and that's how the name started, and cracked the food industry world.

How long to cook 1 pound of chicken in crockpot? ›

Place the chicken and stock, broth, or water in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Cook the chicken. Cover and cook until the chicken is tender and registers an internal temperature of 165°F, 4 to 5 hours on the LOW setting, or 2 to 3 hours on the HIGH setting.

When should frozen vegetables be added to a slow cooker? ›

Simply follow our instructions on how to defrost meat and then add it to the slow cooker. Frozen vegetables however, can be added to the slow cooker from frozen. So you can defrost the meat in the fridge overnight and prepare the meal for your slow cooker the following morning for that evening's meal.

Do potatoes go on top or bottom of meat in crockpot? ›

Slow cooker recipes have (obviously) long cook times, and it's the meat—not the carrots—that benefit from it. By placing the protein at the bottom (closest to the heating element), and vegetables at the top, you can keep your plant parts a little more toothsome, while ensuring your meat is fall-apart tender.

What is the easiest meat to cook? ›

Tender cuts from the back (loin) region are quick-cooking cuts. These are cuts like ribeye, sirloin, strip steak, pork chops, and tenderloin. These cuts don't need much cooking to make them taste awesome.

Why is my meat tough in the slow cooker? ›

“Beef may be tough in the slow cooker if you haven't added enough liquid, or haven't cooked it for long enough,” Kristen Carli, M.S., R.D., owner of Camelback Nutrition & Wellness, tells SELF. “For cuts of meat, the fattier cuts are often the ones that get juicy and tender.

Who made the original slow cooker? ›

Patented by prolific inventor Irving Naxon, the Beanery was originally intended for a Jewish stew of meat and beans called cholent, which is slowly cooked on Fridays in preparation for the Sabbath. The bean cooker that eventually became the Crock-Pot was first patented by prolific inventor Irving Naxon in 1940.

What are the numbers on slow cooker? ›

There are five numbered heat settings on the heating base, 1 to 5. Heat setting # 1 should only be used to warm dinner rolls, muffins, etc. Heat setting # 2 should only be used to keep warm cooked foods for serving, whereas Heat Settings #3, #4 and #5 are to be used for actual cooking of foods.

What happened to rival crock pots? ›

Jarden's Sunbeam Products, Inc. subsidiary continues to manufacture products under the Rival and Holmes brands, although Crock-Pot was spun off as its own brand and its slow cookers no longer feature the Rival logo, and Bionaire and Patton have become Jarden subsidiaries.

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