12 Essential Slow Cooker Recipes to Make Life Easier (and Tastier)
It's time to break out your slow cooker!
Happy Crocktober to those who celebrate—aka the time of year when social media feeds flood with easy slow cooker pastas, soups, tacos and more. It makes sense: Cooler weather ushers in peak comfort food season, and the slow cooker makes it so easy to come home to a warm, cozy meal after a long day.
Need inspiration for your next dinner? Try one of these easy slow cooker recipes. We’re sharing some of our favorite ways to use the appliance, whether that be making an impressive roast (brisket, anyone?), a soul-warming soup, or meal-prep friendly shredded meat. You’ll also find tacos, ribs, rice dishes, and other crowd pleasers.
These are the types of meals you can set and forget—then spend the day remembering (and dreaming about) the delicious dinner waiting for you.
Slow-Cooker White Bean Soup with Pistou
Throw the ingredients into a slow cooker in the morning, then let this vegetarian soup simmer all day. That way, you can come home to something comforting. (P.S. Each serving has 15 grams of fiber and 15 grams of protein!)
Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja
This slow-cooker Cuban dish brings together tender beef, red peppers, onions, garlic, and tomatoes. Round out the meal with saucy black beans and fluffy white rice.
Get the Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja recipe.
Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew
One of our recipe developers was meh about slow cookers—until she created this recipe with aromatic peanut notes and creamy sweet potatoes. “I’m officially converted,” she said.
Slow Cooker Chicken Pozole Verde
This cozy stew is a perfect cook-once, eat-twice meal. Freeze any extra servings for up to three months.
Get the Slow Cooker Chicken Pozole Verde recipe.
Smoky Vegan Black Bean Soup
We give the recipe’s base—a mirepoix, tomato paste, and spices—a head start in a skillet to build flavor. Then we add it to the slow cooker with broth and beans, and let everything get even more delicious as it cooks.
Get the Smoky Vegan Black Bean Soup recipe.
Carnitas Tacos
Taco Tuesdays just got a whole lot better (and easier!) with this spiced slow-cooked pork shoulder recipe.
Get the Carnitas Tacos recipe.
Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Ribs
Meet the surprisingly easy dinner on this list: Place baby back ribs in a slow cooker, top with teriyaki, and close the lid. Before serving, brush them with a sticky glaze and serve with store-bought slaw.
Get the Slow-Cooker Teriyaki Ribs recipe.
White Bean Cassoulet With Pork and Lentils
Waiting for this cassoulet to simmer all day long will totally be worth it when you taste the final result.
Crock-Pot Chicken With Walnut-Herb Sauce
Forget supermarket rotisserie chicken—this ultimate Crock Pot chicken recipe will be the star of your table.
Slow-Cooker Tex-Mex Chicken Soup
This comforting chicken soup features smoky poblano peppers, spices, beans and—our favorite part—a crunch tortilla topping.
Slow Cooker Sesame-Garlic Chicken
When cooking chicken in the slow cooker, opt for a shorter cook time. This is not the moment for 8 to 10 hours on Low.
Slow-Cooker Brisket
Your slow cooker can help with holiday cooking, too. Exhibit A: this tender brisket.
Get the Slow-Cooker Brisket recipe.
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Slow Cooker Sweet Potato and Peanut Stew
