Crockpot recipes are what get a lot of households through fall and winter. Ten minutes of prep in the morning, and by the time everyone is home there is a hot, filling dinner that tastes like someone worked on it all day.
This list is organized a little differently from most. Instead of grouping by protein, the 25 recipes are sorted by when you need to start the cooker. If you are up early, pick from the first section. If it is already lunchtime, jump to the last one. Every time listed is the real total time from the recipe card, including the LOW setting cook time.
A few rules apply to all of them. Put meat in fully thawed, never frozen. Keep the lid on until the recipe says to check, since every peek adds about 20 minutes. And reheat leftovers to 165°F. If you want the same recipes grouped by chicken, beef, pork and soups instead, see our slow cooker dinner recipes roundup.
Start it in the morning: 8 hours or more
These are the true all day recipes. Load the crockpot before work or school, set it to LOW and walk away. Every one of them uses a tough, inexpensive cut or dried legumes that need the long, gentle heat to turn tender.
Mississippi Pot Roast
The internet famous roast earns its reputation. Ranch seasoning, au jus mix, a stick of butter and a handful of pepperoncini turn a plain chuck roast into tangy, buttery shreds with almost no prep. Stir a spoonful of the pepperoncini brine back in at the end if you like it sharper.
Time: about 9 hours 5 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Mississippi Pot Roast recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
This is the weekend project version of beef stew, with bacon, red wine, mushrooms and pearl onions. Browning the beef and building the sauce on the stove takes about 30 minutes, then the crockpot handles the rest. It is the one to make when company is coming on a cold Saturday.
Time: about 9 hours 5 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas
Pork shoulder braises with orange, lime, cumin and oregano until it falls apart, then goes under the broiler so the edges crisp. That last step is what separates real carnitas from plain pulled pork. Leftovers make excellent burrito bowls and breakfast tacos.
Time: about 9 hours 35 minutes | Serves: 10
Get the full Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Root Vegetables
A classic Sunday style pot roast that works on a Wednesday. Carrots, potatoes and parsnips go in first so they sit in the juices, the seared chuck roast goes on top, and the strained liquid becomes a quick gravy at the end. It feeds six with vegetables built in.
Time: about 8 hours 35 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Root Vegetables recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
A brown sugar and smoked paprika rub, a little vinegar and a long cook on LOW give you smoky, juicy pork without a smoker. The cooking juices get reduced into the barbecue sauce so nothing is wasted. A 5 pound shoulder feeds ten, which makes this the easiest game day dinner on the list.
Time: about 9 hours 15 minutes | Serves: 10
Get the full Slow Cooker Pulled Pork recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Chuck roast cooks all day in beef broth with onions, Worcestershire and soy sauce, then shreds onto toasted rolls under melted provolone. The strained cooking liquid is the au jus, so the dip is richer than anything from a packet. Toast the rolls well so they hold up to dunking.
Time: about 8 hours 50 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham
Dried split peas, a meaty ham bone or smoked hocks and the usual carrot, celery and onion are all it takes. There is no soaking and no browning, so it is the lowest effort recipe here. It thickens as it cools, so thin leftovers with a splash of broth when you reheat them.
Time: about 8 hours 45 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham recipe with the printable card
Start it by late morning: 6 to 8 hours
These recipes need most of the day but not all of it, which makes them ideal for work from home days or a slow Saturday. Most are soups, chilis and braises that finish with a quick stir in step, like dumplings, noodles or cream, during the last half hour.
Slow Cooker Beef Chili
Ground beef, two kinds of beans, toasted spices, a spoonful of cocoa and a splash of coffee give this chili real depth. A little masa harina stirred in at the end thickens it the way a good diner chili should be. It freezes beautifully, so make the full pot.
Time: about 7 hours 40 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Beef Chili recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
Squash, apple, onion and sage go in raw, and six hours later an immersion blender turns them silky. A little cream and lemon at the end keep it savory rather than sweet. It is also the easiest meatless dinner on this list if you use vegetable broth.
Time: about 6 hours 20 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings
Chicken thighs and vegetables cook in a thyme broth, then from scratch drop dumplings steam on top for the final stretch on HIGH. The dough is only flour, baking powder, butter and milk. Resist lifting the lid while the dumplings cook or they will come out dense.
Time: about 7 hours 50 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
Bone in thighs braise with peppers, mushrooms, crushed tomatoes and white wine until the meat slides off the bone. A quick sear first gives the sauce its color and flavor. Serve it over polenta, pasta or crusty bread to catch the sauce.
Time: about 6 hours | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
Bone in thighs make a golden, full flavored broth with no boxed stock tasting flatness. The noodles go in at the end on HIGH so they stay tender instead of turning to paste. Keep a batch of broth and chicken in the freezer and cook fresh noodles when you reheat it.
Time: about 7 hours 15 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Fire roasted tomatoes and chipotle in adobo give this soup a smoky base, and black beans and corn go in near the end. Baked tortilla strips, avocado and lime on top make it feel like a restaurant bowl. Set out the toppings and let everyone build their own.
Time: about 6 hours 55 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup
Russet potatoes cook in broth until soft, then half get mashed right in the pot for a thick, chunky texture. Sour cream, cheddar, bacon and green onions finish it like a loaded baked potato. Add the dairy at room temperature so the soup stays smooth.
Time: about 7 hours 55 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
Three kinds of beans, sweet potato and fire roasted tomatoes make a chili hearty enough that nobody misses the meat. Blooming the spices in a little oil first is the small step that makes the flavor taste slow simmered. Mash a cup of beans at the end for a thicker bowl.
Time: about 7 hours 20 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Chicken thighs, white beans and green chiles simmer in a cumin and oregano broth, then cream cheese and lime make it creamy and bright. Mashing a scoop of beans thickens it without flour. Top with cilantro, jalapeño and crushed tortilla chips.
Time: about 6 hours 45 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili recipe with the printable card
Start it after lunch: under 6 hours
Forgot to start dinner this morning? These recipes still make it. Most cook on LOW for 3 to 5 hours, and several can go even faster on HIGH, so a noon or early afternoon start still gets dinner on the table by six.
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli
Thin strips of chuck roast simmer in a garlic ginger soy sauce, then the broccoli goes in for the last 20 minutes so it stays bright green and crisp. It tastes like takeout without the delivery fee. Serve over steamed rice with a sprinkle of sesame seeds.
Time: about 5 hours 20 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice
Chicken thighs cook with carrot, celery and thyme, then the rinsed rice goes in for the final hour on HIGH so it turns fluffy. It is a complete one pot dinner with the starch built in. Stir in peas, butter and Parmesan at the end for a creamy finish.
Time: about 5 hours 15 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Chicken and Rice recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Chicken Curry
Onion, garlic, ginger and toasted spices build the base, then chicken thighs and potatoes cook in coconut milk all afternoon. It is mild enough for kids, and a pinch more cayenne fixes that for everyone else. Serve with basmati rice or warm naan.
Time: about 5 hours 50 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Chicken Curry recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Chicken simmers in salsa, lime and homemade taco seasoning, then shreds and soaks up the juices. It is the most flexible recipe here: tacos one night, burrito bowls, quesadillas or nachos the next. A mix of thighs and breasts keeps it juicy but not greasy.
Time: about 5 hours 10 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken
Chicken cooks with garlic and sun dried tomatoes, then cream cheese, cream, Parmesan and spinach turn the juices into a rich sauce. At about 4 hours total it is one of the fastest crockpot dinners on the site. Spoon it over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.
Time: about 4 hours | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Creamy Tuscan Chicken recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken
Chicken thighs cook in honey, soy sauce, garlic and a little ketchup, and a cornstarch slurry at the end turns the sauce into a glossy glaze. It is ready in under 4 hours and uses pantry staples. Serve over rice with steamed broccoli and green onions.
Time: about 3 hours 40 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Meatballs in Marinara
Homemade beef and pork meatballs bake for 12 minutes to set their shape, then finish in a simple garlic marinara until tender. The quick bake keeps them from falling apart in the sauce. Serve over spaghetti or pile them into toasted sub rolls with mozzarella.
Time: about 5 hours 5 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Meatballs in Marinara recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna
Frozen cheese ravioli stand in for noodles, layered with sausage marinara, ricotta and mozzarella. There is no boiling and no assembly skill required, and it tastes like a full lasagna. Let it rest 15 minutes before serving so the layers hold together.
Time: about 4 hours 15 minutes | Serves: 8
Get the full Slow Cooker Ravioli Lasagna recipe with the printable card
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
Italian sausage links and a pile of bell peppers and onions cook in a garlicky tomato sauce until tender. Browning the sausages for a few minutes first adds color and keeps the sauce from turning greasy. Serve on hoagie rolls, over pasta or with creamy polenta.
Time: about 5 hours 45 minutes | Serves: 6
Get the full Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers recipe with the printable card
How to use this list
Plan backward from dinner time. If you eat at six and leave the house at eight, the morning section fits. If you are home all day, the middle section gives you soups and braises with a small finishing step. The after lunch section is your backup plan for busy days.
Want these dinners planned out for you? The 4 week crockpot meal plan puts every slow cooker recipe on the site into a night by night schedule with weekly shopping notes.
No time to brown anything? Our dump and go crockpot dinners are the recipes on this list where everything goes in raw, with no skillet and no precooking.
Most of these recipes were tested in a 6 quart oval crockpot, which should be half to two thirds full for even cooking. A 4 quart cooker needs the recipe halved. An 8 quart cooker can handle a double batch with about an hour more on LOW.
Do the prep the night before whenever you can. Chop the vegetables, mix the spice rub and measure the liquids, then store everything in the fridge in the crockpot insert or a covered container. In the morning it is a two minute job.
For a week of dinners, pair one big batch recipe like pulled pork or carnitas with a soup and one of the faster chicken recipes. The fall weeknight meal plan and the freezer friendly dinners roundup show how to stretch leftovers across the week.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a crockpot and a slow cooker?
Crock Pot is a brand name that became the everyday word for any slow cooker. They work the same way, with a ceramic insert heated gently from the sides and bottom. Every recipe here works in any brand of slow cooker set to the same LOW or HIGH setting.
Can I cook these crockpot recipes on HIGH to save time?
Most of them, yes, and each recipe card lists both times. As a rough guide, one hour on HIGH equals about two hours on LOW. Tough cuts like chuck roast and pork shoulder turn out more tender on LOW, so use the long setting for those when you can.
Is it safe to leave a crockpot on while I am at work?
Yes, slow cookers are designed to run unattended. Set it on a clear, flat counter away from the wall, keep the cord untangled and make sure the lid sits properly. Many cookers switch to WARM automatically, which holds food safely for a couple of hours.
Can I put frozen meat in the crockpot?
No. Frozen meat spends too long between 40°F and 140°F, where bacteria grow quickly. Thaw meat in the refrigerator overnight first. Frozen vegetables like corn and peas are fine and can go in straight from the bag.
Which of these crockpot recipes freeze well?
The chilis, pulled pork, carnitas, split pea soup, butternut squash soup and meatballs in marinara all freeze well for up to 3 months. Soups with noodles, dumplings or lots of dairy are best frozen before those are added, then finished when you reheat them.
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