10+ Crock Pot Recipes to Simplify Your Dinner Routine

Crock pot recipes are a fantastic way to enjoy delicious meals with minimal effort. These recipes allow you to prepare flavorful dishes that can cook slowly throughout the day. While you focus on other activities, you can let your crock pot handle the rest. Whether you’re busy with work, school, or family time, a crock pot can be a reliable kitchen companion.

With just a few ingredients and simple steps, you can create a variety of meals that suit any taste. From comforting soups to hearty stews, there’s something for everyone. Let’s explore how you can make the most of your crock pot and enjoy stress-free cooking every day.

Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Slow cooker beef stew is a comforting dish that is easy to prepare. You’ll love how the flavors deepen as it cooks. Using a slow cooker makes it simple to create a hearty meal.

Start by adding chunks of beef to your slow cooker. You can mix flour with salt and pepper, then coat the beef with it. Add ingredients like beef broth, carrots, potatoes, and onions for a complete meal.

Toss in some celery, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and spices to enhance the flavor. Let it cook on low for about 8 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.

When you return, the beef should be tender and the vegetables soft. It’s perfect for chilly days.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs beef chuck, cut into chunks
• 1/4 cup flour
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 4 cups beef broth
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Spices (like bay leaf and paprika)

Cooking Instructions:

1. Place beef in the slow cooker.
2. Mix flour, salt, and pepper; coat the beef.
3. Add broth, carrots, potatoes, onion, celery, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and spices.
4. Stir to combine.
5. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.

Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey garlic chicken is a delicious dish that you can make in your crock pot. It combines sweet and savory flavors that everyone will enjoy. This recipe is simple and takes only a few minutes to prepare.

To start, gather your ingredients. You will need chicken thighs, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and some ketchup for extra flavor. With just a little prep, you can have a meal that cooks for hours.

Add your chicken to the crock pot and mix the other ingredients in a bowl. Pour the honey garlic sauce over the chicken. Set your crock pot to cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.

When you open the lid, the chicken will be tender and flavorful. You can serve it over rice or with sautéed veggies for a complete meal.

Ingredients

• 2 to 3 pounds chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 3 garlic cloves, minced

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken thighs in the crock pot.
2. In a bowl, mix soy sauce, honey, ketchup, and minced garlic.
3. Pour the mixture over the chicken.
4. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 2-3 hours.
5. Serve and enjoy!

3) Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings is a comforting dish that’s easy to make. You’ll start by adding chicken, cream of chicken soup, and some vegetables to your slow cooker.

Season the mixture with herbs like oregano and black pepper for extra flavor. Let it cook on high for about five to six hours.

About 30 minutes before serving, add biscuit dough on top to create fluffy dumplings. This will make the dish even more delicious and heartwarming.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless chicken breasts
• 2 cans cream of chicken soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup frozen mixed vegetables (defrosted)
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 can biscuit dough

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Add cream of chicken soup and broth.
3. Sprinkle with oregano and pepper.
4. Cook on high for 5 to 6 hours.
5. About 30 minutes before serving, add biscuit dough on top.
6. Serve warm and enjoy!

4) Vegetarian Chili

Vegetarian chili is a delicious and hearty meal that’s perfect for busy days. You can easily prepare it in your crock pot. It’s packed with beans, veggies, and spices, making it a filling dish.

Start by chopping your favorite vegetables, like onions, bell peppers, and zucchini. Then, combine them with beans like kidney, black, and pinto. Add tomato sauce and spices such as chili powder and garlic for great flavor.

For a smooth texture, consider using a mix of fresh and canned ingredients. It’s simple to cook everything together and let your crock pot do the work.

Ingredients

• 1 can kidney beans
• 1 can black beans
• 1 can pinto beans
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 2 zucchini, chopped
• 2 cups diced tomatoes
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Chop the vegetables.
2. Combine all ingredients in the crock pot.
3. Stir well to mix everything.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.

5) Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Crockpot mac and cheese is a creamy and comforting dish that’s perfect for any occasion. Using a slow cooker makes it easy to prepare and keep warm for parties or family gatherings.

Start by boiling 1 pound of elbow macaroni in salted water until al dente. Drain the pasta and transfer it to your slow cooker. Add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter and half of your favorite cheese, like sharp cheddar.

In a separate bowl, whisk together 1 can of evaporated milk and 2 large eggs. Pour this mixture over the pasta. Stir in salt, pepper, and any seasonings you like.

Cook on high for about 30 minutes, then stir well. Continue to cook until the macaroni is tender, checking every 10 minutes if needed.

Ingredients:

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (shredded)
• 1 can evaporated milk
• 2 large eggs
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions:

1. Boil macaroni until al dente, then drain.
2. Place macaroni in the slow cooker.
3. Add butter and half the cheese.
4. Whisk evaporated milk and eggs; pour over pasta.
5. Season with salt and pepper.
6. Cook on high for 30 minutes, then stir.
7. Cook until macaroni is tender, checking every 10 minutes.

6) Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is a tasty dish that is easy to make in your crock pot. You can use pork shoulder for this recipe, which becomes tender after a long cooking time. The key is to let it cook low and slow for great flavor.

Start by seasoning your meat with a mix of salt, pepper, and your favorite spices. Place it in the crock pot with some broth or barbecue sauce to keep it moist.

Cook on low for 8 to 10 hours until the pork easily shreds with a fork. You’ll love how simple and delicious this meal is. Serve it on toasted buns with extra sauce, if you like!

Ingredients

• 3-4 pounds pork shoulder
• 2 cups chicken broth or barbecue sauce
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1 tablespoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon onion powder

Cooking Instructions

1. Season the pork with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder.
2. Place the pork in the crock pot.
3. Pour chicken broth or barbecue sauce over the pork.
4. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours.
5. Shred the pork with two forks and serve.

7) White Chicken Chili

White chicken chili is a comforting dish that’s perfect for any day. It’s creamy, packed with flavor, and easy to make in your crock pot.

To start, gather your ingredients like chicken breasts, great Northern beans, corn, green chiles, and spices. You can use rotisserie chicken to save time, too.

Simply add everything to the slow cooker and let it cook on low for about 8 hours. The result is a delicious blend of flavors that warms you up.

Feel free to add your favorite toppings like avocado, cilantro, or sour cream for extra taste.

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 can great Northern beans
• 1 can corn
• 1 can green chiles
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot.
2. Add beans, corn, green chiles, and chicken broth.
3. Sprinkle with cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
4. Stir well to combine.
5. Cook on low for 8 hours.

8) Crockpot Lentil Soup

Crockpot lentil soup is a warm and comforting meal. It’s perfect for busy days when you want something hearty without much effort.

Start by adding lentils, diced tomatoes, onions, carrots, and celery to your crockpot. You can also include spices like thyme and bay leaves for flavor.

You can make it with or without meat. For a meaty version, add chopped ham or sausage. Just throw everything into the slow cooker and let it do the work.

Set your slow cooker to low for 6 to 8 hours. The soup will be ready when the lentils and veggies are soft.

Ingredients

• 1 cup lentils
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: 1-2 cups chopped ham or sausage

Cooking Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to the crockpot.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Set the slow cooker to low.
4. Cook for 6 to 8 hours.
5. Serve warm and enjoy!

9) Slow Cooker Buffalo Wings

Making slow cooker buffalo wings is easy and delicious. These wings are perfect for a game day or any party. You can use fresh or frozen wings, just remember to thaw the frozen ones.

Start by mixing your favorite hot sauce with melted butter. You can add spices like garlic powder and onion powder for more flavor. Toss the wings in the sauce until they are well coated.

Place the wings in the slow cooker and cook on low for about 6 hours or on high for 3 hours. Once cooked, you can broil them in the oven for a few minutes to crisp up the skin.

This step is optional but really enhances the texture. Serve your buffalo wings hot and enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken wings (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1 cup hot sauce
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder

Cooking Instructions

1. Mix melted butter and hot sauce in a bowl.
2. Toss the wings in the sauce until coated.
3. Place wings in the slow cooker.
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
5. Optional: Broil for 5-10 minutes to crisp the skin.

10) Crockpot Lasagna

Crockpot lasagna is a simple and delicious meal that you can prepare ahead of time. It combines layers of pasta, tasty meat sauce, and creamy cheese.

Start by breaking the noodles to fit your slow cooker. This helps create even layers. You can use a round or oval slow cooker; just make sure it’s large enough.

Begin by spreading a layer of sauce on the bottom. Then, add your noodles followed by a mix of ricotta and mozzarella cheese. Repeat these layers as needed until you finish with a layer of sauce on top.

Cook on low for about 4 to 6 hours. You’ll enjoy a hearty dish that is easy to serve and perfect for a family meal.

Ingredients

• 9 lasagna noodles
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 1 pound ground beef or sausage
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Italian seasoning

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the meat in a skillet.
2. In the slow cooker, spread 1 cup of marinara sauce.
3. Add 3 broken noodles.
4. Layer with half the meat, then half the ricotta.
5. Repeat the layers, finishing with marinara on top.
6. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours.