13 easy slow cooker recipes for nights when smoke curls from chimneys down the block

Cold evenings call for dinner that does not need constant attention. These 13 slow cooker recipes bring together roasts, chicken, pork, beef, meatballs, and soup, with a mix of hearty mains and cozy bowls. Most need some prep before the busiest part of the day, then the crock pot carries the cooking through late afternoon. Choose a simple family meal or a dish with enough portions to share.

Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

As the late afternoon cools, Cowboy Cornbread Casserole layers seasoned ground beef, pinto beans, corn, green chiles, and bell pepper beneath cornbread batter. The slow cooker handles its roughly four-hour cook, and the recipe serves eight. Set it up before the evening rush, then bring the casserole to the table with sour cream, pico de gallo, or cilantro for a substantial one-pot dinner.

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4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken

A homestyle dinner with very little assembly, 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken pairs chicken breasts with cream of chicken soup and stuffing mix, plus broth or water in the cooker. It takes about five minutes to put together, then cooks for 3 to 4 hours on high or 5 to 6 on low. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and add steamed vegetables for an easy meal after a full day.

Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken

Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers

For a low-fuss supper with a familiar Italian-American feel, Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers lets sausages and bell peppers soften together in a savory sauce. Once the peppers are tender, pile the mixture into hoagie rolls or spoon it over pasta. It can also stand on its own with a simple side. Start the slow cooker before the late-afternoon rush, and dinner can be assembled when everyone comes in.

Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers

Creamy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe With Stew Beef

A rich sauce and tender beef make Creamy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe With Stew Beef suited to a long day away from the kitchen. Stew beef cooks with mushrooms, onion, garlic, broth, Dijon, and Worcestershire, then sour cream gives the sauce its creamy finish. Plan on about 7 to 8 hours on low, or 4 to 5 on high, plus a little time to thicken. Serve it over egg noodles.

Get the Recipe: Creamy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe With Stew Beef

Authentic Hungarian Goulash

When the windows darken early, a bowl of Authentic Hungarian Goulash brings a slow-simmered beef stew to the table. Stewing beef cooks with onions, garlic, broth, tomato paste, paprika, smoked hot paprika, thyme, and bay leaves. The recipe takes about six hours and serves six, leaving time for the flavors to come together while you handle the rest of the day. Serve with bread or noodles to catch the sauce.

Get the Recipe: Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops

A savory tomato and mushroom sauce surrounds Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops, giving the chops time to become tender as the afternoon passes. The recipe combines pork chops with diced tomatoes, beef broth, onion, green bell pepper, mushrooms, and Worcestershire. After a quick browning, cook on high for about four hours or low for six. Pair the chops and sauce with rice, potatoes, or bread for a filling evening plate.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

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Tangy pepperoncini and a savory sauce give Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken its distinctive flavor without keeping you at the stove. Chicken cooks with ranch and gravy seasoning, onion, pepperoncini, some pickling liquid, and butter; the recipe serves six. Plan for about four hours on low or two on high, then shred the chicken into the sauce. Spoon it over rice or mashed potatoes, or use it for sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast

A full roast dinner can fit into a busy day with Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast. Garlic, rosemary, sage, and thyme season the pork, while carrots, celery, shallots, and baby potatoes cook alongside it. The slow cooker takes about 7 to 8 hours on low or 4 to 5 on high. Slice the meat and serve it with the vegetables, with optional gravy for a generous meal as evening settles in.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast

Birria de Res

In a bowl or tucked into tacos, Birria de Res makes a slow-cooker centerpiece with more than one way to serve it. After about five hours, spoon the tender beef into corn tortillas and offer the cooking liquid as consomé, or serve it as a stew. Onion, cilantro, lime, avocado, and radishes make fresh toppings at the table. Start the pot earlier in the day so its long cook happens while you are busy elsewhere.

Get the Recipe: Birria de Res

Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup

A hearty bowl waits at the end of the day with Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup, which combines meatballs, carrots, celery, orzo, spinach, and chicken broth. The soup takes about five hours overall and makes six servings. Add the orzo and spinach toward the end of cooking so they do not spend the full slow-cooking stretch in the broth. Serve it with bread for an easy dinner as the daylight fades.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup

Al Pastor Carnitas

Crisp edges meet tender shredded pork in Al Pastor Carnitas, which gets a final skillet turn after cooking in the slow cooker. A spice mixture seasons the pork, and pineapple juice lends flavor and helps tenderize it; the cooking liquid is discarded before serving. Set out tortillas, rice, or lettuce wraps for different ways to serve the meat. The extra browning takes a little attention, while the crock pot handles the longer cook.

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Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes & Apples

Sweet and gently spiced notes make Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes & Apples a seasonal one-pot dinner. Pork tenderloins cook with sweet potatoes, apple wedges, dried cranberries, brown sugar, thyme, and warm spices, creating a mix of savory and fruit-forward bites. It cooks for about two hours on high or four to five on low. Start it in the afternoon for a complete plate when everyone is ready to eat.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes & Apples

Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Meatballs

A sticky, sweet-savory sauce coats Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Meatballs, making them easy to serve at dinner or set out for a casual gathering. Frozen meatballs simmer with ketchup, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, and garlic for about four hours on low. The recipe yields 12 servings, so there is enough for a group or for leftovers. Serve them over rice, with potatoes, or tucked into rolls as the evening winds down.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Meatballs

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