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If you love easy dinners that practically cook themselves, you’re in the right place! I’ve rounded up 10 Best Slow Cooker Recipes that my family requests over and over again. These are the tried-and-true favorites. They are simple to make to make, full of flavor, and perfect for busy nights.
From classic soups to kid’s favorites all of these dinners have gotten 5 stars from my family. This is my Top 10 Best Slow Cooker Recipes!
Tips to Making the Best Slow Cooker Recipes:
If you want your slow cooker meals to turn out rich, full of flavor, and perfectly cooked every time, here are a few simple tricks that make all the difference.
Brown your meat first: If you have time, searing your meat before adding it to the slow cooker will give your dish a deeper, more developed flavor. While all my recipes will work without that step, it is a small step that makes a big impact. Even just 2-3 minutes per side in a hot skillet is enough.
Avoid lifting the lid: Every time you lift the lid to peek in, you release heat and add 20-30 minutes to your cooking time. Keep the lid closed until you’re near the end of the recipe to check for doneness.
Low vs. High: which should you use? Most slow cooker recipes can be cooked on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Low and slow is almost always better for tougher cuts of meat like pot roast or pork shoulder, it gives the collagen time to break down and makes the meat fall-apart tender. High heat works great for soups, chicken, and pasta dishes.
Don’t overfill (or underfill): For best results, fill your slow cooker between half and two-thirds full. Too full and the food won’t cook evenly; too empty and it can dry out or burn on the edges.
Add dairy at the end: If your recipe calls for cream, sour cream, or cheese, stir it in during the last 15-30 minutes of cooking. Adding dairy too early can cause it to curdle or separate.
My 10 Best Slow Cooker Recipes:
Here is my list for the best family approved Slow Cooker Recipes.
This creamy, comforting casserole is one of the most requested dinners in our house. Chicken is cooked low and slow in a rich, savory sauce, then you stir in rice and melted cheese right before serving. It comes together with minimal prep and tastes like you spent hours on it. Perfect for a busy weeknight when you need dinner to basically make itself.
This is old-fashioned comfort food at its best, a recipe that has been passed down for generations for good reason. A budget-friendly round steak is slow cooked in a savory tomato and onion sauce until it becomes fall-apart tender. The sauce is rich and flavorful and is amazing spooned over mashed potatoes or egg noodles. One of those meals that tastes even better the next day.
Thick, creamy, and loaded with toppings, this is the potato soup recipe you’ll make on repeat all fall and winter long. Everything goes into the slow cooker and cooks until the potatoes are perfectly tender. I top mine with crispy bacon, shredded cheddar cheese, and green onions.
If you’ve never made smothered pork chops in the slow cooker, you are in for a treat. The pork chops cook in a rich mushroom and onion gravy that becomes incredibly thick and flavorful. Serve it over mashed potatoes and you have the ultimate comfort food dinner. Even picky eaters can’t resist this one
These are hands-down one of the most popular dinners with my kids and my most requested party appetizer. You only need three ingredients, frozen meatballs, your favorite BBQ sauce, and a little brown sugar, and the slow cooker does all the work. Serve them over rice for a quick dinner, or put out toothpicks and serve them as an appetizer. They’re always the first thing to disappear.
This pulled pork is everything, tender, juicy, full of flavor, and ridiculously easy to make. A pork shoulder goes into the slow cooker in the morning and by dinner it practically shreds itself. Pile it onto slider buns for the perfect game day appetizer, or serve it as a main dish with coleslaw and baked beans on the side. Leftovers are amazing on top of baked potatoes or nachos the next day.
Slow Cooker Mississippi Pot Roast
This recipe changed the way I think about pot roast. It only uses 5 ingredients but the flavor is absolutely incredible. The butter and peppers create the most amazing, savory sauce that you’ll want to pour over everything. Serve it over mashed potatoes or egg noodles for a dinner the whole family will rave about.
Hearty, comforting, and packed with tender chunks of beef, carrots, potatoes, and celery. The slow cooker makes the broth rich and the beef melt-in-your-mouth tender in a way that stovetop cooking just can’t match. This is our go-to fall and winter recipe and one I look forward to making every single year. Serve it with crusty bread to soak up every last drop.
Slow Cooker Cilantro Lime Chicken Tacos
hese tacos are a game-changer for taco night. You just dump chicken, salsa, lime juice, and seasonings into the slow cooker and let it cook all day. By dinnertime the chicken shreds easily and is bursting with fresh, bright flavor. Load it into warm tortillas and top with avocado, shredded cheese, and a squeeze of lime. My family requests these at least twice a month.
This recipe is ultra creamy, cheesy, and so comforting. My kids consider this one of the ultimate comfort meals and it’s always a hit with adults too. Great as a side dish for cookouts or as a simple weeknight dinner all on its own.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest slow cooker meal for beginners? BBQ Meatballs are the perfect place to start, you only need 3 ingredients and there’s no chopping or prep involved. Just dump everything in, turn it on, and walk away. The Mississippi Pot Roast is another great beginner recipe that feels impressive but requires almost no effort.
Can I leave my slow cooker on all day while I’m at work? Yes! That’s one of the biggest benefits of slow cooking. Most recipes on low heat are designed to cook for 6-8 hours, making them perfect for setting up before work and coming home to a ready dinner. Just make sure your slow cooker is on a stable, heat-safe surface and not near anything flammable.
How do I thicken slow cooker soups and stews? The easiest method is to mix 2 tablespoons of cornstarch with 2 tablespoons of cold water and stir it into the dish during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
If you tried any of my recipes, I would love to hear from you, leave me a comment below. You can also connect with me on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST. I would love for you to follow along and discover more amazing recipes.
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