50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (2024)

Life is busy around my house. Even though I have young kids, we are working on potty training, sharing, walking and just staying safe :) Toddlers are such a crazy and fun age!

School is back in session, or almost back in session, and I am sure life is or will get busy taking kids to school, sporting events, extracurricular activities and pretty much anything that comes with the hustle and bustle of life. My mom was/is a huge fan of just throwing something in the crock pot in the morning and not having to worry about dinner the rest of the day. Thankfully, she has passed down that love to me! I adore my slow cooker! I have said it before, and I will say it again, it is HANDS DOWN my favorite kitchen appliance… and that is really saying something because I have a ton! There is nothing better than a meal that takes little to no prep work and does the cooking all day long so you don’t have to worry about it until dinner time. I have compiled a list of 50 slow cooker recipes to give you some ideas to use during your busiest days.

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (1)

Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken

Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Pork

Cafe Rio Sweet Pork

Cafe Rio Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan

Slow Cooker Chile Colorado

Southwestern Beef Stew

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (8)

Crock Pot Chicken Tortilla Soup

Crock Pot Sweet Apricot Chicken

Slow Cooker Sauerkraut Soup

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (11)

Crock Pot Beef and Broccoli

Honey Sauced Chicken

Crock Pot Santa Fe Chicken

Slow Cooker Berry Cobbler

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (15)

Slow Cooker Chicken and Mushrooms

Slow Cooker Bombay Potatoes

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (17)

Slow Cooker Zucchini and Tomato Pasta Sauce

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (18)

Slow Cooker Lime Chicken Tacos

Slow Cooker Cheeseburger Meatloaf

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (20)

Slow Cooker Rocky Road Chocolate Cake

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (21)

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Crock Pot Homemade Refried Beans

Slow Cooker Chicken Stroganoff

Crock Pot Creamy Black Bean Salsa Chicken

Slow Cooker Hearty Beef Chili

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (26)

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

Crock Pot Italian Chicken

Slow Cooker Scalloped Potatoes

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (29)

Crock Pot Bajio Chicken

Slow Cooker Sour Cream Cheesecake

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (31)

Pulled BBQ Pork

3-ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (33)

Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

Slow Cooker Bacon Cheese Potatoes

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (35)

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chili

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (36)

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (37)

Crock Pot Baja Pork

Slow Cooker Ranch House Pork Chops and Potatoes

Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (40)

Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (42)

Slow Cooker Thai Pork with Peanut Sauce

Slow Cooker Lasagna

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (44)

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

Hawaiian Haystacks

Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

Crock Pot Chicken Enchilada Soup

Zesty BBQ Chicken

Slow Cooker Carnitas

Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches

I hope you enjoy many of these just as my family has!
Bring on the busy days… with this line up, dinner is ready to go!

Leave a Comment

  1. Ruth

    Thank you very much for all of these slow-cooker recipes. I decided just a few weeks ago that I need to make better use of my slow cooker, so your post is perfect timing!! Many thanks.

    Ruth

  2. Deanne

    You are awesome!!! Thanks!!!

  3. Sarah T.

    Wow! Thanks for all the great slow cooker recipies! I will definitely be making some of them soon!!

  4. Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel

    Yum! I'm in love with my slow-cooker right now, too! And I made your beef & broccoli and the chicken stroganoff last week and they were SO good. I loved the chicken one especially. Thanks to you and your momma for these awesome recipes!

  5. Kare @ Kitchen Treaty

    Seriously - the Crock Pot is the best invention ever! This is an awesome collection of recipes, and such a great time to share it as life swings back into full gear.

  6. Nicole

    This is exactly what I need. Thank you for compiling 50 recipes into one post. I am pinning this one!

  7. Kalyn

    Great collection of slow cooker recipes, and thanks for including some from Slow Cooker from Scratch!

  8. Summer

    Not much for us vegetarians, but the few meatless one there looked pretty good! Thanks for the list:)

  9. Corey @ Family Fresh Meals

    Thank you so much for including my slow cooker potatoes! I am loving all of these recipes! Yum!

  10. Loly

    WOW, all look SO SO good :D

    XoXo

  11. Carole

    Ok, this is beyond great - it's fantabulous! How about linking it in to Food on Friday: Slow Cooker!

    Have a great week!

  12. Carole

    Hi Nikki - I have been following you for ages and have just noticed that you aren't following back. It would be great if you followed Carole's Chatter. Cheers

  13. bettijo @ PagingSupermom.com

    YAY!!! I'm SO excited about this post. I've been thinking of doing crock pot freezer meals for a month because I've heard it's a huge time saver. I just know this post is going to be a HUGE help. Thanks!!

  14. Kathy Penney @ Pinner Takes All

    Wow that's almost 2 months worth of meals! And yes, I love my slow cooker with a baby and a toddler. So nice to be able to throw it together and leave it alone and voila dinner is ready! Thanks for putting this together! Have an awesome weekend!

  15. Kim Naiman

    Thanks for sharing the fabulous recipes. :)

  16. Karen Petersen

    After reading this post I am convinced we need to be best friends.

  17. Amiee

    Thank you!! Need these with a new baby and fall coming. Great list.

  18. Beth

    Thank you for doing this. I love my slow cooker, as well. It is nice to set it and forget it. I just don't know what recipe to try first.

  19. Sam Parker

    Do you actually make these recipes yourself? I have seen at least half of these exact pictures on other websites!

    1. Chef in Training

      At least half of them are from other websites :) The links to them can be found above the pictures and it will take you to the website the picture is from and where the website can be found. I was just creating a round up of yummy ones I have seen!

  20. Abby

    I think you just changed my life! I am also so busy -- but because of a ruthless job. I bought a crock pot months ago and have never used it. A few searches never turned up anything I thought looked good enough to try. These all look delicious!

  21. Sonia

    Awesome collection of slow-cooker recipes. I'm trying the lasagna tonight!

  22. Rachel

    The recipes look really good, but without calorie counts, I am hesitant to use them (on Weight Watchers :)).

  23. ATasteOfMadness

    This is making me want a slowcooker, I can't believe I haven't bought one yet!

  24. teya

    wonderful!! thankyou! could you please let me know what brand/kind of slow cooker you use? i have one but it burns everything :( even on low. i'd love to get a great one that i can rely on :) thanks for your time!

  25. Carol

    Are any of these recipes suitable for a diabetic? I am newly diagnosed and not sure what I can and cannot have. Thank you

  26. Shantalle

    Thank you Thank you Thank you for having a post that has PHOTOS!!!!! So many times I stumble upon a list of food items with no pics and I get bored and move on. I need enticing! Thanks so much, your newest follower ;)

  27. Jordan

    These look fantastic! I just started breaking out my crock pot!!! Gonna try out a few of these! Thanks for sharing. Would you link this up to our blog hop?? I think our readers would love it!
    Frugal Crafty Home hop opening at 4 central time!
    http://www.lilywhite-designs.com
    xoxo, Jordan.

    1. paleo recipes

      Thank you, everything good and cool,

  28. AG

    my husband loved the baja pork. he always rates a new meal and gave it a definite 10!

  29. Patricia @ The TT Diaries

    Hello I found this post on Pinterest. These recipes are great and plan to use a few of them this month. I love posts like this.

  30. Luv What You Do

    OMG! I could make dinner for weeks with these recipes.
    Great post!

  31. Veronica

    Love this website. Great Pics and easy to navigate through. Im making everything on this page!!!!! Thanks!!

  32. Jacqueline

    I am making the chicken parmesan now, will let you know how it turns out!

  33. Michelle Montez

    Amazing!!! I can't wait to try all of them! Thank you

  34. DemeRain

    Lady, I hope you're happy. These recipes are so awesome that I now have to buy a crock pot because I cannot wait to try them.

  35. Krystal

    Rocky Road Chocolate Cake??? Yum!

  36. Bobbie Foster

    Very disappointed. Most of these don't sound very appetizing.

  37. Elaine

    Lovely! I have been TRYING to find a good crock pot, but maybe just a simple $15 will work just as good? Any person who works 40+ hours week, should invest in one of these. Hot meals always ready!

  38. deanna vela

    Ty for all these amazing receipes! I'm a mom of 3 with a full time job, and married to a marine...these are great for our weekly grind!!

50 Slow Cooker Recipes - Chef in Training (2024)

FAQs

Is there a difference between a slow cooker and a Crockpot? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

How to cook in a slow cooker for beginners? ›

Just plug in your slow cooker, add your chosen recipe's ingredients, set the cooker to low or high, depending on the recipe's instructions, add the lid and let it cook. Once your dish is done cooking, you can either switch the slow cooker off to turn off the heating element, or warm if you're not ready to enjoy it yet.

What's the difference between a rice cooker and a slow cooker? ›

A slow cooker distributes slow and even heat— that's why you can leave a roast cooking for hours and get tender and not overcooked results. Rice cookers work fast to bring ingredients to a rapid boil, which delivers the intense steam needed to create fluffy rice or steamed vegetables.

Do you put water in the bottom of a slow cooker? ›

Never ever put liquid into the base of a slow cooker. It was not designed for that and clearly states not to immerse the base in water. The heating element and components are not in a waterproof environment. You will quickly ruin the heating element and risk injury from electrical leakage into the metal base.

What foods should not go in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

What are the disadvantages of a slow cooker? ›

Food texture changes: Canned foods, such as vegetables, can become too mushy in a slow cooker. It's better to use them fresh or frozen. But, frozen veggies tend to make the texture of the dish more “watery”. Defrosting and draining the extra liquid before cooking can help minimize this.

Can you put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned. However, browning meat and caramelising the beef is a great way to add depth of flavour and improve the visual appearance of the final dish.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low? ›

A general rule of thumb from Luis Sanchez, senior category manager for the appliance manufacturer Breville: To go from "High" to "Low" (or vice versa), multiply (or divide) the original time by 1.5 to 2.5 hours. And as with the cooking times for specific ingredients, these times are approximate.

How do you use a slow cooker for dummies? ›

Tips for using your slow cooker
  1. Brown meats and poultry first. ...
  2. Don't overdo the liquid. ...
  3. Always cook covered. ...
  4. Even pieces mean evenly cooked food. ...
  5. Season liberally. ...
  6. Never add dairy products in the beginning of the cooking process. ...
  7. Never use frozen ingredients. ...
  8. Take care with power outages.
Jan 31, 2022

What's better than a slow cooker? ›

✔️ Instant Pots are multi-functional.

Many people think that Instant Pots are just electric pressure cookers, but they're actually multi-cookers that cover a wide variety of functions: They slow cook, steam, warm, saute and work as a rice cooker in addition to pressure cooking.

Is A slow cooker better than a microwave? ›

Microwave ovens are considered to be marginally more energy efficient than slow cookers. However, if you are preparing meat such as a lamb joint or stewing beef, slow cooking will create a superior meal.

What is the best alternative to a slow cooker? ›

For many home cooks, a Dutch oven or a stovetop or electric pressure cooker may be a better investment.

Can I leave food in a slow cooker overnight off? ›

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on overnight? The short answer: Yes. slow cookers are made to cook food for extensive periods of time (some can be left up to 24 hours). But, of course, follow safe practices outlined in your instruction manual, and keep the appliance on low or warm, as opposed to high, overnight.

Should meat touch bottom of slow cooker? ›

Layer food properly

Remember that the slow cooker's heat source is directly on the bottom. Whatever food will take the longest to cook needs to be placed into the slow cooker first to absorb the most heat. This usually translates into tougher cuts of meat and root vegetables like sweet potatoes or winter squash.

What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Can I use a slow cooker as a Crockpot? ›

Slow cookers, also known as crock pots, are designed to cook ingredients slowly during the day while people are away at work or pursuing their activites. Modern slowly cookers heat contents thoroughly, are safe, retain heat well, and come in a variety of sizes.

Can you put meat in the slow cooker raw? ›

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned. However, browning meat and caramelising the beef is a great way to add depth of flavour and improve the visual appearance of the final dish.

Can I put aluminum foil in a slow cooker? ›

Using foil in slow cookers can make serving easy, particularly with casserole recipes. Plus, you can wrap chicken in a foil packet and set it on top of all the other ingredients in the slow cooker, which can lead to more evenly cooked meat. So go ahead and use foil in your slow cooker, because those things are magic.

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