The great hands-free way to cook flavorful meals. When life gets hectic, let one of these simple slow cooker recipes do the work for you.
I’m all about making recipes as simple as possible. Especially during busy weeknights – simplicity is key! That’s why I love to make simple crockpot recipes, as well as sheet pan dinners, 30-minute meals and freezer meals. Quick, simple and delicious!
Dinner is the one time each day our entire family gets to gather together and catch up. While having a meal together is something I look forward to, I don’t necessarily want to spend an hour prepping, chopping, and cooking dinner each evening.
Days like that are when crockpot cooking comes into play. I particularly love simple slow cooker recipes because I can simply add ingredients into the crockpot and let the cooking happen on my behalf while I obtain to spend time with my kids. Here are some of the top slow cooker recipes—give them a try and you’ll love them too!
Chicken recipes
Chicken is by far the Trendy frequently consumed meat in our home. I particularly love slow cooker chicken recipes. Unless you are making something with ground chicken, you don’t need to cook the chicken beforehand–the crockpot will do all the work for you.
Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Bowls – A delicious taco bowl loaded with cilantro lime rice, seasoned chicken, black beans and corn. Easily made in the slow cooker and dinner is alert when you are!
Total Time: 4 hours
Easy shredded chicken made in the crockpot or instant pot. One of the Trendy simple, versatile and tasty recipes out there. Perfect to put on salads, tacos, nachos…you name it!
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Slow cooker honey chicken is one of my favorite crockpot chicken recipes that’s fast, flavorful and exactly delicious. It comes out perfectly tender each time!
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
This creamy Italian chicken is made in the crockpot with just 4 simple ingredients. A family favorite meal that’s great for busy weeknights.
Total Time: 5 hours 5 minutes
This crockpot BBQ chicken is only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes prep! Tender, flavorful and juicy shredded BBQ chicken that’s great for sandwiches, salads, tacos, pizza and more.
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken Tacos – A tried and true family favorite recipe that takes just 4 ingredients and 5 minutes to prep! Quick, simple and healthy. This crockpot ranch chicken is so juicy, tender and full of flavor!
Total Time: 6 hours
Flavorful and simple teriyaki chicken made in the crockpot! Only 5 minutes of prep and an instant family favorite!
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
A delicious crockpot chicken tinga recipe that tastes like it came straight from a Mexican restaurant. So simple and only takes 5 minutes to prep. These tinga tacos are authentic and astonishing!
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Slow cooker chicken salad is a delicious make-ahead recipe that is great for lunches and potlucks. Made with some of the classic chicken salad ingredients but with a modern spin!
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
This crockpot salsa chicken takes just 2 simple ingredients and is one of the easiest recipes ever! Perfect on salads, bowls, tacos, burritos and more.
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
These Hawaiian haystacks are a family favorite dinner that’s simple, inexpensive and completely customizable. Made in the crockpot and great for busy weeknights.
Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
Flavorful and juicy salsa verde chicken made in the crockpot or instant pot. Takes only 7 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Recipes with beef
Beef is one of the Trendy versatile ingredients out there—just think of the difference between ground beef and shredded beef. Each one of these recipes uses a cut of beef to create a filling (and tasty!) meal.
Insider’s Tip: Once I find a slow cooker recipe with beef that my entire family loves, I keep a close eye out to see when that cut goes on sale and stock up to make freezer meals.
EASY Crockpot Lasagna – Delicious layers of noodles, meat sauce and melted cheese cooked to perfection in the crockpot! Only 10 minutes of prep, making this simple lasagna recipe great for busy weeknights. Sure to be a family favorite!
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
These shredded beef tacos are a great meal for busy school nights. They are so simple – the slow cooker does all the work for you. The whole family will love them!
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Tender and juicy Mississippi pot roast that’s made in the crock pot. Just 6 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep to make this simple dump and go dinner!
Total Time: 8 hours 5 minutes
Skip the takeout and make your favorite beef and broccoli at home. This recipe only takes 10 minutes to prep and the slow cooker does the rest!
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Sliced, tender brisket is cooked in the slow cooker to perfection then sliced and piled high on a soft roll. Top with coleslaw and extra sauce for the great summer meal.
Total Time: 5 hours 20 minutes
Corned Beef and Cabbage – A hearty and delicious comfort meal with tons of flavor! The brisket simmers in the crockpot all day, giving it a wonderfully seasoned and tender taste. Perfect dish for celebrating St. Patrick’s Day!
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Slow Cooker Taco Lasagna – Layers of tortillas, cream cheese, beans, taco meat, enchilada sauce and cheese. Perfectly creamy, cheesy and has tons of flavor. This is the BEST taco lasagna recipe!
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
These slow cooker Hawaiian meatballs take only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes to make! So simple and always a crowd pleaser. Makes the great appetizer or main dish.
Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes
This slow cooker beef stroganoff only takes 5 minutes to prep and is made with less than 10 ingredients! A classic comfort food dish that’s packed with flavor in a creamy sauce.
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Pork recipes
Pork slow cooker recipes are definitely underrated. In fact, these are some of the top recipes out there! Pork is another meat that can be used in so many different ways and with so many different cuisines.
This simple BBQ pulled pork takes just 5 minutes to prep with 5 simple ingredients. It’s perfectly juicy and tender, with delicious BBQ flavor. Make it in the crockpot OR instant pot!
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
These slow cooker carnitas are super simple to make and taste great in tacos, nachos, enchiladas or burritos! So tender and full of flavor.
Total Time: 8 hours 10 minutes
Perfectly tender kalua pork with the top Hawaiian flavor. Takes only 3 ingredients and 5 minutes of prep!
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Easy baby back ribs smothered with a homemade rub and sweet and tangy barbecue sauce. Cooked to perfection in the crockpot and fall off the bone delicious. These are the top slow cooker ribs!
Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
Just 5 minutes of prep for tender, juicy crockpot spiral ham each time! You will never fix ham any other way again. This is the great recipe for holiday meals!
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Slow Cooker Sweet Pork – Made with 5 ingredients and only takes 5 minutes of prep work! Tastes great in tacos, burritos, salads and enchiladas! This sweet pork recipe is SO simple to make and full of flavor!
Total Time: 8 hours
Soups
Over the cooler months, these simple crockpot recipes are in constant rotation at my home. There is truly nothing like a steaming bowl of homemade soup to warm you right up!
Plus, this is a great way to add lots of fiber and protein to your day in an simple-to-digest form. The vegetarian slow cooker recipes on this list are exactly incredible and are just the thing to make for Meatless Mondays.
The ultimate comfort food in a bowl! This simple potato soup takes just 5 minutes of prep and turns out exactly astonishing. Just cast it all in the crockpot and forget it!
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
This slow cooker chicken enchilada soup is creamy, warm and exactly delicious! One of my favorite ‘set it and forget it’ crockpot meals that’s great for busy weeknights!
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
This cabbage soup is not only delicious and flavorful but chock full of vegetables with lots of fiber and is very satisfying. All you need to do is dump everything in the slow cooker and let it do the work for you!
Total Time: 4 hours 10 minutes
Paleo, gluten-free and Whole30 friendly! An simple crock pot soup recipe that takes just 5 minutes of prep. This Mexican chicken soup is packed with veggies and is healthy and delicious!
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
A creamy and delicious crockpot white chicken chili that’s great for a chilly day! Takes just 5 minutes of prep and is great for busy weeknights. Add your favorite toppings and dig in!
Total Time: 3 hours 35 minutes
A delicious seafood recipe cooked in a tomato-based broth with potatoes. This stew is comforting and is an simple to make dinner recipe!
Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
An simple and hearty meal made with beef, burgundy wine, fresh vegetables, and herbs, all cooked to perfection within the slow cooker! In this beef bourguignon recipe, the alcohol is cooked out, leaving a wealthy and thick liquid for the beef and vegetables to cook in.
Total Time: 6 hours 20 minutes
Chicken and rice soup is a comforting and delicious one-pot meal that the whole family will love! Makes the great soup recipe for chilly weather!
Total Time: 30 minutes
Crockpot side dishes
These are great to make for the holidays or for a dinner party where you don’t want to abandon meal prep to the last minute. These slow cooker side dishes are completely portable too—just let it cook all day, then when it’s time to go take your crockpot with you, and plug it in to keep it warm.
Only takes 10 minutes to prep and is made with only a few simple ingredients! Pure comfort in a bowl and tastes exactly astonishing.
Total Time: 2 hours
This simple side dish recipe only takes a few minutes to prep and the slow cooker does all the rest! This will become your modern favorite recipe.
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
This slow cooker creamed corn is made with a secret ingredient to give this classic dish a twist! Super creamy, wealthy and has astonishing flavor.
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
This butternut squash risotto recipe is a savory, good-for-you dinner that’s loaded with veggies and bits of sausage, all cooked together in the slow cooker. This dinner practically prepares itself and everyone will clamor for seconds.
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
If you aren’t pulling your crockpot out of your cabinet right now, what are you waiting for? 🙂 Give yourself a break and reach for any of these simple slow cooker recipes. Enjoy!
meet
Jamielyn Nye
Jamielyn Nye is the creative director and founder of I Heart Naptime. She is also the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook. When she’s not creating in the kitchen, Jamielyn loves to chase her four small monkeys and snuggle up on the couch with her man.
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