Trying to eat healthy during a busy work week can sometimes feel impossible. Who has time to spend hours in the kitchen chopping veggies and sautéing ingredients after working all day? If you’re struggling to find dinner recipes that are healthy and low-effort, it’s time to dust off your slow cooker. This trusty appliance lets you simply dump in ingredients, set it, and forget it (at least for the next couple of hours). That means you can easily whip up yummy, nutritious meals that would otherwise require way too much time in the kitchen. If you want to start taking a more hands-off approach to cooking (without resorting to takeout), it’s time to add some slow cooker recipes to your regular meal prep rotation.
Below, I’ve rounded up 35 easy slow cooker recipes you can throw together that will make your life easier this week. They all create a big batch, so you can whip one up on Sunday and have meals prepped for the whole week. Or, if you work from home, you could even toss in the ingredients over your lunch break, and by the time you get off work, dinner will be ready to eat. Whether you’re looking for easy chicken dinners, crowd-pleasing beef or pork recipes, cozy soups, or satisfying vegetarian meals, these slow cooker recipes will satisfy everyone:
Easy chicken slow cooker recipes
Many of the best slow cooker recipes revolve around chicken because it’s super versatile, budget-friendly, and honestly hard to mess up. These set-it-and-forget-it crockpot chicken recipes are a lifesaver on busy weeknights:
1. Slow Cooker Kung Pao Chicken
There’s no need for takeout with this tasty slow cooker kung pao chicken recipe. It offers all the convenience and is even more delicious.
2. Slow Cooker Creamy Garlic Chicken and Veggies
There’s nothing that will fuel you to get through the week like a filling dinner of chicken, broccoli, and potatoes. Plus, the garlic sauce in this recipe is so creamy and delicious that you’ll want to put it on literally everything you cook.
3. Slow Cooker Yellow Chicken Curry
It can be difficult to find weeknight meals that are healthy and delicious but don’t take up too much of your precious time. This slow cooker yellow chicken curry checks all those boxes and packs in tons of flavor, too.
4. Crockpot Greek Chicken Meatballs with Creamy Tomato Orzo
This meatball orzo is the perfect choice when you can’t decide between a creamy, comforting dish and a bright, zesty dinner. It effortlessly combines both flavor profiles, and, with help from your trusty slow cooker, it’s incredibly easy to whip up.
5. Tuscan Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs
This recipe might just give you the juiciest, most flavorful chicken of your life—all with a hands-off approach. The herbed sun-dried tomato sauce is an irresistible addition that will have your mouth watering.
6. Slow Cooker Chicken Tinga
Take taco night to the next level with this smoky chicken tinga slow cooker recipe. The tender, deliciously seasoned meat is super versatile, so you can use it for various meals throughout the week. It tastes great in tacos, burritos, quesadillas, rice bowls, and more.
7. Creamy Crockpot Chicken and Rice
Don’t be fooled—this is not your typical, bland chicken and rice. It’s so creamy that it’s hard to believe it’s healthy, but it’s made with brown rice, veggies, and chicken broth rather than the typical canned soup.
8. Slow Cooker Pulled Chicken Sandwiches
This slow cooker pulled chicken recipe is great for meal prep because the results are so versatile. Pile the cooked chicken onto sandwiches one night, use it for tacos or lettuce wraps the next, and finish off the rest by adding it to salads for extra protein.
9. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Sesame Chicken
This slow cooker honey garlic chicken is bursting with flavor and makes a fantastic fridge staple for topping rice, sandwiches, quesadillas, and any other dish that could use a boost of protein.
10. Slow Cooker Greek Chicken
This dish packs all the vibrant Mediterranean flavors of Greek cuisine into an easy, nearly hands-off slow cooker recipe. Simply chop up an onion, brown your chicken, and toss everything together in a crockpot with some store-bought roasted red peppers and Kalamata olives. In a couple of hours, you’ll have a delicious dinner that tastes like a Mediterranean vacation.
11. Easy Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
This slow cooker recipe makes it easy to make your own chicken tikka masala that tastes even better than takeout. Served alongside naan and rice, it’s the perfect slow cooker meal when you’re craving something cozy.
Cozy beef slow cooker recipes
Beef is a natural fit for slow cooker recipes because it tends to get more tender and flavorful the longer it cooks. These cozy slow cooker meals are perfect for when you’re craving something hearty and filling, but don’t want to spend hours over the stove.
12. Slow Cooker Beef Stew
This beef stew recipe cooks low and slow in the crockpot all day long, so the meat becomes super tender and all those rich, savory flavors really meld together. The prep takes just 15 minutes, but the result tastes like you put in way more effort.
13. Slow Cooker Ramen Noodles with Beef
This slow cooker ramen noodles recipe is perfect for when you want a filling, veggie-packed dinner but don’t want to spend a bunch of time chopping ingredients or standing at the stove. Grab a couple of packages of ramen and some pre-shredded veggies from the grocery store to whip up this yummy Asian-inspired meal with just 10 minutes of prep.
14. Slow Cooker Italian Beef Dip Sandwiches
With fall comes football season, and this slow cooker Italian beef sandwich recipe is just the thing to eat while tailgating or hosting a watch party. This dump-and-go recipe is super easy to throw together, and then your slow cooker does the rest of the work.
15. Slow Cooker Meatballs
One thing about me: I love a meatball. On a sub, with pasta, by itself as an appetizer—name a meatball-focused dish, and I’m a fan. Make this recipe in a crockpot and add it to any dish of your choice for an easy, delicious dinner.
16. Crockpot Beef and Broccoli
This beef and broccoli packs more flavor than your typical recipe, and all the cooking happens in the crockpot, requiring minimal effort on your part.
17. Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
Stuffed peppers are a staple in my household. If you don’t already make them often, you’ll love how tasty, customizable, and time-saving they are, especially when you make them in the slow cooker.
18. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon
Beef bourguignon may seem like a fancy dish that would require too much effort on a weeknight, but with this recipe, it’s ready in a snap. Serve it as a stew or over some mashed potatoes for an unmatched dinner.
Slow cooker pork recipes
Pork can be a little intimidating to cook with, but with help from your slow cooker, it’s easy to get tender, juicy, perfectly cooked results every time. These pork slow cooker recipes are the definition of cozy comfort food:
19. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Pulled pork makes an excellent base for all sorts of meals, from tacos to rice bowls to sandwiches. This slow cooker pulled pork recipe makes a big batch and freezes well, so you can keep some on deck for whenever you need a quick, tasty protein option.
20. Slow Cooker Pork Chile Verde
Fair warning: This pork chile verde recipe requires a few additional steps beyond simply dumping ingredients in your slow cooker, but I promise the extra effort is worth it. Made with tangy tomatillos, spicy Hatch chiles, and tender pork, this slow cooker recipe is delicious over rice, with tortillas, or straight out of the bowl.
21. Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin and Potatoes
This slow cooker pork loin recipe churns out a delicious, filling dinner without dirtying up any additional dishes. The pork and potatoes cook simultaneously in the crockpot, so all you need to do is slice and serve.
Vegetarian slow cooker recipes
Not all slow cooker recipes have to revolve around meat. You can also whip up delicious vegetarian and vegan meals using plant-based ingredients like chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, and all your favorite veggies.
22. Moroccan Chickpea Stew in the Slow Cooker
Veggie-lovers, meet your new favorite cozy crockpot recipe. This vegan slow cooker stew is bursting with spicy, savory flavors, featuring butternut squash, red lentils, chickpeas, and a bold blend of seasonings.
23. Slow Cooker Mexican Quinoa
When you need something hearty, healthy, and easy, this slow cooker recipe never fails. Just put everything in the crockpot, and once the Mexican quinoa is done, add toppings like sour cream, salsa, and avocado.
24. Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili
With this vegetarian chili, you won’t even miss the ground beef because it’s so delicious without it. It’s the perfect warm and comforting dish for fall.
25. Vegan Slow Cooker Tikka Masala
Whether you follow a vegan diet, are trying to eat more plant-based, or simply appreciate a good recipe regardless of whether it contains meat, you’re guaranteed to love this vegan tikka masala. Not only does it taste fantastic, but it also freezes well, making it a great option for meal prepping.
26. Detox Crockpot Lentil Soup
On days when you feel a bit sluggish or under the weather, my favorite remedy is a hot bowl of detox soup. This one is full of protein, fiber, and potassium—it’s just what you need to help you feel fabulous.
27. Crockpot Low Carb Lasagna
This recipe proves you don’t need noodles to create a showstopping lasagna. It has just the right amount of sauce and cheesiness, and on top of that, it’s low-carb and high in protein.
Slow cooker soup recipes
Nothing makes your kitchen feel cozier than a crockpot full of soup simmering away all afternoon. These slow cooker soup recipes get even more delicious with time:
28. Creamy Crockpot Chicken Wild Rice Soup
Now that fall is nearly here, it also means that cold and flu season is lurking around the corner. When everyone around you is getting sick, it’s important to have a soup recipe you love on hand to make you feel better, and this easy chicken and wild rice soup is just the thing to perk you up.
29. Slow Cooker Chicken Ramen
If your go-to comfort meal involves a block of ramen and a seasoning packet, trust me—I love those, too. But you can elevate your basic bowl of ramen with just a little extra effort. Simply prep your ingredients, toss them in, and let the crockpot work its magic.
30. Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Tortellini Soup
I’m obsessed with creamy tomato soup, and honestly, I didn’t think it could get any better—until I came across this recipe that adds cheesy tortellini. After trying it, you’ll never want tomato soup without it again.
31. Classic Chicken Soup
If you’re looking for a no-frills chicken soup recipe that might just make the best bowl you’ve ever had, look no further. This recipe also freezes well, so you can enjoy it whenever you need an extra dose of comfort.
32. Slow Cooker Italian Turkey Chili
I can’t stop telling everyone how excited I am for chili season, but once you try this recipe, you won’t be able to stop raving about it either. If you love Italian food, you’ll be obsessed with this Italian twist on classic chili.
33. Crockpot Spicy Chicken Tortilla Soup
If you’re looking for a chicken tortilla soup with a bit of a kick to warm you up, this spicy crockpot recipe is a must-try.
34. Slow Cooker Quinoa, White Bean, and Kale Soup
This vegetarian soup is a nutritious meal packed with plant-based protein. It’s delicious as is, but if you’d like to add some meat, shredded chicken pairs wonderfully as well.
35. Sunshine Lemon Chicken Chowder
Keep this healthy slow cooker soup recipe on file for when you’re craving something warm and nourishing on sick days or cozy evenings. It’s made with nutritious ingredients like celery, cauliflower, lemon, and turmeric, plus coconut milk to achieve a deliciously creamy consistency without the dairy.
Lauren Blue, Associate Editor & Book Club Co-Host
As an Associate Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives, from must-read books and behind-the-scenes interviews to beauty products she can’t live without. When she isn’t sitting in an AMC watching the latest buzzy release, she can be found scouring Goodreads for the perfect pick for The Everygirl Book Club. There, she co-hosts discussions with members, debating plotlines, fancasting characters, and, of course, tossing in her own recommendations.
Jessica Friedhoff, Senior Lifestyle Editor
Jessica Friedhoff is the Senior Lifestyle Editor at The Everygirl, where she oversees the Home & Living category of the site. She writes and edits stories across a broad range of topics including decorating, food, entertaining, travel, and more. With a pulse on the latest trends, she uses her eye for detail and design to create timely, inspiring content for our readers.
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