15 Easy Crockpot Recipes

Love your slow cooker and looking for some easy slow cooker recipes to try? We’ve got you covered with 15 of them.

Slow cookers are a time-saving kitchen tool that can make even the most hectic day feel like a total success.

For most slow cooker recipes, you simply pop a few ingredients into a crockpot, add liquid, push a button, and then – here’s the magic – come back a few hours later and meal = done.

Bonus: When you’re done, there’s just one pot to clean.

Meals cooked in slow-cookers tend to be hearty and comforting, and they render even the toughest, least expensive cuts of meat melt-in-your-mouth tender.

A single recipe can make so many servings that you’ll have meals for days and leftovers to freeze for busy weeknights in the future.

Use these tips to help keep those leftovers from spoiling.

What’s the Difference Between a Slow Cooker and a Crock-Pot?

But first, here’s a little fun fact for the day: Most people use “crockpot” to refer to slow cookers in general. But Crock-Pot is actually a brand name for a type of slow cooker.

Crock-Pots are the original slow cookers, with just two settings — “Low” and “High.” Other types (and brands) of slow cookers have more heat settings and are constructed differently.

To make it even more fun/confusing, the mega-popular Instant Pot also has a slow cooker function.

At the end of the day, whatever you call that appliance sitting on your counter, it’s an amazing cooking tool to help you make delicious meals with the least amount of effort!

15 Easy Slow Cooker Recipes

With a few minutes of prep in the morning or the night before, you can wake up to the sweet, sweet scent of breakfast that’s ready to eat or come home from a busy workday and sit right down to dinner.

Let us know in the comments which of these you like best!

1. Slow Cooker Banana Bread Oatmeal

With this slow-cooked steel-cut oats recipe, breakfast can taste like a luscious slice of banana bread while still being a wholesome and nutritious way to fuel your day.

There’s probably plenty of room in your slow cooker to double the recipe!

What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Banana Bread Oatmeal:

3 cups water
4 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 cup dry steel-cut oats
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
6 Tbsp. ground flaxseed
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
½ tsp. ground nutmeg
¼ cup pure maple syrup
6 Tbsp. chopped raw walnuts

Get the full recipe here.

2. Fruity Whole Grain Breakfast Porridge

Basic oatmeal gets a bold makeover in this sweet, spiced breakfast porridge with hearty whole grains, dried cranberries, and apricots.

A slice of orange peel and a cinnamon stick make it taste, and smell, like a special breakfast treat.

Here’s what you’ll need to make Fruity Whole Grain Breakfast Porridge:

¾ cup dry steel-cut oats
½ cup dry wild rice
¾ cup dry pearl barley (or dry farro)
1 cinnamon stick
1 2-inch slice dry orange peel
1 Tbsp. honey (or pure maple syrup)
½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
¼ cup chopped dried apricots (or dried cherries, dried apples, or raisins)
¼ cup unsweetened dried cranberries
6 cups water
1 cup chopped raw walnuts (or almonds, pecans, or cashews)
4 cups unsweetened almond milk

Get the full recipe here.

3. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

A common concern with lean proteins, like chicken breasts, is that the meat will overcook and come out dry, which is where the slow cooker comes in: By combining a mixture of chicken broth, garlic, cumin and jalapeño and cooking the mixture down slowly, the juices infuse the meat with flavor and moisture.

What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos:

1 cup low-sodium organic chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 medium jalapeño peppers, seeded and deveined, chopped (optional)
2 Tbsp. chili powder
2 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground smoked paprika
½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
2 bay leaves
1 lb. raw chicken breast, boneless, skinless
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas, warm
1 cup pico de gallo (or fresh tomato salsa)
1 medium ripe avocado, sliced
1 medium lime, cut into 4 wedges
¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Get the full recipe here.

4. Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas

This healthy take on a favorite Mexican dish is quick to put together, and it makes enough servings to feed a family or fill up a meal prep menu.

The finished dish tastes just like cheesy chicken enchiladas!

What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Cheesy Chicken Enchiladas:

1 tsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 medium jalapenos, seeded and deveined, finely chopped
1 lb. raw ground chicken breast
1½ cups dry farro, rinsed
1 (15-oz.) can black beans, rinsed, drained
1 cup frozen corn
1 (15-oz.) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes (or diced tomatoes), no salt added
1 cup water
1 (10-oz.) can red enchilada sauce
2 Tbsp. chili powder
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. ground coriander
Sea salt (or Himalayan salt) and ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
1 cup shredded jack (or cheddar or Mexican blend) cheese
3 medium green onions, chopped
¼ cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

Get the full recipe here.

5. Slow Cooker Refried Beans

Once you’ve tasted these homemade slow cooker refried beans, and see how effortless they are to make, you’ll say buh-bye those mushy canned refried beans for good.

What you’ll need Slow Cooker Refried Beans:

1 lb. dry pinto beans (about 5 cups), rinsed, sorted
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
1 tsp. ground black pepper
1 sprig fresh epazote (or fresh oregano)
¼ tsp. crushed red pepper (optional)
6 cups hot water
1 tsp. olive oil

Get the full recipe here.

6. Slow Cooker Garlic and Herb Mushrooms

Love those buttery sautéed restaurant-style mushrooms? We found a way to make them much healthier.

Our version cooks slowly with garlic and herbs, giving them time to absorb tons of flavor.

What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Mushrooms with Garlic and Herbs:

1 lb. whole mushrooms (like brown, button, or cremini), stems trimmed
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
½ cup low-sodium organic vegetable broth
Sea salt (or Himalayan salt) and ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley (for garnish; optional)

Get the full recipe here.

7. Slow Cooker Chicken and Quinoa with Spring Vegetables

This is one of our favorite slow cooker recipes. It uses quinoa and spring vegetables to make a light but hearty dish that pops with color and flavor.

The chicken gets extremely tender and juicy as it gently cooks for hours, but it’s the quinoa that’s the real surprise in this dish.

What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Chicken and Quinoa with Spring Vegetables:

1½ cups dry quinoa
1 lb. raw chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into 1-inch cubes
7 cups low-sodium organic chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp. dried basil (or chives or parsley)
Sea salt (or Himalayan salt) and ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
6 tsp. prepared pesto sauce
3 cups fresh or frozen peas
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
2 tsp. olive oil
2 cups shredded (or grated) carrots
1 bunch asparagus, cut into bite-sized pieces (about 2 cups)
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Get the full recipe here.

8. Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas

Have a fajita fiesta with maximum flavor and minimal effort.

Each bite of these chicken and vegetable fajitas is bursting with bold taste – and they have an impressive 31 grams of protein per serving.

What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Chicken Fajitas:

1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes (or diced tomatoes with green chiles), no salt added
1 medium onion, cut into quarters, sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 medium orange bell pepper, cut into strips
2 tsp. ground chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
½ tsp. ground black pepper
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 lb. raw chicken breast, boneless, skinless, sliced
8 6-inch whole-wheat flour tortillas, warm
½ cup fresh tomato salsa
8 tsp. low-fat (1%) plain Greek yogurt
½ medium avocado, sliced
Finely chopped cilantro

Get the full recipe here.

9. Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs

There’s nothing better than coming home to the smell of a delicious dinner that’s been slowly cooking all day, especially when it’s these tender turkey meatballs in an aromatic tomato sauce.

Try them on zucchini noodles for a lean, high-protein dinner.

What you’ll need to make Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs:

1 lb. raw 93% lean ground turkey
½ tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
½ tsp. ground black pepper
1 large egg, lightly beaten
½ cup whole grain panko (Japanese-style breadcrumbs)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbsp. grated Parmesan cheese
2 tsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes, crushed
1 tsp. dried oregano leaves

Get the full recipe here.

10. Savory Slow Cooker Beans with Rice

These creamy red beans get tons of flavor from celery, garlic, and diced green chiles. Served with brown rice, they make a complete vegetarian meal.

And at about 70¢ per serving, this is a tasty dinner that fits any budget.

What you’ll need to make Savory Slow Cooker Beans with Rice:

1¼ cups dry red beans (or dry red kidney beans), rinsed
Water
1 medium onion, chopped
2 medium celery stalks, sliced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tsp. dried basil, crushed
1 bay leaf
2 cups low-sodium organic vegetable broth
1 cups water
1 (14.5-oz.) can stewed tomatoes
1 (4-oz.) can diced green chiles, undrained
Hot sauce (like Tabasco) (to taste; optional)
3 cups cooked brown rice, warm

Get the full recipe here.

11. Crunchy Spicy Shredded Pork Tacos with Pineapple Salsa

Sweet pineapple and crunchy radishes go perfectly with tender, slow-cooked pork loin in these mouth-watering tacos that take 10 minutes to prep.

The leftover meat tastes great stirred into scrambled eggs!

What you’ll need to make Crunch Spicy Shredded Pork Tacos:

1 lb. raw pork loin, boneless, visible fat removed, cut into 4 large pieces
1 (7-oz.) can sliced jalapeños (optional)
1½ cups tomatillo salsa (or salsa verde)
½ cup finely cubed fresh pineapple
2 medium shallots, finely chopped
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
¼ tsp. ground cumin
8 corn tortillas (or 6-inch whole wheat tortillas), warm
½ cup thinly sliced radishes

Get the full recipe here.

12. Beef Bone Broth

When you’re thinking of easy slow cooker recipes, broth might not come immediately to mind, but if you want to sip on a mug of bone broth for its numerous health benefits for yourself or you just want a delicious base for soups and to add flavor to whole grains, this recipe is a great place to start.

The result is a large quantity of marvelously flavorful broth that tastes great on its own and can be used in any recipe that calls for broth, like this Beef Pot Roast With Root Vegetables.

What you’ll need to make Beef Bone Broth:

5 lbs. beef back (or neck) bones (or chicken carcasses or lamb bones)
¼ cup apple cider vinegar (or fresh lemon juice)
2 medium onions, cut into quarters (or 2 leeks, coarsely chopped)
2 medium carrots, coarsely chopped
4 medium celery stalk ends, coarsely chopped
2 to 3 bay leaves
1 Tbsp. black peppercorns
Cold water

Get the full recipe here.

13. Slow Cooker Beef Chili

If you’re craving a hearty bowl of traditional beef chili, this easy recipe really delivers. It’s simple and hearty, without any bells and whistles or special ingredients.

In a slow cooker, the meat becomes fall-apart tender and develops a deep and satisfying flavor.