Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes (2024)

Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can help create layers of flavor in any weeknight dinner, from hearty stews to satisfying chicken dishes. It can take your comfort food to the next level, like a fall-off-the-bone pulled pork sandwich, cozy chicken noodle soup, or sweet and sour brisket. All it takes are a few simple ingredients and minimal hassle (if you're able to plan ahead). Even desserts can benefit from a Crockpot; cheesecake cooked in a slow cooker gets an incredible silky texture because the machine steams the cake as it bakes. F&W has plenty of easy slow cooker recipes, including glazed pork ribs with white beans and meatballs that are equally great served in a bowl with spaghetti or on a hoagie roll. Read on for our very best slow cooker recipes, from Dutch oven to electric Crockpot.

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Slow Cooker Burnt Honey Barbecue Chicken

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When it’s so blazing hot outside that you can’t bear the thought of firing up the grill, this no-fuss slow cooker barbecue chicken recipe will come to the rescue. A quick sear in a cast-iron skillet awakens the flavors of the herbs and spices and gives the chicken a nice crust that makes the finished barbecue taste more authentic.

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Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

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Prepared in a 6-quart slow cooker, this three-cheese version of the American comfort food gets a nice kick from a generous pinch of cayenne, while buttery breadcrumbs give it a great crunch.

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Filipino Chicken Adobo with Bacon and Bay Leaves

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This bright and deeply savory preparation is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. This Dutch oven recipe is rich with umami from rendering bacon fat and adding the cooked bacon pieces into the broth.

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Slow Cooker Barbecued Pulled Pork

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Serve the pulled pork with coleslaw and pickles, or mound it on hamburger buns and top with coleslaw and thinly sliced onion and dill pickles.

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Dutch Oven Classic Beef Stew

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Hearty chunks of beef turn tender after a low and slow trip in your favorite Dutch oven; potatoes join the party during the tail end of cooking to retain their texture.

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Buttered Rum

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This luxurious, velvety drink is just the thing to sip on a cool night — and using a slow cooker makes it especially easy to pull together. Heat the cream and butter first, slowly so that the mixture doesn't break. Then whisk in dark brown sugar, followed by spiced rum, salt, and a Moroccan spice mix. The end result is a richly flavored batch of drinks perfect for entertaining.

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Harissa White Bean Stew with Turmeric Yogurt

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Cookbook author Sarah DiGregorio adds depth and heat to her hearty white bean stew by adding harissa twice: first for the long simmer in the slow cooker, then at the end, to finish the dish with some bright heat. This stew will keep in the fridge for up to four days, so it's a perfect make-ahead meal.

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Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja

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This flavor-packed Cuban stew, featuring shredded flank steak, tomatoes, and olives, can be made up to two days in advance.

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Slow Cooker Sour Cream Cheesecake

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Cheesecake cooked in a slow cooker has an unbelievably silky texture because the machine steams the cake as it bakes. The toughest part about making it is resisting the urge to peek inside the slow cooker — the lid must stay closed to retain heat.

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Slow Cooker Glazed Pork Ribs with White Beans

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Baby back ribs, Great Northern beans, white wine, tomatoes, chicken broth, and more come together for a hearty, satisfying meal.

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Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Brisket

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A few hours in the slow cooker and this beef dish will be melt-in-your-mouth delicious by the time you're ready to eat it.

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Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Napa Cabbage and Pickles

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Napa cabbage and thinly sliced sour pickles add texture and tang to this substantial stew. Searing the pieces of beef chuck before putting them in the slow cooker gives the dish a rich flavor.

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Slow Cooker Classic Beef Stew

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Be sure to use boneless chuck roast for this recipe, which has excellent marbling and flavor.

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Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

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These meatballs can be served simply in a bowl, but they are equally delicious with spaghetti or on a hoagie roll.

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Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

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This warming Eastern European short rib stew is best served in deep bowls over buttery noodles.

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Slow Cooker Coconut Pork Curry

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For this dish, pork shoulder gets cooked with bold ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, curry powder, cumin, and turmeric. The flavors intensify and penetrate the meat after four hours in the slow cooker.

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Slow Cooker Sunday Sauce on Spaghetti

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This indulgent Sunday sauce recipe includes pork shoulder, pancetta, sweet Italian sausages, and plenty of garlic.

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Slow Cooker Pasta Bake

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Valerie Bertinelli’s slow cooker baked ziti is super simple — it only takes 15 minutes of active time and is ready in an hour and 45 minutes. If you’re really short on time, you can buy the vegetables pre-cut from the store.

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Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks with Lemon, Dill, and Feta

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Lamb shanks are slow cooked to perfection with herbs and spices, giving this dish a complex flavor through a simple method.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

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After just 25 minutes of prep and initial cooking, it's set-it-and-forget-it for this cozy classic. The soup is done when the chicken is tender, six to eight hours later. If you prefer your pasta al dente, add it after the chicken has cooked.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Wings

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These slow cooker turkey wings are first braised until tender and then broiled to a crispy finish.

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Slow Cooker Ethiopian-Spiced Chicken and Black Lentil Stew

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In this intensely comforting spiced chicken and black lentil stew, bold ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and white wine simmer slowly with an Ethiopian spice blend called berbere.

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Slow Cooker Asado de Puerco (Pork and Tomatillo Stew)

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Make this classic Mexican dish in your slow cooker for ease and extra flavor. Hominy provides texture and savory corn goodness in the tangy tomatillo sauce; the cilantro garnish adds a pop of freshness to the bowl.

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Slow Cooker Ham Hock and Chickpea Stew

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Split pea soup was the inspiration for this robust stew. Like split peas, chickpeas need to simmer for a long time, making them great for a slow cooker.

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Slow Cooker Moroccan-Spiced Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Almonds

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This warming chicken dish is slow cooked in Moroccan spices and best served on couscous with a sprinkle of toasted almonds.

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