17 lazy genius slow cooker recipes

Photo of author

| Published:

If you’re anything like me, you’re always on the lookout for recipes that deliver maximum flavor with minimum effort. These 17 lazy genius slow cooker recipes will have your family and friends begging for seconds. These recipes are the perfect combination of “set it and forget it” convenience and “wow, that tastes amazing” deliciousness.

Slow cooker country style ribs on a tray on top of mashed potatoes with corn.
Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crock Pot Beef and Noodles

Closeup of Slow Cooker beef with egg noodles.
Crock Pot Beef and Noodles. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Set your slow cooker in the morning for a no-effort dinner. The beef cooks down soft while you’re away and mixing in the noodles at the end takes just minutes.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Beef and Noodles

Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas

Close-up of shredded pork garnished with chopped herbs and lime wedges.
Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This hands-off pork recipe makes enough for several meals. Just put it in your slow cooker and come back to meat that’s ready for tacos, plus extras for the freezer.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chipotle Carnitas

Slow Cooker Beef Beer Sliders

Three pulled pork sliders with pickles and cheese are stacked on a white plate.
Slow Cooker Beef Beer Sliders. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These sliders need zero attention while they cook. The beef and beer do all the work in your slow cooker, giving you time to focus on other things.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Beer Sliders

Crock Pot Ramen

Top view of slow cooker chicken ramen in the Crock Pot.
Crock Pot Ramen. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Drop everything in your slow cooker for a soup that basically makes itself. The broth gets rich while you’re busy, and you won’t have to watch over a pot on the stove.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ramen

Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli

A plate of pumpkin cake mix cookies studded with chocolate chips is artfully arranged in a circle on a white surface.
Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This set-and-forget Italian soup combines beef, pasta, and beans. Your slow cooker does the heavy lifting while you handle your day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Ranch Sandwiches

A chicken sandwich topped with coleslaw on a seeded bun, served with French fries and a pickle spear on a white plate.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Ranch Sandwiches. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Chicken that cooks itself makes dinner simple. The meat gets soft in BBQ sauce and ranch seasoning while you’re away, ready to pile on buns when you get home.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Ranch Sandwiches

Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Pork Chops on a plate covered with a creamy mushroom gravy and served on mashed potatoes.
Slow Cooker Pork Chops. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

The slow cooker turns tough pork chops tender without any work from you. The mushroom soup creates its own sauce as it cooks, making dinner prep minimal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Beef Tips

Beef tips with mashed potatoes and brussels sprouts.
Slow Cooker Beef Tips. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Your slow cooker makes these beef tips completely tender with zero effort. The meat cooks in gravy all day while you’re out, making dinner ready when you walk in.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Tips

Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Slow cooker country style ribs on a tray on top of mashed potatoes with corn.
Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These ribs need nothing but a quick drop in the slow cooker with sauce. The meat falls off the bone after cooking all day while you do other things.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

A bowl of broccoli cheddar soup with broccoli and carrots.
Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This soup practically makes itself in the slow cooker. The broccoli gets soft and the cheese melts into a thick base while you’re busy with your day.
Get the Recipe: Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast

A slow cooker filled with beef and cranberries.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This pot roast only needs five minutes of prep before your slow cooker takes over. The meat gets fork-soft while cooking with cranberries all day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Pot Roast

Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup

Ham and Potato soup in a gray and white bowl with a spoon.
Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Let your slow cooker do the work of making this rich soup. The potatoes and ham cook down while you’re away, just add cheese when you get home.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ham and Potato Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

A crock pot filled with chicken and lemons.
Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These chicken thighs cook themselves while you’re out. Your slow cooker turns basic ingredients into dinner with almost no effort from you.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

Slow Cooker French Dip

A sandwich with meat and gravy on a plate next to a bowl of sauce.
Slow Cooker French Dip. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This beef sandwich filling makes itself in your slow cooker. The meat gets so soft it pulls apart easily, and the cooking liquid makes a ready-made dip.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Dip

Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup

A bowl of creamy potato soup topped with shredded cheddar cheese, chopped green onions, and crumbled bacon, next to a spoon and a blue and white checkered napkin.
Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Put potatoes in your slow cooker and come back to thick, rich soup. It cooks itself while you’re away, just add toppings when you get home.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Loaded Potato Soup

Slow Cooker Sweet Pork

Tray of shredded pork tacos in flour tortillas, garnished with cilantro and served with lime wedges.
Slow Cooker Sweet Pork. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This pork needs just a quick prep before your slow cooker does the rest. The meat gets so soft it falls apart, ready for any meal you want to make.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sweet Pork

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

Slow cooker bbq chicken legs in the crock pot after cooking.
Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

These chicken legs cook themselves in BBQ sauce. Your slow cooker does all the work while you’re away, making dinner stress-free.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.