19 slow cooker recipes that fit busy schedules

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By Ksenia Prints

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Slow cookers earn their place when days run long and dinner still needs to show up. These 19 recipes rely on hands-off cooking, steady flavors, and groceries that are easy to plan around. Each dish simmers while you handle the rest of the day. Together they keep evenings moving without last-minute stress.

A plate of cooked lamb chops sits on a bed of sliced, cooked carrots. The dish is garnished with chopped green onions. Utensils, a wooden spoon with spices, and a small bowl of more green onions are nearby on a burlap cloth surface.
Slow Cooker Osso Buco. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Short Ribs

Braised meat with gravy, fresh cranberries, and herbs served over mashed potatoes on a white plate.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Short Ribs. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Short Ribs are a rich dinner that simmers for about 8 hours on low. They use beef short ribs, cranberry sauce, broth, onions, and herbs. The taste is savory with mild sweetness. Slow Cooker Cranberry Short Ribs feel like a weekend meal made on a weekday.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

Plate of creamy chicken casserole topped with sliced almonds and green onions, served with crackers.
Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken is a creamy chicken dinner that cooks for about 6 hours. It combines chicken breasts, cream cheese, condensed soup, and seasoning. The flavor is mild, savory, and filling. Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken stretches basic groceries well.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Neiman Marcus Chicken

Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup

A bowl of creamy orange soup is placed on a black plate, garnished with a swirl of cream and a sprig of herb. A spoon rests inside the bowl. Small sprigs of thyme are scattered on the marble surface nearby.
Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup is a blended soup that cooks for about 6 hours. It uses kabocha squash, onions, broth, and cream. The taste is smooth with gentle sweetness. Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup works well for cooler evenings.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Kabocha Squash Soup

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

Plate of glazed chicken with cranberries, green beans, and stuffing on a red and white checkered cloth.
Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken is a simple poultry meal that cooks in roughly 6 hours. It features chicken thighs, cranberry sauce, onion soup mix, and broth. The flavor is tangy with light sweetness. Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken keeps dinners predictable.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry Chicken

Slow Cooker Carrot Soup

A black bowl filled with creamy orange soup, garnished with herbs, pepper, and a drizzle of oil. A gold spoon rests inside the bowl. A textured brown cloth and a cup are in the background.
Slow Cooker Carrot Soup. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Carrot Soup is a vegetable soup that simmers for about 5 hours. It combines carrots, onions, garlic, broth, and cream. The taste is mildly sweet and smooth. Slow Cooker Carrot Soup helps turn inexpensive produce into dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Carrot Soup

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

A white bowl filled with a red kidney bean stew, including visible pieces of meat or vegetables, sits on a dark cloth napkin with a fork and spoon beside it. A small bunch of parsley is on the table nearby.
Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon are a hearty side that cooks for about 7 hours. They use dried beans, bacon, onions, ketchup, and brown sugar. The flavor is smoky and slightly sweet. Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon hold up for potlucks or weeknight meals.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Beans With Bacon

Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders

Three BBQ chicken sliders stacked on a white plate, with a red checked cloth and a green glass nearby.
Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders are sandwich fillings that cook for about 6 hours. They feature shredded turkey, cranberry sauce, barbecue sauce, and onions. The taste is sweet and savory. Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders make use of leftovers easily.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cranberry BBQ Turkey Sliders

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

A ladle of beef stew with carrots, potatoes, and parsley in a rich brown sauce.
Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is a classic stew that cooks for around 8 hours. It uses beef chunks, mushrooms, carrots, onions, broth, and red wine. The flavor is deep and savory. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon makes dinner feel settled before you get home.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Meatballs topped with melted cheese and chopped parsley in a slow cooker.
Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs are a saucy main that cooks for about 6 hours. They combine meatballs, onion soup mix, broth, and melted cheese. The taste is rich and mildly sweet. Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs keep pasta nights simple.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker French Onion Meatballs

Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

A black bowl filled with creamy pasta coated in a thick sauce, topped with a fresh basil leaf. A metal spoon rests inside the bowl. The background is a light-colored surface.
Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken is a chicken dinner that cooks in about 6 hours. It uses chicken breasts, sun dried tomatoes, cream, garlic, and herbs. The flavor is savory with mild tang. Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken fits well with rice or pasta.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Chicken

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

A plate of shredded chicken is garnished with herbs, black olives, and sliced cherry tomatoes. Two lemon wedges and pieces of flatbread accompany the dish. A fork is resting on the edge of the plate.
Slow Cooker Greek Chicken. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Greek Chicken is a light poultry meal that simmers for about 5 hours. It combines chicken thighs, lemon juice, garlic, oregano, and olives. The taste is bright with savory notes. Slow Cooker Greek Chicken keeps grocery lists short.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Greek Chicken

Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara

A bowl of penne pasta topped with shredded meat and garnished with fresh basil leaves. A fork is placed in the bowl. Red tomatoes and additional fresh basil leaves are on the marble surface nearby.
Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara is a set-and-forget meal that cooks for about 6 hours. It features chicken breasts, marinara sauce, onions, and herbs. The flavor is classic and tomato-forward. Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara works for pasta nights.
Get the Recipe: Easy Weeknight Slow Cooker Chicken Marinara

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala

Plate of mashed potatoes topped with chicken, mushrooms, and creamy gravy, garnished with chopped herbs.
Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala is a creamy dinner that simmers for about 6 hours. It uses chicken breasts, mushrooms, marsala-style sauce, and cream. The taste is rich and savory. Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala replaces restaurant runs.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Marsala

Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth

Two white bowls filled with a dark broth garnished with sliced green onions. Wooden spoons are placed beside each bowl. Green onion stalks are scattered on a light tiled surface.
Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth is a slow-simmered base that cooks for about 8 hours. It blends mushrooms, onions, garlic, herbs, and water. The flavor is deep and earthy. Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth supports soups all week.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mushroom Broth

Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash

A dish filled with mashed sweet potatoes topped with chopped nuts, a pat of butter, and a sprig of thyme. The dish is placed on a wooden board, with a few thyme sprigs scattered around.
Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash is a vegetable side that cooks in about 5 hours. It uses cubed squash, butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. The taste is mildly sweet and soft. Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash works with many mains.
Get the Recipe: Easy Slow Cooker Butternut Squash

Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

A spoonful of creamy chicken and stuffing casserole garnished with herbs.
Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie is a creamy casserole-style meal that cooks for about 6 hours. It combines turkey, mixed vegetables, cream soup, and biscuit topping. The flavor is mild and savory. Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie makes leftovers easy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Pot Pie

Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

A bowl of rice and chicken in front of a crockpot.
Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken is a tropical-style meal that simmers for about 5 hours. It uses chicken thighs, pineapple, soy sauce, and brown sugar. The taste is sweet with savory edges. Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken fits rice bowls well.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Hawaiian Crockpot Chicken

Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Barbacoa tacos on a tray topped with peppers and onions.
Slow Cooker Barbacoa. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Slow Cooker Barbacoa is a shredded beef dish that cooks for about 8 hours. It features beef roast, vinegar, spices, garlic, and broth. The flavor is bold and savory. Slow Cooker Barbacoa supports tacos and bowls all week.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Slow Cooker Osso Buco

A plate of cooked lamb chops sits on a bed of sliced, cooked carrots. The dish is garnished with chopped green onions. Utensils, a wooden spoon with spices, and a small bowl of more green onions are nearby on a burlap cloth surface.
Slow Cooker Osso Buco. Photo credit: Thermocookery.

Slow Cooker Osso Buco is a slow-braised dinner that cooks for about 8 hours. It uses veal shanks, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and herbs. The taste is rich and comforting. Slow Cooker Osso Buco feels special with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Osso Buco

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