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Too busy to cook? 17 slow cooker recipes that let your crock pot do the heavy lifting

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By Leah Ingram

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Does it ever feel like you have enough time to plan for and cook dinner? No it doesn’t. Which is why you have to find clever ways to get dinner on the table without always getting takeout. Enter your slow cooker. With these 17 recipes, your Crock Pot will do the heavy lifting for you.

Black Crock-Pot slow cooker on a wooden table with lid closed, cooking food inside.
Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini

Close-up of tortellini pasta cooking in a creamy yellow sauce with pieces of chicken, stirred by a wooden spoon.
Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

When I made this recipe, I cooked the chicken thighs in the alfredo sauce first with evaporated milk. Then I added heavy cream. Then, the tortellini, turning this into a delicious one-pot meal with restaurant flavor.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini

Pork Loin in the Crock Pot

A person eating shredded chicken with a fork, served on a white plate with roasted sweet potatoes in the background.
Pork Loin in the Crock Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

When you make Pork Loin in the Crock Pot, you’re cooking a meat that you can eat with the side of your choice. Or you can shred it like pulled pork and use it in pork tacos tonight.
Get the Recipe: Pork Loin in the Crock Pot

Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

Chicken and vegetables in a slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Creamy Ranch Chicken. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

It’s easy and fast to make this Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken. All you need to do is dump all six ingredients in your slow cooker, set it to eight hours and come home to a dinner cooked for you.
Get the Recipe: Simple Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken

Overnight Slow Cooker French Toast

A loaf of sliced bread, a butter dish with a stick of butter, a bowl of eggs, a small jug of milk, a small jar of jam, and a dish of brown sugar arranged on a table.
Overnight Slow Cooker French Toast. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

What is this Overnight Slow Cooker French Toast like? Well, have you ever had bread pudding? This dish is a cross between softer French Toast and bread pudding. It’s perfect when you want breakfast for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Overnight Slow Cooker French Toast

Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot

Two cooked chicken thighs on a red dish, a bowl of cherry tomatoes behind, and a slow cooker in the background.
Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Want to serve your family fried chicken tonight without doing any frying? Then try out this Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot recipe. The end result really tastes like fried chicken.
Get the Recipe: Fried Chicken in the Crock Pot

Crock Pot Ramen

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

Crock Pot Ramen is a one-pot wonder with a new level of convenience. Dump in all of the ingredients, then set it and forget it. When you return a few hours later, you’ll have steaming, flavorful ramen.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ramen

Slow Cooker Cheesy Penne

Slow Cooker Cheesy Penne with meat sauce and parmesan cheese.
Slow Cooker Cheesy Penne. Photo credit: Call Me PMc.

Sometimes slow cooking is synonymous with comfort food. In the case of this Slow Cooker Cheesy Penne, you’ll discover a dish of ground beef, tomato sauce, pasta and cheese your whole family will love.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cheesy Penne

Crock Pot Beef and Noodles

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

Even a cheap cut of beef you got on sale will become tender and delicious after simmering in your slow cooker all day. Pair with noodles for an easy dinner that won’t bust your budget.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Beef and Noodles

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Honey garlic chicken in a bowl served over rice.
Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken. Photo credit: Running to the Kitchen.

There’s no need for takeout when you can make this honey garlic chicken at home right in the slow cooker. With a sticky, sweet, addicting sauce, it is sure to become a family favorite.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

Black slow cooker with honey mustard chicken thighs topped with parsley and a wooden spoon in it.
Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

This dinner recipe is a busy person’s best friend. With just a few ingredients, you’ll be creating a slow cooker honey mustard chicken that is cooked to perfection in a sweet and tangy glaze.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Mustard Chicken

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

White bowl with tuscan chicken, rice, leeks and sundried tomato in it with fresh basil beside it.
Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

Want to eat whole30 without the whole30 price tag? Then set up this Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken in your Crock Pot in the morning for a terrific dinner that will be waiting for you when you get home later that afternoon.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken

Gluten-Free Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

White bowl with beef and broccoli and rice with someone holding chopsticks over it.
Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli. Photo credit: Fitasamamabear.

This Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli recipe has a bunch of things going for it. Primarily, the ease of making it but also a way to enjoy a gluten-free flavorful Asian dish.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli

Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

A crock pot full of sausage, peppers, and marinara sauce.
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

It’s hard to beat this Crock Pot dinner recipe for Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers. Grab a bag of rolls out of the freezer. Then, stuff them to make sausage and pepper sandwiches for dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast

A white bowl with slow cooker Italian pork roast, potatoes and carrots.
Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast is literally a whole meal cooked in the Crock Pot. Along with pork coated in a blend of Italian herbs and spices, you’re also cooking your sides — potatoes and carrots. Serve and enjoy.
Get the Recipe: Italian Slow Cooker Pork Roast

Slow Cooker Lamb Ragu

a plate of slow cooker lamb ragu over pappardelle pasta surrounded by a block of parmesan, a white linen, and torn baguette.
Slow Cooker Lamb Ragu. Photo credit: Two Cloves Kitchen.

This Slow Cooker Lamb Ragu tastes like you brought home a high-priced Italian meal for dinner. Because the lamb braised for hours in the slow cooker, you’ve got a rich, delicious dish.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Lamb Ragu

Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

A bowl of rice with meat and peppers in front of a slow cooker.
Slow Cooker Pepper Steak. Photo credit: Little Bit Recipes.

You really need only four ingredients for this Slow Cooker Pepper Steak. That would be beef, onions, colorful peppers and the savory sauce. Dump them all in the Crock Pot in the morning and come home to dinner that is ready to eat.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

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.

You won’t even have to get out a pastry brush to coat the chicken legs in barbecue sauce. When you add them plus that aforementioned BBQ sauce to the Crock Pot, your slow cooker does all the work.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

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