19 Set-It-And-Forget-It Recipes You’ll Wish You’d Found Sooner

Photo of author

| Published:

Life gets busy, and sometimes you just want dinner to take care of itself. These recipes do the heavy lifting while you focus on everything else on your plate. No more hovering over the stove or stressing about timing, just set it and walk away.

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

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.

Crock pot pork chops simmer in a creamy mushroom sauce that comes together with just a few simple ingredients. This set-it-and-forget-it recipe keeps prep easy while delivering tender pork chops and rich flavor.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Chops

Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

Slow cooker Italian beef on a crusty roll with provolone cheese and peppers.
Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Tender beef slow cooks in savory seasonings until it melts in your mouth, making these Italian beef sandwiches a hands-off dinner win. The gooey provolone on top adds a perfect finishing touch without extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Italian Beef Sandwiches

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 slow cooker BBQ chicken legs bring juicy, fall-off-the-bone drumsticks coated in tangy barbecue sauce. It’s a fuss-free recipe that lets you walk away while the flavors develop.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken Legs

Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

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

Panera’s broccoli cheddar soup recreated for your slow cooker fills your kitchen with rich, cheesy goodness. This set-it-and-forget-it soup is a cozy meal that’s ready whenever you want it.
Get the Recipe: Panera Broccoli Cheddar Soup

Crock Pot Ramen

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

This crock pot ramen takes the classic noodle soup to a new level of easy by letting the slow cooker do all the work. Just add the ingredients, set it, and come back to a steaming bowl of comfort.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Ramen

Asian Spare Ribs

Two ribs on a tray with sesame seeds and sesame seeds.
Asian Spare Ribs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Slow-cooked Asian spare ribs soak up aromatic spices and sauces for a flavorful meal with minimal effort. This set-it-and-forget-it recipe makes tender ribs without constant attention.
Get the Recipe: Asian Spare Ribs

Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti

A crock pot filled with spaghetti and chicken.
Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Chicken spaghetti slow cooks to tender perfection with pasta and a creamy cheese sauce. This recipe fits the set-it-and-forget-it theme with easy prep and family-pleasing results.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Chicken Spaghetti

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.

Country style ribs slow cook in a sweet and tangy mix of peach preserves, honey, and BBQ sauce. This effortless recipe yields tender ribs that practically cook themselves.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Olive garden chicken pasta on a fork.
Olive Garden Chicken Pasta. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This slow cooker take on Olive Garden chicken pasta lets chicken simmer all day in a creamy cheese sauce. It’s a simple recipe that delivers rich flavors without standing over the stove.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Pasta

Sloppy Joes

Three sloppy joe sandwiches filled with seasoned ground beef and diced red peppers on a white plate, placed on a red and white checkered cloth.
Sloppy Joes. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Slow cooker sloppy joes simmer with a secret ingredient—Dr Pepper—to turn simple ingredients into a crowd-pleaser. This recipe fits the set-it-and-forget-it style perfectly for busy nights.
Get the Recipe: Sloppy Joes

Mexican Street Corn Soup

Street corn soup with potatoes, corn and red pepper in the crock pot with a spoon on the side.
Mexican Street Corn Soup. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Mexican street corn soup slow cooks all the flavors of elote into a creamy bowl. Just toss everything into the slow cooker and come back to a satisfying meal with minimal effort.
Get the Recipe: Mexican Street Corn Soup

Slow Cooker Barbacoa

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

This copycat Chipotle barbacoa slow cooks tender beef packed with flavor, making it easy to enjoy tacos at home. The recipe sticks to the set-it-and-forget-it idea with simple prep and great results.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Barbacoa

Crock Pot Baked Ziti

A bowl of pasta with meat and tomatoes.
Crock Pot Baked Ziti. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Crock pot baked ziti layers pasta, marinara, cheese, and sausage for a comfort meal that cooks itself. It’s a no-hassle recipe perfect for feeding a family with minimal hands-on time.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Huli Huli Chicken

Pineapple slices arranged over cooked chicken pieces in a slow cooker.
Huli Huli Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Huli Huli chicken slow cooks chicken thighs in a sweet and savory sauce topped with caramelized pineapple. This recipe brings Hawaiian flavors to your weeknight table with almost no effort.
Get the Recipe: Huli Huli Chicken

Slow Cooker Beef Tips

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

Slow cooker beef tips cook to tender perfection in rich gravy, making this a hearty comfort meal. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that frees you up while dinner comes together.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Tips

Coca Cola Meatballs

A spoon holds saucy, glazed meatballs garnished with herbs over a pot with more meatballs inside.
Coca Cola Meatballs. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

With just six ingredients and five minutes prep, these slow cooker Coca-Cola meatballs turn sweet and tangy while you relax. They’re perfect for easy dinners or game day snacks without extra work.
Get the Recipe: Coca Cola Meatballs

Slow Cooker Pork Loin

Bacon-wrapped pork loin cooked in a slow cooker, with juices at the bottom and garnished with herbs.
Slow Cooker Pork Loin. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Pork loin wrapped in crispy bacon slow cooks to juicy tenderness in this hands-off recipe. It’s a simple way to serve an impressive meal with minimal prep and cleanup.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Loin

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken on a white plate on rice topped with parsley.
Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

This creamy chicken slow cooker recipe combines spices, sauce, and tender chicken for a quick, fuss-free dinner. It fits the set-it-and-forget-it style for busy days when you need a fast meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken

Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Cheese covered slow cooker chili mac in the crock pot with a wooden spoon.
Slow Cooker Chili Mac. Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings.

Chili mac slow cooks chili flavors with cheesy pasta in one pot for an easy, hearty meal. This recipe keeps things simple while delivering a filling dinner with very little prep.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chili Mac

Leave a Comment

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