Some days, the to-do list keeps growing while the hours left for cooking seem to disappear. These 17 slow cooker recipes help you get a hearty dinner started without spending the entire afternoon in the kitchen. From tender pork roasts and beef dishes to creamy chicken, soups, and filling casseroles, there is plenty of variety for busy schedules. A little preparation earlier in the day leaves you with fewer things to handle when dinnertime arrives.
German Pork Loin
Tender slices of pork covered in a savory mustard gravy make German Pork Loin a welcome dinner after a long day. The recipe combines pork loin with German mustard, onions, garlic, chicken broth, and thyme, allowing the flavors to develop as the meat cooks. With eight servings, there is enough for a family dinner and potentially another meal. Serve the pork with mashed potatoes or buttered noodles to make the most of the rich gravy without adding much work to your evening.
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Easiest Slow Cooker Rump Roast
A fork-tender roast with vegetables already cooked alongside it makes Easiest Slow Cooker Rump Roast a practical choice when the afternoon is packed with other responsibilities. Rump roast cooks with baby potatoes, carrots, onion, beef broth, rosemary, and thyme, giving you the main dish and vegetables in one pot. The recipe makes six servings and takes just ten minutes to prepare before cooking. Spoon some of the cooking liquid over the sliced beef when serving for a hearty dinner with little last-minute preparation.
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Birria de Res
Deep chili flavor and beef that pulls apart easily give Birria de Res plenty of character without requiring constant time at the stove. Chuck roast cooks with beef broth, onion, garlic, cumin, oregano, and several varieties of dried chilies. The recipe makes eight servings, making it useful when you need dinner for several people or want leftovers for another day. Serve the tender beef with its cooking broth, or tuck it into warm tortillas with chopped onion, cilantro, and lime for a different way to enjoy the same dish.
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Creamy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe With Stew Beef
Rich mushroom gravy coating tender pieces of beef makes Creamy Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Recipe With Stew Beef a filling dinner for evenings when cooking from scratch sounds exhausting. Stew beef simmers with mushrooms, onions, garlic, beef broth, Dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce before sour cream is stirred in near the end. The recipe makes six servings and is served over separately cooked egg noodles. Start the beef earlier in the day, then prepare the noodles shortly before dinner for a substantial meal with limited evening preparation.
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Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops
Soft pork chops covered in a hearty tomato-based sauce give Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops the kind of dinner you can serve without preparing several separate dishes. The chops are browned before cooking with diced tomatoes, beef broth, onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and garlic. The recipe makes six servings, with the vegetables and sauce cooking alongside the meat. Spoon the pork and sauce over rice or mashed potatoes when dinner rolls around, letting the slow cooker handle most of the cooking while you deal with the day’s other responsibilities.
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4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken
A creamy chicken dinner with a savory stuffing topping makes 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken useful when you have little time or energy left for meal preparation. Chicken breasts cook with cream of chicken soup, stuffing mix, and water or chicken broth, creating a complete main dish with very few ingredients. The recipe makes four servings and takes just five minutes to prepare before cooking. Serve it with steamed vegetables or a simple salad for an easy dinner that doesn’t require another complicated recipe on the side.
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Al Pastor Carnitas
Tender, seasoned pork with a lightly sweet and smoky flavor gives Al Pastor Carnitas plenty of options when you need dinner to fit around a busy schedule. Pork shoulder cooks with pineapple juice, chicken broth, garlic, cumin, oregano, chipotle powder, and citrus. The recipe makes ten servings, so there is enough meat for a larger family meal or leftovers. Once the pork is cooked, shred and brown it in a skillet before serving in tortillas with your preferred toppings for a filling dinner.
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Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup
Small meatballs, tender vegetables, and pasta in a savory broth make Slow Cooker Italian Wedding Soup a substantial dinner that doesn’t need several side dishes. Frozen meatballs cook with chicken broth, carrots, celery, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder, while small pasta and fresh spinach complete the soup. The recipe makes six servings and requires ten minutes of preparation before cooking. Serve it with crusty bread for dipping, giving everyone a warm, filling bowl after a day that left little room for cooking.
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Slow Cooker Hatch Chili Salsa Chicken
Shredded chicken coated in a smoky green chile sauce makes Slow Cooker Hatch Chili Salsa Chicken useful for several different dinners without changing the main recipe. Chicken breasts or thighs cook with Hatch chile salsa, sliced onions, garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika or chipotle powder. The recipe makes six servings, and the chicken is shredded directly into the sauce after cooking. Spoon it over rice, tuck it into tortillas, or use it for burritos when you need a flexible dinner that doesn’t require much attention.
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Authentic Hungarian Goulash
Tender beef in a rich, paprika-seasoned sauce makes Authentic Hungarian Goulash a hearty choice for days when dinner needs to cook while you handle everything else. The recipe brings together beef, onions, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, paprika, thyme, and bay leaves. Browning the meat and onions before adding them to the slow cooker develops the flavor, while the longer cooking time softens the beef. Serve the finished goulash with buttered noodles or mashed potatoes for a filling dinner without spending the evening standing over the stove.
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Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Meatballs
A glossy, sweet-and-savory sauce coating tender meatballs gives Slow Cooker Honey-Garlic Meatballs plenty of flavor without making dinner preparation complicated. Frozen cooked meatballs go directly into the slow cooker with a mixture of ketchup, brown sugar, honey, soy sauce, and minced garlic. The sauce thickens as everything heats through, eliminating the need to prepare meatballs from scratch. Serve them over rice for a filling dinner, or set them out with toothpicks when you need an easy dish for a casual family get-together.
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Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast
A tender pork roast surrounded by soft vegetables makes Old Fashioned Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast a practical dinner when you want most of the meal cooked together. Pork shoulder is seasoned with rosemary, sage, and thyme, then cooked with carrots, celery, shallots, garlic, and baby potatoes. The recipe makes six servings and includes an optional gravy made from the cooking liquid. Slice the finished pork and arrange the vegetables alongside it for a hearty dinner that needs little extra work once the slow cooker has finished.
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Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers
Soft bell peppers and savory sausage give Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers the familiar flavors of a classic family dinner with less time spent watching the stove. Sausage links cook with bell peppers, onions, and a tomato-based sauce until the vegetables soften and the flavors come together. Serve the mixture in sandwich rolls for a simple handheld dinner, or spoon it over pasta when you want something more substantial. Either option makes good use of the slow cooker on an afternoon when there are plenty of other things to finish.
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Slow Cooker German Pot Roast
Tangy mustard gravy and tender beef make Slow Cooker German Pot Roast a filling dinner when your schedule leaves little time for cooking later in the day. Chuck roast cooks with bacon, onions, dill pickles, German beer, mustard, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and red cabbage. The recipe makes six servings, with the vegetables cooking alongside the meat. Sour cream is added to the sauce for a richer finish. Slice the beef and spoon the vegetables and gravy onto each plate for a complete dinner with fewer last-minute tasks.
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Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole
A hearty layer of ground beef and vegetables beneath a tater tot topping makes Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole an easy dinner to portion out after a packed afternoon. Browned ground beef is combined with corn, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream, cheddar cheese, onions, and seasonings before the frozen tater tots are arranged on top. The recipe makes six servings and cooks in the slow cooker. Serve it straight from the pot, with optional green onions or a little extra sour cream added to individual portions.
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Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken
Tender shredded chicken in a buttery, tangy gravy makes Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken an easy main dish to serve in several different ways. Chicken breasts cook with onion, chicken gravy mix, ranch dressing mix, pepperoncini peppers, their pickling liquid, and butter. The recipe makes six servings, and the chicken is shredded into its cooking liquid before serving. Spoon it over mashed potatoes or rice for a hearty dinner, or use the shredded meat in sandwiches when you need something that can be assembled quickly.
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Slow-Cooker Pork Chile Verde
A rich green chile sauce coating tender shredded pork gives Slow-Cooker Pork Chile Verde a flavorful finish without requiring hours of active cooking. Pork shoulder simmers with salsa verde, green chilies, onion, chicken broth, cumin, oregano, cinnamon, and cilantro until it pulls apart easily. The recipe makes six servings, and the shredded pork is returned to the sauce before serving. Spoon it over rice, fill warm tortillas, or serve it with a little sour cream for a filling meal after a long day.
Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Chile Verde