Looking for the best Crockpot recipes to make in your slow cooker? You're going to love these easy family favorites!
Easy AND Delicious Crockpot Recipes
Looking for some of the most delicious crockpot recipes on the planet? You're in the right place, friend!
Getting my family around the table for dinner has become a big deal at our house. I love catching up with my kids and hubby, and have learned that our home is simply happier when yummy meals are planned and prepped ahead of time.
While I could probably take or leave a big fancy dinner myself, my family walks through the door almost every night shouting “what's for dinner tonight?!”
But with our crazy schedules it's hard to make that happen on busy nights. That's why crockpot meals are so handy and why I have SO STINKIN' MANY go-to crockpot recipes in my arsenal! I just love that I can make them early in the morning, and know that dinner is done.
And especially during the last year or so while we've all been eating at home even more, having simple meals prepared just made a stressful season a wee bit brighter.
Easy Crockpot Meals Eliminate Supper Time Stress
Thankfully, when my kids were tiny I realized that crockpot recipes were fast, low maintenance, and E-A-S-Y. Sadly though, a lot of crockpot recipes that I tried just didn't taste all that yummy, so I made it my life's mission to test and rate almost every single crockpot recipe on the planet.
Some have been amazing.
Some have been awful.
But I've pulled together the best ever crockpot recipes that we've consistently used over the years into one happy list. These crock pot meals are full of delicious dinners with easy slow cooker recipes and dinners that your family will really ENJOY eating.
In fact, as I was pulling these recipes out to share with you, so many feel like cozy old friends who I can't wait to bring back to our table again.
They're simple, frugal, and oh-so-cozy to come home to on crazy busy nights.
Scroll down to check out several of my family's all-time favorites – but if you REALLY want to make crockpot meal planning easy…. pick up my Slow Cooker Menu Plans here!
We have the Slow Cooker Menu Planning Box and the Slow Cooker Volume 2 Menu Planning Box in stock now. Either one will be a HUGE blessing to your family and your grocery budget ~ I just know it!
These slow cooker recipes have all been kid/hubby tested and everyone-approved – they'll make your life easier and help you make family meal times more doable.
The Slow Cooker Menu Plan includes:
- 12 Weeks of Slow Cooker Recipes
- 12 Slow Cooker Desserts
- Weekly Shopping Lists
- Editable Recipe Cards
- PPP Supper Club Community Membership (Eeek! This *might* be the best part! I just love this sweet group!)
==>> GET YOURS HERE! <<==
Here are the BEST Crockpot Recipes We've Tested
Crockpot Chicken Recipes
Crockpot Chicken & Dumplings – such a simple recipe but TOTAL comfort food!
Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
Slow Cooker Chicken Lemon Orzo Soup
Crockpot Beef Recipes
Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches
Slow Cooker Taco Meat (It's crazy how easy the slow cooker version of Taco Meat is – great for Walking Tacos too!)
Slow Cooker Nachos with Ground Beef (These pictures are OLD, but the recipe is good. This slow cooker beef is just melt in your mouth good. Top with some sour cream and toppings)
Crockpot Pork Recipes
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe (This is written as a make-ahead freezer meal – but just follow the “Day Of” instructions if making it today!)
More Slow Cooker Recipes:
Hard Boiled Eggs in the Slow Cooker
This is just a little peek at some family favorite crockpot recipes – but see LOADS more of my past slow cooker recipes I've posted over the last 10 years here!! (Just give me grace on some of those older photos please – yikes I definitely have learned more about food photography since I started forever ago!)
Or just pick up my Slow Cooker Meal Plan with 60 AMAZING Recipes + 12 Desserts! Also included is a shopping list for each of the 12 weeks and a private Facebook group to cheer you on! Take a peek over HERE!
Crocktober Slow Cooker Recipes Challenge
EVERY October I cook 20 crockpot recipes in 20 days – all in a row – and we call it CROCK-TOBER!
This was all from 2020, but we will be doing this again for 2021. This info will give you a good idea of what to expect once we get started with Crocktober this year!
You can watch me cooking in my slow cooker every morning at 9:30 AM EST and prep your dinner in your slow cooker with me from home. (Isn't it just the BEST feeling when you get close to dinner time and you realize all the work is done?)
👉 Go here to follow along with our Crocktober Slow Cooking Challenge! I'll be making a new recipe from the Slow Cooker Volume 2 Menu Plan every day using (you guessed it) Mrs. Potts 🙂
To join the Crocktober Challenge:
1 . Purchase either the Slow Cooker Volume 2 Menu Plan Recipe Box or the Slow Cooker Volume 2 Menu Plan PDF
2 . We'll be cooking meals from Weeks 5 – 8 of the Slow Cooker Volume 2 Meal Plan – so you can follow along
3 . Grocery Shopping lists are included so you can pick up everything ahead of time, easy peasy.
What's the Best Crockpot To Buy?
First of all – a slow cooker is the same thing as a crockpot – so don't feel like you need to buy the brand crock-pot to get a good one. Hamilton Beach, Black & Decker, Cuisinart, West Bend and many other companies make quality slow cookers as well! When you're making crockpot recipes, you want to make sure you have a cooker that meets your needs – here are some good
Best recommendations for the best crockpots to buy.
Best Basic Slow Cooker
This Hamilton Beach 6 Quart Slow Cooker is a great beginner slow cooker – it has good 6 Quart Capacity, no crazy bells and whistles, and is a trusted name in slow cooking.
Best Small Slow Cooker
If you're looking for a small slow cooker to make recipes for 2-4 people, you can't go wrong with the Crock-Pot Round Slowcooker 4.5 Qt Manual Slow Cooker. It's under $20 at Target right now!
Best Large Slow Cooker
This spacious 8-Quart Crockpot is perfect for cooking for a crowd –although this Beautiful 8 Qt Slow Cooker at Walmart is so pretty AND has a spoonrest!
Best Programmable Slow Cooker
The Crock-Pot 6-Q Programmable Cook & Carry Slow Cooker is the one I use most days (Except mine's an older model) and I LOVE it! It's got the same portable features as the Cook & Carry (below) – but it's also PROGRAMMABLE. I love the extra feature of being able to program it to change over to low heat after a couple hours. I feel like it's the most well rounded crockpot!
Best Portable Slow Cooker
The Crock-Pot 6 Qt Cook & Carry Slow Cooker is really practical & big enough for almost any potluck recipe you can imagine. (The new design is beautiful too!) Take it on the road without worrying about spills. I have owned and loved this crock pot and so has PPP Team Member Jamie!
Slow Cooker That Sautes (and bakes!)
- Ninja Possible Pan – Our whole team is curiously eyeing this beautiful gal – let us know if you've tried it!
- Instant Pot Aura – does several things in one
- Ninja Foodi 11-in-1 – does all the same slow cooker and stovetop functions – but includes air fryer and pressure cooker functions as well.
- Crockpot 3-in-1 – Sautes, Slow cooks and Bakes
You can check out the 6 Slow Cookers we love!
Slow Cooker Tips I've Learned Over the Years
Crockpot Food Layering
When putting ingredients in the slow cooker as you make your crockpot recipes – this is a general rule of thumb to follow:
- Root Veggies (i.e. Carrots, Potatoes, Onions)
- Meat
- Seasonings
- OTHER Veggies
- Liquid
Low Heat vs High Heat in Slow Cooker Recipes
When cooking on low, 8 hours is a good rule of thumb. When cooking on high – 4-5 hours should do it.
Be aware that newer slow cookers seem to cook hotter than older models. And all-in-one air fryers that also slow cook – those tend to cook LOWER than normal crock pots. So much so you may need to count on an extra hour or so to get done.
For more tips – see my 15 Slow Cooker Secrets Here!
Brenda says
Laurie which is your favorite crockpot and then second one?
Ruby says
I have the slow cooker tin. I just need a really big one to put all my recipes into. I like all together not separate because I open one and can have it divided into sections. I hope you make a large narrow one soon.
Thank you
Sarah says
Do you prefer the crockpot over the slow cook cycle on the instant pot? I have both. I am just curious to hear your opinion.
Laurie says
Hi Sarah! I’ve honestly never tried the slow cook option on my instant pot because I love my crockpot so much (and am a little intimidated by the instant pot). I’ve heard folks love them though – so I’m sure the slow cooker option on your instant pot would work!
Ruby says
Oh my the 3 in 1 is not available on Amazon an mine died! died! I had to say goodbye.
I hope it comes back soon