20+ Easy Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes That Practically Cook Themselves

When it comes to weeknight dinners, nothing beats the slow cooker. You toss everything in, walk away, and come back to something that smells incredible and tastes even better. No babysitting. No stovetop stress. Just real food, cooked low and slow, with bold flavor built right in.

This list has it all. Rich beef stews, tender pulled pork, creamy pastas, and chicken recipes that actually live up to the hype. Feeding a hungry crew? Or you want leftovers that taste amazing? We have you totally covered. These recipes are easy. They’re reliable. And they’re packed with the kind of flavor that tastes like you spent hours—but you didn’t.

From internet-famous pot roast to honey garlic chicken that clings to your fork. Every one of these slow cooker recipes is tested, approved, and worth repeating.

Let’s get to it—dinner’s basically already done.

A little history

The slow cooker’s roots go back to a bowl of cholent and a smart inventor named Irving Naxon. Inspired by his mother’s stories of slow-cooked Sabbath stews, Naxon filed a patent in 1936 for an electric countertop cooker. Granted in 1940, it was named the “Naxon Beanery”. It was a simple, self-regulating cooker that was originally aimed at lunch counters and coffee shops, not home kitchens.

It was built for beans—but the idea was bigger.

In 1970, Rival Manufacturing acquired the rights to the slow cooker – lucky them! They brought in home economists to refine the design and began creating full meal recipes. They wanted to broaden its appeal. Then they gave the cooker a serious upgrade. At the 1971 National Housewares Show, the redesigned appliance made its debut as the “Crock-Pot.” It was no longer just a bean cooker—it was now a tool for full, fuss-free meals. By 1975, annual sales exploded from $2 million to $93 million. Families loved it because it worked: toss everything in before work, come home to dinner done.

Things did slow down in the microwave era, but not for long – Yuk! However, the 2000s brought food blogs, Pinterest, and a renewed obsession with homemade meals—and the Crock-Pot came roaring back. Suddenly, it wasn’t just for pot roast. It was made for creamy pastas, shredded chicken tacos, and viral hits that lit up the internet. People were all in on the flavor, the ease, and the freedom to walk away while it did the work.

So yeah, the slow cooker has come a long way—from Sabbath stews to social media stardom. And with good reason—it packs serious flavor with almost zero effort.And it’s still sitting proudly on counters today, just waiting to make dinner a little easier.

Not Sure Where To Start?
Try the Mississippi Pot Roast (5 ingredients, total knockout), or go straight for the Honey Garlic Chicken—sticky, bold, and made for leftovers.

1. Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken

Tender, golden-seared chicken simmered in a rich, creamy garlic-Parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes? Yeah, this dish lives up to the hype—and might just win you a proposal.

This slow cooker version of the viral favorite brings all the indulgence of the original with none of the stovetop juggling. The trick? A quick sear to lock in flavor, then a long, gentle cook in a dreamy sauce made with heavy cream, garlic, Italian herbs, and just the right kiss of heat from red pepper flakes. Oh, and don’t skip the sun-dried tomatoes—they’re the flavor bomb that makes this dish unforgettable.

Serve it over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice—anything that’ll soak up that sauce. This is one of those slow cooker recipes that feels like a special occasion, even on a weeknight.

Pro Tip: If your slow cooker runs hot, wait to add the cream until the last 30 minutes to keep the sauce smooth and silky.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crock Pot Marry Me Chicken

2. Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

Creamy. Cheesy. Packed with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh spinach. This Crockpot Tuscan Chicken is the flavor-packed Italian-inspired dinner that tastes like it came from a trattoria—but it’s made right in your slow cooker.

With just 10 minutes of prep, the chicken simmers low and slow in a rich cream sauce infused with garlic, herbs, Parmesan, and those signature sweet-tart tomatoes. By the time dinner rolls around, you’ve got juicy, fork-tender chicken and a velvety sauce that’s begging to be spooned over pasta, mashed potatoes, or rice.

Pro Tip: The sauce may look like it’s separating while cooking—don’t stress. A quick stir at the end brings it back to a silky, restaurant-worthy finish.

Bonus: You can swap in boneless thighs for even more flavor, or sub in kale if spinach’s not your thing.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

3. Mississippi Pot Roast (The Internet-Famous Favorite)

If you’ve never made Mississippi Pot Roast, let this be your sign. It’s bold. It’s buttery. It’s ridiculously tender. And it only takes 5 ingredients.

This Southern classic is a dump-and-go legend: chuck roast, ranch seasoning, au jus mix, butter, and pepperoncini peppers. No searing. No broth. Just layer, cover, and let the slow cooker do its thing. Eight hours later? You’ve got fork-tender beef swimming in the most savory, rich, tangy gravy imaginable.

It’s perfect over mashed potatoes, noodles, or even tucked into a crusty roll for the best sandwich of your life.

Pro Tip: Toss in carrots and potatoes during the last hour or two to make it a full one-pot meal.

👉 Get the full recipe: Mississippi Pot Roast

4. Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

Deep, rich, and super full of flavor this one is seriously a winner!! Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon is the French classic made easy, with fork-tender beef, hearty vegetables, and a velvety red wine sauce that tastes like it simmered all day (because it did).

You’ll start by crisping up some bacon (already winning), then searing beef chunks to lock in all that meaty goodness. From there, it’s into the slow cooker with red wine, tomato sauce, mushrooms, carrots, and baby potatoes. What comes out hours later is fall-apart beef in the most luxurious gravy imaginable.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the wine—it’s the secret to that deep, restaurant-style flavor. And yes, it cooks out completely.

Serve over mashed potatoes or a hunk of crusty bread for full French countryside vibes.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Bourguignon

5. Mom’s Slow Cooker Beef Stew

This is the stew you grew up on—but way better. Literally fall-apart beef, soft potatoes and Carrots. Broth that hits on all cylinders. It’s deep, savory, and comes at you in all the right ways. It’s the kind you want to sip with a spoon when no one’s looking.

The secret’s in the little things: a splash of red wine, a few shakes of Worcestershire, and just enough balsamic to make it all go a bit deeper. It simmers all day, and by dinner, you’ve got beef that practically melts and a stew that tastes like it cooked in your grandma’s kitchen.

Pro Tip: Sear the beef first. It matters. That crust locks in flavor you can’t fake. Serve with cornbread or a crusty hunk of bread—and go heavy on the stew.

👉 Get the full recipe: Mom’s Slow Cooker Beef Stew

6. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Takeout style, made way better at home. This sweet and savory chicken basically slow-cooks itself in a sticky, garlicky sauce that clings and clings and clings… We’re talkin’ juicy thighs (or breasts), simmered low and slow in soy sauce, honey, garlic, chili paste, and a splash of vinegar to wake it all up.

You end up with fall-apart chicken in a sauce that’s glossy, bold, and hits that perfect salty-sweet balance. Pile it over rice, top with scallions and sesame seeds, and call it dinner. It’s meal-prep gold and leftovers reheat like a dream.

Pro Tip: Want that sauce thick and glossy? Whisk in cornstarch at the end and give it time—it’s worth it.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

7. Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

Creamy, dreamy, and straight-up irresistible. This slow-cooked chicken is bathed in a parmesan garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and a splash of broth to pull it all together. It’s rich, savory, and laced with that subtle tang from the tomatoes that makes everything pop.

The chicken cooks low and slow until juicy and tender, then you stir in fresh spinach at the end for a little green and a lot of flavor. Serve it over pasta, mashed potatoes, or whatever you’ve got—it’s the kind of sauce you’ll want to chase around the plate.

Pro Tip: Want it extra YEAH!? Use thighs instead of breasts—they stay nice and juicy and soak up the sauce like a sponge.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

8. Crockpot Chicken Tacos

The easiest taco night you’ll ever have. These shredded chicken tacos basically make themselves—just toss chicken, salsa, Rotel, taco seasoning, and onion into the slow cooker and walk away. A few hours later? You’ve got juicy, pull-apart chicken packed with flavor and ready to stuff into warm tortillas.

It’s perfect for more than just tacos, too. Pile it onto nachos, throw it in burritos, or make a big taco salad bowl. Leftovers freeze wicked ( I’m from Boston!!) easily, so go for it and make a double batch.

Pro Tip: Use homemade taco seasoning if you can—it makes a big difference. And don’t skimp on toppings. Think: guac, jalapeños, shredded cheese, all the things.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Chicken Tacos

9. Crockpot Chicken & Gravy

Three ingredients. Five minutes of effort. That’s it. This creamy, decadent chicken and gravy is the weeknight dinner you actually have time for. Toss chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, and gravy mix into the slow cooker and let it do its thing. By dinner, you’ve got fork-tender chicken in a silky gravy that’s begging to be spooned over rice, mashed potatoes, or buttered noodles.

It’s rich. It’s hearty. It’s the kind of meal your whole crew will devour without a second thought—and yes, it makes killer leftovers too.

Pro Tip: Use a splash of broth if you want a thinner gravy. And don’t sleep on the Texas toast option. Go for it!

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Chicken & Gravy

10. Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

This one’s sticky, savory, and packed with flavor. Chicken slow-cooks in a garlicky-sweet Asian-style sauce with soy, honey, hoisin, and a just a bit of heat from sriracha. It’s got depth from rice vinegar, toasted sesame oil, and fresh ginger—and it thickens into an awesome glaze you’ll want to drizzle over everything.

Serve it over rice, in lettuce wraps, or serve it on noodles. The shredded chicken soaks it all up, and leftovers? Even better the next day.

Pro Tip: Thicken the sauce in a saucepan at the end for that restaurant-level finish. Don’t skip the scallions and sesame seeds—they bring it home.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

11. Crockpot Pork Roast with Potatoes & Carrots

This is that Sunday-dinner-on-a-Wednesday kind of meal. We’re talking seared pork shoulder slow-cooked to fall-apart perfection, nestled in with tender potatoes, chunky carrots, and all that flavor dripping into a rich, herb-laced gravy.

The whole thing cooks low and slow in broth, white wine, garlic, Dijon, and pantry herbs. What you end up with is a perfect, one-pot meal that tastes like it took hours (because it did)—but it only takes 20 minutes to throw together.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the sear. It’s what locks in the magic. And thicken that gravy at the end—it’s next level over smashed potatoes or crusty bread.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Pork Roast with Potatoes & Carrots

12. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

This is the pulled pork you dream about—fall-apart tender, packed with flavor, and stupid easy to make. Just rub it down with paprika, cumin, oregano, salt and pepper, then let the slow cooker work its magic with garlic, onion, and a splash of orange juice for depth.

After 8 hours on low, the pork practically shreds itself. Juicy, savory, and loaded with that perfect balance of spice and richness. Stuff it in tacos, pile it onto buns, spoon it over mashed potatoes… there’s no wrong move here.

Pro Tip: Save the juices. Stir some back into the shredded pork or simmer them into a sauce for extra flavor bomb action.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

13. Slow Cooker Pork Loin (Fall-Apart Tender)

This is exactly that melt-in-your-mouth kind of pork! Perfect? Maybe. The kind that soaks up every bit of garlicky, tangy-sweet sauce and then… just falls apart. Seared pork loin slow-cooked in a mix of broth, soy, balsamic, honey, and garlic—then finished with a swirl of butter for extra smooth and EXTRA richness.

The flavor? Deep. Savory. Then, just enough sweetness to keep things interesting. It’s perfect over mashed potatoes, but don’t skip stuffing it into a wrap, tacos, or a sandwich piled high with slaw.

Pro Tip: Sear the pork first—it locks in flavor and makes everything taste 10x better. And don’t skip the sauce at the end. It’s gold.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Loin (Fall-Apart Tender)

14. Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

This is that real-deal, tangy-sweet, fall-apart pulled pork. Classic Texas style. Pork shoulder slow-cooks low and slow – perfectly slow! BBQ sauce, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, and spices make it! In the end, yep, its so juicy and tender it basically shreds itself.

Pile it high onto toasted buttered buns. Drizzle a little extra sauce over the top, and just try not to demolish it in 30 seconds flat. Leftovers (if you’re lucky enough to have any) make killer nachos, tacos, or burritos the next day.

Pro Tip: Toast those buns in butter. Non-negotiable. And spoon a little of the cooking juices over the shredded pork before serving. Maximum flavor bomb.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Texas Pulled Pork

15. Slow Cooker Honey Butter Pork Loin

Pork loin, but make it outrageous. This is slow-cooked pork at its absolute finest. It’s seared golden brown, then simmered low and slow in a rich honey-butter-garlic sauce. Then, that delicious sauce turns sticky, glossy, and straight-up irresistible. It’s buttery. It’s garlicky. It’s  sweet. It’s savory, and just enough twang to make it perfect!!

Slice it thick and drown it in that liquid gold. Serve it with potatoes, bread, veggies—whatever you want, just make sure you don’t lose a single drop of that sauce.

Pro Tip: Don’t skip the sear before slow-cooking. It’s what builds that next-level flavor. And reduce the sauce until it’s thick and syrupy—it’s what makes the whole thing unforgettable.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Butter Pork Loin

16. Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta

Pure comfort in a crock pot. This one’s all about tender pasta layered with hearty beef, creamy ricotta and sour cream. Rich marinara, and a crown of gooey mozzarella round it out. It’s all then slow-cooked into cheesy, ooey, gooey deliciousness! It’s rich, cheesy, saucy, and downright impossible to stop eating once you dig in.

No need to pre-boil the pasta—it cooks right in the sauce, soaking up every bit of flavor. It’s the kind of stick-to-your-ribs pasta bake you’ll want to make again (and again).

Pro Tip: Don’t over-stir while it’s cooking. Let the layers do their thing, then give it a gentle stir before topping with cheese.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crock Pot Million Dollar Pasta

17. Crockpot Pasta

Pasta night just leveled up. This is slow-cooked, super cheesy pasta the way you really want it!!
Penne layered with rich marinara, creamy ricotta, and melty mozzarella. Then a hearty mix of sautéed mushrooms, peppers, and spinach is cooked low and slow – all together! When done, yup! It’s saucy, cheesy, and completely irresistible.

This is loaded with gooey cheese pulls and bold tomato flavor. There is a perfect hit of savory roasted veggies. Honestly, just pure pasta bliss, straight from the crockpot.

Pro Tip: Pick a thick, bold sauce like roasted garlic or tomato basil. It’s going to soak into the pasta and brings all the flavors to life

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Pasta

18. Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

This is that saucy, cheesy, bubbling pasta bake—but made easy. Everything happens right in the crockpot. No boiling noodles. No layering trays. Just beefy marinara, tender penne (or ziti), and a molten crown of mozzarella. The pasta soaks up all that rich, garlicky tomato flavor as it cooks. In the end, the whole thing turns into a melty, meaty, stick-to-your-fork masterpiece!

It’s weeknight-friendly but tastes like you went full Italian nonna. And leftovers? Even better the next day.

Pro Tip: Stir once, gently. That’s it. Then let the cheese melt on top for that ooey-gooey finish you can’t stop scooping.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

19. Slow Cooker Taco Pasta

It’s taco night… but make it pasta. This crockpot mashup is everything you love. Bold taco flavor, cheesy shells, and hearty ground beef. All slow-simmered into one ridiculously satisfying bowl. There’s just the right amount of spice, a touch of sweetness from the corn, and loads of melty cheddar stirred in at the end to tie it all together.

It’s got a Tex-Mex vibe with the ease of a dump-and-go weeknight dinner. No boiling, no stress—just beefy, saucy, cheesy goodness with a taco twist.

Pro Tip: Want to level it up? Crumble in some tortilla chips, spoon on sour cream, maybe even a squeeze of lime if you’re feeling fancy. This one’s begging for toppings.

👉 Get the full recipe: Slow Cooker Taco Pasta

20. Crockpot Parmesan Garlic Chicken Pasta

This is your lazy Sunday pasta fix in full force. Juicy chicken breasts slow-cooked in a pool of creamy, garlicky parmesan sauce. Then we toss in tender pasta and stir it all together with melty cream cheese, shredded parm. We end a final sprinkle of parsley and red pepper flakes.

It’s rich, it’s cheesy, and it tastes like Alfredo with a punch of garlic. Think creamy chicken pasta meets Italian takeout… But it cooked itself while you were out living life. DONE!! Serve with a crusty baguette and go in heavy on the sauce.

Pro Tip: Want an extra pop? Add a splash of lemon juice before serving to brighten up all that creamy goodness.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Parmesan Garlic Chicken Pasta.

BONUS: 21. Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Creamy chicken soup, but taken up ten notches. Tender shredded chicken, pillowy gnocchi, sweet carrots, celery, onions, and spinach. Lions, tigers and bears anyone?? All slow-simmered in a thick, rich broth that’s silky without being heavy.

It’s creamy. It’s savory. It’s packed with flavor. The gnocchi are going to soak it all up !

Finish it with a handful of crispy bacon and a crack of black pepper. Serve it with a pile of warm bread and call it a day.

Pro Tip: Let the gnocchi cook right in the soup so it soaks up all the flavor. And stir in the bacon and spinach right at the end so they stay crisp and bright.

👉 Get the full recipe: Crockpot Chicken Gnocchi Soup

Add this World’s Best Chili to your slow cooker lineup—deep flavors and minimal effort