What I look for in kitchen projects are uncomplicated and tasty meals, and that is why I find the slow cooker such a delightful tool. The 15 dinner ideas that follow all feature the slow cooker as the main cooking method, and believe me, these are not your average nondescript slow-cooked dinners.
I have listed each recipe with its main ingredients, and a couple of them have such long cook times I’ve noted them as “bonus recipes.” After that, they’re largely self-explanatory. Enjoy!
The 15 Best Crockpot Dinner ideas
1. Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
Crockpot Chicken Alfredo is an easy dinner idea. You take chicken breasts, heavy cream, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, blend those ingredients together, and pour the result over fettuccine pasta.
To me, that sounds an awful lot like pasta with a white sauce, which is comforting and also the kind of recipe my sister used to make when we were living together during college.
Ingredients
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup chicken broth
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
8 oz fettuccine pasta
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Put the chicken breasts in the bottom of the Crockpot. Season them with salt and pepper.
2. Combine gently the heavy cream, chicken broth, and garlic with the chicken.
3. Cook on low for 4 to 5 hours, or until the chicken is tender and cooked through. Cover and
4. About 30 minutes before serving, add the fettuccine pasta and Parmesan cheese. Stir to ensure the pasta is submerged in the sauce. Cover and cook until the pasta is al dente. Shred the chicken and mix well before serving.
2. Crockpot Beef Stroganoff
Crockpot Beef Stroganoff is one of my favorite forms of comfort food and is certainly one of the best crockpot dinner ideas. It combines beef stew meat, chopped onions, and sliced (or chopped) mushrooms with beef broth and Worcestershire sauce and finishes with creamy sour cream.
Who wouldn’t love that?
Ingredients
2 pounds of beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
1 onion, chopped
2 cups of beef broth
2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
8 ounces of sliced mushrooms
1 cup sour cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Put the beef stew meat, diced onion, and sliced mushrooms into the crockpot. Season with salt and pepper.
2. Over the meat and vegetables, pour the broth and Worcestershire sauce.
3. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or until the beef is tender. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or until the beef is tender.
4. Stir in the sour cream about 30 minutes before serving. If desired, serve over cooked egg noodles or rice.
3. Crockpot Taco Soup
I love how Taco Soup from the Crockpot turns basic ingredients—like ground beef, black beans, corn, and diced tomatoes with green chilies—into such a hearty meal. It’s one of my top ideas for a warm, cozy, slow-cooked dinner.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 (15-ounce) can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 (15-ounce) can of corn, drained
1 (15-ounce) can of diced tomatoes with green chilies
1 packet taco seasoning mix
1 package ranch dressing mix
2 cups beef broth
Instructions
1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked, then drain the excess fat.
2. Put the cooked beef in the Crockpot. Add the black beans, the corn, the diced tomatoes with green chilies, the taco seasoning, and the ranch dressing mix.
3. Add the beef broth and stir all the components together so that they are well combined.
4. Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 3 to 4 hours. Cover and serve hot. Enjoy!
4. Crockpot Pot Roast
Crockpot Pot Roast is a dish that I find to be both comforting and hearty. When it comes to exploring dinner ideas involving the slow cooker, this one seems hard to beat.
The ingredients—beef chuck roast, carrots, baby potatoes, and onions—are brought together with beef broth and Worcestershire sauce.
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds beef chuck roast
4 large carrots, peeled and cut into chunks
1 pound baby potatoes
1 onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
1. Generously apply salt and pepper to the all sides of the beef chuck roast to season it.
2. In an excellent skillet, Sear the roast on all stages until it is brown, then put it in the crockpot.
3. In the crockpot, add the roast and place the carrots, potatoes, onion, and minced garlic around it.
4. The ingredients should have the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce poured over them. Then, you can Cover and cook on low for 8 to 9 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours, until the beef is tender and falls apart easily.
5. Crockpot BBQ Pulled Pork
One of my favorite things to make in my slow cooker is pulled pork. Using a pork shoulder, I cook it all day with a blend of barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and smoked paprika until it’s tender enough to shred.
Then, we put it on top of some hoagie rolls, or slather it on some cornbread, and eat it until we can’t eat anymore.
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder (also known as pork butt)
1 large onion, chopped
1 cup barbecue sauce
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. The pork shoulder should be seasoned with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika before being placed in the crockpot.
2. Chop the onion and add it to the mixture of barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar, and brown sugar. Pour over the pork, covering it with the mixture.
3. Put the lid on the crockpot and set it to low. Allow it to cook for 8 to 10 hours, until the pork has become tender and you can easily shred it with a fork.
4. Take the pork out of the crockpot, shred it using two forks, and return it to the pot to mix with the juices before serving.
6. Crockpot Chili
The straightforwardness of Crockpot Chili is what I love, made as it is with wholesome components such as ground beef, kidney beans, and diced tomatoes. If you are searching for easy Crockpot dinner ideas, let this warm and delightful dish be your guide.
Its rich and robust flavor will satisfy not just you but also any benevolent critters who sniff around your kitchen.
Ingredients
1 pound ground beef
1 can (15 ounces) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (15 ounces) diced tomatoes
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Instructions
1. In a frying pan at medium-high heat, cook the ground beef until it is brown all the way through and fully cooked. Pour off any excess grease.
2. Place the cooked beef in the slow cooker. Next, add the kidney beans, diced tomatoes, onions, garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Stir well to combine all the ingredients.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, covering and stirring occasionally, until thickened and flavorful.
7. Crockpot Lasagna
Crockpot Lasagna is a delicious combination of ground beef or Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and ricotta cheese, with layers of mozzarella, Parmesan, and spinach. It’s one of my favorite easy, comforting dinner ideas that I serve in the colder months.
Ingredients
Ground beef or Italian sausage (1 pound)
Marinara sauce (24 ounces)
Ricotta cheese (15 ounces)
Mozzarella cheese, shredded (2 cups)
Parmesan cheese, grated (½ cup)
Lasagna noodles (uncooked, no-boil)
Spinach, fresh or thawed and drained if frozen (1 cup)
Instructions
1. In a skillet, brown the ground beef or Italian sausage over medium heat until thoroughly cooked. Drain the excess fat.
2. In a bowl, combine the ricotta with the spinach; season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce on the bottom of the crockpot. Layer the ingredients as follows: noodles, ricotta-spinach mixture, meat, marinara sauce, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. Repeat the layers until the ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of cheese.
4. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, covering as necessary, until the noodles are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbling. When the time is up, let it rest for 10 minutes before serving.
8. Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings
Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings takes cozy boneless chicken breasts, diced onions, and Campbell’s Cream of Chicken Soup, and stirs them into a delicious meal. This is one of my back-pocket Crockpot ideas, for when I need supper to magically appear.
It uses thyme for seasoning—and, instead of dumplings, I use convenient refrigerated biscuit dough.
Ingredients
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 medium onion, diced
2 cups chicken broth
1 can (
10.5 oz) cream of chicken soup
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 ½ cups frozen mixed vegetables (like peas and carrots)
1 package refrigerated biscuit dough
Instructions
1. Put the chicken breasts in the bottom of the slow cooker and season with salt and pepper if you want. Add the diced onion and thyme on top of the chicken.
2. Over the chicken and onions, pour the chicken broth and cream of chicken soup. Stir gently to combine. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 7 hours.
3. Around 1 hour before serving, take the chicken breasts out of the crockpot, shred them with two forks, and put them back in the crockpot. Add the frozen mixed vegetables and stir well.
4. Tear or cut the cookie dough into small pieces and place them on top of the mixture in the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour, or until the cookie dough is cooked through. Stir gently before serving.
9. Crockpot Stuffed Peppers
Crockpot Stuffed Peppers is an easy meal and a really satisfying dish. It takes bell peppers, ground beef or turkey, and rice to combine them into a really delightful flavor you wouldn’t believe.
That symphony of flavors is really perfect for any sort of dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 large bell peppers
- 1 pound ground beef or turkey
- 1 cup cooked rice
- 1 can (15 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
1. Remove the tops of the bell peppers and take out the seeds and membranes.
2. In a bowl, combine the ground beef, cooked rice, chopped tomatoes, half the cheese, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Fill each pepper with the meat blend and nestle them into the slow cooker.
4. Prepare the dish by cooking it slowly for 6-7 hours or faster for 3-4 hours. When you are about to serve it, take it out and do this step: put cheese on top of the dish and let it melt.
10. Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Crockpot White Chicken Chili is a comforting Crockpot Dinner idea I enjoy. Tender chicken breasts, hearty white beans, savory diced green chiles—this dish has everything you need for a simple, satisfying meal.
Cumin and garlic powder provide all the vibrant flavor that you need.
Ingredients:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 can (15 oz) white beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (4 oz) diced green chiles
2 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
1. Put the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Incorporate the white beans, chopped green chiles, chicken broth, cumin, garlic powder, and onion powder with the chicken.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours, and keep covered.
4. Prior to serving, use two forks to shred the chicken while still in the crockpot and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
11. Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken
Crockpot Honey Garlic Chicken is a delightful, simple crockpot dinner that I adore, starring boneless chicken breasts, honey, soy sauce, ketchup, and garlic. It’s a terrific meal when you want something light and full of flavor that doesn’t require much work.
Ingredients
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/3 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup ketchup
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
1. Put the chicken breasts in the bottom of your crockpot in a single layer.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, basil, and pepper. Pour over the chicken.
3. Place the lid on the slow cooker and set it to low for 4-5 hours, or until the chicken is fully cooked and tender. If you want a thicker sauce, you can remove the chicken and simmer the sauce on the stove until it reaches the desired thickness. Then, pour it over the chicken and serve.
12. Crockpot Chicken Fajitas
I adore how Chicken Fajitas from the Crockpot blend succulent chicken breasts, vibrant bell peppers, and sweet onions with taco seasoning and diced tomatoes, serving up an effortless dinner idea. A splash of lime juice at the end brightens the whole dish.
Ingredients
Chicken breasts (about
1.5 lbs)
Bell peppers (any color), sliced
Onion, sliced
Taco seasoning mix (1 packet)
Diced tomatoes (1 can, 15 oz)
Garlic, minced (2 cloves)
Lime juice (from 1 lime)
Instructions
1. Put the chicken breasts at the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Sliced bell peppers, onion, garlic, and taco seasoning mix go on top of the chicken.
3. Over the ingredients, pour the diced tomatoes; then drizzle with lime juice.
4. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked and tender. Shred the chicken and combine well before serving.
13. Crockpot Jambalaya
How effortlessly does Crockpot Jambalaya bring together boneless chicken, smoked sausage, and green bell pepper in a rich, tomato broth? It’s one of my top three go-to Crockpot dinners and a flavorful, easy weeknight meal that I can always rely on.
Ingredients
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
1 pound smoked sausage, sliced
1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup chicken broth
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
2 cups cooked white rice (added later)
Instructions
1. In a slow cooker, combine the chicken, sausage, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, chopped green bell pepper, and Cajun seasoning.
2. Cook on low for 4-5 hours or until the chicken is completely done and the flavors are nicely mixed. Be sure to cover the dish.
3. Stir in the cooked white rice about 30 minutes before serving. Cover and cook until heated through.
4. Enjoy your delicious jambalaya that you made in your crockpot! Serve hot!
14. Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup
This creamy Crockpot Broccoli Cheese Soup is made with broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, and vegetable broth, and it couldn’t be more perfect for my cozy evening dinners. I love the addition of this soup to my Crockpot dinner ideas, because it’s just so utterly comforting!
Ingredients
Broccoli florets, chopped (3 cups)
Cheddar cheese, shredded (2 cups)
Vegetable broth (4 cups)
Onion, chopped (1 medium)
Garlic, minced (2 cloves)
Heavy cream (1 cup)
Butter (2 tablespoons)
Instructions
1. In a slow cooker, mix the chopped broccoli, the shredded cheddar cheese, the vegetable broth, the chopped onion, and the minced garlic.
2. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours until the broccoli is soft and tender.
3. For the last half hour of cooking, you will need to stir in the heavy cream and butter. They should heat through and thicken slightly before serving.
4. Using an immersion blender, blend the soup to your desired consistency before serving.
15. Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken
Crockpot Teriyaki Chicken is an effortless and delicious blend of skinless, boneless chicken breasts and the timeless Teriyaki duo of soy sauce and honey. Add to that some vinegar, garlic, and ginger, and you get a perfect sauce for a slow-cooked, Asian-inspired meal.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 cup soy sauce
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1/4 cup rice vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 1/4 cup water
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Instructions
1. The chicken breasts belong at the bottom of the crockpot.
2. In a bowl, combine the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, and grated ginger with water. This should equal about
1.5 cups of liquid. Pour the mixture over the chicken laid out in a single layer in the pan.
3. Cook the chicken for 4-5 hours on low. Cover the cooker and secure it to keep the moisture in. Uncover once during cooking only if necessary. Testing for doneness: Chicken is done when the meat is no longer pink and the juices run clear.
4. Take the chicken from the crockpot, shred it using two forks, and return it to the pot. Stir well to coat the shredded chicken with the sauce before serving.
