10+ Best Crockpot Recipes for Easy and Delicious Meals

Using a crockpot really does make cooking way easier and saves so much time. You prep in the morning, set it, and by dinner, there’s a warm meal waiting.

The best crockpot recipes? They’re simple, need just a handful of ingredients, and let you have home-cooked food with almost no hassle.

Crockpot cooking works for all sorts of dishes—soups, stews, meats, even desserts. You don’t have to stand there stirring or babysitting the pot.

Honestly, it just fits into a busy life. With the right recipes, you can eat well every night.

1) Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

This one’s so easy and just feels like comfort in a bowl. You cook tender chicken in a creamy sauce right in your slow cooker.

Soft dumplings made from biscuit dough cook on top, soaking up all that flavor. There’s no need to fuss—just toss in the ingredients and let the crockpot do its thing.

Add in veggies like carrots, celery, and onions for extra flavor and some nutrition. The slow cooker really helps everything meld together.

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 stalks celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• 1 cup chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tube refrigerated biscuit dough

Cooking Instructions

1. Place onion, celery, and carrots in the bottom of the crockpot.
2. Put chicken breasts on top.
3. Pour in soups and chicken broth, then season.
4. Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. About 30 minutes before serving, break biscuit dough into pieces and add on top.
6. Cover and cook until the dough is soft and cooked through.
7. Stir gently before serving.

For a detailed slow cooker version, check Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings Recipe.

2) Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Butter chicken in the slow cooker? It’s honestly one of the easiest ways to get that creamy, flavorful dish. Just combine chicken, spices, tomato sauce, butter, and a splash of cream.

Let it cook slow until the chicken’s tender and everything’s blended together. You can cook it on low for 4 to 6 hours, or crank it on high if you’re in a hurry.

The chicken should reach 165°F (74°C) before you dig in. Serve it up with rice or naan—can’t go wrong.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup heavy cream or coconut milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ginger, minced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• Salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon sugar

Cooking Instructions

1. Add chicken, tomato sauce, spices, garlic, and ginger to the slow cooker.
2. Scatter butter on top.
3. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 1½-2½ hours.
4. Stir in cream or coconut milk about 15 minutes before serving.
5. Make sure the chicken hits 165°F (74°C) before serving.

You can find more recipes like this at Well Plated’s slow cooker butter chicken.

3) Classic Beef Stroganoff

Beef stroganoff in the crockpot is such a winner. The beef cooks low and slow, turning super tender while the flavors mingle.

You get a creamy dish with mushrooms and onions, just right for serving over noodles. You only need a few basics—beef, broth, sour cream, Worcestershire.

Set it, forget it, and dinner’s ready when you are. The beef turns out soft and the sauce is rich.

Just cook up some noodles and top them with the stroganoff. It’s cozy and filling—hard not to like.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• 1 onion, chopped
• 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 ½ cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 cup sour cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Cooked egg noodles to serve

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the beef in a bit of oil.
2. Add beef, onion, mushrooms, garlic, broth, Worcestershire, and mustard to the crockpot.
3. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours.
4. Stir in sour cream, season to taste.
5. Serve over egg noodles.

4) Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork sandwiches are one of those meals that feel like a treat but take almost no work. Just slow-cook pork shoulder until it’s so tender you can shred it with forks.

The pork soaks up all the seasoning and sauce. Add barbecue sauce before or after cooking—either way, it gets that smoky, tangy flavor.

Serve the pork on toasted buns with coleslaw or pickles for crunch. Making this in the crockpot keeps the meat juicy and frees up your day.

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 pounds pork shoulder
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/2 cup apple juice or broth
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Buns for serving
• Optional: coleslaw

Cooking Instructions:

1. Rub pork with garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Place pork in the crockpot and pour apple juice or broth around it.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours.
4. Remove pork, shred, and mix in barbecue sauce.
5. Serve on toasted buns with coleslaw if you like.

For a full recipe and tips, see this slow cooker Texas pulled pork recipe.

5) Crockpot Chili with Beans

Chili with beans in the crockpot is just about as easy as dinner gets. Perfect for days when you want something hearty but don’t want to stand over the stove.

You can use ground beef or turkey, plus whatever beans you have—pinto, kidney, black beans. The spices are simple but do the trick.

Cooking it low and slow really lets the flavors come together. You can always toss in extra veggies or swap out beans if you feel like experimenting.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds ground beef or turkey
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can pinto beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the meat in a skillet, drain the fat.
2. Add meat, onion, garlic, beans, tomato sauce, and spices to the crockpot.
3. Stir, cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
4. Season with salt and pepper before serving.

For an easy chili recipe with beans, check out this slow cooker chili recipe.

6) Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Pot roast in the slow cooker is a classic for a reason. Start by browning the beef to lock in the juices.

Toss it in with carrots, potatoes, and onion. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder—nothing fancy, just good flavor.

Some folks add onion soup mix or a splash of red wine to boost the taste. Let it cook low and slow until the meat is fall-apart tender.

You end up with a hearty meal and a rich gravy from the juices.

Ingredients:

• 3-4 lbs beef chuck roast
• 4 carrots, peeled and cut
• 4 potatoes, peeled and cut
• 1 onion, sliced
• 1 cup beef broth
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Cooking Instructions:

1. Brown the roast on all sides in olive oil.
2. Place roast in slow cooker.
3. Add carrots, potatoes, onion, and beef broth.
4. Season with salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
5. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5 hours.
6. Remove roast and veggies, and use the juices for gravy if you want.

7) Creamy Green Chili Chicken Bake

Creamy green chili chicken bake is one of those dishes that’s almost too easy for how good it tastes. You get tender, shredded chicken in a creamy, flavorful sauce.

You just mix green chili, cream, and cheese to bring it all together. It’s great for a cozy dinner or sharing with family.

Ingredients

• Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Cream cheese
• Green chili (canned or fresh)
• Shredded cheese (cheddar or Monterey Jack work well)
• Spices (cumin, garlic powder, salt, pepper)

Cooking Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Place chicken breasts in a baking dish.
3. Mix cream cheese, green chili, and spices in a bowl.
4. Spread the mixture over the chicken.
5. Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
6. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until chicken reaches 165°F (74°C).
7. Let rest a few minutes before serving.

8) Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Sweet and sour meatballs are a no-fuss crockpot favorite. Grab some frozen meatballs, whip up a quick sauce, and let the slow cooker take it from there.

The sauce uses pineapple, peppers, and a sweet-tangy mix that gets better as it cooks. Serve over rice or noodles for a meal that’s way tastier than the effort you put in.

Some versions even use grape jelly—sounds odd, but it gives the sauce that smooth, sweet finish. It’s a sneaky way to get big flavor with almost no work.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds frozen meatballs
• 1 cup pineapple chunks
• 1/2 cup bell peppers, chopped
• 1 cup sweet and sour sauce (or homemade mix)
• 1/4 cup grape jelly (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss the frozen meatballs in the crockpot.
2. Add pineapple chunks and those chopped peppers.
3. Pour the sweet and sour sauce and grape jelly right over the top.
4. Give everything a good stir.
5. Let it cook on low for 4-6 hours, or crank it up to high for 2-3 hours if you’re in a hurry.
6. Serve them hot, maybe over rice or noodles—whatever you like.

9) Split Pea Soup with Ham

Split pea soup with ham feels like one of those meals that just hug you from the inside out. It’s simple—just green split peas, ham, and a handful of veggies tossed into your crockpot.

You pile everything in, put the lid on, and let the slow cooker do its thing. No need to hover or fuss.

This soup comes out thick, hearty, and honestly, it’s just what you want on a cold day. It makes killer leftovers too.

Only a bit of chopping stands between you and a warm bowl, so it’s a low-effort win. If you want an easy recipe with barely any prep, check out this slow cooker split pea soup with ham.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups green split peas
• 1 ½ cups diced ham
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 carrots, sliced
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups water
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the split peas in a colander with cold water.
2. Add peas, ham, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, chicken broth, and water to the crockpot.
3. Stir everything together.
4. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours if you can’t wait.
5. Taste, add salt and pepper if you want, and give it a final stir before serving.

10) Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Slow cooker turkey breast is honestly one of the easiest ways I know to get a moist, tender meal on the table. You just need a handful of ingredients and not a lot of fuss.

If you cook turkey breast low and slow, it stays juicy. Toss in some butter or a good garlic herb blend, and it gets a ton of flavor.

You can even finish it off in the oven if you want that crispy skin—definitely worth the extra few minutes. No need to brine, either, which means less waiting around.

Just season the turkey, pop it in the slow cooker, and let it do its thing. Dinner pretty much makes itself.

Ingredients

• 1 boneless turkey breast (3-4 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon dried herbs (rosemary, thyme, or your choice)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Rub turkey breast with butter, garlic, herbs, salt, and pepper.
2. Place in slow cooker, cover.
3. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C).
4. Optional: Broil in oven for 3-5 minutes to crisp skin.
5. Let rest before slicing and serving.

For more details, check this slow cooker turkey breast recipe.