10+ Crockpot Dinner Recipes for Easy, Delicious Weeknight Meals

When you want dinner to be simple and hands-off, crockpot recipes really come through. Just toss in your ingredients, flip the switch, and later—dinner’s ready and hot.

It’s a lifesaver for busy days or when you just can’t be bothered to stand over the stove.

The crockpot lets you make all sorts of dishes with barely any effort. Whether you’re into chicken, beef, or you’d rather go vegetarian, there’s a slow cooker recipe that fits.

1) Crockpot Chicken Curry

Chicken curry in the crockpot is the definition of set-it-and-forget-it comfort food. Just add chicken, some spices, and coconut milk, then let the slow cooker do its thing.

You can use thighs for juicier meat or breasts if you want it leaner. Toss in potatoes, carrots, or peas if you want to bulk it up.

When you get home, the curry is warm and ready to pair with rice or bread.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken thighs or breasts
• 1 can coconut milk
• 3 tablespoons curry powder
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 onion, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: diced potatoes, carrots, or peas

Cooking Instructions

1. Put chicken in the crockpot.
2. Add coconut milk, curry powder, garlic, onion, salt, and pepper.
3. Stir gently.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Add veggies halfway through if you’re using them.
6. Serve hot with rice or bread.

2) Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Pot roast in the slow cooker is classic comfort food. Just set it up in the morning and let it go.

The beef gets super tender and the veggies soak up all that savory flavor. Use a beef chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, and onions.

A bit of broth or even a can of cream of mushroom soup keeps things moist.

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 pounds beef chuck roast
• 4 carrots, peeled and cut
• 4 potatoes, peeled and cut
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Season roast with salt and pepper.
2. Place roast in slow cooker.
3. Add carrots, potatoes, and onion around it.
4. Pour broth and soup (if using) over everything.
5. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
6. Check for tenderness before serving.

3) Butter Chicken in Crockpot

Butter chicken in the crockpot is creamy, rich, and surprisingly easy. You just add chicken, spices, tomato sauce, and butter, then walk away.

Let it cook on low for about 4 to 6 hours or high for 1.5 to 2.5 hours. Make sure the chicken’s cooked through—165°F (74°C) is the goal.

Serve with rice or naan. If you want, toss in some fresh herbs or veggies at the end.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken thighs, boneless and skinless
• 1 cup tomato sauce
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
• 2 teaspoons garam masala
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Put chicken in crockpot.
2. Add tomato sauce, garlic, ginger, and spices.
3. Scatter butter on top.
4. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or high for 1.5-2.5 hours.
5. Make sure chicken hits 165°F (74°C).
6. Stir in heavy cream before serving.

4) Crockpot Chili with Beans

Chili with beans in the crockpot is about as easy as it gets. Dump everything in, let it go, and you’ve got a hearty meal.

Ground beef, beans (kidney or pinto work well), tomatoes, and spices make up the core. The slow cooker melds the flavors and keeps the beans just right.

It takes maybe 20 minutes to prep, then the slow cooker does the rest.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can kidney beans (15 ounces)
• 1 can pinto beans (15 ounces)
• 1 can diced tomatoes (15 ounces)
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili seasoning
• 1 cup tomato sauce

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown beef in a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add onion and garlic, cook 2 minutes.
3. Move beef mixture to crockpot.
4. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, and chili seasoning.
5. Stir everything together.
6. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
7. Serve hot, maybe with cheese or sour cream.

For a detailed slow cooker chili recipe, try this version with ground beef and beans from NatashasKitchen.com.

5) Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Honey garlic chicken thighs are sweet, sticky, and ridiculously easy. The sauce is a mix of honey, soy sauce, garlic, and a bit of ketchup for tang.

Boneless, skinless chicken thighs work best—they stay juicy and soak up the flavors.

Serve with rice or veggies. It’s a solid weeknight option when you want something that tastes like you tried harder than you did.

Ingredients

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup ketchup
• ⅓ cup honey
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried basil (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Put chicken thighs in the crockpot.
2. Mix soy sauce, ketchup, honey, garlic, and basil in a bowl.
3. Pour sauce over chicken.
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
5. Serve warm with whatever sides you like.

Try this recipe for an easy and flavorful dinner. For more details, check Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs.

6) Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Pulled pork in the slow cooker is about as low-effort as dinner gets. Season a pork shoulder, toss it in, and pour over a simple sauce.

Cook it on low for 8 hours or high for 5-6. The pork turns fall-apart tender and shreds with almost no effort.

Use it for sandwiches, tacos, or just pile it on a plate with some sides. You can tweak the flavors—try garlic, vinegar, or barbecue sauce.

Ingredients

• 3-4 lbs pork shoulder
• Salt and pepper
• 1 cup ketchup or barbecue sauce
• 1 tbsp vinegar
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Cooking Instructions

1. Season pork shoulder with salt and pepper.
2. Place pork in slow cooker.
3. Pour ketchup, vinegar, and garlic powder over the top.
4. Cook on low for 8 hours or high for 5-6 hours.
5. Shred with two forks before serving.

Learn more about making slow cooker pulled pork.

7) Dump and Go Ranch Chicken

Dump and go ranch chicken is a lifesaver on busy nights. Just throw a few things in the crockpot—no chopping, no hassle.

Chicken cooks with ranch seasoning, cream of chicken soup, and butter. It gets creamy and flavorful, no extra steps needed.

Serve it over rice or with veggies. The simplicity is kind of the point.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 4 tablespoons butter

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle ranch seasoning on top.
3. Pour in cream of chicken soup.
4. Add butter over the chicken.
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is tender (about 165°F / 74°C).

8) Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Sweet potato black bean chili is cozy and filling, and the crockpot does all the work. Just add sweet potatoes, black beans, and spices.

Let it cook until the sweet potatoes are soft and the flavors come together. Eat it as is, or top with cheese, avocado, or cilantro.

It’s a no-fuss way to get a healthy dinner on the table.

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 poblano pepper, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• ½ teaspoon oregano
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• Salt to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Add everything to the crockpot.
2. Stir gently.
3. Cook on LOW for 7-8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours, until sweet potatoes are tender.
4. Taste and add more salt if you need to.
5. Serve with your favorite toppings.

For more details, see Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili.

9) Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff

Slow cooker beef stroganoff is one of those meals that just feels like a hug in a bowl. You toss beef, onions, mushrooms, and a few seasonings into your crockpot.

Let it simmer away for hours until the beef turns super tender. Right at the end, stir in some sour cream for a creamy finish.

I like serving it over egg noodles, but rice works if that’s your thing. You don’t need fancy ingredients, and honestly, the slow cooker does most of the heavy lifting.

Great for days when you’re too busy to stand over the stove but still want something cozy.

Ingredients

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

Cooking Instructions

1. Put beef, onion, mushrooms, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, and beef broth into your slow cooker.
2. Cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
3. Stir in sour cream, then add salt and pepper.
4. Spoon it over cooked egg noodles.

10) Crockpot Baked Ziti

Crockpot baked ziti makes dinner ridiculously easy. Start by browning some ground beef on the stove.

Mix the beef with pasta sauce and broth right in the slow cooker. Toss in uncooked ziti and stir everything together.

Pile on ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. Cover it up and let the crockpot do its thing on low for about 4-5 hours.

The pasta cooks in the sauce, so you end up with soft noodles and gooey cheese—no oven required. It’s the kind of meal that’s ready when you are, with hardly any cleanup.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 jar (24 oz) pasta sauce
• 1 cup beef broth
• 12 ounces uncooked ziti pasta
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet. Drain off the extra fat—nobody wants greasy ziti.

2. Toss the beef, pasta sauce, and broth straight into the crockpot. Stir in the uncooked ziti; don’t worry, it’ll cook up just fine.

3. Drop spoonfuls of ricotta over the pasta mixture. Scatter mozzarella and parmesan on top—be generous if you love cheese.

4. Pop the lid on and let it cook on low for about 4 to 5 hours.

5. Give it a gentle stir before serving. Dig in and enjoy your easy crockpot baked ziti!

If you want more ideas or tweaks, check out this slow cooker baked ziti recipe.