10+ Simple Crock Pot Recipes for Easy and Delicious Meals

Using a crock pot just makes life easier, especially if you’d rather chill than stand over a stove. Simple crock pot recipes let you whip up tasty meals with hardly any fuss or fancy ingredients.

They’re a lifesaver on busy days or when you just want a comforting dinner without hovering in the kitchen.

With a slow cooker, you toss in your ingredients, pick your heat, and let it do its thing. By the time you’re ready to eat, dinner’s hot and waiting—plus cleanup is a breeze.

You don’t need chef skills to pull off a good crock pot meal.

1) Three-Ingredient Ranch Chicken

This one’s for the days when you barely want to cook. Three ingredients and you’re golden.

Cream cheese and ranch seasoning melt together with chicken breasts. Just toss it all in the slow cooker and forget about it for a while.

After a few hours, the chicken gets super tender and full of flavor. Serve it shredded on sandwiches or just spoon it over rice or veggies.

Ingredients

• 3 chicken breasts
• 1 packet ranch seasoning
• 1 block cream cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Lay chicken breasts in the crock pot.
2. Sprinkle ranch seasoning on top.
3. Plop the cream cheese over everything.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Shred before serving if you want.

More details here: three-ingredient ranch chicken recipe.

2) Slow Cooker Beef Stew

Beef stew in the slow cooker is a classic for a reason. You pile in beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions, then just let it ride.

Beef broth and a splash of red wine bring out a deep, rich flavor. Garlic and thyme keep things interesting without a ton of prep.

Serve it up with some crusty bread. It’s the kind of meal that makes the house smell amazing.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs stewing beef, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp flour
• 1 tsp dried thyme

Cooking Instructions

1. Toss beef cubes with flour, salt, and pepper.
2. Add beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic to the slow cooker.
3. Pour in broth and wine.
4. Sprinkle thyme and give it a gentle stir.
5. Cover and cook on low for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours.
6. Stir before serving.

3) Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Pulled pork sandwiches are about as low-effort as it gets. You need a pork shoulder, some broth or water, and a dash of liquid smoke.

Set it and let the slow cooker do its thing for 8-10 hours on low (or 5-6 on high). The pork comes out fall-apart tender.

Shred it, mix in BBQ sauce, and pile it on buns. Coleslaw on top is optional but highly recommended for crunch.

Ingredients

• 3-4 pounds pork shoulder
• 1 cup broth or water
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 cup BBQ sauce
• Hamburger buns
• Coleslaw (optional)

Cooking Instructions

1. Pour broth or water and liquid smoke into the slow cooker.
2. Drop in the pork shoulder.
3. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 5-6 hours.
4. Shred the pork with two forks.
5. Mix with BBQ sauce.
6. Serve on buns, with coleslaw if you’re feeling it.

Check out the full method for slow cooker pulled pork sandwiches.

4) Slow Cooker Butter Chicken

Butter chicken in the slow cooker is easier than you’d think. Just add chicken, spices, tomato sauce, and butter.

Let it go on low or high until the chicken’s cooked through and tender. Garlic, ginger, and garam masala give it that cozy, warm flavor.

Serve it with rice or naan. You don’t have to babysit it, which is always a win.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs chicken breasts or thighs
• 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
• 3 tbsp butter
• 1 tbsp garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp ginger, minced
• 1 tbsp garam masala
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Cooking Instructions:

1. Add garlic, ginger, tomato sauce, spices, salt, and sugar to your slow cooker.
2. Place chicken on top and scatter butter over it.
3. Cover and cook on high for 1.5 to 2.5 hours or low for 4 to 6 hours, until chicken hits 165°F (74°C).
4. Stir in heavy cream at the end.

5) Easy Crockpot Chili

Chili is a crock pot staple. Brown your ground beef first, drain the fat, then dump everything else in.

Add beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and chili seasoning. Stir it up, set to low, and walk away.

After 6-8 hours, it’s hearty and ready. Perfect for when you want something warm and filling.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can kidney beans (drained)
• 1 can tomato sauce
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons chili seasoning
• 1/2 cup water

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown ground beef in a skillet, drain fat.
2. Add beef to crock pot.
3. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, chili seasoning, and water.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Stir before serving.

6) Dump and Go Chicken Tacos

Chicken tacos don’t get much easier. Just toss everything in the slow cooker and forget about it.

The chicken turns out juicy and soaks up all the seasoning. Add your favorite toppings—cheese, lettuce, avocado, whatever you’re feeling.

If you want to keep it ultra-simple, skip the salsa. This is a true dump-and-go dinner.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken breasts
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 cup chicken broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
2. Sprinkle taco seasoning on top.
3. Pour chicken broth over everything.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours at 200°F (93°C) low or 300°F (149°C) high.
5. Shred chicken before serving.

7) Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Turkey breast in the slow cooker comes out juicy and tender with barely any effort. Just prep it quickly and let it cook low and slow.

Toss some onions, carrots, and celery in the bottom for extra flavor. The turkey’s done when it hits 165°F (74°C).

You can even make a quick gravy with the juices. It’s a solid choice for a low-key holiday meal or just a random Tuesday.

Ingredients

• 1 whole turkey breast (about 3-4 pounds)
• 1 onion, sliced
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup chicken broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Lay onion, carrots, and celery in the bottom of the slow cooker.
2. Season turkey breast with salt and pepper.
3. Place turkey on top of veggies.
4. Pour chicken broth over everything.
5. Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours until turkey reaches 165°F (74°C).
6. Let turkey rest, then slice.
7. Use the juices for gravy if you want.

More tips in this slow cooker turkey breast recipe.

8) Simple Taco Pasta

Taco pasta is pure comfort food and ridiculously easy. All you need is ground beef, taco seasoning, pasta, and some cheese.

Add onions and bell peppers if you want to bulk it up. The slow cooker handles the rest.

Serve this on a weeknight when you want something hearty but don’t want to fuss. It’s a fun twist for Taco Tuesday.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 2 cups pasta shells
• 1 cup shredded cheese
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 cup salsa
• 1/2 cup chopped onions
• 1/2 cup chopped bell peppers

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown ground beef and drain fat.
2. Add beef, seasoning, broth, salsa, onions, and peppers to the crock pot.
3. Stir in pasta shells.
4. Cook on low for 4-5 hours.
5. Add cheese just before serving.

Find more ideas at Slow Cooker Taco Pasta.

9) Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Making a slow cooker pot roast is about as easy as dinner gets. Just toss a beef chuck roast, some veggies, and a few seasonings into your crock pot.

Let it all cook low and slow. The meat turns out so tender and juicy, you barely need a knife.

I love that you can throw carrots, potatoes, and onions in too. It’s a whole meal, all in one pot.

The flavors meld together as it cooks, and you barely have to do anything. Honestly, it’s kind of a lifesaver on busy days.

If you want to go the extra mile, use the cooking juices for homemade gravy. It’s not strictly necessary, but it makes everything taste even better.

Ingredients

• 3-4 lb beef chuck roast
• 4 large carrots, cut
• 4 potatoes, cut
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups beef broth
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Spray your slow cooker with cooking spray.
2. Season the roast with salt and pepper.
3. Place the roast in the slow cooker.
4. Add carrots, potatoes, and onion around the roast.
5. Pour beef broth over everything.
6. Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours.
7. Optional: Remove roast and veggies, then thicken juices with cornstarch for gravy.

10) Vegetarian Lentil Stew

You can whip up a vegetarian lentil stew in your crock pot with barely any fuss. It’s hearty and cozy, letting lentils and fresh veggies mingle for hours.

Honestly, it’s ideal for days when you’re too busy to keep an eye on the stove. Just toss in your ingredients and let the slow cooker handle everything.

After a few hours, the lentils and vegetables get soft and soak up all those flavors. No need to complicate things—just scoop it into a bowl or maybe grab some bread to dip.

You’ll want simple stuff: lentils, carrots, onions, potatoes, and celery. If you’re feeling adventurous, throw in some corn or tomatoes for color and a little sweetness.

This recipe’s pretty forgiving, so it works whether you’re new to cooking or you’ve been at it for years.

Ingredients

• 1 cup lentils
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 1 large red potato, cubed
• 1/2 cup diced sweet onion
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 1 cup whole kernel corn (fresh or frozen)

Cooking Instructions

1. Add all ingredients to the crock pot.
2. Stir to combine.
3. Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours or until lentils and vegetables are tender.
4. Serve warm.

For more details, check out this Veggie-Packed Slow Cooker Lentil Stew recipe.