Food and Recipes Quick and Easy Dinners 58 Slow-Cooker Suppers You Can Rely On All Season And we're not just talking about soups! By Jenna Sims Jenna Sims Jenna is a Senior Digital Editor for Southern Living and joined the team in 2014. She writes, produces, and assigns content with a focus on email growth and commerce content. She covers a range of topics in the lifestyle space from holiday gift guides to new product launches to tips for cooking with your air fryer. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on January 20, 2024 Trending Videos Close this video player Photo: Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley These satisfying suppers are perfect for your busy schedule. Just toss in the ingredients and let your slow cooker do all the work. And if you thought Crock Pot recipes are all soups and stews? Think again. Our slow cookers also came in handy for prepping and serving tender meats and flavorful pulled chicken and pork recipes that are ready for a tortilla shell or a bun. You can slow-cook everything from classic comfort food (think meatloaf and macaroni and cheese) to regional specialties like Slow Cooker Cornbread Stuffing, BBQ Brisket, and Chicken and Dumplings, to name a few. There's nothing better than easily prepped, fix-it-and-forget-it slow cooker recipes to make weeknight suppers—and even weekend entertaining—a snap. Whether you're cooking for a crowd or just making a meal for your family, check out our extensive collection of delicious dinners. Your slow-cooker menu can be virtually limitless—and effortless. 01 of 58 Slow-Cooker French Onion Soup Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Torie Cox Thanks to your slow cooker, this recipe has all the flavor of the classic dish with only 15 minutes of work. "Easiest way to make French onion soup and its so delicious. Will never make it any other way," says reader Suzy O'Connor. Get The Recipe 02 of 58 Slow-Cooker Honey-Garlic Chicken Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox Salty and sweet come together for an impressive and easy-as-can-be dinner. We recommend serving the tender chicken over a bed of rice or mashed potatoes to soak up all the flavor. For a lighter meal, a pile of greens works too. Get The Recipe 03 of 58 New Orleans Red Beans And Rice Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Red beans and rice is traditional Cajun cuisine combination, but every iteration is a little different whether it's the type of meat or level of spice. We think this one strikes the perfect balance. One reviewer even said: "One of the best Cajun beans & rice recipes I’ve tried!" Get The Recipe 04 of 58 Slow-Cooker Chicken And Dumplings Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox We like to call this recipe comfort in a bowl. It has all the components of Grandma's stovetop version: tender dumplings, creamy broth, and shredded chicken, just without all the effort. Get The RecipeSlow-Cooker Chicken And Dumplings 05 of 58 Slow-Cooker Salisbury Steak Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley This nostalgic dinner couldn't be easier thanks to your handy slow cooker. After just 20 minutes of hands-on prep, place the meat in your pot and let it cook low-and-slow for a few hours. The result is a delicious and easy dinner. Get The Recipe 06 of 58 Slow Cooker Venison Stew Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Prop Styling: Audrey Davis, Food Styling: Rishon Hanners If you're not sure what to do with any venison stew meat in your freezer, this recipe is for you. Full of hearty flavors and filling vegetables, this rustic, comforting dinner comes together swiftly thanks to your slow cooker. Get The Recipe 07 of 58 Slow-Cooker Moroccan-Inspired London Broil Greg DuPree; Food Stylist: Ali Ramee; Prop Stylist: Hannah Greenwood There's no lack of flavor in this well seasoned dish thanks to spices like turmeric, coriander, and cumin. Apricots and honey provide a subtle sweetness to balance the spices while cilantro and fresh lemon juice brighten the dish. One reviewer raves: "This one gets a full 5-star review. It is absolutely delicious and so easy to make." Get The Recipe 08 of 58 Slow Cooker Turkey Chili Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox This slow-cooker chili recipe is as easy as it is delicious. Plus, it makes use of leftover turkey with minimal cooking prep required. Cornmeal helps thicken the chili and adds a hint of toasty corn flavor. Choose fine, rather than coarse, cornmeal for the smoothest texture. Get The Recipe 09 of 58 Slow-Cooker Salsa Chicken Caitlin Bensel Store-bought salsa has never been more versatile. Pile this slow-cooked, pulled chicken into a tortilla or on top of a Tex-Mex grain bowl for a supper so flavorful that the family might mistake it for restaurant takeout. Get The Recipe 10 of 58 Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely The only prep for this simple vegetable soup? Microwaving your bacon. That's it. Otherwise, just dump all of your ingredients into your slow cooker and go about your day. This hearty soup packed with veggies and flavored with a little bacon will be ready and waiting for a taste before you know it. Get The Recipe 11 of 58 Slow Cooker Goulash Jennifer Causey Perfect for chilly nights, this long-simmered beef stew is made with a boneless chuck roast, fire-roasted tomatoes, and aromatic vegetables. Serve atop noodles for a bowl full of comfort you can rely on time after time. Get The Recipe 12 of 58 Slow-Cooker Brisket Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox If you thought you couldn't make an impressive piece of meat in your slow cooker, think again. Whether you're planning this dish for Friday night tacos or an easy Sunday supper, there's little work to be done. Get The Recipe 13 of 58 Easy Chili Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Torie Cox The name of this dish doesn't deceive. With a handful of canned ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time, you hardly have to lift a finger. Enjoy a warm bowl of the chili as is, sop it up with homemade cornbread, or pile it atop a baked potato. Get The Recipe 14 of 58 Slow-Cooker Chicken Soup Iain Bagwell No dish is quite as soothing as a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup. For this recipe, simply toss in the ingredients, switch on your slow cooker, and then walk away. You'll savor this soup, seasoned with fresh parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, and a bay leaf. We love old-fashioned, wide egg noodles for this recipe. To make sure they aren't mushy and overcooked, don't leave them in the slow cooker for more than 10 minutes. Get The Recipe 15 of 58 Lemony Slow-Cooked Salmon with Potatoes and Fennel Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Salmon likely isn't top of mind when you think about what can be made in your slow cooker, but we're proving why it should be. This easy meal makes for a standout weeknight dinner. Get The Recipe 16 of 58 Slow-Cooker Carne Guisada Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis Expect bold flavors from this Latin American beef stew. Fresh herbs, spices, peppers, fire-roasted tomatoes, beef stock, and even beer ensure your tastebuds will be satisfied. Get The Recipe 17 of 58 Slow-Cooked Barbecued Chicken Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley Begin with a whole chicken, cut-up, and seasoned with salt, paprika, and garlic powder. A little cola will make your sauce Southern from the outset, and ketchup will keep it simple. Five to seven hours later, you will be waiting for the mouthwatering, sticky-sweet chicken to come out of the slow cooker so the juicy, falling-off-the-bone meat will be ready to go. Get The Recipe 18 of 58 Braised Lamb Shanks with Parmesan-Chive Grits Photo: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke You'd never guess that this sophisticated dish was made in a slow cooker. Tender lamb shanks over creamy parmesan grits makes for a great weeknight meal or dinner party standout. Get The Recipe 19 of 58 Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese Hector Sanchez Cooking this macaroni and cheese in a slow cooker gives it just the right baked-crust goodness that everyone loves. It is rich, creamy, and delicious, and gooey with the tangy taste of extra-sharp Cheddar cheese. This recipe yields enough to serve as a side dish for a crowd, or it could be the perfect dinner for a family of four. Get The Recipe 20 of 58 Slow-Cooker Collard Greens With Ham Hocks Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox All you need to make the best-ever collard greens is a few minutes of prep, a handful of ingredients, and nine hours of patience. "These collard greens came out as the most tender I have ever made and very flavorful," says one reader. Get The Recipe 21 of 58 Lemon Chicken Soup Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Nothing hits the spot quite like chicken soup on a cold day, and this one raises the bar on a bowl of comfort. A grownup spin on the childhood classic, this recipe has a fresh flavor profile that is just what the doctor ordered. Get The Recipe 22 of 58 Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This recipe will give you a great-tasting pork that you can use to fill tacos shells for a casual dinner delight. Start by seasoning and browning your pork shoulder before slow cooking it. Meanwhile, prep a homemade salsa for an extra special touch. Then shred the meat and set out a taco bar full of fresh flavors, bright colors, and crunchy textures. Get The Recipe 23 of 58 Spaghetti Casserole Jennifer Davick All your favorite spaghetti ingredients are featured in this easy slow-cooker version. When you layer the ingredients, then let them cook for a few hours, you get a great combination of flavors that truly have time to blend together. Here, you will really appreciate the subtle, smoky flavors of the fire-roasted tomatoes and the aromas of the basil and the Italian seasoning. Get The Recipe 24 of 58 Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce Photo: Hector Sanchez This fun dish is two recipes in one: delicious, easy meatballs and a slow-simmered tangy tomato sauce. The secret here is the meat mixture—half ground chuck, and half ground pork. You can enjoy these bite-size delights with dinner rolls, or slider buns: whichever you prefer. Topped with half a slice of provolone cheese, each meatball is like a mini Italian cheeseburger. Get The Recipe 25 of 58 Slow-Cooker Peas-and-Greens Soup with Turkey Sausage Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall This slow-cooker recipe means you can relax to the savory smells of everything simmering in the kitchen. If you prefer pork or chicken sausage, you can easily swap out the turkey sausage or use forgo black-eyed peas in favor of frozen peas or beans instead. Get The Recipe 26 of 58 Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti Photo: Hector Sanchez After 20 minutes of prepping the hearty sauce, let it simmer for eight hours. You'll love the flavors of shredded chicken, fire-roasted tomato sauce, and bold, earthy flavor of the kalamata olives. Cook pasta separately then combine before serving. Get The Recipe 27 of 58 Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans While canned beans are a quick solution, this recipe calls for overnight-soaked pinto beans. Serve this stick-to-your-ribs dish over hot rice, with garlicky slabs of thick Texas toast, or alongside a green salad. Get The Recipe 28 of 58 Slow-Cooker Pot Roast Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton This comforting dish is synonymous with Sunday supper for a good reason, but the convenience of a slow cooker makes it easy to enjoy this classic any day of the week. What's even better is that you can make it in advance, or easily save any leftovers that you have. Get The Recipe 29 of 58 Honey-Apricot-Glazed Chicken Iain Bagwell This dish gets touches of sticky sweetness from both honey and the apricot brandy that forms part of its delicious broth. Even after simmering for hours, this liquid is the foundation for a reduction that is whisked with butter, then poured over the chicken just as it is served. Serve with hot basmati rice. Get The Recipe 30 of 58 Slow-Cooker Posole Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham The secret to this flavorful dish is browning the pork in a skillet before transferring to the slow cooker. This brings out more flavor and gives the meat a great color. Sit back and savor the aromas while this simmers for seven hours, then serve with fresh radish slices, cilantro, and lime for the ultimate finishing touch. Get The Recipe 31 of 58 Beer-Braised Pot Roast Photo: Hector Sanchez The true challenge with this dish is patience. To achieve a fall-off-the-bone tender result, the coffee-and-beer braised dish needs to cook on low for eight to ten hours. We suggest you serve this with some hot, cooked grits to capture every delicious drop of juice from the sauce—you won't want to let any go to waste. Get The Recipe 32 of 58 Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos Photo: Laurey W. Glenn Beef nachos are a go-to, simple meal, and you can dress them up however you like. For this recipe, we take them to the next level by starting with a boneless beef rump roast rather than ground beef. Top your tortilla chips with the beef, cover it all with your favorite toppings like beans, tomatoes, onions, and cheese. Get The Recipe 33 of 58 BBQ Brisket Hector Manuel Sanchez The big, bold taste you get after slow-cooking this delicious cut of beef low and slow for several hours is more than worth the wait. The beef will cook in a vinegar barbecue sauce for about 8 hours before it's seasoned to perfection with chili powder, brown sugar, garlic, cumin, and Worcestershire sauce. Spoon the pan juices over the meat just before serving. Get The Recipe 34 of 58 Slow-Cooker Taco Soup Emily Laurae / Southern Living Whether you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner or warm soup to fight off a chilly day, a handful of pantry staples make this dish a cinch to pull together. Get The Recipe 35 of 58 Classic Slow-Cooker Beef Stew Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle Serve this delicious stew with crusty bread to soak up every last bite. "I saved this beef stew recipe because I will definitely be making it again. I cooked on low for 8 hours and the beef was very tender and the stew was flavorful," says one Southern Living member. Get The Recipe 36 of 58 Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings Iain Bagwell Make a classic chicken and dumplings recipe even more Southern by topping the vegetable-and-chicken-packed stew with cornbread dumplings. Get The Recipe 37 of 58 Slow Cooker Tomato-Basil Meatloaf Photo: Victor Protasio Made in the usual loaf shape, but prepared in a slow cooker, this savory meatloaf recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. This simple recipe uses one and a half pounds of ground chuck or round, and is seasoned with fresh basil, sun-dried tomatoes, and ketchup. You will love the aromas as this cooks, and the slow cooker makes it to perfection. Get The Recipe 38 of 58 Brisket Tacos with Summer Salsa Alison Miksch Seasoned with adobo sauce, garlic, cumin, honey, and Worcestershire sauce, the brisket is not lacking great flavor. Topping your tacos with more of the incredible, homemade sauce, then add a spoonful or two of the summer salsa, creating a delicious meal. Get The Recipe 39 of 58 Pork Chili Verde Hector Sanchez This is how a chili should be: spicy, savory, and delicious. Pork rib pieces are the savory meat that makes this chili so delicious. Then, we add in fresh tomatillos. (If you can't find them fresh, look for them canned on the Latin aisle at the grocery.) Let the pork, tomatillos, and some spicy poblano peppers simmer for eight hours until everything has cooked to a rich and tender perfection. Get The Recipe 40 of 58 Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Taco Tuesday just got easier than it's ever been before. Pork carnitas, the Mexican version of pulled pork, can also be used in enchiladas, sliders, and quesadillas, but we particularly enjoy this taco interpretation. Get The Recipe 41 of 58 Slow-Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups Alison Miksch These lettuce cups pair the freshness of a salad with the heartiness of a taco. You can serve them as an appetizer or dress them up for a light dinner. Top these with green onion slices mini pepper slices, or spicy pickles. If you want to bring a little more heat to each bite, sprinkle on some dried crushed red pepper or drizzle of hot sauce. Get The Recipe 42 of 58 Tangy Slow-Cooker Pork Shoulder Hector Manuel Sanchez This one will easily become your new go-to pork shoulder slow-cooker recipe, thanks to the sweet and tangy soy-and-vinegar flavor profile. Serve it Southern-style over grits or sandwiched between buns, and ladle on plenty of sauce. You'll simply love the flavors of the garlic—there are a dozen cloves in here—as well as the bay leaves, the onion, the brown sugar, and the soy sauce. It all goes to give this pork the perfect glaze. Get The Recipe 43 of 58 Slow-Cooker Cornbread Dressing VIANNEY RODRIGUEZ/JASON DAVID PAGE Turkey and dressing is a comfort-food classic, and this recipe makes it easy to enjoy the taste of Thanksgiving during the festive season or at any time of year. This comforting slow cooker dish is a simple as it sounds. It achieves the same classic Southern flavor you crave with so much less effort. Full of chopped onion and celery, it tastes just like your favorite holiday meal. Get The Recipe 44 of 58 Peppered Beef Soup Southern Living Each spoonful is full of hearty beef and rich vegetables. You can freeze the leftovers in an airtight container for up to three months. Be sure to add a bit of canned broth when reheating to reach the desired consistency. Enjoy a scoop right out of the slow cooker or serve in toasted bread bowls. Get The Recipe 45 of 58 Chicken Piccata Hector Manuel Sanchez Classic chicken piccata in a slow cooker? You better believe it. We found a way to make this tangy, bright dish with less effort than ever before. Get The Recipie 46 of 58 Slow Cooker Lentil Soup Jennifer Causey Lentils are the the ideal match for a slow cooker, because they require little preparation. Lentils don't need soaking, so once your ingredients are prepped and ready, simply toss them in your slow cooker before going about your day. Freeze your leftovers for an even easier meal on a later date. Get The Recipe 47 of 58 Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon Alison Miksch Sweet potatoes are a super side dish, and this recipe puts a spin on the classics. For sweetness, you'll find a little orange juice, and crumbled bacon adds a savory crunch. Rosemary has its own delightful fragrance. Combined into one, this side dish is easy to make at any time, and perfect for a holiday table. Get The Recipe 48 of 58 Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Loaded with bacon, potatoes, and onions, all you need is a hunk of bread to finish this slow-cooked meal. Enjoy a bowl any time of year, but it's particularly delicious when fresh summer corn is at the store. Get The Recipe 49 of 58 Chicken Thighs With Carrots and Potatoes Photo: Jennifer Davick For this recipe, you cook the chicken thighs on top of the vegetables in the slow cooker, keeping all of the richness and juiciness together in a delicious broth. After cooking low and slow, the vegetables will be done to perfection, and the chicken will be flavored with salt, pepper, and paprika, and infused with the flavors and aromas of garlic and thyme. Get The Recipe 50 of 58 Slow-Cooker Black Bean Soup Southern Living Get ready for some serious Southwestern aromas to start wafting from your slow cooker. This black bean soup may sound simple, but its flavors are bold and delicious. Instead of a creamy black bean soup, this one is more broth-y, like a savory stew. Get The Recipe 51 of 58 Slow-Cooker Ginger, Sweet Tea, and Whiskey Short Ribs Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Slow-cooked to perfection, this party-worthy main is dressed up with a bright, tangy sauce (inspired by spiked sweet tea) and a fresh, herbal topping. Get The Recipe 52 of 58 Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall Great for a game-day get-together, this hearty and creamy soup feeds a crowd with little hands-on time required. Plus, it's a classic dump recipe, meaning there's no prep required. Everything goes straight into your slow cooker for you to set and forget. Get The Recipe 53 of 58 Easy Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Photo: Iain Bagwell This beautiful main only takes 10 minutes out of your day. The rest of the work is all left to your handy Crock Pot. Simply throw a boneless pork shoulder roast and some sweet onions with a bit of Southern seasoning in a slow-cooker, and come home to a ready-to-eat meal. Get The Recipe 54 of 58 Slow-Cooker Sloppy Joes One bite of this classic sandwich just might take you back in time to the days of schoolhouse cafeterias and boxed lunch trading sessions. Kid-friendly and simple to make, you won't regret making this weeknight hero the whole family will enjoy. Get The Recipe 55 of 58 White Chicken Chili Hector Manuel Sanchez This one-step chicken chili couldn't be easier if we tried. Simply gather all the ingredients, pile everything into your slow cooker, stir, and set. The hardest part might be deciding which toppings you want to use to garnish your bowl. Get The Recipe 56 of 58 Easy Enchilada Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Even the cornbread topping on this dinner is made in your slow cooker. Just mix together a can of enchilada sauce, black beans, corn, chicken, salsa, cilantro, and diced green chiles and let sit in your slow cooker for a few hours before adding in the topping to create a beautiful cornbread crust. Get The Recipe 57 of 58 Beef Bourguignon Hector Manuel Sanchez Think beef bourguignon is reserved for dinner parties only? Think again. With the help of your slow cooker, this elevated supper can be served any time. Ours is layered with rich flavor from carrots, mushrooms, red wine, tomato paste, chicken broth, pearl onions, thyme sprigs, thyme leaves, and of course, cubed boneless chuck roast. Get The Recipe 58 of 58 Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken Sandwiches Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Low and slow is how this slow-cooker barbecue chicken gets its flavor. While you can use the meat for many different dishes, we love loading it up with homemade slaw between two pieces of cornbread. Get The Recipe Was this page helpful? 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