After a long day, there’s something oddly comforting about opening the door and being greeted by the smell of dinner made with almost no effort. A slow cooker promises dozens of ways to create those classic, homey dishes without the need for constant stirring or standing over the stove. This list of 23 hearty recipes is kind of like a greatest hits album for low-maintenance home cooking.

A white rectangular plate with several meatballs covered in tomato sauce, garnished with chopped basil. — Slow Cooker Porcupine Meatballs. Photo credit: Dinner by Six.

Slow Cooker Southwestern Chili

With a simple prep, Slow Cooker Southwestern Chili brings together tender beans, ground beef, and just enough spice for warmth. This one-pot meal lets you walk away while flavors meld over several hours, creating an invitingly rich dish. No extra steps mean you get a thick, comforting bowl ready by dinnertime. Pair it with rice, crackers, or bread for a no-fuss meal that’s sure to satisfy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Southwestern Chili

Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes & Apples

With Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes & Apples, pork turns juicy as it slowly cooks beside sweet potatoes and apples. Minimal preparation leads to a balanced blend of tangy and sweet in each bite. A satisfying gravy forms in the pot without extra effort, perfect for spooning over the tender meat. This is a true comfort meal, easy to assemble and leave until dinner time.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes & Apples

31 of Chef Jenn's FAVE Casseroles!

Recipes for Comfort-Filled Family Meals

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

A rectangular plate of Chicken Tikka Masala with herbs on top. — Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala. Photo credit: The Bite Stuff.

Meals like Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala deliver comforting richness with aromatic spices and soft chunks of chicken. Ingredients mingle in the slow cooker to produce a creamy sauce that clings to each piece. You don’t need to keep watch for perfect results, thanks to even, gentle cooking. Best enjoyed with rice or naan for a filling dinner after a busy day.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Slow-Cooker Pork Chile Verde

A bowl of white rice and green chili verde garnished with cilantro, radish slices, jalapeño, and a lime wedge, set on a white surface with a colorful cloth in the background. — Slow-Cooker Pork Chile Verde. Photo credit: The Bite Stuff.

Cozy flavors come together in Slow-Cooker Pork Chile Verde with tender pork, tangy tomatillos, and mild chiles. By letting the ingredients simmer all day, you end up with meat that falls apart easily. The sauce thickens naturally, coating each piece without much work on your end. Serve over rice or scoop into tortillas for a familiar dinner everyone will appreciate.
Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Chile Verde

Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers

Slow cooker sausage and peppers garnished with grated cheese and chopped parsley. — Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

Generations have relied on Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers for dependable comfort and hearty flavor. Sausages mingle with sweet onions and peppers, becoming extra tender with every hour in the pot. This meal takes almost no effort after layering the ingredients, making it great for busy schedules. Enjoy on sub rolls, with pasta, or by itself for a meal that always pleases.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers

Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Gravy

A bowl of mashed potatoes topped with shredded chicken in creamy gravy, garnished with chopped parsley. — Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Gravy. Photo credit: The Bite Stuff.

You’ll love how Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Gravy transforms basic chicken into a rich and creamy dinner with just a few pantry ingredients. Let the chicken cook low and slow until it’s fork-tender, soaking up all that ranch flavor. The gravy forms on its own, needing little attention, and coats every bite perfectly. Serve over mashed potatoes or rice for a fuss-free weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ranch Chicken & Gravy

Pot Roast with Bacon

In Pot Roast with Bacon, a classic roast gains smokiness from generous pieces of bacon, blending two favorites in one easy dinner. Vegetables join the mix to round out the meal and become perfectly tender over several hours. After cooking, you have a ready-to-serve dish with no need for extra pots or pans. Perfect for anyone who loves a filling meal with almost no effort in prep.
Get the Recipe: Pot Roast with Bacon

Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Put everything in the slow cooker and let Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken do the work for you. With pepperoncini, ranch seasoning, and butter, the chicken becomes juicy and flavorful after hours of gentle cooking. No tricky steps are involved, making it a go-to option when you need comfort without complication. Serve over noodles or potatoes for a full and hearty dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mississippi Chicken

Easiest Slow Cooker Rump Roast

A plate of slow cooker rump roast with potatoes, carrots, onions, and a sprig of rosemary on a white dish. — Easiest Slow Cooker Rump Roast. Photo credit: Retro Recipe Book.

It’s almost impossible to mess up Easiest Slow Cooker Rump Roast, as all it needs is a few ingredients and time. The roast stays moist, and the simple blend of seasonings brings out the natural beef flavor. Hands-off cooking results in fork-tender slices, ready to pair with potatoes or your choice of sides. This is perfect for any night you want something warm and filling with zero stress.
Get the Recipe: Easiest Slow Cooker Rump Roast

Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

With Cowboy Cornbread Casserole, you get a meal that combines a delicious meat base, veggies, and a soft cornbread topping. Let it bake together in the slow cooker for a hands-off dish that’s both sturdy and filling. After everything is cooked, scooping out big portions is a breeze and requires little cleanup. This is an easy way to enjoy a square meal without much planning.
Get the Recipe: Cowboy Cornbread Casserole

Birria de Res

Two white bowls filled with slow cooker birria garnished with fresh lime wedges. — Birria de Res. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Letting Birria de Res simmer in the slow cooker brings out deep flavor in the beef, as it gently breaks down until tender. The seasoned broth is perfect for dipping tortillas, creating a restaurant-quality meal at home. After patience and minimal prep, you end up with shredded beef that works in tacos, quesadillas, or simply straight from the pot. Every bite is full of tradition made simple.
Get the Recipe: Birria de Res

4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken

With just four basic items, 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken lets you prepare a comforting entrée using minimal work and ingredients. All you do is combine everything and let the slow cooker handle the rest, perfect for a busy week. The finished chicken is tender enough to pull apart with a fork and goes well on sandwiches, salads, or rice. Clean-up is nearly effortless, making this a hassle-free choice.
Get the Recipe: 4-Ingredient Slow Cooker Chicken

Ribs and Sauerkraut

Over time, Ribs and Sauerkraut soften in the slow cooker, melding pork and tangy cabbage into a dish that’s simple yet memorable. This classic combination offers both protein and veg in every serving, making meal planning easy. You hardly need to do anything after loading the cooker, freeing you for other activities. Dinner is hot and comforting with no constant attention required.
Get the Recipe: Ribs and Sauerkraut

Slow Cooker German Pot Roast

A plate of German pot roast beef with a sauce being poured over it. — Slow Cooker German Pot Roast. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

Rich with herbs and vegetables, Slow Cooker German Pot Roast produces tender beef and a flavorful sauce. After searing, simply add all ingredients to let them cook together without supervision. The final result thickens naturally in the pot, making hearty portions for everyone at the table. Serve with potatoes or spaetzle to complete this throwback meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker German Pot Roast

Slow Cooker Carnitas Board

A platter of pork carnitas board on a wooden table. — Slow Cooker Carnitas Board. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

For a meal that feels festive with none of the hassle, try Slow Cooker Carnitas Board with juicy, shredded pork that cooks almost unattended. After hours in the pot, the pork becomes easy to shred for tacos, nachos, or rice bowls. You can arrange toppings alongside for a customizable experience that fits any appetite. This recipe invites everyone to make their plate just how they like it.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Carnitas Board

Slow-Cooker Taco Soup

Warm and filling, Slow-Cooker Taco Soup brings together ground beef, beans, corn, and classic taco spices without requiring much from you. Ingredients go straight into the pot, letting everyone’s favorite soup fixings blend slowly into one hearty mixture. This soup is cozy, easy to portion, and pairs well with tortilla chips for extra crunch. Ideal for group dinners when you want big flavor with minimal prep.
Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Taco Soup

Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops

Letting Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops bubble away for hours makes each chop fork-tender and infuses every bite with oniony tomato sauce. With only basic ingredients, the meal cooks quietly until you’re ready to eat. The meat absorbs flavors as it simmers, turning out meals that never dry out. Serve with noodles or mashed potatoes for a simple, filling dinner.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Swiss Pork Chops

Beef Barbacoa

For bold, classic flavor made simple, Beef Barbacoa combines spices and slow-simmered beef until everything is melt-in-your-mouth tender. Hands-off cooking allows the seasonings to penetrate the meat fully, creating easy-to-shred pieces. This makes meal assembly a snap, whether you fill tacos, bowls, or sandwiches. It’s an effortless way to enjoy flavors that seem like they took all day—because they did!
Get the Recipe: Beef Barbacoa

German Pork Loin

You’ll appreciate how German Pork Loin turns out juicy and flavorful with only a few steps and ingredients. The roast absorbs mild herbs and spices as it cooks, pairing well with potatoes or dumplings for a full plate. Everything happens in one pot, so there’s little to clean up afterward. This timeless meal promises hearty comfort without a big mess.
Get the Recipe: German Pork Loin

Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Hungarian Goulash in two white bowls. — Authentic Hungarian Goulash. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

With Authentic Hungarian Goulash, beef, potatoes, and sweet paprika cook low and slow, building comfort in a single pot. No need to monitor the stovetop, as the slow cooker produces tender meat and a satisfying stew. Each bowl balances spice and heartiness, ideal for winding down after a long day. Feel free to add sour cream or a slice of bread for a traditional touch.
Get the Recipe: Authentic Hungarian Goulash

Al Pastor Carnitas

Layers of marinated pork in Al Pastor Carnitas become tender and richly flavored after hours in the slow cooker. Aromatic spices and a dash of pineapple juice infuse every bite, needing no extra effort beyond initial prep. Shred the pork for tacos, burritos, or bowls, and serve with your favorite fresh toppings. This simple recipe helps you enjoy classic flavors with little work.
Get the Recipe: Al Pastor Carnitas

Mississippi Meatballs

A close-up of a meatball on a fork, with more meatballs in the background. — Mississippi Meatballs. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

With Mississippi Meatballs, frozen or homemade meatballs absorb bold, tangy flavor from pepperoncinis and simple seasonings. All you need is to add the ingredients to the pot and let them cook until perfectly tender. These meatballs work well over mashed potatoes, rice, or tucked into sub sandwiches for a hearty meal. Clean-up is quick, and the process is easy for cooks of all skill levels.
Get the Recipe: Mississippi Meatballs

Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast

Sliced Herb-Crusted Pork Roast on a rectangular white plate with a floral napkin in the background. — Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast. Photo credit: Cook What You Love.

All it takes is a quick seasoning for Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast, and your slow cooker makes the rest easy. As the pork cooks slowly, it stays moist and takes on a fragrant herb rub for extra depth. Slicing at dinnertime is simple, and you can use any leftovers in sandwiches or salads. This recipe brings classic comfort to your table with almost no extra effort.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Herb-Crusted Pork Roast