Our 25 Best Crockpot and Slow Cooker Recipes

Classic Beef Stew Dutch Oven Recipe
Photo: Greg DuPree

Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? A slow cooker can help create layers of flavor in any weeknight dinner, from hearty stews to satisfying chicken dishes. It can take your comfort food to the next level, like a fall-off-the-bone pulled pork sandwich, cozy chicken noodle soup, or sweet and sour brisket. All it takes are a few simple ingredients and minimal hassle (if you're able to plan ahead). Even desserts can benefit from a Crockpot; cheesecake cooked in a slow cooker gets an incredible silky texture because the machine steams the cake as it bakes. F&W has plenty of easy slow cooker recipes, including glazed pork ribs with white beans and meatballs that are equally great served in a bowl with spaghetti or on a hoagie roll. Read on for our very best slow cooker recipes, from Dutch oven to electric Crockpot.

01 of 25

Slow Cooker Burnt Honey Barbecue Chicken

Slow Cooker Burnt Honey Barbecue Chicken
Jen Causey

When it’s so blazing hot outside that you can’t bear the thought of firing up the grill, this no-fuss slow cooker barbecue chicken recipe will come to the rescue. A quick sear in a cast-iron skillet awakens the flavors of the herbs and spices and gives the chicken a nice crust that makes the finished barbecue taste more authentic.

02 of 25

Crockpot Macaroni and Cheese

Crock-Pot Macaroni and Cheese
Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

Prepared in a 6-quart slow cooker, this three-cheese version of the American comfort food gets a nice kick from a generous pinch of cayenne, while buttery breadcrumbs give it a great crunch.

03 of 25

Filipino Chicken Adobo with Bacon and Bay Leaves

Filipino Chicken Adobo with Bacon and Bay Leaves

Frederick Hardy II / Food Styling by Melissa Gray / Prop Styling by Christina Brockman

This bright and deeply savory preparation is considered the unofficial national dish of the Philippines. This Dutch oven recipe is rich with umami from rendering bacon fat and adding the cooked bacon pieces into the broth.

04 of 25

Slow Cooker Barbecued Pulled Pork

Slow Cooker Barbecued Pulled Pork

Julia Hartbeck

Serve the pulled pork with coleslaw and pickles, or mound it on hamburger buns and top with coleslaw and thinly sliced onion and dill pickles.

05 of 25

Dutch Oven Classic Beef Stew

Classic Beef Stew Dutch Oven Recipe
Greg DuPree

Hearty chunks of beef turn tender after a low and slow trip in your favorite Dutch oven; potatoes join the party during the tail end of cooking to retain their texture.

06 of 25

Buttered Rum

Buttered Rum
Photo by Antonis Achilleos / Prop Styling by Christina Daley / Food Styling by Emily Nabors Hall

This luxurious, velvety drink is just the thing to sip on a cool night — and using a slow cooker makes it especially easy to pull together. Heat the cream and butter first, slowly so that the mixture doesn't break. Then whisk in dark brown sugar, followed by spiced rum, salt, and a Moroccan spice mix. The end result is a richly flavored batch of drinks perfect for entertaining.

07 of 25

Harissa White Bean Stew with Turmeric Yogurt

Harissa White Bean Stew with Turmeric Yogurt
© John Kernick

Cookbook author Sarah DiGregorio adds depth and heat to her hearty white bean stew by adding harissa twice: first for the long simmer in the slow cooker, then at the end, to finish the dish with some bright heat. This stew will keep in the fridge for up to four days, so it's a perfect make-ahead meal.

08 of 25

Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja

Slow Cooker Ropa Vieja
© Fredrika Stjärne

This flavor-packed Cuban stew, featuring shredded flank steak, tomatoes, and olives, can be made up to two days in advance.

09 of 25

Slow Cooker Sour Cream Cheesecake

Slow-Cooker Sour Cream Cheesecake
© Ellie Miller

Cheesecake cooked in a slow cooker has an unbelievably silky texture because the machine steams the cake as it bakes. The toughest part about making it is resisting the urge to peek inside the slow cooker — the lid must stay closed to retain heat.

10 of 25

Slow Cooker Glazed Pork Ribs with White Beans

Slow Cooker Glazed Pork Ribs with White Beans
© Fredrika Stjärne

Baby back ribs, Great Northern beans, white wine, tomatoes, chicken broth, and more come together for a hearty, satisfying meal.

11 of 25

Slow Cooker Sweet and Sour Brisket

Slow Cooker Sweet-and-Sour Brisket

© Andrew Purcell

A few hours in the slow cooker and this beef dish will be melt-in-your-mouth delicious by the time you're ready to eat it.

12 of 25

Slow Cooker Beef Stew with Napa Cabbage and Pickles

Slow Cooker Korean Beef Stew with Napa Cabbage and Pickles

© Fredrika Stjärne

Napa cabbage and thinly sliced sour pickles add texture and tang to this substantial stew. Searing the pieces of beef chuck before putting them in the slow cooker gives the dish a rich flavor.

13 of 25

Slow Cooker Classic Beef Stew

classic
Greg DuPree

Be sure to use boneless chuck roast for this recipe, which has excellent marbling and flavor.

14 of 25

Slow Cooker Meatballs in Tomato Sauce

Slow Cooker Meatballs
FREDRIKA STJÄRNE

These meatballs can be served simply in a bowl, but they are equally delicious with spaghetti or on a hoagie roll.

15 of 25

Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

March 5: Slow Cooker Beef Goulash

© Fredrika Stjärne

This warming Eastern European short rib stew is best served in deep bowls over buttery noodles.

16 of 25

Slow Cooker Coconut Pork Curry

Slow Cooker Coconut Pork Curry

© Fredrika Stjärne

For this dish, pork shoulder gets cooked with bold ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, curry powder, cumin, and turmeric. The flavors intensify and penetrate the meat after four hours in the slow cooker.

17 of 25

Slow Cooker Sunday Sauce on Spaghetti

Slow Cooker Sunday Sauce for Spaghetti
© Fredrika Stjärne

This indulgent Sunday sauce recipe includes pork shoulder, pancetta, sweet Italian sausages, and plenty of garlic.

18 of 25

Slow Cooker Pasta Bake

Slow Cooker Pasta Bake
Caitlin Bensel

Valerie Bertinelli’s slow cooker baked ziti is super simple — it only takes 15 minutes of active time and is ready in an hour and 45 minutes. If you’re really short on time, you can buy the vegetables pre-cut from the store.

19 of 25

Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks with Lemon, Dill, and Feta

Slow Cooker Lamb Shanks with Lemon, Dill and Feta

© Fredrika Stjärne

Lamb shanks are slow cooked to perfection with herbs and spices, giving this dish a complex flavor through a simple method.

20 of 25

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup

Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
© Ian Knauer

After just 25 minutes of prep and initial cooking, it's set-it-and-forget-it for this cozy classic. The soup is done when the chicken is tender, six to eight hours later. If you prefer your pasta al dente, add it after the chicken has cooked.

21 of 25

Slow Cooker Turkey Wings

Slow-Cooker Turkey Wings
Abby Hocking / Food & Wine

These slow cooker turkey wings are first braised until tender and then broiled to a crispy finish.

22 of 25

Slow Cooker Ethiopian-Spiced Chicken and Black Lentil Stew

Slow Cooker Ethiopian-Spiced Chicken and Black Lentil Stew
© Sarah Bolla

In this intensely comforting spiced chicken and black lentil stew, bold ingredients like fresh ginger, garlic, tomatoes, and white wine simmer slowly with an Ethiopian spice blend called berbere.

23 of 25

Slow Cooker Asado de Puerco (Pork and Tomatillo Stew)

Slow Cooker Mexican Pork and Tomatillo Stew
© Helene Dujardin

Make this classic Mexican dish in your slow cooker for ease and extra flavor. Hominy provides texture and savory corn goodness in the tangy tomatillo sauce; the cilantro garnish adds a pop of freshness to the bowl.

24 of 25

Slow Cooker Ham Hock and Chickpea Stew

March 20: Slow Cooker Ham Hock and Chickpea Stew

© Fredrika Stjärne

Split pea soup was the inspiration for this robust stew. Like split peas, chickpeas need to simmer for a long time, making them great for a slow cooker.

25 of 25

Slow Cooker Moroccan-Spiced Chicken with Apricots, Olives, and Almonds

Slow Cooker Moroccan Chicken with Apricots, Olives and Almonds

© Todd Porter & Diane Cu

This warming chicken dish is slow cooked in Moroccan spices and best served on couscous with a sprinkle of toasted almonds.

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