30 Easy Crock Pot Recipes That'll Make Meal Prep a Cinch
All you need is a few minutes in the morning and a few ingredients to make a delicious dinner happen.
VICTOR PROTASIO
The crock pot may just be the best kitchen appliance in the world. You throw in a few ingredients in the morning, go about your day, and you come home to a meal ready to go. That's why easy crock pot recipes are such a mainstay for busy meal planners—low effort, delicious rewards!
And the good news: You aren't just stuck with slow-cooked meats as meal options when it comes to easy crock pot recipes. You'd be surprised what dishes you can make in a slow cooker—everything from deep-dish pizza to (yes!) dessert.
Check out some of our favorite easy crock pot recipes to help make your busiest days easier to manage—and keep you from reaching for the takeout menus.
Crock Pot Pulled Pork Tacos
Make any day Taco Tuesday with a delicious crock pot pulled pork that comes together in minutes. Everyone can add their own favorite toppings for a customized taco experience.
Slow Cooker Deep Dish Pizza
Using store-bought pizza dough and sauce helps make any night a pizza night. The sky's the limit for pizza toppings—and don't forget that you can opt to do half with grownup ingredients and half with simple tomato and cheese if you have fussy eaters.
Crock Pot Vegetarian Chili With Sweet Potatoes
The secret ingredient in this tasty slow-cooker chili—a little unsweetened cocoa powder, which gives the sauce a mole-like flavor profile.
Chicken Pasta Soup
The comfort food classic is a crock pot recipe you'll want to keep in regular rotation. (The ingredients transform plain water into tasty chicken broth as they cook low and slow.)
Crock Pot Mexican Beef Sliders
A handful of spices and some chipotle chiles bring the heat for this flavorful crock pot beef recipe that's perfect for picnics or a quick on-the-go meal.
Crock Pot Angel Food Cake
Yes, you can make cake in a crock pot! Mix together the ingredients, pop the pan into the crock pot, and you'll have a delicious dessert a few hours later.
Big Batch Black Beans
If you're looking to up your meal planning game, making big batches of base ingredients can help you easily get meals on the table for the week. Use the crock pot to put together this bean recipe, and use them all week in tacos or burritos, a fast chili, or to top salads or baked potatoes.
Related:The 7 Best Slow Cookers for Easy, Hands-off Meals
Sweet and Spicy Pork Tenderloin
Slow cooking puts the "tender" in this pork tenderloin dish, which can be delicious as is, but great for tacos, chili, sandwiches, and other uses later in the week.
Crock Pot Puttanesca with Roasted Broccolini
Get that rich, cooked-for-hours pasta sauce without having to keep tabs on it with this easy crock pot recipe.
Slow Cooker Curried Chicken With Ginger and Yogurt
Get curry started in a hurry—then let the crock pot give it a low, slow simmer so the spices have time to meld for a flavorful addition to your weekly meal rotation.
Related:The One Dangerous Mistake You're Making With Your Slow Cooker
Crock Pot Chocolate Pudding Cake
This easy-to-whip-up crock pot cake has the decadent, fudgy texture that's perfect with a scoop of ice cream.
Chicken Mushroom Pot Pie
You have to bake the puff pastry (or biscuit, if you prefer) topper separately, but using the slow cooker makes the creamy filling a cinch.
Crock Pot Chicken Congee
This Chinese comfort food staple features a soft chicken, coconut milk, and rice base that can be kicked up with whatever you have on hand—scallions, peanuts, coconut, cilantro—and a touch of chili crunch or other spicy sauce.
Slow Cooker Gingerbread Hot Chocolate
Wintertime hot beverages can simmer in the slow cooker—a perfect addition to your holiday parties. (Who wouldn't love a mulled cider or wine?) This holiday hot chocolate tweak features the warming spices from gingerbread.
Slow Cooker Black Bean Posole
This traditional Mexican soup is one of those "dump and serve" easy crock pot recipes. The hardest part is chopping the onion, garlic, and chiles that add a little heat to the dish.
Slow Cooker Shepherd's Pie
This very British comfort food classic features a touch of stout to add to the hearty flavor profile.
Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup
If your family's a little spice-phobic, serve jalapeños on the side instead of cooking them with this tasty soup with plenty of kick.
Related:The Differences Between an Instant Pot, Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, and Crockpot
Slow Cooker Spinach and Ricotta Lasagna
This lasagna's so easy to put together! Layer jarred sauce, uncooked lasagna noodles and plenty of cheese and spinach in your slow cooker, and push play.
Coffee-Braised Brisket With Potatoes and Carrots
Brisket becomes super tender when cooked in the crock pot. Add in potatoes and carrots for a hearty one-pot meal.
Pork Ditalini Stew
Tomatoes, spinach, and tiny noodles give this pork-based soup a lighter touch. (Can't find ditalini? Any tiny pasta will do!)
Crock Pot Cinnamon Pecan Monkey Bread
Slow cookers are underrated for baking. They make this monkey bread an easy, hands-off brunch dish while you prep the rest of the meal.
Related:5 Deliciously Simple Slow Cooker Recipes With Just Two Ingredients
Crock Pot Coca Cola Carnitas
Coca Cola gives carnitas a sweet, yet a little smoky, flavor—perfect for topping tacos, nachos, or an epic pulled pork sandwich.
Slow Cooker Asian Short Ribs
A sweet-savory combo of brown sugar, rice vinegar, and soy sauce serves as the marinade for this easy crockpot recipe that's dinner party worthy.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala
Turn to the crock pot for this beloved Indian dish, so you can have it waiting when you get home from a busy day.
Slow Cooker Tuscan Pot Roast
You have to do a little precook for this one—browning the roast and sauteeing the veggies—but it's worth it for a Sunday-dinner feast like this.
Crock Pot Cuban Sandwiches
Orange zest adds a fresh flavor note to slow cooked pork. Hit the finished sandwiches under the broiler for a minute or two to let the cheese get perfectly gooey.
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Adding kale to the mix helps transform this slow cooker lasagna to a tasty one-pan meal.
Slow-Cooker Pineapple Upside Down Cake
It's time for this vintage dessert to make a comeback—and the slow cooker makes it easy to make and keep the cake moist with its caramel-pineapple top.
Chicken Adobo With Bok Choy
This classic Filipino dish features a soy-vinegar braising liquid and a ton of great flavor packed into a very easy crock pot recipe.
Crock Pot Creamy Chicken With Biscuits
Make this super-easy crock pot recipe even easier by subbing in refrigerated biscuit dough, rather than making your own.
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