Not sure what to cook in your brand-new slow cooker? These easy, beginner-friendly slow cooker and crockpot recipes are the perfect place to start. From filling dinners to party-ready dips, each recipe is designed to help you enjoy delicious meals with minimal effort. When you’re craving something comforting and hands-off, try the Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili or the Barbecue Pulled Chicken to put your slow cooker to good use.
Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili
This hearty sweet potato and black bean chili delivers a satisfying balance of sweet and spicy flavors. For a smoky kick, swap standard chili powder for chipotle and ancho chile powder, or use reduced-sodium taco or fajita seasoning for a flavorful twist.
Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup
This comforting vegetable soup is filling, nourishing, and an easy way to enjoy more vegetables. It’s a simple, wholesome option that keeps you satisfied.
Barbecue Pulled Chicken
This BBQ pulled chicken puts a fresh spin on traditional pulled pork by slow-cooking chicken in a tangy tomato-based sauce. Top it with sliced jalapeños, red onions, and sour cream for a bold finish. Serve it as a sandwich, over mashed potatoes, or even on whole-grain spaghetti. Pair it with shredded napa cabbage tossed with low-fat mayonnaise, cider vinegar, celery seed, and honey for a complete meal.
White Chicken Chili
This healthy white chicken chili delivers an impressive 22 grams of protein per serving and fits well into a diabetes-friendly eating plan. For a lighter option, top it with Greek yogurt instead of sour cream to keep it creamy while reducing fat and calories.
Slow-Cooker Oatmeal
This is an easy way to serve a crowd a warm, hearty breakfast. Assemble everything in the slow cooker the night before and wake up to perfectly creamy oatmeal. The slow cooker removes the need for constant stirring and ensures a smooth texture.
Slow-Cooker Curried Butternut Squash Soup
Skip roasting and let your slow cooker do all the work in this curried butternut squash soup. Simply add the ingredients to the crock pot, set it, and enjoy an easy, healthy dinner or packable lunches.
Slow-Cooker Chicken & Orzo with Tomatoes & Olives
This load-and-go meal transforms basic chicken breast and whole-wheat orzo with Mediterranean flavors like lemon and olives. It’s a complete, satisfying dish—just add a green salad.
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Slow-Cooker Vegan Chili
This easy vegan chili is packed with wholesome ingredients like pinto and black beans, red pepper, tomatoes, and butternut squash. After a bit of chopping, everything goes straight into the slow cooker, making it an ideal weeknight dinner. Finish with fresh avocado and chopped cilantro for extra flavor.
Slow-Cooker Spinach Artichoke Dip
This creamy, crowd-pleasing dip comes together effortlessly in the crock pot. Keep it warm throughout your gathering so every bite has perfectly melted cheese.
Slow-Cooker Potato Soup
This easy slow-cooker potato soup includes all the classic toppings you love—bacon, cheese, and scallions. Pair it with a salad for a comforting dinner with just 15 minutes of active prep time. It’s also great for casual parties—serve it straight from the slow cooker and let guests customize their bowls. For a vegetarian version, use vegetable broth and skip the bacon.
Slow-Cooked Sweet and Sour Cabbage
This dish gets its signature sweet-and-sour flavor from a blend of cloves, cabbage, and cider vinegar. Don’t leave out the apples—their natural sweetness adds a worthwhile finishing touch.
Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip
This healthier take on classic Buffalo chicken dip cooks entirely in the slow cooker, making it an easy, hands-off appetizer. Keep it warm for games, parties, or casual gatherings, and serve with carrot sticks, celery sticks, and tortilla chips for dipping.
