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Home Recipe Round-Ups

20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes

By: Rachel TiemeyerPosted: 10/30/24Updated: 10/30/24

This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.

One of my secrets to low-stress family dinners or hosting a crowd is to utilize this list of easy crock pot recipes. These recipes allow me to work ahead and then relax during dinner. You’re going to love these well-tested meals!

If I could only make a few off this list (it’s a hard call!), I’d pick French Dip Sandwiches, Chicken Pot Pie, and the Turkey Chili.

Collage of easy crock pot recipes. this …


 
Table of Contents
  • 20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes
  • Crock Pot FAQ’s
  • Our Popular Crockpot Cookbook
  • P.S. Need to Feed a Large Group?

20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes

Whether you’re searching for crock pot party food or just some really good family crock pot recipes, you’ve come to the right place! These easy recipes are all tried and true ones we’ve used in our homes for years.

Chicken parmesan sliders on a cutting board.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders

This might be the easiest recipe of all for a crowd or simple weeknight meal. Simply dump raw chicken breasts (that’s right, no precooking!), marinara sauce, and a little seasoning into the crock pot, and you’ll have a delicious sandwich filling in a few hours. Kids love this one, too.

Chicken Parmesan Sliders
Steak chili in a bowl with toppings to the side.

Slow Cooker Steak Chili

A dump-and-go steak chili recipe that is hearty, mouthwatering, and deeply flavorful. Simply dump all the ingredients in a crock pot (or Instant Pot) and the chili slow cooks all day. The result is a slightly spicy, fall-apart tender, slow cooker steak chili you’ll love coming home to!

Slow Cooker Steak Chili
Pulled Pork sandwich and coleslaw on a plate with a small bowl of homemade BBQ sauce next to it.

Crockpot Pulled Pork

I love how easy and budget-friendly this slow cooker meal is for a group or for a family on a budget. Serve with our Killer Homemade BBQ Sauce and 5 Ingredient Coleslaw on the side.

Crockpot Pulled Pork
Cooked chicken drumsticks on a serving platter with steamed broccoli.

Crockpot Drumsticks

These drumsticks require only 4 pantry ingredients and come out moist and delicious every time. Not only are they gluten-free and dairy-free, but they work great as a make-ahead freezer meal too. All ages love these.

Crockpot Drumsticks
Breakfast Casserole in a Crockpot on a wooden cutting board.

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole with Bacon and Gruyere

Everyone loves breakfast for dinner! Guests will oooh and ahhhh over this gourmet casserole at your next brunch or holiday gathering. Its depth of flavor and beautiful color come from the bacon, onions, garlic, kale, roasted red peppers, and Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses. Bonus: It’s naturally gluten-free.

Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
Three carnitas tacos on a plate with toppings in bowls in the background.

Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas

This is the type of recipe our readers go crazy over. Slow Cooker Carnitas are a dump-and-go crock pot meal that is easy, freezes well before or after cooking, and feeds an army.

Slow Cooker Crispy Carnitas
Bowl of easy crockpot vegetarian tortilla soup on a gold tea towel with lime wedges around it.

Crockpot Tortilla Soup

This dump-and-go Tortilla Soup is one of the easiest and cheapest you’ll ever make. Almost every ingredient comes straight from your pantry and is quite healthy. We love it so much that we included it in our cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker.

Crockpot Tortilla Soup
Whole wheat spaghetti with meat sauce served on a plate with fresh parsley on top.

Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce

With only 6 main ingredients, this Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce couldn’t be easier or tastier! Serve over pasta, zoodles, or spaghetti squash for a delicious and healthy dinner.

Crockpot Spaghetti Sauce
A plate with rice, stir-fried veggies, and honey bourbon chicken with green onions sprinkled on top.

Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Chicken

A little sweet and a little spicy, this EASY Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Chicken recipe is BIG on flavor and takes just minutes. It’s a fan favorite and, of course, freezer-friendly!

Slow Cooker Honey Bourbon Chicken
Mexican Chicken served in a white bowl with avocado chunks, shredded cheese, and chopped cilantro on top.

Crockpot Mexican Chicken

This creamy, comforting dish makes for a delicious, healthy, and EASY meal. Serve over brown rice with your favorite Mexican toppings. Freezer meal instructions included, so you can double the batch and have another later.

Crockpot Mexican Chicken
Cooked roast in a crockpot with potatoes and carrots around the edges waiting to be served.

Slow Cooker Pot Roast

This Slow Cooker Pot Roast yields a tender, shredded chuck roast with baby Yukon gold potatoes and carrots smothered in a velvety, complex-tasting brown gravy. No cream soups or gravy packets here! Just real food goodness that’ll have you asking for seconds!

Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Two bowls of taco soup with shredded cheese, and sliced avocado and lime on top.

Crock Pot Taco Soup

Imagine walking into your home after a long day at work and being welcomed by the aroma of this comforting, healthy dinner. Print or save this Crock Pot Taco Soup recipe right now, because it’s about to become your best friend! Make it for a weeknight family meal or when hosting a crowd.

Crock Pot Taco Soup
French dip sandwiches on a baking sheet with a crock of au jus.

Crockpot French Dip

There’s no getting around the truth–this easy Crockpot French Dip sandwich recipe is absolutely mouthwatering! Perfect for busy nights or to serve to groups. As always, we’ll show you how to prep this meal ahead for the freezer, too.

Crockpot French Dip
Chicken Taquitos piled on a serving platter with avocado lime salsa on top.

Creamy Slow Cooker Chicken Taquitos

The great thing about this meal is you can make it in advance and toast them in the oven right before you’re ready to eat. Set them out with an assortment of toppings like salsa, guacamole, pico de gallo, or sour cream. You can also serve with our colorful Fiesta Chopped Salad and some tortilla chips.

Slow Cooker Chicken Taquitos
Chicken and dumplings served in a bowl with chopped parsley on top.

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings

Chicken and Dumplings in the crock pot? Yes! It can be done! This classic comfort food will fill your home with delicious smells as it simmers for hours in the slow cooker.

Crock Pot Chicken and Dumplings
Balsamic shredded beef on a bed of polenta with chopped fresh parsley on top.

Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef

This freezer-friendly recipe is a win for my family and is a great recipe for large groups. Serve this dump-and-go meal over mashed potatoes or polenta for the perfect Sunday dinner. Or try our very similar Slow Cooker Short Ribs or Instant Pot Short Ribs instead.

Slow Cooker Balsamic Shredded Beef
Chicken pot pie filling in a bowl with a biscuit on top.

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie

Our Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie recipe with a secret “flavor bomb” ingredient is creamy, dreamy, and super easy to make. Plus, it’s healthier than most versions and freezer-friendly, too. My family will eat the chicken and veggie filling with or without the homemade biscuits on top–it’s that good.

Crock Pot Chicken Pot Pie
Cheddar and bacon potato soup in a bowl with chopped scallions and bacon on top.

Slow Cooker Cheddar and Bacon Potato Soup

When the air turns crisp and the leaves start to change, making a comforting batch of Cheddar and Bacon Potato Soup is mandatory. Using the slow cooker means your home will smell cozy and delicious, too!

Slow Cooker Potato Soup
BBQ shredded beef sandwich on a plate with corn on the cob and grapes.

Crock Pot BBQ Beef Sandwiches

A crowd-pleasing dinner doesn’t get much easier than our Crock Pot BBQ Beef Sandwiches, which is a dump-and-go slow cooker recipe. The cooking method and spice mixture yields super flavorful and tender BBQ shredded beef that goes well with our Homemade BBQ Sauce.

Crock Pot BBQ Beef Sandwiches
Three bowls of no peek stew with crusty bread in them.

No Peek Stew

This dump-and-go meal takes minutes to put together in the slow cooker and cooks on LOW for about 8 hours. Serve up with some crusty bread and a side salad for a homestyle dinner.

No Peek Stew
Healthy Turkey Chili with Sweet Potatoes and Black Beans served in a white bowl with a dollop of sour cream.

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili with Sweet Potato and Black Beans

This lean, healthy turkey chili is not only hearty and absolutely delicious, but it’s also chock full of fiber, protein, and nutrients. It’s also gluten-free & dairy-free! This crockpot chili is delicious fresh but is also a great make ahead meal.

Slow Cooker Turkey Chili
Three bowls of white chicken chili with avocado slices, sour cream, tortilla strips, fresh cilantro, and shredded cheese on top.

Crockpot White Chicken Chili

This healthy Crockpot White Chicken Chili recipe is a little lighter than others yet still so comforting and packed with flavor! It’s also gluten-free, dairy-free, and freezer-friendly.

Crockpot White Chicken Chili
Pumpkin spice latte being poured into a white mug with cookies sitting on a plate next to it.

Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte

This homemade Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe is EASY to make and is my go-to drink when entertaining in the fall or winter. It’s made with REAL ingredients from your pantry and everyone is amazed that it’s made in a slow cooker. Serve this with our Snickerdoodle Cookies, and you’ll be in heaven!

Crock Pot Pumpkin Spice Latte
Easy crock pot Pizza soup recipe served in a white bowl with shredded Parmesan on top and garlic bread slices on the side.

Pizza Soup

Two of our favorite meals–pizza and soup–come together in this gluten-free, dairy-free Pizza Soup recipe to create a meal that’s healthy, filling, and incredibly tasty. It’s absolutely delicious and can be prepped as a freezer meal.

Pizza Soup
Easy crock pot chicken tortellini soup recipe in a slow cooker with ladle.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup

A delightful twist on traditional chicken noodle soup that will bring some serious comfort food to your table without much fuss. It’s kid-friendly, freezer-friendly, easy, and delicious.

Or try Instant Pot Chicken Tortellini Soup or stovetop Chicken Tortellini Soup.

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup
Two bowls of tomato soup with croutons and fresh basil on top.

Homemade Tomato Soup

This Tomato Soup is budget-friendly, delicious, and makes a very large portion. Serve with some grilled cheese sandwiches or crusty bakery bread. Use our freezing instructions to make it ahead of time and freeze, too. This recipe is linked to an Instant Pot version but we’ve shared how to make it in the slow cooker in the blog post.

Homemade Tomato Soup

Crock Pot FAQ’s

Is it better to cook food on High or Low in a crock pot?

Low and slow is almost always the better choice. You run less chance of overcooking your food.

Can you cook a freezer meal in a crock pot?

Sorry to be the bearers of bad news, but while cooking a frozen meal in the Instant Pot is safe, putting a frozen meal in the slow cooker is not generally recommended. Loading your slow cooker with icy ingredients will keep food in the temperature danger zone (40° to 140°F), where bacteria can flourish for too long. Read our full post on why you can’t cook frozen food in the crockpot.

How do I keep from overcooking my food?

A meat thermometer will become your best friend when using a slow cooker. Let it be your guide instead of the clock, and you’ll be amazed at how great food can be when it’s cooked perfectly.

Why is my chicken coming out dry?

You’re likely overcooking it. With the exception of larger recipes (like 8+ servings), It only takes 2.5-3.5 hours on LOW for boneless, skinless chicken breast to be fully cooked in the slow cooker.

Can I lift the lid while it’s cooking?

Each peek you take during the cooking process will add 15 to 20 minutes to the cooking time. So curb the urge to open the lid and stir, unless we specifically instruct you to. It’s usually not necessary and tends to slow down the cooking.

Thriving Home's cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, lying on a counter.

Our Popular Crockpot Cookbook

In our most recent cookbook, From Freezer to Cooker, every recipe has both slow cooker AND Instant Pot instructions PLUS instructions on how to make it a freezer meal. We spent two years developing and testing these recipes, so you can be sure they work!

From Freezer to Cooker

When you’re looking for a hands-off meal for the family, look no further than these Easy Crock Pot Recipes and the ones in our slow cooker cookbook.

P.S. Need to Feed a Large Group?

If you like our easy crock pot recipes, you’re sure to like our round-up of 20+ Meals That Feed a Crowd too.

hero image of 20+ meal ideas for a crowd
20+ Meals for Groups of People

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Rachel Tiemeyer

As co-founder of Thriving Home, Rachel dreams about creating recipes (literally) and uses her husband, her 3 kids, and even the neighbors as guinea pigs several nights a week. She believes that good food has the power to bring families and friends closer together and continues to wake up excited about her job each day, even after 10+ years!

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  1. Patti says

    Posted on 10/17/21 at 10:56 am

    As a family of eight — we thank you for continually blessing us with healthy simplicities of making our Dinner choices & tasks so easy!!

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 10/18/21 at 10:59 am

      This truly makes us so happy, Patti!

      Reply
  2. lynn vanasse says

    Posted on 12/2/20 at 10:33 am

    hi my name is Lynn and I live with my daughter and 5 grandchildren, we are a very busy family with children going to school and working so I am looking for some recipes to cook good meals for a family of 7 that would be great.

    Reply
    • Rachel Tiemeyer says

      Posted on 12/3/20 at 10:17 am

      I hope these recipes helpful, Lynn. Our Kid-Friendly Freezer Meals might also be helpful to you, as you can make them ahead of time for fast and easy dinners later. Find those here: https://thrivinghomeblog.com/kid-freezer-meal-post/

      Reply
  3. Lyverta says

    Posted on 2/27/20 at 9:11 am

    I can’t wait to try these new recipes out for my meal prep next week.

    Reply

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