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16 Slow Cooker Recipes for Stress-Free Weeknight Dinners

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Dinner doesn’t have to be a hassle, especially when you have a slow cooker to do the heavy lifting. This collection of 16 Crock Pot recipes will keep your weeknight meals stress-free and delicious. From comforting classics like spaghetti Bolognese and beef brisket soup to flavorful options like Mongolian beef and cashew chicken with snap peas, these recipes offer something for every craving. Let your slow cooker handle the work while you enjoy easy, satisfying dinners all week long.

Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

A close-up of spaghetti bolognese topped with grated cheese highlights this classic ground beef recipe. The dish features spaghetti noodles mixed with a savory meat and tomato sauce, garnished with shredded cheese, creating a hearty and appetizing appearance.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Whip up this speedy Spaghetti Bolognese recipe and you’ll have a meat sauce so packed with Italian flavor, it might just start singing opera! Ready in just 30 minutes—because who has time to wait for deliciousness?

Get The Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Smothered Chicken

Close-up of a dish with tender pieces of meat simmered in a slow cooker, enveloped in a rich, thick curry sauce, and garnished with chopped cilantro. The deep orange-brown hue reflects a masterful blend of spices and flavors that only slow cooker recipes can achieve.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This smothered chicken recipe is super easy to make, whether you use the stove or a slow cooker. It’s all about those tender chicken thighs swimming in a tasty gravy that’s just right for comfort food lovers!

Get The Recipe: Smothered Chicken

Easy Cowboy Stew Recipe (Slow Cooker)

Easy Cowboy Stew Recipe (Slow Cooker)
Photo credit: Kitchen Divas

This simple cowboy stew recipe with beef chunks, potatoes, beans, and veggies in tomato sauce is a delicious and filling one-pot meal!
Get the Recipe: Easy Cowboy Stew Recipe (Slow Cooker)

Slow Cooker Crock Pot Chicken Breasts

Sliced roasted chicken breast garnished with rosemary sits on a white plate alongside green beans and two lemon slices. The chicken appears juicy with a golden-brown glaze, showcasing the best of slow cooker recipes for mouthwatering results.

This slow cooker chicken breasts recipe makes juicy, flavorful chicken that’s perfect for any meal. The savory seasoning blend, combined with onions and garlic, adds a burst of flavor, making it a versatile option for salads, sandwiches, tacos, and more.

Get The Recipe: Slow Cooker Crock Pot Chicken Breasts

Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

A bowl full of Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans topped with herbs
Photo credit: xoxoBella

These slow cooker cowboy beans are the epitome of comfort food, blending sweet, smoky, and spicy flavors into a hearty dish. Effortless to prepare, they’re a perfect match for any meal where you want a satisfying, flavor-packed side.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cowboy Beans

Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Soup

A white bowl filled with brisket soup.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Soup is a meal-prepping dream! It’s incredibly easy to throw together in your slow cooker and delivers a delicious and satisfying soup that’s perfect for dinner or leftovers for lunch. The hearty flavors and melt-in-your-mouth brisket make it a versatile option for any occasion.

Get The Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Brisket Soup

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Crockpot Chicken Fajitas recipe by Cheerful Cook.
Image Credit: Cheerful Cook

These Crockpot Chicken Fajitas make a great weeknight dinner! We mix juicy chicken, colorful peppers, and a zesty seasoning blend. Just set it and forget about it!
Get the Recipe:  Crockpot Chicken Fajitas

Slow Cooker Beef with Mushrooms

Close-up of a hearty mushroom and beef stew, perfect for slow cooker recipes. The dish features chunks of beef and sliced mushrooms in a rich, dark gravy, garnished with fresh chopped parsley. A wooden spoon is partially submerged in the stew, suggesting serving or stirring.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe is a delicious foundation for your personal touch! Feel free to add your favorite vegetables or herbs to the slow cooker for a customized meal that’s perfect for your taste preferences. It’s a versatile and comforting dish that’s easy to make your own.

Get The Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef with Mushrooms

Slow Cooker Raspberry Chicken

Image Credit: Kitchen Divas

This Slow Cooker Raspberry Chicken is a breeze to make and tastes so good! The gravy is just fantastic drizzled over the chicken, rice, or roast potatoes!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Raspberry Chicken

Slow Cooker Apple Sausage in Onion Gravy

Close-up of a delicious sausage and onion dish. The sausages are surrounded by caramelized onions and garnished with fresh sage leaves. The rich, savory sauce glistens on the sausages and onions, making the dish look warm and appetizing—perfect for a slow cooker apple sausage twist.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen


This tasty Slow Cooker Apple Sausage in Onion Gravy recipe is a classic British dish, served inside a large Yorkshire pudding.

Get The Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Sausage in Onion Gravy

Vegan Miso Ramen Soup with Tofu

Ramen soup with tofu in a white bowl.
Photo credit: xoxoBella

This vegan miso ramen soup cooked in a slow cooker is packed with delicious Asian flavors and a breeze to make. With tofu, veggies, sesame oil, and chili sauce, this crockpot ramen soup is the ideal cozy dish for any day of the week.
Get the Recipe: Vegan Miso Ramen Soup with Tofu

Slow Cooker Oxtail Orzo Soup

a big bowl full of Slow Cooker Oxtail Orzo Soup sprinkled with fresh parsley
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

Oxtail and orzo come together in perfect harmony in this slow cooker soup. The tender oxtail meat and chewy orzo pasta create a delightful textural experience, all bathed in a rich and flavorful broth.

Get The Recipe: Slow Cooker Oxtail Orzo Soup

Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks

A plated dish featuring flavorful slow-cooked lamb shanks garnished with fresh parsley. The lamb is served with tender cooked carrots in a rich sauce, all presented on a white plate. A fork rests on the side of the plate, and a glass of water is visible in the background.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe is a delicious foundation for your personal touch! Feel free to experiment with different herbs, spices, or vegetables to create a customized lamb shank dish that reflects your taste preferences. It’s a versatile and comforting dish that’s easy to make your own.

Get The Recipe: Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

A ladle scooping out beef and vegetable stew from a slow cooker, showcasing broccoli, carrots, and mushrooms in various beef cuts.
Image Credit: Kitchen Divas

This Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is an easy and flavorful dish that needs minimal effort, using flank steak, veggies, and a tasty sauce.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef

Braised Boneless Short Ribs

Close-up of a savory beef stew with chunks of beef, carrots, and vegetables in a thick brown gravy, served over creamy mashed potatoes. This indulgent entry from our Beef Recipes collection is garnished with chopped green herbs.
Image Credit: Erren Hart/Erren’s Kitchen

This outstanding recipe for Braised Boneless Short Ribs produces unbelievably succulent beef that practically melts in your mouth. It’s the epitome of comforting, heartwarming cuisine!

Get The Recipe: Braised Boneless Short Ribs

Cashew Chicken with Snap Peas

Chicken recipe with chopsticks.
Image Credit: xoxoBella

This yummy slow cooker cashew chicken with snap peas combines sweet and spicy flavors perfectly, all cooked up in a crockpot. Unlike typical Chinese chicken stir-fries, this dish is simple to make and ideal for slow cooker meal fans.
Get the Recipe: Cashew Chicken with Snap Peas

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