Our 25 Best Slow-Cooker Dinners for Busy Weeknights

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle

There’s no denying th a slow-cooker makes dinner time a breeze, especially with these tasty recipes. Simply plug in your slow-cooker in the morning, and by the time dinner rolls around, you’ll have a flavorful meal ready to eat. Whether you choose a comforting soup like our Slow-Cooker Spinach & Artichoke Chicken Soup or our Slow-Cooker Beef Curry, these highly-rated meals will leave you satisfied every day of the week. 

01 of 25

Slow-Cooker Sun-Dried Tomato & Spinach Pasta Bake

Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

This simple vegetarian pasta bake is rich in protein and comes together effortlessly in the slow cooker, for a convenient one-pot meal. The combination of sun-dried tomatoes, sun-dried tomato pesto and plenty of veggies delivers a mix of sweet and savory flavors with every bite. Feel free to replace the sun-dried tomato pesto with basil pesto, offering a fresh twist on the dish.

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02 of 25

Slow-Cooker Spinach & Artichoke Chicken Soup

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

If you love spinach and artichokes, this is the perfect soup for you. The creamy base is packed with veggies and shredded chicken, which soaks up the broth while adding a boost of protein. Frozen artichoke hearts have less sodium than canned, but canned can be used in their place. Just be sure to give them a good rinse before adding them to the slow cooker.

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03 of 25

Slow-Cooker Beef Curry

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Torie Cox, Prop Stylist: Joshua Hoggle

Long, slow cooking periods mellow flavors while bold spices, in bold amounts, hold their own over time. That's just what happens here with big flavors from Thai curry paste and fish sauce finished with fresh touches of cilantro and lime juice that, together, draw inspiration from Thai curry. Serve over a bed of brown rice or brown rice noodles to catch all the sauce.

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04 of 25

Slow-Cooker Three-Bean Chili Mac

Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell
Credit: Photographer: Fred Hardy, Food Stylist: Jennifer Wendorf, Prop Stylist: Lydia Purcell

Chili meets mac and cheese in this fix-it-and-forget-it slow-cooker dinner. Hot tomato sauce, a Mexican canned tomato sauce that also includes spices and chiles for heat, kicks up the flavor. If you can’t find hot tomato sauce, regular canned tomato sauce with a tablespoon of chili powder mixed in is a good substitute. You can cook the pasta separately and add it in at the end of cooking, or use our alternative method and cook the pasta in the slow cooker with a few adjustments listed below.

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05 of 25

Easy Slow-Cooker Potato-Leek Soup with Boursin

Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Credit: Photographer: Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Margaret Dickey, Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This creamy slow-cooker leek soup showcases leeks’ mild onion flavor, enhanced by plenty of fresh and dried herbs and with potatoes adding texture and body. Boursin is a soft, spreadable cheese, similar to whipped cream cheese, that comes in a variety of flavors. We like how the garlic-and-herb flavor enhances the overall flavor of the soup, but you can substitute sour cream. To prevent the sour cream from curdling in the hot soup, place in a small bowl and slowly stir in some of the hot broth until the mixture is smooth and creamy-looking before adding to the slow cooker.

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06 of 25

Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato & Black Bean Chili

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall , Prop Stylist: Julia Bayless

This hearty sweet potato and black bean chili has a delightful balance of sweet and spicy flavors. Swap out regular chili powder for chipotle and ancho chile powder, or try using reduced-sodium taco or fajita seasoning for a unique twist.

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07 of 25

Slow-Cooker Loaded Broccoli & Chicken Soup

Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster
Credit: Photographer: Jen Causey, Food Stylist: Emily Nabors Hall, Prop Stylist: Shell Royster

This comforting soup is loaded with broccoli and chicken in a creamy, cheesy base and finished off with the classic toppings of bacon and scallions. Frozen onions and rice keep their integrity and add texture to the soup, but chopped fresh onions and cooked brown rice (not frozen) can be used in their place.

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08 of 25

Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon & Potato Soup

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

This chicken potato soup is perfect for ushering in fall: It's hearty enough for the beginning of soup season, yet brothy and veggie-packed so it doesn't feel too heavy. This recipe is ideal for a weekend, when you can check on the slow cooker after just a few hours. Although you can't leave it unattended all day, this chicken potato soup still offers the benefit of hands-free, fuss-free cooking. Baby red, Yukon Gold, or fingerling potatoes will all work well here, as they'll maintain their shape nicely during cooking. Pair this easy chicken and potato soup with a slaw or kale side salad and crusty whole-grain bread for a healthy, satisfying dinner.

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09 of 25

Slow-Cooker Brisket & Onions over Buttery Mashed Potatoes

This brisket is seasoned with tangy mustard, sweet turbinado sugar and pungent garlic. Substitute brown sugar for the turbinado, if desired, and use the tube variety of tomato paste so any leftovers stay fresh longer. We recommend serving this braised beef over mashed potatoes, but it'd be just as delicious over rice, spaghetti squash or pasta.

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10 of 25

Slow-Cooker Chicken & Brown Rice with Roasted Corn & Black Beans

Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

With plenty of spice from ground cumin, cayenne and paprika and the bit of char that frozen roasted sweet corn brings to the dish, you won't miss the browning step in this easy load-and-go recipe. If frozen roasted corn isn't available, substitute regular.

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11 of 25

Slow-Cooker Curried Sweet Potato & Cauliflower with Coconut & Cashews

Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Topped with toothsome coconut chips and roasted cashews, this vegetarian curry is rich and satisfying. A sprinkle of dried fruit serves as a counterpoint to the warm curry spices. Serve with brown rice or naan, if desired.

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12 of 25

Slow-Cooker Chicken & Pinto Bean Enchilada Casserole

Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

This slow-cooker meal is comfort food at its best: The layers of tortillas, cheese and sauce meld together into a cozy casserole inspired by the flavors in enchiladas. The top tortilla layer gets beautifully crispy in the slow cooker. We use pinto beans, but you could easily swap in black beans.

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13 of 25

Slow-Cooker Black Bean & Brown Rice Stuffed Peppers

Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely
Credit: Photographer: Greg DuPree, Food Stylist: Ali Ramee Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Few dishes smell better as they cook than these cheesy brown-rice-stuffed peppers simmering gently in a pool of cinnamon- and clove-spiced tomato sauce. If you want to try a different whole grain, swap out the rice for millet. The peppers are fragile after cooking, so use tongs to gently remove them from the slow cooker.

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14 of 25

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Brisket Sliders

Serve these slow-cooker brisket sliders when company's coming--perhaps to watch the big game--for an easy, crowd-pleasing dish. The crisp, tangy coleslaw is the perfect pairing for the tender, rich brisket. Serve with chips, crudités and cold beer to round out the meal.

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15 of 25

Slow-Cooker Kale & White Bean Stew

Credit: Ali Redmond
Credit: Ali Redmond

Warm up to a hearty bowl of soup made with winter vegetables and protein-rich white beans. Comforting spices like oregano and thyme build flavor, while Parmesan provides an irresistibly savory finish.

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16 of 25

Slow-Cooker Kale & Sausage Stew

Credit: Ali Redmond
Credit: Ali Redmond

Turkey sausage gets transformed in this rich stew made with hearty winter vegetables like carrots, kale and potatoes. Perfect for meal prep or family dinners, this stew comes together easily in the slow cooker.

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17 of 25

Slow-Cooker Buffalo Chicken Chili

Credit: Jason Donnelly
Credit: Jason Donnelly

If you like Buffalo wings, you'll love the flavors in this warm, hearty chili that comes together easily in the slow cooker. Sour cream helps cut the heat, but you could also use plain strained yogurt.

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18 of 25

Slow-Cooker Potato Soup Four Ways

Be sure to use waxy potatoes, such as red or Yukon Gold, in this crockpot potato soup recipe. The result will be creamier than if you use starchy varieties like russets. Load your bowl up like a classic baked potato or see Tip (below) for more ways to mix it up.

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19 of 25

Slow-Cooker White Bean & Sausage Cassoulet

This slow-cooker cassoulet comes together quickly without fuss. Mashing some of the beans makes the broth creamier, while a topping of toasted panko adds contrasting crunchiness. Serve with a crusty baguette to sop up every last drop of the sauce. Garnish with fresh thyme sprigs, if desired.

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20 of 25

Slow-Cooker Cabbage Roll Soup

Credit: Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey Davis
Credit: Photography / Jennifer Causey, Styling / Ali Ramee / Audrey Davis

This slow-cooker cabbage roll soup has all the essential flavors of a classic cabbage roll and simmers away to create bold, warming flavors. This savory soup has just a hint of sweetness plus heat from hot sauce. The tomatoes and caraway seeds help create depth but don't overshadow the rest of the flavors. The brown rice garnish rounds out the dish.

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21 of 25

Slow-Cooker Chicken, Spinach & White Bean Stew

Credit: Ali Redmond
Credit: Ali Redmond

Warm up with a comforting bowl of chicken stew scented with thyme, oregano and smoked paprika. Adding spinach and white beans provides a hearty dose of fiber that will keep you satisfied until the next meal.

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22 of 25

Slow-Cooker Chicken & Vegetable Noodle Soup

This slow-cooker chicken noodle soup fits nicely into the Mediterranean diet thanks to plenty of vegetables, lean chicken breast and whole-wheat pasta. Pair it with a salad and toasted whole-grain bread for an easy, healthy dinner.

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23 of 25

Slow-Cooker Turkey Chili with Butternut Squash

This slow-cooker turkey and butternut squash chili is the perfect balance of sweet and spicy. The sweetness of the butternut squash tames the kick from cayenne, making this easy crock-pot chili just right for kids and adults alike. For those who prefer a spicier chili, just pass hot sauce at the table.

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24 of 25

Slow-Cooker Balsamic Short Ribs

Credit: Blaine Moats
Credit: Blaine Moats

Now here's a beef short ribs recipe you can serve to company—even on a holiday.

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25 of 25

Slow-Cooker Stuffed Pepper Soup

This stuffed pepper soup uses the slow cooker to create a flavorful, easy meal perfect for any night of the week.

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Original Source:

https://www.eatingwell.com/best-slow-cooker-dinner-recipes-for-busy-weeknights-11915422