Home Recipe Round-Ups
By: Rachel Tiemeyer
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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!
Table of Contents
20+ Easy Crock Pot Recipes
We love crock pot recipes so much, we even wrote a cookbook full of delicious slow cooker (and Instant Pot) recipes: From Freezer to Cooker. You can also find our cookbook on Amazon. If you don’t find a crock pot recipe in this list that hits the spot, be sure to check out our cookbook!
Slow Cooker Cooking Times Chart
We spent years testing slow cooker timing for various recipes for our second cookbook. We put all our knowledge into one handy printable cheat sheet for you. Never overcook (or undercook) a crock pot meal again!
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Crowd Pleaser Mexican Soup
This Mexican Soup recipe is one of those tried and true recipes that I’ve been making for years and years. It’s easy, super flavorful, freezer friendly, and makes a huge batch.
Crowd Pleaser Mexican Soup
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
Creamy 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, orsour cream. You can also serve with our colorful Fiesta Chopped Salad and some tortilla chips.
Creamy Chicken Taquitos
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
Slow CookerBalsamic 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.
Slow CookerBalsamic Shredded Beef
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 tryInstant Pot Chicken Tortellini Soupor stovetopChicken Tortellini Soup.
Slow Cooker Chicken Tortellini Soup
Homemade Tomato Soup
This Tomato Soupis 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 whilecooking 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.
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.
Love These Easy Crock Pot Recipes? Try Our 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
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.
20+ Meals for Groups of People
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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Patti saysAs a family of eight — we thank you for continually blessing us with healthy simplicities of making our Dinner choices & tasks so easy!!
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- Rachel Tiemeyer says
This truly makes us so happy, Patti!
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- lynn vanasse says
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.
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- Rachel Tiemeyer says
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/
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- Lyverta says
I can’t wait to try these new recipes out for my meal prep next week.
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