Slow Cooker Dinner Ideas for Easy Homemade Meals

Let me clue you in on a bit secret: One of many best methods to make restaurant-quality meals at house (I am speaking barely lifting a finger right here) is by enlisting the assistance of a trusty gradual cooker.

Even after the a whole lot (!) of hours I spent at culinary college studying the a whole lot (!!) of chef-approved cooking methods there are—blanching, poaching, roasting, frying, you identify it—gradual cooking yields a few of the most interesting outcomes with the least quantity of effort of all of them.

Between the sheer comfort of merely letting a machine do the cooking so that you can the fork-tender proteins and veggies you’ll get pleasure from after just some hours of hands-off work, there’s actually no wanting again when you’ve gotten the cling of gradual cooking.

Should you’re able to embark on this culinary journey, we salute you—and never solely as a result of it is the proper time (see additionally: winter). We’ve rounded up a few of the greatest gradual cooker dinner concepts for you so you may get pleasure from scrumptious melt-in-your-mouth meals each night time of the week.

The most effective gradual cooker available on the market

First issues first, you’re going to wish to get the proper gear. IMO, you merely can’t go flawed with a Crock-Pot, an OG identify within the sport.

The Crock-Pot Programmable Six-Quart Slow Cooker with Sous Vide is my tried-and-tested choose. It combines a gradual cooker and a sous vide machine for final precision cooking. It additionally has a built-in, detachable thermometer probe and digital settings to simply program cooking occasions from 5 minutes to 30 hours. For straightforward cleanup and supreme versatility, the detachable stoneware is dishwasher and oven secure. (And fairly! This model is available in a stunning ‘oat milk’ colorway that’s the proper shade of impartial vanilla—no have to stash it within the pits of your cabinets anymore, people.)

What’s greatest to prepare dinner in a gradual cooker?

Though gradual cookers are usually related to tenderizing cuts of meat, this actually isn’t the one scrumptious factor to prepare dinner in a gradual cooker. In reality, this kitchen workhorse can do—and prepare dinner—absolutely anything you throw its manner. From making pillowy-soft bread to one-pot pasta dishes to stick-to-your-bones soups and stews, a gradual cooker is ideal for almost any recipe.

That stated, like every dish you make, you’ll have to know the proper ideas and methods to attaining the very best outcomes. Fortunately, the oldsters at Crock-Pot have you ever coated with this easy cooking guide for cooking veggies, meats, frozen meals, and even desserts to perfection.

6 easy gradual cooker dinner concepts for weeknight meal perfection 

Gradual cooker predominant dishes

1. Hearty Vegan Purple Lentil Chili

Legumes and beans—as longevity-boosting and scrumptious as they might be—are infamous for taking endlessly (and ever) to prepare dinner. However with the set-it-and-forget-it nature of a gradual cooker, the wonder is that you just don’t have to spend hours stirring and even babysitting an enormous ol’ pot of lentils till they’re good and tender. As an alternative, you need to use the useful machine to make hearty vegetarian slow cooker recipes like this pink lentil chili by Running on Real Food with out even breaking a sweat. Yep, you simply have to throw the whole lot (actually) within the gradual cooker and switch it on. Three hours on excessive (or 5 hours on low) later, and also you’ll be digging right into a warming bowl of vegan chili earlier than it. Bonus: Every serving has a whopping 18 grams of protein that will help you meet your daily nutrient goals.

Get the recipe: Vegan Slow Cooker Red Lentil Chili

2. Spicy Salsa Verde Hen

In search of a straightforward four-ingredient paleo slow cooker recipe to make in a pinch? Say no extra. This salsa verde rooster recipe by Downshiftology is precisely what your recipe field has been lacking. In a gradual cooker, add rooster breast, salsa verde, cumin, cilantro, plus salt, and set it on low for 4 to 5 hours. As soon as it’s prepared, all you want are two forks to simply shred the succulent rooster for serving over a mattress of heat, steamy rice or gentle, tender tortillas. Swoon.

Get the recipe: Crock-Pot Salsa Verde Chicken

3. Really feel Higher Hen Soup

Throat beginning to get that obnoxious little tingle that indicators a chilly is just some hours away? Cease it in its tracks with this immune-boosting and nourishing “really feel higher” rooster soup by Feasting at Home. And in case you are questioning how a slow cooker chicken soup can have the ability that will help you begin feeling higher very quickly, nicely, this recipe full of nutrient-and vitamin-rich components like lemon, ginger, and rooster broth to replenish your depleted vitality shops ASAP. Plus, who needs to prepare dinner whereas feeling below the climate? Let the gradual cooker do the be just right for you as an alternative.

Get the recipe: Feel Better Chicken Soup

4. Lasagna Soup

Fam, I’ve made this lasagna soup recipe by Feel Good Foodie numerous occasions and might verify it’s pretty much as good because it will get in terms of fast dinner recipes which are as comforting as will be. Think about the heart-warming goodness of a creamy and dreamy home made lasagna, however with out the fuss of layering all of it collectively (and getting the casserole pan sitting on the very backside of all of your bakeware out of the cabinet). Though this recipe will be made in a daily ol’ pot, I’d argue that making it in a gradual cooker will unlock unholy depths of taste your tastebuds will thanks for later. Merely prepare dinner the entire components (minus the noodles) on low for six to eight hours (or on excessive for 4 to 5), and toss cooked noodles simply earlier than serving. Belief, it’s even higher than it sounds.

Get the recipe: One-Pot Lasagna Soup

Gradual cooker sauce

Simple Gradual Cooker Marinara

Nothing says leveling up your culinary abilities than making a home made marinara sauce that rivals your store-bought favourite. The most effective half? This recipe by Budget Bytes comes out to a grand whole of simply over 4 {dollars} per seven-cup batch—a steal a lot? And it pairs nicely with absolutely anything—pizza, spaghetti, meatballs, shakshuka, you identify it.

Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Marinara 

Gradual cooker dessert

Vegan Chocolate Lava Cake

Would dinner actually be full with out one thing candy to seal the deal? And who’s to say all vegan slow cooker recipes should be savory? So, in the event you firmly stand on group candy over salty, then this gradual cooker vegan chocolate lava cake by Thyme and Love is asking your identify. It’s easy and unsuspecting, but one chew of this heat, luscious lava cake with a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream and also you’ll be seeing the world by means of rose-colored glasses. Need to add one thing crunchy for juxtaposing textures? Whip collectively a slow-cooked granola to garnish the dessert (and avoid wasting for breakfast, too!).

Get the recipe: Vegan Chocolate Lava Cake

Extra dinner recipes incoming: