40 Super Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes To Make This Fall

By Southern Living Editors
Updated August 25, 2020
Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Slow cooker recipes are all about simplicity, which is exactly why we love them so—because every one of these fall slow cooker recipes means you’ll spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your family and friends. Not only do these weeknight warriors show you how to use your slow cooker for making side dishes—hello, creamy crockpot mac-and-cheese and sweet potato casserole—but also standout main dishes that can feed a crowd or serve as tasty leftovers.

In fact, we're spooning up a whole roster of slow cooker soups and stews well into winter, from creamy tomato soup that's begging for a grilled cheese to hearty Texas chili that requires a slice of cornbread. From there, slow cooker carnitas, pot roast, and bolognese sauce (to name a few) will see you through the season.

Let these fall slow cooker favorites show you how to use your slow cooker to make dishes that feel as cozy and comforting as autumn does. 

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Let These Slow Cooker Recipes Simplify Your Fall Meals

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Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Slow Cooker Lentil Soup

Tasty, filling, and meat-free, this comforting soup recipe is both simple and satisfying. 

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Slow-Cooker Pork Roast

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pork Roast

Flavorful pork and tender vegetables make up a hearty meal that is easy for any weeknight. 

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Slow-Cooker Texas Chili

Credit: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Texas Chili

This chili makes the Lone Star state proud. It's got brisket in a spicy tomato-based sauce with tons of chiles and absolutely no beans. All in the ease of your slow cooker. 

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Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl; Food Styling: Mary-Claire Britton

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

We'll take pot roast any day of the week, and this one is made even simpler in the slow cooker. 

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Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce

This fun dish is two recipes in one: delicious, easy meatballs and a slow-simmered tangy tomato sauce. If you have any extra sauce, toss it with your favorite green vegetable, spoon it over a bowl of creamy grits, or pair it with pork chops or other meats.

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Slow-Cooker Chipotle-Tomato Soup

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chipotle-Tomato Soup

Pair this creamy soup with grilled cheese sandwiches and the whole crew will be in warm and cozy heaven. 

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos

We recommended serving this no-fuss shredded chicken on corn tortillas with fresh toppings like red cabbage, tomatoes, radishes, and cilantro.

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Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

Classic cafeteria-style goodness, this recipe yields enough to serve as a side for a crowd, or it could be dinner for a family of four. 

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Slow-Cooker Peas-and-Greens Soup with Turkey Sausage

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling; Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Peas-and-Greens Soup with Turkey Sausage

Lucky for any busy home cook, this recipe is substitute-friendly. You can swap out the turkey sausage for pork or chicken sausage, as well as use your favorite frozen pea or bean instead of the black-eyed peas.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole

All the sweet comfort of the classic Thanksgiving casserole, but without having to fill up your baking dish. 

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Creamy Potato-and-Ham Hock Slow-Cooker Soup

Credit: Photo: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Creamy Potato-and-Ham Hock Slow-Cooker Soup

With chunky pieces of potato and chopped ham hock, this soup is every bit of delicious that you want on an autumn night. 

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Spend 20 minutes in the kitchen prepping this gorgeous, hearty sauce. Once the sauce simmers in the cooker, all that's left to do is cook a pound of pasta and serve.

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Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans

Credit: Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Cowboy Beans

Flavored with bacon and delicious when served with rice, these cowboy beans are a leveled-up version of barbecue beans. 

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Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

Credit: Antonis Achilleos

Recipe: Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage

This traditional New England dish is basically a spicy brisket with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes. Bam—a whole dinner right out of the crockpot. 

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Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

Credit: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

Make a classic chicken and dumplings recipe even more Southern by topping the vegetable-and-chicken-packed stew with cornbread dumplings.

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Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Credit: Alison Miksch

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Sweet Potatoes with Bacon

Orange juice gives this dish a little sweetness, while pieces of crumbled bacon will give you something to savor and rosemary delivers an aroma all its own. 

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Slow-Cooker Short Ribs With Rosemary Potatoes

Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Short Ribs With Rosemary Potatoes

This recipe is just fancy enough to serve when you have company—and no one will know that you threw it all in the slow cooker and forgot about it. 

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Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos

Credit: Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Carnitas Tacos

Make taco night even more hands-free with this recipe for slow-cooked pork carnitas flavored with orange juice. Serve with all the fixings. 

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New Orleans Red Beans And Rice

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: New Orleans Red Beans And Rice

You read that right: Even classic red beans can be made in the crockpot, and this recipe is as authentic as it gets. 

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Spaghetti Casserole

Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Spaghetti Casserole

All your favorite ingredients are featured in this easy slow-cooker version of spaghetti casserole.

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Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken

Credit: Caitlin Bensel

Recipe: Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken

Homemade burrito bowls are packed with protein, fiber, and flavor. Make a big batch of chicken and use it for days. 

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Hard Cider-Braised Pork

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Hard Cider-Braised Pork

Autumn calls for cider, and we're taking it from doughnuts to this wonderfully savory braised pork recipe with carrots, celery, and apples served over egg noodles.

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Slow Cooker Goulash

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Recipe: Slow Cooker Goulash

Made with a boneless chuck roast, fire-roasted tomatoes, and aromatic vegetables, this goulash recipe lets the meat cook down until it makes a thick and flavorful sauce that doesn't need any additional broth. 

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Beef-and-Bean Chili

Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Beef-and-Bean Chili

This classic red chili has chunks of stew meat and ground beef along with tomatoes, red beans, and spices. Fire-roasted tomatoes add a note of smokiness to the mix. If you can't find fire-roasted, use plain tomatoes and add a pinch of smoked paprika.

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Peppered Beef Soup

Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Peppered Beef Soup

Freeze leftovers in an airtight container up to three months. Add a bit of canned broth when reheating to reach desired consistency.

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Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce

This is a sauce that will impress any guests, and this recipe makes it way easier than it looks on the plate. 

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Beer-Braised Pot Roast

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Beer-Braised Pot Roast

This is no ordinary pot roast. First, it's rubbed with coffee, then it simmers in dark stout beer and beef stock, yielding a deeply delicious gravy. Small carrots with tops and pearl onions elevate it further. 

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Turkey Breast and Herb-Cornbread Stuffing

Credit: Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Turkey Breast and Herb-Cornbread Stuffing

This comforting slow cooker dish is perfect for Thanksgiving or an easy supper.

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Mexican Stew

Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Mexican Stew

Classic posole, a delicious slow-simmered Mexican pork stew often reserved for special occasions, is typically a time-consuming labor of love. But this one gives you all the comfort and flavor of the old-world version made in your slow cooker.

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