24 Back-to-School Slow-Cooker Recipes For Busy Weekdays

Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Credit:

Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Between back-to-school shopping, sports practices, and twice-daily school runs, it can feel impossible to make time for eating dinner, let alone cooking dinner. Those long back-to-school days stretch into hungry nights—it's unavoidable. That's when you know it's slow cooker time. The slow cooker is your key to stress-free weeknights this back-to-school season. We've rounded up some of our best kid-approved recipes for you to try in the slow cooker this school year.

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Slow-Cooker Mac And Cheese

Southern Living Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese in a bowl ready to serve
Credit:

Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Julian Hensarling; Prop Stylist: Phoebe Hausser

Make the busy back-to-school season easier with a recipe that will satisfy hungry students. This comforting mac-and-cheese dish has 10 minutes of hands-on time, and a quick salad will round out the meal.

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Slow-Cooker Vegetable Soup

Southern Living Slow Cooker Vegetable Soup in bowls to serve
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Greg Dupree; Food Stylist: Ana Kelly; Prop Stylist: Christine Keely

Unlike most vegetable soup recipes, this convenient version doesn't require you to stand over the stove stirring all afternoon.

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Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Crock-Pot Salsa Chicken
Credit: Caitlin Bensel

While we suggest serving this dish over rice, there are so many other ways you can enjoy it for dinner, including but not limited to tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, nachos, and over potatoes.

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Slow Cooker Goulash

Slow Cooker Goulash
Credit: Jennifer Causey

When picking out a roast, we suggest choosing a roast with marbling which is key to making the sauce.

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Lemon Chicken Soup

Lemon Chicken Soup - Southern Living
Credit:

Morgan Hunt Glaze; Prop Stylist: Claire Spollen; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey

Using a rotisserie chicken will help this soup come together with little time or effort on your part, but it still delivers plenty of flavor and nutrition.

06 of 24

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chicken

Southern Living Slow Cooked Barbecued Chicken
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Morgan Hunt Glaze; Food Stylist: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Skip the pre-cooked chicken at the grocery store and make your own with this easy recipe.

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White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

With this chili recipe, once you've gathered the ingredients, you're already halfway to getting dinner on the table.

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Spaghetti Casserole

Spaghetti Casserole
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Bake your spaghetti into a casserole for a dinner that will double as leftovers all week long.

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Meatball Sliders With Tomato Sauce

Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

It's the entree that launched a thousand great dinners. Kids can't get enough of these tasty meatball sliders.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Soup

Soulful Chicken Soup
Credit: Iain Bagwell

Chicken soup isn't just for sick days. It's also a comforting back-to-school supper.

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Slow-Cooker Brisket Chili

Southern Living Slow Cooker Brisket Chili in the bowl to serve
Credit:

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

Serve with cornbread on the side, and you’ll have a single-pot meal that will please the entire family.

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Slow-Cooker Taco Soup

three bowls of Slow-Cooker Taco Soup
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Emily Laurae / Southern Living

Pantry ingredients and a pound of ground beef cook slowly all day to create this delicious, hearty soup.

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Slow-Cooker Pork Roast

Slow-Cooker Pork Roast
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Cutting your veggies in the recommended sizes will ensure that they are finished cooking at the same time as your pork.

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Chicken And Cornbread Dumplings

Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings
Credit: Iain Bagwell

We always love chicken and dumplings for an easy supper, but we're really over the moon for this slow-cooker version that incorporates cornbread.

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Easy Enchilada Bake

Easy Enchilada Bake
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

This has all the flavor of enchiladas with none of the labor-intensive prep.

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Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos With Fresh Tomato Salsa

Slow-Cooker Pork Tacos with Fresh Tomato Salsa
Credit: Greg Dupree

Switch up taco night from the usual ground beef or chicken by serving pork shoulder as the main ingredient.

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Uncle Jack's Mac-And-Cheese

Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Mac-and-cheese is comfort food at its finest, and you'll love the easy prep of this recipe that can be served as a main or side.

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Chicken Thighs With Carrots And Potatoes

Chicken Thighs with Carrots and Potatoes
Credit: Jennifer Davick

This slow-cooker recipe is a no-fail, fuss-free, and kid-pleasing meal that allows you to cook the main dish along with the sides at the same time.

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Cheddar Cheese Soup

Slow-Cooker Cheddar Soup
Credit: Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Christine Keely

Delight the cheese lovers at your table with this slow-cooker Cheddar Cheese Soup. It's so simple and delicious that it's practically liquid gold.

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BBQ Brisket

BBQ Brisket
Credit:

Hector Sanchez; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro; Food Styling: Margaret Dickey

Though this brisket recipe is simple enough to make on any weeknight, you may want to make it the day before; the flavor will continue to develop as it chills overnight.

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Slow-Cooker Pot Roast Recipe

Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
Credit:

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

Your slow cooker can help you enjoy this classic any day of the week. Chop the vegetables into large, even pieces so they'll remain intact during the extended cooking period.

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Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

Southern Living Slow Cooker Corn Chowder in bowls to serve
Credit:

Robby Lozano, Food Stylist: Chelsea Zimmer

Ease into the school year with fresh ingredients from summer's bounty. All you need is 25 minutes, and your slow cooker will take it from there.

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Classic Slow-Cooker Beef Stew

classic slow-cooker beef stew - Southern Living
Credit:

Alison Miksch; Food Stylist: Karen Rankin; Prop Stylist: Josh Hoggle

This beef stew boasts a sophisticated flavor that is incredibly easy to create. Serve with some French bread so you can soak up every last drop.

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Slow-Cooker Salisbury Steak

Slow Cooker Salisbury Steak
Credit:

Jennifer Causey; Food Stylist: Melissa Gray; Prop Stylist: Christina Daley

Discover how to prepare Salisbury steak in a slow cooker and rekindle your appreciation for this timeless dish.

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