Food and Recipes Slow Cooker Recipes 21 Things We Bet You Didn't Know You Could Make in the Slow Cooker By Southern Living Editors Updated on April 4, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos No offense to soups and stews, but your slow cooker is capable of so much more. You've already witnessed how convenient the slow cooker is when it comes to braising meats or cooking chili, pulled pork, and dip. But what you may not know is that unexpected dishes, like lasagna, nachos, cakes, meatballs, and breakfast casseroles, can also be cooked low and slow. The slow cooker is a brilliant tool that yields maximum comfort with minimum effort, not to mention the hands-off approach to cooking lends itself to a quick and easy after-dinner clean up. So, the question begs to be asked: Is there anything the slow cooker can't do? If we're to answer that question based on the sweet, savory, and foolproof recipes we've chosen for this collection, the answer is a resounding "no." Here are some of our favorite reasons to dust off Mama's favorite all-in-one kitchen appliance, and "set it and forget it" for breakfast, dinner, and yes, even dessert. 01 of 21 Sausage-Potato Frittata Recipe: Sausage-Potato Frittata Breakfast is made easier thanks to the slow cooker and this easy and filling frittata. Delicious, cheesy, and hearty, it's sure to please the morning crowd. 02 of 21 Cinnamon-Pecan Breakfast Bread Pudding Recipe: Cinnamon-Pecan Breakfast Bread Pudding This winning trio of French toast, pecans, and cinnamon is totally worth the wait. The slow cooker does all the work so you can roll out of bed with delicious bread pudding awaiting you the next morning. 03 of 21 Herbed Sausage Breakfast Casserole Recipe: Herbed Sausage Breakfast Casserole The classic sausage breakfast casserole gets a slow-cooker makeover. Perfect for brunch, you'll enjoy every layer of sausage, eggs, cheese, and hash browns. 04 of 21 Slow-Cooker Grits Southern Living Recipe: Slow-Cooker Grits Is there any food more quintessentially Southern than grits? Instead of the usual quick boil method that leads to dry or lumpy grits, the slow cooker helps to turn stone-ground grits into smooth and creamy perfection. 05 of 21 Bacon-and-Tomato Breakfast Casserole Recipe: Bacon-and-Tomato Breakfast Casserole This casserole is also chock full of early morning favorites, like eggs, bacon, and cheese, all baked into one delicious breakfast feast. 06 of 21 Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Meatball Sliders with Tomato Sauce The possibilities are endless when it comes to slow-cooked mini meatballs. Enjoy these easy meatball sliders, covered in slow-simmered tangy tomato sauce, as a tasty party appetizer or a savory game-day treat. 07 of 21 Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole Recipe: Sweet Potato Breakfast Casserole This recipe showcases the versatility of sweet potatoes. Bake this colorful and flavorful breakfast the next time you're serving brunch, or prep it the night before. 08 of 21 Pork Carnitas Nachos Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell Recipe: Pork Carnitas Nachos Give nachos a Southern-style boost with slow-cooked pork loin, brown rice, queso fresco, and seasoned veggies. Don't forget to load up on your favorite nacho toppings for a simple dish on busy weeknights. 09 of 21 Slow-Cooker Tomato-Basil Meatloaf Victor Protasio Recipe: Slow-Cooker Tomato-Basil Meatloaf Melt-in-your-mouth meatloaf was practically made for the slow cooker. This recipe will cook for about four and a half hours, but only takes about 20 minutes of hands-on time. Not to mention it slices up nicely to serve atop a bed of creamy mashed potatoes. 10 of 21 Sweet Potatoes with Bacon Alison Miksch Recipe: Sweet Potatoes with Bacon Sweet potatoes simmer all day in your slow cooker, turning meltingly tender. Sweet, savory and salty, this sweet potato and bacon recipe is all you need for a tasty side dish to complement a delicious weeknight dinner. 11 of 21 Lemon Bar Cake Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford Recipe: Lemon Bar Cake When life hands you lemons, don't resort to lemonade—instead, make this citrusy lemon bar cake in the slow cooker to end the meal on a sweet note. 12 of 21 Chocolate-Cinnamon Latte Cake Recipe: Chocolate-Cinnamon Latte Cake Oh, yes we did. If this is your first attempt at making a chocolate cake in the slow cooker, it certainly won't be your last. 13 of 21 Easy Enchilada Bake Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Easy Enchilada Bake An old Mexican favorite with a new twist, this super simple enchilada recipe doesn't have the usual long cook time that most slow-cooker meals have. You're welcome. 14 of 21 Chimichurri Beef Meatball Hoagies Photo: Iain Bagwell Recipe: Chimichurri Beef Meatball Hoagies The meatball hero of sandwiches, this beefy hoagie is our favorite meal-in-a-bun. And when prepared this way in the slow cooker, it's quicker and easier than ever. 15 of 21 Berry Cobbler Recipe: Berry Cobbler All we can really say is that it's berry, berry good. 16 of 21 Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya Recipe: Chicken and Shrimp Jambalaya Give this classic Cajun dish a whirl in the slow cooker. Here, shrimp and chicken simmer together perfectly to make one flavorful jambalaya. 17 of 21 Chicken-and-Spinach Lasagna Oxmoor House Recipe: Chicken-and-Spinach Lasagna No boiling required here. Just layer uncooked lasagna noodles with chicken, cheese, carrots, and spinach. The slow cooker pulls double duty, keeping your lasagna warm throughout the meal, in case you can't resist seconds. 18 of 21 Cranberry Upside-Down Cake Oxmoor House Recipe: Cranberry Upside-Down Cake Fortunately, this cranberry delight will allow you to free up your oven to make cake in the slow cooker. Cranberries caramelize with brown sugar in the slow cooker for the ultimate dessert. The only thing we're missing here is the ice cream on top. 19 of 21 Peach Cobbler Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford Recipe: Peach Cobbler Just fix it and forget it! It's hard to believe a peach cobbler that's filled with fresh peaches and a golden crusty top cooks up so easily and deliciously in the slow cooker. 20 of 21 Spicy Chicken Cacciatore Photo: Randy Mayor Recipe: Spicy Chicken Cacciatore The slow cooker is the secret to fall-apart chicken in this recipe. Serve this saucy dish over polenta or pasta. 21 of 21 Apple and Pear Crisp Jennifer Davick; Food Styling: Vanessa Rocchio; Prop Styling: Missie Crawford Recipe: Apple and Pear Crisp Who needs the oven when you can make this comforting and crumbly dessert right in the trusted slow cooker? Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit