Easy Slow-Cooker Recipes

By Southern Living
Photo: Jennifer Davick

The slow cooker – once a novelty kitchen gadget that collected dust on many a countertop – has now become an essential appliance for beginner cooks, seasoned chefs, party hosts, and anyone who wants to enjoy the flavor of delicious recipes without spending long hours in the kitchen. Throughout this selection of easy slow cooker recipes, you will find a variety of dishes you can prepare with little prep time and a lot less effort than with your standard approach to cooking. We thought it couldn’t be done, but our Test Kitchen pros not only developed a finger-licking, slow-cooker BBQ ribs recipe, they also came up with a slow cooker mac and cheese that is as good as Grandma’s. If you plan on a long day outside getting the yard ready for winter, spend a few minutes on prepping one of the slow-cooker soups or chilis. Then come in later and enjoy a steaming bowl of goodness, coupled with a warm piece of one of these fabulous homemade breads. On Sundays, simply set the slow cooker, leave for church, and come home to roast beef and vegetables. Round out the meal with one of these tasty and fresh harvest salads.

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Uncle Jack's Mac-and-Cheese

Photo: 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. Recipe by Pam Rawlinson, North Augusta, South Carolina.

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Easy BBQ Ribs

Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Easy BBQ Ribs

Savory, tender, juicy, and slow-cooked to perfection, this recipe for Easy BBQ Ribs is our newest and best. Made with our homemade Rib Rub and Fancy Barbecue Sauce, this dish is finger-licking good.

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Beef-and-Bean Chili

Photo: 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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Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Slow-cooked Barbecued Chicken

Start with a whole chicken, cut up, and simmer in a homemade barbecue sauce of ketchup, cola, cider vinegar, and a splash of bourbon for a Southern barbecue flavor. Enjoy this slow-cooked chicken by itself or as a sandwich piled with Pickled Peppers & Onions atop Sweet Potato Cornbread.

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Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

Photo: Laurey W. Glenn

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Beef Nachos

You can also serve the delicious beef in slider buns with your favorite sandwich toppings for a heartier meal.

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Four-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

Photo: Melina Hammer

Recipe: Four-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pot Roast

Freeze pot roasts and braised pork shoulders in their cooking liquid—it preserves the juicy flavor and tender texture while guarding against freezer burn. Portion cooled meat into zip-top freezer bags, add cooking liquid, and freeze up to 1 month.

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Good Luck Greens and Peas with Ham

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Good Luck Greens and Peas with Ham

Spread the good fortune with this tasty dish, and don't forget to serve it with cornbread on the side.

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Texas-Style Barbecued Beef Brisket

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Recipe: Texas-Style Barbecued Beef Brisket

Let your slow cooker do the work for a tender, juicy brisket every time. Serve it with Lone Star Slaw and sop up the pan juices with Texas toast.

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5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: 5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

One pork shoulder roast, a few pantry ingredients, and eight hours on low effortlessly produces the most succulent and tender pork, just as if you waved a magic wand. The best part—you can save the leftover pork for two fast and hearty weeknight suppers.

Leftover Recipe 1: Pork Noodle Bowls

Leftover Recipe 2: Pulled Pork Nachos

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Easy Brunswick Stew

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Easy Brunswick Stew

Cooking on low heat for a long time makes the meat extremely tender, so it shreds easily; high heat yields a less tender product.

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Slow-Cooker Burgundy Beef Tips

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Burgundy Beef Tips

This recipe calls for baby portobellos, but your favorite sliced mushrooms will work just fine. Serve the beef tips over hot cooked egg noodles or rice tossed with parsley.

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King Ranch Chicken

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: King Ranch Chicken

Fans of creamy, Southwestern flavored King Ranch Chicken Casserole will love this easy slow cooker version of the recipe.

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Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

Photo: Oxmoor House

Recipe: Slow Cooker Turkey Chili

This slow-cooker chili recipe is as easy as it is delicious. Browning the meat before adding it to the slow cooker brings out the rich flavor of the dish.

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Chicken-and-Squash Casserole

Photo: Iain Bagwell

Recipe: Chicken-and-Squash Casserole

Get all the satisfaction of a hearty casserole with none of the messy cleanup. Preparing it in a slow cooker will ensure an even more tender bite.

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Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Howard Lee Puckett

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Red Beans and Rice

This delicious meal will be hot and ready when you get home from work. Use instant long-grain rice to put dinner on the table even faster.

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French Dip Sandwiches

Photo: Tina Cornett

Recipe: French Dip Sandwiches

Serve these flavorful roast beef sandwiches with reserved broth for dipping. 

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Slow-Cooker Barbecue Pork

Photo: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Barbecue Pork

Serve this simple-to-fix recipe with buns and slaw, fill a quesadilla, or spoon over hot cooked cheese grits or toasted cornbread.

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