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The Passport Kitchen

27 Slow Cooker Recipes to Make for an Effortless Weeknight Dinner

April 8, 2025 by Amanda Tyler Leave a Comment

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After a long day, the last thing anyone wants is to spend hours in the kitchen preparing dinner.

That’s where the slow cooker comes in.

With just a little prep time, you can set it and forget it, letting the magic of slow cooking do the work for you. These 29 easy recipes are perfect for busy weeknights!

Get ready to enjoy stress-free evenings filled with delicious meals!

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese.
Image Credit: Grandbaby Cakes.

This Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese recipe is the epitome of decadence, brimming with rich flavors yet effortlessly prepared in a crock pot. It’s a game-changer for hectic weeknights and festive holidays when you’re swamped with tasks and need a simple dish to prepare.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese

Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

Slow Cooker Pepper Steak.
Image Credit: Xoxo Bella.

This slow cooker pepper steak recipe offers a warm, satisfying, and hearty meal ideal for weeknights. It includes succulent beef, caramelized onions, crisp bell peppers, and a rich, savory sauce.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Ribs

Perfectly Cooked Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Ribs.
Image Credit: Dizzy Busy and Hungry.

Sticky, sweet, and savory, these Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Ribs are irresistibly tender. The meat is infused with bold flavors from soy sauce, garlic, and honey.

Get the Recipe: Perfectly Cooked Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Ribs

Slow Cooker Ribs

Slow Cooker Ribs.
Image Credit: The Art Of Food And Wine.

Easy Slow Cooker Ribs are irresistibly succulent and coated in a tangy barbecue sauce. These ribs are so tender they fall right off the bone, making them the perfect, effortless, and delectable dinner for the entire family.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ribs

Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup Recipe

Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup Recipe.
Image Credit: A Red Spatula.

Preparing this Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup on a chilly winter day is the perfect choice. It’s tasty and a set-it-and-forget-it kind of meal, allowing you to prepare it long before mealtime and not worry about it until it’s time to eat. Plus, it’s a recipe that your entire family will adore for its comforting warmth.

Get the Recipe: Hearty Slow Cooker Chicken Barley Soup Recipe

Mexican Carnitas Recipe Crock Pot

Mexican Carnitas Recipe Crock Pot.
Image Credit: Happy Simple Living.

My preferred recipe for crispy pork Mexican Carnitas involves using a crock pot. This method entails slow-cooking the pork throughout the day with jalapeños, onions, and a blend of seasonings.

Get the Recipe: Mexican Carnitas Recipe Crock Pot

Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs.
Image Credit: Foodess.

These Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs are an effortless, one-pot, delicious Crockpot recipe that results in tender, fall-off-the-bone ribs.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Korean Short Ribs

Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Stir Up an Easy Supper With Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice.
Image Credit: Two Kids And A Coupon.

This simple slow cooker red beans and rice recipe offers a comforting and tasty meal. Here’s how to prepare it!

Get the Recipe: Stir Up an Easy Supper With Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup

Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup.
Image Credit: Living Sweet Moments.

Comfort food at its best! This delightful Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup requires just six ingredients and is incredibly simple to prepare. It’s the perfect dinner for busy families.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Cream of Chicken & Leek Soup

Slow Cooker Vegan Polenta

Slow Cooker Vegan Polenta.
Image Credit: My Quiet Kitchen.

Vegan polenta prepared in a slow cooker turns out exceptionally creamy and delicious, and it’s incredibly simple to make! With just five ingredients and a brief period of hands-on preparation, you can let the slow cooker handle the rest. Polenta serves as an inviting side dish or a comforting breakfast option, making the slow cooker technique particularly ideal for hosting.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegan Polenta

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

SLOW COOKER BBQ CHICKEN.
Image Credit: Healthy Foodie Girl.

This slow-cooker BBQ chicken is amazing! The chicken breasts are slow-cooked to perfection in our homemade BBQ sauce, becoming juicy and tender. Once cooked, we remove them, shred the meat, and then return it to the slow cooker to absorb all the flavorful BBQ sauce.

Get the Credit: Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs Recipe

Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs Recipe.
Image Credit: Wonky Wonderful.

This Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs recipe is undoubtedly the simplest method to prepare ribs. Simply season the pork ribs with a dry rub, let them cook on low heat in the slow cooker, then finish them with sauce and a quick broil. The result? Juicy, flavorful ribs that fall right off the bone!

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs Recipe

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts.
Image Credit: Food Meanderings.

These Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts offer an effortless and scrumptious meal, teeming with the flavors of the Mediterranean. They make for a healthy, low-carb dinner that’s also Weight Watchers-friendly, at just 4 points per serving. Perfect for a ‘set it and forget it’ approach, these crockpot stuffed chicken breasts are ready in just 4 hours!

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Mediterranean Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Crockpot Meatloaf

Crockpot Meatloaf.
Image Credit: Savory Experiments.

This crockpot meatloaf recipe never fails to impress at my home. It creates a scrumptious meatloaf topped with an irresistible sweet and tangy glaze — it’s a challenge to even get it to the dinner table without everyone attempting to sneak a taste!

Get the Recipe: Crockpot Meatloaf

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Corn Soup

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Corn Soup.
Image Credit: Bites With Bri.

This simple Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken & Corn Soup brims with carrots, celery, onions, potatoes, garlic, and bacon. The addition of half-and-half and cheese lends a luxurious creaminess to the soup. It’s an excellent recipe for serving a large group or for meal preparation.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken and Corn Soup

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Recipe

Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Recipe – An Easy Restaurant-Quality Meal at Home,
Image Credit: An Edible Mosaic.

Slow-cooker Tuscan chicken is a straightforward Crockpot dish that’s ideal for both casual family dinners and upscale gatherings. It features perfectly seasoned, tender chicken enveloped in a rich, garlicky cream sauce. You can serve it over pasta or mashed potatoes or choose a low-carb vegetable to keep it keto-friendly.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tuscan Chicken Recipe 

Slow Cooker Rump Roast

Slow Cooker Rump Roast.
Image Credit: The Instant Pot Table.

Discover the key to succulent, full-flavored beef with our Slow Cooker Rump Roast recipe. Ideal for hectic schedules, this straightforward yet scrumptious meal demands little effort but delivers a rich taste.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Rump Roast

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas.
Image Credit: Britney Breaks Bread.

These Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas rank as one of my top slow cooker recipes. They’re incredibly flavorful and simple to prepare!

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Enchiladas

Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken

Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken.
Image Credit: Flavorful Eats.

The vibrant taste of fresh lemon in a rich, buttery, garlic cream sauce renders the Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken an irresistible dish, ideal to be served over noodles or rice. This low-carb recipe also pairs wonderfully with cauliflower rice or a mix of vegetables.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Lemon Chicken

Slow Cooker Beef Rendang

Slow Cooker Beef Rendang.
Image Credit: Garlic All Day.

Might beef rendang seem too intimidating to prepare at home? This Slow-Cooker Beef Rendang recipe simplifies the process. Simply place all the ingredients into the crock-pot and return in 5 hours to enjoy a rich, aromatic beef curry stew.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Rendang

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken.
Image Credit: The Peasant’s Daughter.

This scrumptious and effortless slow-cooker creamy tomato basil chicken brims with flavor. It’s a dish to savor throughout the seasons, combining straightforward ingredients slow-cooked to perfection.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken

Slow Cooker Kielbasa With Cabbage and Potatoes

Slow Cooker Kielbasa with Cabbage and Potatoes.
Image Credit: My Homemade Roots.

The Slow Cooker Kielbasa with Cabbage and Potatoes recipe offers a simple and tasty solution for dinner. It involves simmering cabbage, kielbasa, and potato chunks in chicken broth with onions, garlic, and select seasonings until they become tender and full of flavor.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Kielbasa with Cabbage and Potatoes

Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy.
Image Credit: Cindy Shopper.

Slow-cooker chicken and Gravy is a flavorful and easy dinner option for busy weeknights. It’s ideal when served over rice, potatoes, or crusty bread.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken and Gravy

Slow Cooker Tamale Pie

Slow Cooker Tamale Pie.
Image Credit: The Magical Slow Cooker.

Revamp your next Taco Tuesday by transforming traditional tamales into a delectable crock pot tamale pie (also known as tamale casserole). Simply gather a handful of staple ingredients such as ground beef, Rotel tomatoes, Mexican-style seasonings, and Jiffy cornbread to create a dish your family will love.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Tamale Pie

Slow Cooker Raspberry Balsamic Glazed Meatballs

Slow Cooker Raspberry Balsamic Glazed Meatballs.
Image Credit: Montana Happy.

Slow Cooker Raspberry Balsamic Glazed Meatballs make an ideal appetizer for any event and are incredibly simple to prepare.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Raspberry Balsamic Glazed Meatballs

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup.
Image Credit: Plantbased On A Budget.

Easy slow cooker pumpkin soup is creamy, comforting, and cozy, made with fresh or canned pumpkin, and perfectly spiced to warm you throughout fall and winter. Plus, it’s gluten-free, dairy-free, Whole30-compliant, vegan, and freezes well!

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pumpkin Soup

Slow Cooker Kleftiko

Slow Cooker Kleftiko.
Image Credit: We Eat At Last.

Kleftiko is a classic Greek dish celebrated for its succulent and aromatic lamb. While it is traditionally prepared in a clay oven or a heavy pot, this straightforward kleftiko recipe employs a slow cooker for ease.

Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Kleftiko

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