Best Crockpot Recipes - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

The Recipe Rebel / Dinner / Slow Cooker

written by Ashley Fehr

Last updated on March 21, 2024

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Plug in the slow cooker and make some of my very Best Crockpot Recipes! I’ve compiled a list of 15 of my all-time favorite easy slow cooker recipes that the whole family loves. They’re easy, budget friendly, and so delicious it’s not hard to see why they’re popular.

Be sure to also check out 30+ Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes and 40+ Crockpot Chicken Recipes.

Best Crockpot Recipes - The Recipe Rebel (2)

There’s a little bit of a debate about which kitchen appliance is the best. As much as I do love my air fryer and Instant Pot… I think my Crockpot is my absolute favorite!

Listed below are 15 of my most popular highly rated Crockpot recipes that certainly live up to the hype.

Each one of my best slow cooker recipes checks all of the right boxes that a slow cooker recipe needs to check. They’re easy, delicious, and feature simple ingredients.

Next time you need a little dinner inspo, plug in your Crockpot and check out this list! Be sure to comment and let me know which recipe is your favorite!

Why We Love Easy Crockpot Recipes

I think it would be impossible to put my love for slow cooker recipes into words, but I’ll try! Here are just three reasons I will NEVER get rid of my Crockpot:

  • Tender: Every time you cook meat in the Crockpot, it always turns out deliciously tender! I especially love cooking chicken in there that I end up shredding later.
  • Easy: Crockpot recipes are famously easy going. I love a good set it and forget it recipe!
  • Versatile: You can pretty much cook anything in the Crockpot. While I primarily focus on dinner recipes listed below, you can also use your slow cooker to make desserts like Slow Cooker Berry Cobbler.

The BEST Crockpot Recipes

Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

This Crockpot Tuscan Chicken is made up juicy chicken breasts slow cooked in a rich and cheesy cream sauce. This recipe takes just 10 minutes to prep and makes the perfect dinner served over your favorite pasta!

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Pot Roast (the BEST gravy!)

This Slow Cooker Pot Roast has such incredible flavor and the best gravy! Creamy potatoes, tender carrots, fall apart roast beef — it’s pure comfort food!

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken

This Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken is SO easy and flavorful, you wouldn't believe it only has a few ingredients! The perfect easy dinner recipe!

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Breast

This Slow Cooker Chicken Breast recipe comes out perfectly juicy and seasoned every time! Learn my tips for getting the best crockpot chicken breast, perfect for salads, sandwiches or an easy dinner.

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Stew

This Slow Cooker Garlic Parmesan Chicken Stew is bound to be your new favorite winter comfort food! It’s hearty, creamy, cheesy and loaded with vegetables! The crockpot makes it an easy weeknight meal.

Check out this recipe

Crockpot Shredded Chicken

This Crockpot Shredded Chicken is easy, flavorful and a great way to meal prep for the week ahead! How to make slow cooker shredded chicken including tips, tricks and additional recipes.

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Taco Soup

This Crockpot Chicken Taco Soup is made with just SIX ingredients in the slow cooker! With 5 minutes prep, it's an easy healthy dinner idea for busy weeknights.

Check out this recipe

Easy Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup

The easiest Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup — gets thick and creamy, unlike those recipes that just add milk or cream. Perfect for a chilly day!

Check out this recipe

Crockpot Lasagna Soup (quick & easy!)

This Crockpot Lasagna Soup recipe is full of flavor and can be made in the crockpot or Instant Pot! With a tomato base, it's made with Italian sausage, lasagna noodles, and lots of Italian herbs and cheeses.

Check out this recipe

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

This Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings recipe is a slow cooker version of a classic comfort food! Tender chicken, loads of veggies, and fluffy homemade dumplings are simmered in a thick and flavorful gravy.

Check out this recipe

Glazed Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin recipe

This Slow Cooker Pork Tenderloin is covered in an easy garlic herb rub and drizzled with a honey balsamic glaze! Everything cooks together in the crock pot with minimal effort and maximum flavour. It is moist, tender and perfect over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes!

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Baked Ziti

This Slow Cooker Baked Ziti is actually made completely in the crockpot — even the pasta! It is so much easier than the traditional version but packs all of the same flavor!

Check out this recipe

The BEST Crock Pot Pulled Pork

This Crock Pot Pulled Pork recipe is so easy and so flavorful! It starts with a garlic herb rub and hangs out in the slow cooker until it’s fall apart tender.

Check out this recipe

Crockpot Zuppa Toscana

This easy Slow Cooker Zuppa Toscana is a creamy Tuscan soup full of Italian sausage, kale, potatoes, and Parmesan. It's hearty, creamy, and perfect for the colder months! There's a step-by-step recipe video down in the recipe card, too!

Check out this recipe

Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken

Crock Pot Honey Garlic Chicken is packed with sweet, savory, and spicy flavors. Perfect for the whole family, this super easy recipe is great for a weeknight meal or a lazy weekend, though it's fancy enough to serve at a dinner party too!

Check out this recipe

Can you cook raw meat in the Crockpot?

Yes! In fact, I almost never add cooked meat to my slow cooker. Once you peruse these recipes I have listed, you’ll see I pretty much exclusively use raw meat in all of my slow cooker recipes. The way that the Crockpot makes the meat so unbelievably tender is just too good! That low and slow cooking process just can’t be beat.

What’s the best Crockpot/slow cooker to use?

Here are just a few things to keep in mind if you’re in the market for a new slow cooker:

  • More often than not, you’ll see me usinga 2.5 quart casserole style Crockpotthat Iam obsessed with . It’s wide and shallow, so you don’t have to stack everything and it cooks more much quicker. It’s the ideal slow cooker for someone cooking for 1-4 people and not preparing larger meals.
  • I also havea 4 quart Crockpotthat I use when I want to prepare a larger cut of meat, like a pot roast, or a big batch of soup! It’s got everything I love about my 2.5 quart, just in a slightly larger size.
  • I do have a6 quart Hamilton Beach slow cookerthat’s great for cooking for a bigger group of people, but I do find it’s a little cooler. Sometimes, large chunks of meat have to be cut down into smaller pieces for it to fully cook by dinner.

Tips for the Best Crockpot Recipes

Keep these tips and tricks in mind when making any Crockpot recipe:

  • No peeking! Once the lid is on, don’t open it until the recipe instructs you to do so. Every time you open the lid, you let the heat out and you have to increase the cook time.
  • Check the cook time. Every recipe is a little different. Make sure to check the recipe card and see if the slow cooker should be set to low or high and for how long.
Best Crockpot Recipes - The Recipe Rebel (18)

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

Read More

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Luis Munoz Jr says

    Looks easy

    Reply

  2. Vickie R says

    Do you have a recipe for crockpot pork ribs?Vickie

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Yes! Here you go: https://www.thereciperebel.com/easy-slow-cooker-bbq-ribs-recipe-video/ Enjoy!

      Reply

  3. Ruth says

    I love your site. Your recipes are so delicious! I use my insta pot a lot for main dishes and desserts.
    Thank you for sharing.

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Thank you so much, Ruth!

      Reply

Leave A Reply

Best Crockpot Recipes - The Recipe Rebel (2024)

FAQs

What cooks better in a Crockpot? ›

Fattier meats and dark meat chicken are better options, as leaner cuts may dry out during the cooking process. Fattier meats are good, but trim the fat away before placing in the Crockpot slow cooker.

Can I put frozen chicken in the Crockpot? ›

Information. It is best to thaw meat or poultry before putting it into a slow cooker. Frozen pieces will take longer to reach a safe internal temperature and could possibly result in foodborne illness. Frozen or partially frozen foods can also cool everything else in the slow cooker.

Is a slow cooker the same as a Crockpot? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker.

How to fake a slow cooker? ›

Preheat the oven to about 160 C. Follow the slow cooker recipe, but use a baking dish with a lid instead of a crockpot or slow cooker. If the recipe calls for slow cooker setting, then divide the cooking time by 4. Eight hours on low then becomes 2 hours in the oven at 160 ºC.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

Why do they call it crack chicken? ›

Lansing, Michigan is home for the Crack Chicken. A great seasoning for all your favorite foods. Started in 2003, customers tried our famous chicken and came back for more. Their addiction to this delicious taste made them call it Crack Chicken, and that's how the name started, and cracked the food industry world.

How long to cook 1 pound of chicken in crockpot? ›

Cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours. Chicken is finished when internal temperature has reached 165F (75C) and it can easily be shredded with a pair of forks. Remove chicken from crockpot and use two forks to easily pull apart and shred chicken.

When should frozen vegetables be added to a slow cooker? ›

Simply follow our instructions on how to defrost meat and then add it to the slow cooker. Frozen vegetables however, can be added to the slow cooker from frozen. So you can defrost the meat in the fridge overnight and prepare the meal for your slow cooker the following morning for that evening's meal.

Are Crockpot liners worth it? ›

Why should you use slow cooker liners? Slow cooker only keep cleanup fast and easy (after eight hours, food stuck to the pot can prove incredibly stubborn) but also protect your slow cooker itself from getting scratched and damaged from scrubbing.

What is the most popular size Crockpot? ›

The 6- or 7-quart models are among the most popular, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're the best choice for everyone. (By the way, here's our favorite slow cooker brand.) Find yourself among the descriptions below to learn which slow cooker we'd recommend for you.

Can you put meat in the slow cooker raw? ›

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned.

Does bacteria grow in slow cooker? ›

The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking and steam created within the tightly-covered container combine to destroy bacteria and make the slow cooker a safe process for cooking foods.

Can you leave chicken in the crockpot for 12 hours? ›

You certainly can, the meat will simply fall to bits, which might be desirable for some recipes like “Chicken and Dumplings” which will take 8–12 hours on “Low” setting. As long as the temperature remains above 140 F you can leave your chicken in the cooker all day but try to avoid more than 12 hours

Can you superglue a slow cooker? ›

You don't. If you break the stone crock pot or slow cooker, you should replace it and not fix it. Even if you find a glue to hold it together, it shouldn't be used because your cooking food in it.

Should meat or vegetables go in Crockpot first? ›

The USDA notes that vegetables take longer to cook in a crock-pot than meat does, so they suggest adding your veggies to the pot first. This is useful if you're worried about about dense vegetables like potatoes or carrots not coming out as tender as the meat in your recipe.

Is food better in a slow cooker? ›

The low heat used in slow cooking destroys fewer nutrients than high-heat cooking. Meat and other ingredients are also cooked more safely since any remaining bacteria are killed off by the steam and tightly sealed pot. Slow cooking is also an excellent way to cook legumes, which are a staple in many healthy diets!

What's the point in a slow cooker? ›

Delivers maximum flavour through the long and slow cooking process. Tenderises meat and other ingredients and keeps the dish deliciously succulent. Easy to use, add your ingredients, set the required temperature and time, and that's it!

Does food taste better in a slow cooker? ›

There's something inherently comforting about slow-cooked meals. The tantalizing aroma that fills the kitchen, the tenderness of the ingredients, and the depth of flavor that develops over time, all contribute to a sensory experience that goes beyond mere sustenance.

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