10 Slow Cooker Recipes That Leave You Wanting More
If you love the sweet aromatics of great food but hate cooking, slow cookers are perfect for you. These beauties do all the work while you sit back and relax. The possibilities and recipes are endless. Slow cookers are perfect for any cold or work day. Here are 10 fast and easy slow cooker recipes that will leave you wanting more.
Pulled Pork is made easy with this recipe!1. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
While some pulled pork recipes can be very intensive, this one is easy! When you’re craving that sweet spicy kick of a pulled pork sandwich, this recipe is perfect for adding that spicy warmth. The spices and sweet meat of the pork make a wonderful balance of zesty and sweet to add to any dinner. This recipe is easy and requires minimal effort with maximum flavorful results.
Ingredients
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 pork shoulder ( approximately 4 pounds)
- 1 onion, diced
- 1 splash veggie oil
- ½ cup apple cider vinegar
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 tbsp yellow mustard
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 pinch chili powder
- 2 cloves of garlic, minced
- 8 hamburger buns
- 2 tbsp butter
Directions
Take your veggie oil and lightly drizzle in the bottom of your slow cooker. Gently, place the pork roast into the slower cooker and pour your barbecue sauce, apple cider vinegar and chicken broth over the top. Carefully stir in the brown sugar, yellow mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, garlic and onion. Set your slower cooker to high and cook for approximately 5 to 6 hours. Remove your pork roast from the slow cooker and shred your pork. I personally do this with two forks, scraping in the opposite direction. Take your buns and spread the inside of them with butter. In a medium saucepan on medium high heat, place your buns butter side down in the pan. Toast until brown and spoon your delicious pork into the bun. Serve and enjoy.
Beef Bourguignon adds that perfect warmth to your dinner.2. Beef Bourguignon
This melt in your mouth beef coupled with its hearty warm vegetables, will warm your soul for any cold occasion. This dish is perfect to satisfy that craving for warm rustic comfort food. The meat is unbelievably tender and the broth is salty and warm. And while some beef bourguignon recipes can be pricey, this one is relatively cheap! If you want something to warm your soul this season, try this beef bourguignon.
Ingredients
- 1 cup bacon, cooked and finely chopped
- 1 beef chuck, boneless
- ½ cup red cooking wine
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ⅓ cup soy sauce
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 large carrots
- 1 cup baby potatoes ( make sure you wash them first)
- 1 cup sliced mushroom
- 1 tbsp of parsley, finely chopped
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
Directions
Place your bacon in your slow cooker. Season your beef chuck with salt and pepper. Add the meat to a medium sized skillet on medium high heat. We just want to sear the outside. Cook the beef for about 3 minutes on each size before transferring it over to your slow cooker. Next, we are going to mix together our sauces. Add your red wine to the bacon bit skillet. Let it reduce for a few minutes. This will allow us just to get the flavor of the red wine into the bacon without the alcohol content. While it’s simmering, slowly add in your chicken broth, tomato sauce and soy sauce. Add your mixture to the slow cooker. Next, add your potatoes, carrots, mushrooms and garlic. Stir gently and set your slow cooker to high. Cook for 8 to 10 hours until the meat is tender. Remove from the slow cooker and use parsley to garnish. Serve and enjoy.
This zesty salmon is a must try for all fish lovers.3. Slow Cooking Salmon
This decadent creamy treat is perfect for those who love fish but are a little hesitant on cooking it. With a slow cooker you’ll never have to worry about undercooking fish again. And the best part, it tastes wonderful! The rich meat of the salon coupled with the creamy zest of salmon sauce makes a perfect decadent dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 fresh salmon, weighing about 2 pounds.
- 1 roll parchment paper
- 2 lemons, sliced
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- 1 pinch chili powder
- 1 pinch paprika
- 1 pinch garlic powder
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- ½ cup lemon juice
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Directions
Line your slower cooker with parchment paper and arrange lemon slices at the bottom. Set your salmon down over the lemon slices and season with all your spices. Next, carefully pour your vegetable broth and lemon juice around your salmon. We do not want to pour it directly on it. Set your slow cooker on low and cook for 2 hours. While it’s cooking, prepare your lemon sauce. Combine your lemon juice, chicken broth and heavy cream in a small saucepan and cook on low for 8 minutes. Next, cook the mixture on high for 2 minutes. This will ensure your sauce thickens up. When your salmon is ready, remove from your slow cooker and drizzle sauce over your salmon. Serve and enjoy your beautiful flakey salmon.
4. Honey Garlic Chicken
If you’re looking through your recipes to add a sweet zest to your next dinner, this honey garlic chicken is perfect for you. This chicken is salty, sweet and adds some heat for any cold night. This recipe is perfect for staying home on those chilly nights when you’re craving the ultimate comfort food.
Ingredients
- 8 chick things, skin and bone on
- 16 ounces of baby carrots
- 16 ounces of small red potatoes
- 16 ounces of green beans
- 1 tbsp parsley, chopped
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup honey
- ¼ cup ketchup
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 pinches of red pepper flies
- 2 pinches black pepper
- 1 pinch dried oregano
- 1 pinch dried basil
Directions
In a large mixing bowl, stir in your honey, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes and pepper. Place your chicken thighs into the slow cooker and pour the mixture over your chicken. Cook it on low heat for 7 to 8 hours. Make sure you baste your chicken every hour to ensure it doesn’t’ dry out. Serve and enjoy as this zesty chicken warms your soul.
This recipe is great for any cold nights when you’re looking for comfort food.5. Pork Stew
This sweet salty treat is perfect for those who crave the fatty meat of pork but don’t like the hassle of cooking it. This recipe has great hearty vegetables that reduce beautifully in the sweet fat meat of the pork. If you’re looking for some warm rustic comfort food, this recipe is a must try.
Ingredients
- 2 to 3 pounds pork, chopped ( into squares)
- 1 pinch salt
- 1 pinch pepper
- 4 tbsp of vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup red wine
- 2 tbsp butter
- 1 onion, chopped
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 5 cups of beef broth
- 2 large carrots
- 1 cup celery
- 1 pound of small russet potatoes
- 1 cup frozen peas
Directions
In a bowel, toss your pork cubes in your salt, pepper and paprika. In a medium skillet, heat your vegetable oil and sear the cubes until brown on all sides. This should not take more than 5 minutes. You can also do this in batches. Then, saute your vegetables. Add in your red wine and reduce the alcohol off. Then, transfer mixture over to the slow cooker. Set it on low and cook for 7 to 8 hours. Serve and enjoy your delicious tender stew.
This veggie dish is great for that sweet spicy kick.6. Chickpea Curry
Chickpea curry is a great vegetarian recipe that adds that sweet spicy kick to any dinner. And the best part, it’s healthy! This recipe is great for warming you up on cold days while also keeping your calorie count in check.
Ingredients
- 1 dash of honey ( optional)
- 1 dash fresh grated ginger
- 1 pinch ground turmeric
- 1 pinch ground cumin
- 1 cup chickpeas
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup sweet potatoes
Directions
Add your oil to a skillet and place over medium heat. Saute the diced onion, minced garlic and grated ginger. Cook until soft. Add heavy cream to your onion mixture. Add your spices and honey, if you so choose. Pour your curry mixture into the slow cooker and add your chickpeas and chopped sweet potatoes. Set your slow cooker to high and cook for 4 to 5 hours. Serve and enjoy.
7. Shrimp Boil
This slow cooking shrimp boil adds that perfect nose running kick to your next dinner. And while there are numerous recipes out there for a shrimp boil, this slow cooker recipe is by far the easiest. The sweetness of the tender shrimp coupled with the hot sauce, adds a little cajun life to your next cold night dinner.
Ingredients
- ¼ cup Old Bay seasoning
- 1 tbsp hot sauce
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 ½ pounds of small red potatoes
- 1 onion
- 1 head of garlic
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 package of smoked sausage, cut into one inch pieces
- 3 ears of corn, cut into pieces
- 2 pounds of shrimp
- 2 tbsp parsley
Directions
In a large bowl, take your Old Bay seasoning, lemon juice, hot sauce and 6 cups of water. Take your potatoes and place them in your slow cooker along with your onion, garlic and bay leaves. Cook for 3 to 4 hours. This is just to soften the veggies. Next, stir in your sausage and corn and for another 30 minutes. Take out your corn and set it to the side. Then, stir in your shrimp and cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Drain them well, serve and enjoy.
8. Chicken Tortilla Soup
This recipe is perfect for those who want a warm hearty soup but don’t want to put in the hours of work processing ingredients. Some chicken tortilla soup recipes are hard work and very time consuming. Let the slow cooker do it for you and enjoy the sweet tender spice of a tortilla soup.
Ingredients
- 1 pound of chicken breast, boneless and skinless preferred
- 1 can of black beans
- 1 can of corn
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 can of fire roasted tomatoes
- ¼ cup of cilantro, chopped
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tbsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp salt
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup of shredded Monterey jack cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3 corn tortillas, cut into strips
- 1 tbsp of sour cream
- 4 lime wedges
- 2 bell peppers, chopped
Directions
In your slow cooker, combine your chicken, black beans, corn, peppers, onion, fire roasted tomatoes, cilantro, garlic, chicken broth and spices. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 5 to 6 hours. Remove the chicken from the slow cooker and shred. Top with your Monterey jack cheese and let melt for 5 minutes. You can cover it to speed up this process. Crisp your tortilla in a medium pan over medium heat with oil. Add the strips of your tortilla and cook until crispy and golden. This takes only about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel and salt them. Serve your soup with your tortilla chips, sour cream, cilantro and lime. And enjoy the sweet spicy kick of your tortilla soup.
Mac n Cheese is a classic and it can be made in a slow cooker!9. Mac N Cheese
Yes, you read this right, recipes for mac n cheese in a slow cooker exist. Mac n Cheese can be made in a slow cooker and even better, it’s delicious! This is a super simple way to make mac n cheese without the hassle of long hours over the stove or hovering over the oven. Enjoy this sweet cheesy comfort food the next time you need something warm.
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked macaroni
- 1 can evaporated milk
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese ( you can also add other cheese if you feel like it)
- 2 ½ cups shredded sharp cheddar
- ¼ cup butter
- 1 pinch of salt
Directions
Cook your macaroni according to the specified directions on the package. Drain and rinse in cold water. Next, in a large bowl stir in evaporated milk, milk, eggs, butter and salt. Then stir in your shredded cheese and transfer over to your slow cooker Cook for 2 ½ to 3 hours. Make sure you stir it once every hour. We want to make sure the cheese is not burning. Then, turn off your slow cooker and stir in remaining cheese, serve and enjoy.
Stuffed Peppers are great for adding that extra crunch to any dinner.10. Stuffed Peppers
These stuffed beauties are a perfect way to warm up after a long day. With the tenderness of the rice and beans followed by that little crunch of the pepper, this recipe is perfect for adding a little texture to your next dinner. If you’re looking to add a little crunch to your recipes, stuffed peppers will not disappoint.
Ingredients
- 4 sweet red peppers
- 1 can black beans
- 1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese
- ¾ cup of salsa ( I prefer mild for this)
- 1 onion, chopped
- ½ can of frozen corn
- ⅓ rice
- 1 pinch chili powder
- 1 pinch cumin
- 1 dollop sour cream
Directions
Cut the top of your peppers and scoop out the insides with a large spoon. In a mixing bowl, mix your beans, onion, salsa, cheese, corn, rice, cumin and chili powder. Spoon the mixture into the pepper bowls. Coat the bottom of your slow cooker with a non-stick spray. Cook on low for 3 to 4 hours. Remove from your slow cooker and add sour cream. Serve and enjoy.
