20 Easy Crockpot Recipes
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If you’re looking for an easy hands-off dinner, look no further! These 20 easy crockpot recipes will make dinnertime completely stress-free!
When it comes to dinner time, I often feel so tired and worn out. Is that just me? I remember the “witching hour” when my kids were toddlers and I swear it applies to adults too.
You’ve adulted all day long and now you have to make dinner? And you have to do it every day??? C’mon, can’t a girl catch a break?
Enter, the slow cooker. Capitalize on your morning energy and get that dinner in your crockpot. Then, when 5:00 or 6:00 rolls around, you can sit back, relax, and just put a few finishing touches on dinner.
And then there’s the bonus of the smells! Everyone will be excited for dinner because of how deliciously fragrant your whole house will smell!
We’ve featured all dinner and main dish recipes on this list. If you want more slow cooker recipes (sides, etc.), find all our crockpot recipes here.
Tips for Success
There are a few things to keep in mind when cooking with a slow cooker. Beyond the obvious things you’ll find in your manual, here are some tips that come with experience.
- Make clean up easy. I like to spray the inside of my slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray. You can also buy liners but the thought of cooking my food in plastic for hours just doesn’t sit well with me personally. Spraying the inside prevents the food from sticking and makes for an easy clean up.
- Leave the lid on! Every time you open the lid, a lot of heat escapes and slows down the cooking process. This is not only important for timing of your recipe being ready, but also for food safety. So resist the urge to peek or stir, unless the recipe specifically calls for it.
- Safety: If your crockpot has a timer, make sure to use it. Most will automatically go to low when the time has elapsed. I heard a horror story once about a house burning down because someone couldn’t get home for some reason or another and their crockpot just kept cooking, cooking, cooking. Although the story was probably an urban myth, it always pays to be careful.
What’s the Difference Between a Slow Cooker and a Crockpot?
As you can see, I use the terms interchangeably. They’re the same thing, but Crockpot is a specific brand of slow cooker. Kind of like Kleenex and Bandaid, the name Crockpot has become synonymous with slow cooker. Same thing applies to Instant Pot and pressure cookers or multi-cookers.
PS: Crockpot is a trademarked product. Crockpot is a proprietary brand that I want to acknowledge and give credit to. This post is not directly affiliated with them.
20 Crockpot Dinner Recipes
We’ll be adding to this list frequently so you’ll want to bookmark it for future reference!
Kirsten says
Rachel,
You’ve got a giant list here, and I’m pleased as punch to be included on it.
I’m sharing on my FB pages so that I can spread the word–always great to have a go-to slow cooker resource heading into cold weather.
Thanks so much!
Angela @ Another Bite Please says
what a great roundup….my gosh lovin’ all of it!!!! thanks for sharing so many recipes.
Kay Tran, RD says
Here’s one more recipe from Katie, Healthy Seasonal Recipes, that is a favorite of ours.
http://www.healthyseasonalrecipes.com/braised-beef-with-penne-marjoram-and-mushrooms/
Katie’s recipes are so thoroughly tested and reliable and precise with specific directions!
Katie | Healthy Seasonal Recipes says
Thanks so much for including two of my recipes in this fan-freakin’-tastic round-up Rachel! Wowzers you really knocked it out of the park!
Alaina @ Fabtastic Eats says
I can’t even tell you what a perfect time this round-up came! So awesome!! Thanks for sharing my Tacos!
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
What a great selection of recipes Rachel! Thanks so much for including my mushroom stroganoff :) I actually just posted another slow cooker recipe, if only I’d been a couple of days earlier! ;) thanks for taking the time to put this together!
Audra | The Baker Chick says
Love this round-up and the idea of it becoming a weekly thing- I majorly need more slow cooker recipes so this is a keeper!
Stephanie @ Eat. Drink. Love. says
This round up is amazing! I love my slow cooker!
denise says
nice selections
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
I love this, I am always looking for slow cooker ides! I know where to come now.
Laura @ The Rookie Cook says
I love the idea of round-ups on Saturdays! Great first round-up and I LOVE all the slow cooker ideas!
Lauren at Keep It Sweet says
I am ALWAYS looking for more slow cooker recipes, going through this entire list now:-)
Aimee @ ShugarySweets says
Great collection Rachel. Thanks so much for including me!!! I love lists like these, mainly cause I LOVE my slow cooker!
Cassie says
What a list! I have used my slow cooker more lately than ever before. Definitely need to try some of these!
Lisa @ Garnish with Lemon says
Wowza- What a fabulous round up! Definitely bookmarking this- so many fabulous recipes to try. Honored to be included with so many great bloggers! Thanks Rachel!