30+ Easy Crockpot Meals

5 from 73 votes

Last updated on May 13, 2024

These EASY Crockpot Meals are perfect for those busy weekdays — with simple prep and delicious results, the family will love these slow cooker dinners. There’s something for everyone — crockpot pasta, soups, tacos, slow cooker ribs, pork, chicken or beef.

nine image collage for easy crockpot meals.

Tips for Making these Easy Crockpot Meals:
The Best Easy Crockpot Meals:
And a few easy Crockpot Desserts to round out your meal!
My favorite crockpots and slow cookers!
Can I let my crockpot cook longer than the recipe says?
30+ Easy Crockpot Meals Recipe

I love using my crockpot year round to whip up one of these easy Crockpot Meals — they make busy weekdays with three kids more manageable!

I know we all love these Dump and Go Slow Cooker Recipes because we can throw it all in and hit the road!

But I wanted to come back and show a few more of my favorite crockpot recipes, because even though some have a little prep required, it can usually be done the night before or even prepped and stashed in the freezer for easy mornings and more delicious, home cooked dinners.

Tips for Making these Easy Crockpot Meals:

Prep what you can the day before. If there are a lot of vegetables to be shopped or meat to be cooked, this can often be done the day before. Sometimes, with many soups or stews, you can prep the entire meal in the slow cooker, then simply pop the insert in the fridge overnight. In the morning, all you have to do is pop it in and turn it on.
Crockpot recipes sometimes need a little oomph at the end of that long cook time — try adding freshness with some finely chopped fresh herbs or green onions to bright up the flavors. You can also use a little splash of something acidic (depending on the recipe of course!), a squeeze of lemon juice, a spoonful of ketchup, or splash of balsamic vinegar often does the trick.
Know your crockpot. All crockpots and slow cooker cook differently. I have had a few in my day (I have 3 that I use regularly!) and they all cook differently. Some are hotter, and some are cooler. The larger the slow cooker, the longer it will take to heat and cook, so that is also something to keep in mind.

The Best Easy Crockpot Meals:

close up of a wooden ladle in a slow cooker of baked ziti.

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

slow cooker with garlic parmesan chicken stew in it and a metal ladle

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

overhead image of four chicken breasts in white slow cooker.

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

italian beef being lifted out of white crockpot with tongs.

Italian Beef recipe

Easy shredded Italian Beef made in the crockpot, just six ingredients! Tender chuck roast is simmered in a tangy broth for fall-apart goodness, perfect for serving on sandwiches.

Check out this recipe

white crockpot with cooked tuscan chicken inside.

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

close up of a scoop of mac and cheese in crockpot.

Crock Pot Mac and Cheese

This Crock Pot Mac and Cheese is super simple and has amazing flavor! NO boiling required — just dump, stir and cook. Super creamy!

Check out this recipe

square image of slow cooker pulled chicken with two forks.

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

crockpot meatloaf on white platter with green beans.

Crockpot Meatloaf recipe

This Crockpot Meatloaf Recipe is a comfort food classic made easier in the slow cooker. It's perfectly moist, packed with flavor, and takes a quick 10 minutes to prep!

Check out this recipe

overhead image of meat falling off of bones of slow cooker ribs on sheet pan

Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs

These Easy Slow Cooker BBQ Ribs couldn’t be simpler! They have a homemade spice rub and are slow cooked until they fall off the bone, then you can slather them in any barbecue sauce you like!

Check out this recipe

square image of tomato basil slow cooker chicken in white crockpot.

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

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

square image of bone in chicken thighs in slow cooker.

Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs

These Slow Cooker Chicken Thighs are perfectly seasoned with garlic and herbs, cooked until they easily pull from the bone! The juiciest, most flavorful crockpot chicken thighs!

Check out this recipe

Overhead view of a full bowl of lasagna soup with a spoon in it.

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

close up of slow cooker hamburger helper with a large spoon in it.

Healthier Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper

This Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper is easily made entirely in the Crockpot, with ground beef and macaroni in a cheesy, tomato-y sauce with extra veggies! It's hearty comfort food made easy!

Check out this recipe

close up of creamy garlic chicken in white slow cooker.

Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken

Crockpot Creamy Garlic Chicken features golden pan seared chicken breasts that get slow cooked to perfection in a garlicky cream sauce. It's an easy recipe that's great for those busier weeknights at home!

Check out this recipe

overhead image of beef barley soup with spoon in bowl

Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup Recipe + VIDEO

This Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup is an easy crockpot meal perfect for fall or winter! Loaded with vegetables and tender chunks of beef. Includes step by step recipe video.

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

square image of crockpot bbq chicken with tongs

Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

This easy Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken is made with store bought barbecue sauce and a couple secret ingredients! Make it with chicken breasts or thighs.

Check out this recipe

Crockpot Chicken and Noodles

This Crockpot Chicken and Noodles recipe is an easy crockpot chicken recipe that will please the whole family! So easy and so creamy (but NO cream of chicken soups!).

Check out this recipe

close up of bun topped with pulled pork, bbq sauce, and coleslaw.

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

close up of mongolian beef on rice topped with sesame seeds.

{Slow Cooker} Mongolian Beef

Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef is so much better than your average take-out! Tender strips of steak are smothered in a rich, dark, flavorful Asian sauce that's got just the right touch of sweetness. The best part? It's so easy to make by tossing everything in a slow cooker!

Check out this recipe

ladle scooping sweet and sour meatballs out of crockpot

Sweet and Sour Crockpot Meatballs

These Sweet and Sour Crockpot Meatballs are an easy appetizer or dinner! Made with fresh or frozen meatballs, homemade or store bought, and covered in the best pineapple sweet and sour sauce!

Check out this recipe

slice of lasagna being lifted out of crockpot

Crockpot Lasagna

This Crockpot Lasagna is made with just SIX ingredients and no precooking the noodles! An easy crockpot meal you can set and forget.

Check out this recipe

Crockpot Whole Chicken

This Crockpot Whole Chicken is incredibly moist and flavorful, thanks to a coating of seasoned garlic butter and the slow cooker! The perfect make ahead weekend dinner, great for meal prepping!

Check out this recipe

square image of a bowl of potato soup with a spoon.

Crockpot Potato Soup

This Crockpot Potato Soup is thick, creamy and loaded with tender potatoes, crispy bacon, cheddar cheese, green onions and a few veggies for good measure.

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pulled Pork

Honey Balsamic Pulled Pork is a new take on pulled pork that is sweet and sour! This dark, thick syrup-like sauce is incredible — a must-try!

Check out this recipe

square image of slow cooker pot roast with gravy being drizzled over.

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

sliced pork tenderloin covered in glaze in a white slow cooker.

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 Three Bean Beef Chili

This Slow Cooker Three Bean Beef Chili is a healthy, easy dinner idea for any night of the week! A microwave shortcut makes makes it a one pot meal and cuts down on prep time.

Check out this recipe

close up image of crockpot lemon chicken in slow cooker

Slow Cooker Honey Lemon Chicken Recipe + VIDEO

This Slow Cooker Honey Lemon Chicken is a little sweet, a little tangy and perfect over rice or noodles! It’s an easy crockpot meal for those busy days! Includes step by step recipe video.

Check out this recipe

Glazed Crock Pot Pork Chops

These easy glazed Crock Pot Pork Chops are slow cooker in a mixture of apple juice, broth, onions and seasonings and are fall apart tender! Great with mashed potatoes or egg noodles. Dump and go!

Check out this recipe

close up of a speckled bowl filled with beef stew and a spoon in it.

Honey Balsamic Slow Cooker Beef Stew Recipe

Comfort food doesn't get any better than Honey Balsamic Slow Cooker Beef Stew! This stick to your ribs beef stew is hearty, flavorful as can be and loaded with beef and veggies. You're gonna love this set it and forget it recipe!

Check out this recipe

And a few easy Crockpot Desserts to round out your meal!

Crockpot Blackberry Cobbler

This Easy Crockpot Blackberry Cobbler recipe is a winner for sure! It comes together with just 10 minutes prep and cooks in the slow cooker, keeping your house cool and your oven free! Loaded with fresh blackberries and a crisp, cakey topping. Just begging for a scoop of vanilla ice cream!

Check out this recipe

Slow Cooker Berry Cobbler

This Slow Cooker Berry Cobbler is an easy dessert recipe that uses fresh or frozen berries so it's the perfect sweet treat year round! Just 10 minutes prep!

Check out this recipe

overhead image of caramel apple pudding cake with ice cream melting over

Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake

This Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Pudding Cake is SO simple, loaded with apples and makes its own hot caramel sauce as it cooks. Our new favorite dessert!

Check out this recipe

My favorite crockpots and slow cookers!

Most often, I’m using a 2.5 quart casserole style crockpot that I love. It is wider and shallow, so you don’t have to stack everything up and it cooks more quickly. It is the perfect crockpot for someone cooking for 1-4 people and not doing large meals.
I also have a 4 quart crockpot that I use when I want to do a larger cut of meat, like a pot roast, or a big batch of soup. It’s everything I love about my 2.5 quart in a slightly bigger size.
I do have a 6 quart Hamilton Beach slow cooker that is great for cooking for a large group of people, but I do find it’s a little cooler and sometimes large chunks of meat have to be cut down into smaller pieces for it to cook by dinnertime.

Can I let my crockpot cook longer than the recipe says?

This is a tough one, and it really depends on the recipe and type of meal you’re making.

Some recipes can be left a little longer (we all know how valuable those long workday cook times can be!), but others are best if you stick to the recipe.

Things like chicken breasts and lean meats I prefer to cook for a short period of time (sometimes only 1.5-3 hours), so they stay juicy and are never overcooked.

Other recipes, like a larger piece of meat, a soup that does not have pasta added at the beginning (pasta cooks relatively quickly in the slow cooker), sauces and chilis can often be left longer and will be just as good.

If you have a crockpot that will automatically switch to keep warm when the cook time is up, and you can set the exact cook time (rather than select simply 8 or 10 hours), these are the best ones for making crockpot meals while you are out of the house.

These are the ones we come back to again and again!

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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!

30+ Easy Crockpot Meals

Table of Contents

Tips for Making these Easy Crockpot Meals:

The Best Easy Crockpot Meals:

And a few easy Crockpot Desserts to round out your meal!

My favorite crockpots and slow cookers!

Can I let my crockpot cook longer than the recipe says?