17 Delicious Crockpot Recipes That Make Dinner Easy

When dinner needs to be easy, the crockpot can do much of the work for you. A few minutes of preparation in the morning or early afternoon can turn simple ingredients into a warm, satisfying meal by dinnertime. That’s especially helpful on busy weekdays when you want something comforting without spending the evening standing over the stove.

These crockpot recipes cover a mix of family-friendly classics, cozy soups, hearty meats, flavorful chicken dishes, and easy one-pot dinners. Some are ideal for meal prep, while others are perfect when you simply want to come home to dinner already cooking.

Whether you have a small slow cooker for a couple of servings or a larger model for family meals, these 17 delicious crockpot recipes give you plenty of inspiration for easy dinners throughout the week.

1. Slow Cooker Beef and Potatoes

Tender beef, potatoes, carrots, and onions make this a classic crockpot dinner that feels hearty without requiring complicated preparation.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef chuck roast, cut into large chunks
• 1 ½ pounds baby potatoes
• 3 large carrots, sliced
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• Salt and black pepper to taste

How to Make It

Place the beef, potatoes, carrots, onion, and garlic into the crockpot. Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, then sprinkle over the herbs, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook on low until the beef is tender and the vegetables are cooked through.

For a slightly thicker cooking liquid, remove some of the broth near the end and simmer it separately with a small amount of cornstarch slurry before returning it to the crockpot.

2. Crockpot Chicken and Gravy

Chicken and gravy is one of those dinners that feels comforting without requiring much effort. Serve it over mashed potatoes, rice, or egg noodles.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 packet chicken gravy mix
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• Black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons butter

How to Make It

Add the chicken to the crockpot and season with garlic powder, onion powder, and pepper. Whisk the chicken broth with the gravy mix and pour it over the chicken. Add the butter, cover, and cook until the chicken is tender.

Shred or slice the chicken before serving and spoon plenty of gravy over the top.

3. Slow Cooker Chicken Taco Filling

This versatile chicken taco filling can become tacos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, nachos, or a quick weeknight salad.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup corn
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning
• Juice of 1 lime

How to Make It

Place the chicken in the crockpot and cover with salsa. Add the black beans, corn, taco seasoning, and lime juice. Cook until the chicken is tender enough to shred easily.

Shred the chicken directly in the crockpot and stir everything together. Serve inside warm tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.

4. Crockpot Creamy Tuscan Chicken

Creamy Tuscan-style chicken makes a cozy dinner when you want something richer and more substantial.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• 2 cups baby spinach
• ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Place the chicken, garlic, seasoning, broth, and sun-dried tomatoes into the crockpot. Cook until the chicken is tender. Stir in the cream, Parmesan, and spinach toward the end of cooking and allow the spinach to wilt.

Serve with pasta, rice, or crusty bread.

5. Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Pulled pork is one of the easiest crockpot meals to prepare for a family dinner, sandwiches, or casual weekend gatherings.

Ingredients

• 3–4 pounds pork shoulder
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• Salt and black pepper

How to Make It

Season the pork generously and place it in the crockpot. Add the broth and half of the barbecue sauce. Cook until the pork becomes tender enough to pull apart with forks.

Shred the pork and stir it with the remaining barbecue sauce. Serve on toasted buns with coleslaw or alongside roasted vegetables.

6. Slow Cooker Beef Chili

A big pot of chili is especially useful when you want a filling meal that can stretch across several servings.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds ground beef
• 1 can kidney beans, drained
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 2 cans diced tomatoes
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Brown the ground beef in a skillet first and drain excess fat. Transfer it to the crockpot and add the remaining ingredients. Stir well, cover, and let the chili cook until the vegetables are tender and the flavors have blended.

Top each bowl with shredded cheese, sour cream, green onions, or avocado.

7. Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup is a simple comfort food that works especially well on chilly evenings.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds boneless chicken
• 8 cups chicken broth
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried parsley
• 2 cups egg noodles
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Add the chicken, broth, vegetables, garlic, and herbs to the crockpot. Cook until the chicken is tender. Remove and shred the chicken, then return it to the pot.

Add the egg noodles toward the end and cook until tender. Season to taste before serving.

8. Slow Cooker Italian Beef Sandwiches

Tender Italian-style beef is ideal for sandwiches and can be prepared ahead for an easy dinner.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds beef chuck roast
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 jar mild pepperoncini peppers
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 6–8 sandwich rolls
• Provolone cheese

How to Make It

Place the beef in the crockpot and add the broth, pepperoncini, and seasonings. Cook until the beef is tender and easy to shred.

Pile the shredded beef onto toasted rolls, add provolone, and spoon a little of the flavorful cooking liquid over the meat before serving.

9. Crockpot Chicken and Rice

Chicken and rice makes a satisfying one-pot dinner with familiar ingredients and minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds boneless chicken thighs
• 1 cup long-grain white rice
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 1 cup frozen peas and carrots
• 1 small onion, diced
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Add the chicken, onion, broth, vegetables, and seasonings to the crockpot. Follow your slow cooker’s guidance for adding rice so it does not become overly soft. Stir in the rice during the appropriate portion of cooking and continue until it is tender and the chicken is fully cooked.

Fluff the rice before serving.

10. Slow Cooker Pot Roast

Pot roast is a classic slow-cooker dinner for Sundays, family gatherings, or any night when you want an especially comforting meal.

Ingredients

• 3–4 pounds chuck roast
• 1 ½ pounds potatoes
• 4 carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Season the roast and place it in the crockpot. Arrange the potatoes, carrots, and onion around it. Add the broth, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs.

Cook until the roast is tender and pulls apart easily. Slice or shred the beef and serve it with the vegetables and cooking juices.

11. Crockpot Mac and Cheese

For an easy comfort-food dinner or side dish, crockpot mac and cheese delivers creamy pasta with minimal stovetop work.

Ingredients

• 1 pound elbow macaroni
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup evaporated milk
• 4 tablespoons butter
• ½ teaspoon mustard powder
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Cook the macaroni according to package directions until just tender, then drain. Add it to the crockpot with the cheeses, milk, evaporated milk, butter, and seasonings.

Stir well and cook according to your slow cooker’s appropriate setting, stirring occasionally until creamy and the cheese is melted.

12. Slow Cooker BBQ Chicken

Sweet and smoky barbecue chicken is an easy option for sandwiches, wraps, baked potatoes, or rice bowls.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 ½ cups barbecue sauce
• ½ cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Black pepper

How to Make It

Place the chicken in the crockpot and season lightly. Pour over the barbecue sauce and broth. Add smoked paprika and garlic powder.

Cook until tender, then shred the chicken and mix it with the sauce. Serve on toasted buns with crunchy coleslaw or use it as a filling for wraps.

13. Crockpot White Chicken Chili

White chicken chili is a lighter-feeling alternative to traditional beef chili while still delivering a hearty, cozy bowl.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds boneless chicken
• 2 cans cannellini or great northern beans
• 1 can diced green chiles
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup corn
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Add all ingredients except the chicken toppings to the crockpot. Cook until the chicken is tender.

Shred the chicken and stir it back into the chili. Serve with shredded Monterey Jack, avocado, cilantro, lime, or tortilla strips.

14. Slow Cooker Meatballs in Marinara

Tender meatballs simmered in marinara make an easy dinner over spaghetti or a filling for toasted meatball subs.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds frozen or prepared meatballs
• 4 cups marinara sauce
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil for serving

How to Make It

Add the meatballs to the crockpot and pour the marinara sauce over them. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning and garlic powder.

Cook until the meatballs are heated through and coated in the sauce. Finish with Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve over pasta or inside toasted rolls.

15. Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Corn Soup

Creamy chicken and corn soup is a comforting choice when you want something warm, filling, and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds boneless chicken
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups corn
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Add the chicken, broth, corn, carrots, onion, and seasonings to the crockpot. Cook until the chicken is tender.

Remove and shred the chicken, then return it to the pot. Stir in the cream toward the end and warm gently before serving.

16. Slow Cooker Salsa Verde Chicken

Salsa verde gives simple chicken a bright, flavorful base that works especially well for tacos, bowls, and rice.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 2 cups salsa verde
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 1 cup corn
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• Juice of 1 lime
• Fresh cilantro

How to Make It

Place the chicken in the crockpot and pour salsa verde over the top. Add the beans, corn, cumin, and garlic powder.

Cook until the chicken is tender, then shred it and stir it into the sauce. Finish with lime juice and cilantro.

Serve in tortillas, rice bowls, or alongside warm beans.

17. Slow Cooker Beef and Barley Soup

Beef and barley soup is a hearty final addition to this list, combining tender beef, vegetables, and chewy barley in a savory broth.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ pounds beef stew meat
• ¾ cup pearl barley
• 3 carrots, sliced
• 3 celery stalks, sliced
• 1 onion, diced
• 6 cups beef broth
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• Salt and pepper

How to Make It

Place the beef, barley, vegetables, broth, tomatoes, and seasonings in the crockpot. Stir everything together and cook until the beef is tender and the barley is fully cooked.

Taste and adjust the seasoning before serving. A piece of crusty bread makes a simple accompaniment.