Comforting crock pot classics, flavorful tacos, hearty sandwiches, and cozy soups, stews, and chilis make up this list of popular real food slow cooker recipes!
It's hard to beat a good slow cooker supper. And with this index of popular, tried-and-true crock pot favorites, you can have a warm cozy dinner waiting for you every day of the week. There are even a few options for side dishes, breakfasts, and desserts!
Finding a recipe to try is easy. Recipes are categorized in a variety of ways for your convenience. You can peruse options by the type of protein used, the category of recipe, or even the type of cuisine. Some recipes are listed more than once, since they happen to fall under multiple categories. So however you prefer to search, you're sure to find something simple and delicious to make!
As always, some crock pots run hotter than others (particularly newer models), so you need to be familiar with your own personal slow cooker to determine optimal cooking time for different recipes.
Click below to jump to your desired category of SLOW COOKER RECIPES!
BY MAIN INGREDIENT
BY COURSE or RECIPE TYPE
BY CUISINE
Beef Recipes
My favorite beef cut for cooking in the crock pot is a roast, and I always recommend using a chuck roast. Its generous marbling results in moist, tender meat at the end of a low, slow cooking time.
CHUCK ROAST
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches Au Jus
- Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Shredded Beef Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff (OR beef stew meat)
- Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Soup (OR beef stew meat)
GROUND BEEF
SHORT RIBS
Chicken Recipes
I always keep a bag of boneless skinless chicken breasts and thighs on hand, and I prefer to toss in a combo when making most slow cooker chicken recipes. Chicken breasts are larger and have hardly any fat to trim, so just few of them yield more meat and are quick to shred. On the other hand, chicken thighs shrink up quite a bit and take longer to trim, but they also have more flavor and don't dry out as much. So I prefer using a combination for the best of both worlds, but either one will work beautifully.
BONELESS SKINLESS CHICKEN BREASTS &/or THIGHS
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Black Bean Tacos
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Black Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Slow Cooker King Ranch Chicken Soup
- Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce
- Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup (The BEST!)
(skin-on/bone-in chicken pieces preferred for this recipe)
CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS
Pork Recipes
Would you believe that you can cook a decent-sized ham or even a rack of ribs in your crock pot? There are plenty of variations of pulled pork below as well. And anytime I have leftover ham, I dice it up and toss it in the freezer for future use in these slow cooker soups.
PORK BUTT (SHOULDER) ROAST
- Slow Cooker Carnitas Tacos
- Slow Cooker Honey Lime Pulled Pork Tacos OR Nachos
- Slow Cooker Pineapple Pulled Pork
- Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork
BONELESS PORK LOIN
WHOLE HAM
DICED HAM &/or HAM BONE
- Slow Cooker Corn & Potato Chowder with Ham
- Slow Cooker Ham & Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup with Ham
RIBS
- Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs (pictured below)
Bean Recipes
Unless specified, all of the recipes below start with dried beans or lentils, and none of those recipes require pre-soaking (unless that happens to be your personal preference). I simply rinse and pick over my beans before letting them cook all day. Please keep in mind that old beans take longer to cook and soften...and sometimes, if they're really old, they never soften! So if your beans having been sitting in your pantry -- or in a grocery store warehouse -- for a long time, this can definitely lengthen required cooking time.
DRIED PINTO BEANS
DRIED GREAT NORTHERN or NAVY BEANS
- Slow Cooker Ham & Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker White Bean Cajun Soup (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili
DRIED BLACK BEANS
DRIED LENTILS or PEAS
CANNED BEANS
- Slow Cooker Beefy 3-Bean Chili
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Black Bean Tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
Vegetarian Recipes
These crock pot recipes on the site are not necessarily written as vegetarian recipes. However, they can easily be converted to vegetarian recipes by (1.) using vegetable broth instead of chicken broth, and (2.) eliminating any added ham, bacon, or sausage. Just keep in mind that if you eliminate ham, bacon, or sausage, you will likely need to increase the salt and/or other seasonings to make up for the missing flavor.
- Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Cauliflower Soup with Pepper Jack
- Slow Cooker Charro Beans
- Slow Cooker Corn & Potato Chowder
- Slow Cooker German Lentil Soup
- Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Chowder
- Slow Cooker Ranch Beans
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
- Slow Cooker White Bean Cajun Soup
- Slow Cooker White Bean Soup
Main Course Recipes
The recipes in this category are more like "stand-alone" main courses. You can scroll down just below this section for sandwiches, tacos, and soups that would also work as main courses.
- Slow Cooker Asian Beef Short Ribs
- Slow Cooker Baby Back Ribs
- Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
- Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Ham
- Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Pork Loin
- Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Drumsticks
- Slow Cooker Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce (pictured below)
Sandwich Recipes
There's something just so hearty and satisfying about supper on a bun!
- Slow Cooker Chicken Sloppy Joes
- Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches Au Jus (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Honey Balsamic Shredded Beef Sandwiches
- Slow Cooker Meatball Subs
- Slow Cooker Root Beer Pulled Pork Sliders
Taco Recipes
These flavorful pulled meats are fabulous in tacos, but they're also delicious as toppings or fillings for other Mexican food fare, from enchiladas to burritos to nachos.
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Black Bean Tacos
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
- Slow Cooker Honey Lime Pulled Pork Tacos (pictured below)
Soup Recipes
With long, low cooking times, slow cookers especially lend themselves to soups! Most of these are set-and-forget recipes, although you'll typically want to reserve a few minutes just before dinner time for shredding any meat and stirring in any add-ins or garnishes (which you can often prep earlier in the day).
- Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff Soup
- Slow Cooker Beefy 3-Bean Chili
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Soup
- Slow Cooker Butternut Squash Soup
- Slow Cooker Cauliflower Soup with Pepper Jack
- Slow Cooker Corn & Potato Chowder with Ham
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Black Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup (The BEST!) (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Slow Cooker German Lentil Soup
- Slow Cooker Ham & Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker King Ranch Chicken Soup
- Slow Cooker Loaded Baked Potato Soup
- Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Chowder
- Slow Cooker Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup
- Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
- Slow Cooker White Bean Cajun Soup
- Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili
Side Dish Recipes
Making a side dish in the crock pot is not only hands-off, but it also leaves your stove and oven free for other dishes.
- Slow Cooker Charro Beans
- Slow Cooker Creamy Cheesy Corn (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Honey Cinnamon Carrots
- Slow Cooker Ranch Style Beans
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
Breakfast Recipes
You may not always think of breakfast when crock pot cooking comes to mind, but these options are tasty, wholesome, and fun.
- Slow Cooker Granola (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker {Overnight} Apple Pie Steel Cut Oats
- Slow Cooker {Overnight} Pumpkin Steel Cut Oats
Dessert Recipes
Sweets for the sweet. 🙂
- Slow Cooker Chocolate Peanut Butter Fondue (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate {4 Ways}
- Slow Cooker Eggnog Bread Pudding
Holiday Recipes
When I cook a big meal for a holiday, I inevitably have every oven rack and stove burner accounted for. So pulling out a slow cooker or two means that it's no problem to add a few more dishes to the menu!
- Slow Cooker Brown Sugar Holiday Ham (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Creamy Cheesy Corn
- Slow Cooker Honey Cinnamon Carrots
- Slow Cooker Sweet Potato Casserole
- Slow Cooker Eggnog Bread Pudding
Mexican Recipes
If your family (like mine!) is a fan of Mexican cuisine, you just might find yourself regularly adding these delicious recipes to your meal plan.
- Slow Cooker Beef Barbacoa
- Slow Cooker Charro Beans (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Chicken & Black Bean Tacos
- Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup
- Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Black Bean Soup
- Slow Cooker Honey Lime Pulled Pork Tacos OR Nachos
- Slow Cooker Mexican Street Corn Chowder
- Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Tacos
- Slow Cooker White Bean Chicken Chili
Asian Recipes
Skip the take-out and let your crock pot do the work instead!
- Slow Cooker Asian Beef Short Ribs
- Slow Cooker Sweet Chili Drumsticks (pictured below)
- Slow Cooker Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce
* * * * * * * * * *
I hope this slow cooker recipe index helps you find a new favorite (or ten!) to add to your regular rotation of meals. I'll continue updating it as I publish new crock pot recipes on the blog.
And in case you enjoy these types of recipes and would like even more of them, be sure to check out my Real Food Slow Cooker Suppers cookbook, which features a total of 80 amazing dinner recipes made with wholesome, unprocessed ingredients!
Originally published September 30, 2015.
Phoebe
I just found your site today and made the slow cooker beef stroganoff. VERY GOOD!
Your real ingredient approach is what made me come back to look for more recipes. Good luck with the book.
Melissa @ My Recent Favorite books
Congratulations! All of your recipes sound and look delicious! =)
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you so much, Melissa...I really appreciate it! 🙂
Lyuba@willcookforsmiles
This is a great announcement! Congratulations! All your slow cooker recipes sounds and look SO good, you inspire me to pull out my crock pot 🙂
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you so much, Lyuba! I can only hope that my cookbook will turn out as lovely as yours... 🙂
Judy
This is wonderful Samantha!!! I've done 2 for another publisher and remember the first email--like you can't believe it's actually legit!!!
So happy for you! <3
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you so much, Judy! You're right...I wasn't sure that the e-mail was legit the first half dozen times that I read it. Good thing I decided to follow up on it! 😉 And I had no idea that you've already published two cookbooks...congrats! Heading over now to check them out. 🙂
Ashley@blondegirlcravings.com
Congrats!!!!! Your blog is wonderful, you are so deserving of the honor of writing a cookbook, can't wait to buy a copy!!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, Ashley...you are too sweet and your comment totally made me blush. 🙂 Happy Friday!
Anna @ Sunny Side Ups
Oh my goodness, CONGRATS on your book!! How exciting! 🙂 I'll absolutely be looking forward to picking up a copy, because I love all your real food crockpot recipes!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you so much, Anna...you sweet and supportive words mean a lot! Happy Friday! 🙂
Kelly
I am so excited! It seems every crockpot recipe has a can of cream chemical in it.....drives me crazy! Can't wait to try some of your recipes out! Thanks for sharing. Visiting from Link Party Palooza
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, Kelly! I'm excited, too. I love figuring out how to make classic crock pot recipes using only real food ingredients, so it's been fun (and a lot of work!) recipe testing over the past few weeks. Thanks so much for hopping over and I hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
Debbie Caraballo
Congratulations, Sam! This is exciting news, and I know your cookbook will be wonderful! Can't wait to see it....have a great weekend!
Deb
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, Deb, for being a longtime follower...I always appreciate your sweet, supportive comments! Hope your weekend was great as well. Have a wonderful upcoming week! 🙂
Sarah
I am so excited for you Samantha! You just never know what will come your way when you put your heart into something. Looking forward to your cookbook for our family and to pass along as gifts. My third grader now thinks you will be rich and famous after publishing a book-I hope he is right!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
You are the sweetest, Sarah...thank you! And your 3rd grader's prediction made me laugh...but now I'm feeling the pressure! 😉
Heidi @ Happiness is Homemade
I love everything about this! I am super excited for you, and I can't wait for more real food crockpot recipes!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, thank you, Heidi! Your encouragement and friendship mean the world. 🙂
Kristin S
Oh wow Samantha this is fantastic - congratulations!!! I love crock-pot recipes (and my crock-pot) so put me in line for your book. Your recipes are fantastic, so I'm looking forward to seeing them in book form 🙂
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you so much, Kristin! I'm thrilled that you enjoy my recipes and I appreciate all of your support since way back when I first started this blog. Your comments always make me smile! 🙂
Tami
Samantha, I love the big news! Your site, as well as your recipes, is impeccable and so fun to read. I'll definitely be purchasing your new cookbook when it becomes available - congratulations!
Samantha at Five Heart Home
Thank you, Tami! Your sweet comment means so much. I'm excited that you're excited about the cookbook! 🙂 I appreciate you taking the time to comment and hope that your week is off to a great start!