The Best Slow-Cooker Recipes of 2023
Updated: Apr. 18, 2023For out-of-this-world pork chops, soup and pot roast, grab your favorite kitchen appliance! Here are Taste of Home's most popular slow-cooker recipes of the year.
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Chuck Roast
My husband and I like chuck roast recipes, so this slow-cooked recipe is terrific. You’ll also love how flavorful and tender this comforting beef chuck roast turns out. —Bette McCumber, Schenectady, NY
FYI: This is the best slow cooker you can buy.
Slow-Cooker Baked Ziti
I don’t know one family that doesn’t have some crazy, hectic weeknights. This slow-cooker baked ziti recipe is a delicious, easy fix for a busy weeknight dinner for our family. —Christina Addison, Blanchester, OH
Make sure you’re not making these slow-cooker mistakes.
San Francisco Pork Chops
It’s easy to please friends and family with these fast-to-fix San Francisco pork chops. Simmered in a tangy sauce all day, they’re so moist and delicious by dinnertime that they practically melt in your mouth. —Tara Bonesteel, Dayton, NJ
Whatever you do, never put these foods in a slow cooker.
Slow-Cooker Short Ribs
These slow-cooker short ribs are an easy alternative to traditionally braised short ribs—you don’t need to pay any attention to them once you get them in the slow cooker. (That makes it my favorite beef short ribs recipe!) —Rebekah Beyer, Sabetha, KS
Slow-Cooker Pot Roast
I work full-time, so this slow-cooker roast beef is my go-to when I want a hearty, home-cooked meal. It’s a comfort to walk in and smell this simmering slow-cooker pot roast that I know will be fall-apart tender and delicious. —Gina Jackson, Ogdensburg, NY
Next, check out the easiest 30-minute meals we’ve ever made.
White Bean Chicken Chili
My sister shared this white bean chicken chili recipe with me. I usually double it and add one extra can of beans, then serve with cheddar biscuits or warmed tortillas. The jalapeño adds just enough heat to notice but not too much for my children. —Kristine Bowles, Albuquerque, NM
Keep it simple with these five-ingredient dinner recipes.
Shredded Beef au Jus
My mom found this recipe in a farm journal soon after she and my dad got married. The tender beef has been a family favorite for years, and my dad often requests it. —Danielle Brandt, Ruthton, MN
Slow-Cooker Ranch Chicken
This is a fabulous slow-cooker ranch chicken recipe that we’ve passed around to all our friends, especially those who have young children. It’s wonderful for a cold winter night or a hot summer day when you don’t want to turn on the oven. Serve it as a weeknight family dinner or for a large group. —Sonya Stark, West Jordan, UT
If you don’t want to turn on the oven, check out these delicious, quick no-cook recipes.
Cowboy Calico Beans
This is a tradition at the table when my girlfriends and I go up north for a girls weekend. The husbands and kids are left at home, but the slow cooker comes with us! —Julie Butsch, Hartland, WI
Believe it or not, these restaurant copycat recipes are better than the real things.
Cube Steaks with Gravy
Cube steaks and gravy are a hearty homestyle dinner your family will love after a busy day. The slow-cooked beef is wonderful served over mashed potatoes or noodles. —Judy Long, Limestone, TN
For an all-star meal, try adding Joanna Gaines’s family biscuit recipe.
Herbed Slow-Cooker Chicken
I use my slow cooker to prepare these well-seasoned chicken breasts that cook up moist and tender. My daughter, who has two young sons to keep up with, shared this great recipe with me several years ago. I now rely on cooking chicken in a slow cooker many days a week. —Sundra Hauck, Bogalusa, LA
Slow-Cooker Pork Chops
Everyone will enjoy these fork-tender, slow-cooker pork chops with a creamy, light gravy. Serve with a green vegetable, mashed potatoes and coleslaw or a salad. These are the best slow-cooker pork chops. —Sue Bingham, Madisonville, TN
Slow-Cooker Beef Tenderloin
I created this slow-cooker beef tenderloin recipe when I was having guests over. It tastes incredible with little effort. —Amanda Wentz, Virginia Beach, VA
Slow-Cooker Mexican Dip
My husband and I love to entertain, and we make this hearty seven-ingredient dip often. Using our slow cooker leaves us free to share quality time with our guests. After all, isn’t that the purpose of a party? —Heather Courtney, Ames, IA
“Secret’s in the Sauce” BBQ Ribs
A sweet, rich sauce makes this BBQ ribs recipe so tender the meat literally falls off the bone. And the aroma is wonderful. Yum! —Tanya Reid, Winston-Salem, NC
Melt-in-Your-Mouth Pot Roast
Slow-simmered and seasoned with rosemary, mustard and thyme, this tender and tasty crockpot roast and potatoes recipe is so easy to make and always a hit. Substitute burgundy or brandy plus a half-cup of water for the broth… The aroma of this English roast recipe is wonderful! —Jeannie Klugh, Lancaster, PA
Sesame Pork Roast
My trick to making a tasty roast that’s pull-apart tender is marinating a boneless cut of pork in a tangy sauce overnight before cooking it slowly the next day. It’s unbeatable. —Sue Brown, San Miguel, CA
Slow-Cooker Turkey Breast
Try this wonderfully flavored, easy-to-fix slow-cooker turkey breast when you’re craving something delicious. It makes a great holiday dish for smaller families too. —Maria Juco, Milwaukee
Fiesta Chicken Burritos
Looking for some heat with supper but still want a cool kitchen? Try these Fiesta Chicken Burritos! This is a simple recipe to double if you’re catering to a crowd. —Margaret Latta, Paducah, KY
Hungarian Goulash
Talk about your heirloom recipes! My grandmother made this Hungarian goulash recipe for my mother when she was a child, and then Mom made it for us to enjoy. Paprika and caraway add wonderful flavor, and sour cream gives it a creamy richness. It’s simply scrumptious! —Marcia Doyle, Pompano, FL
Rump Roast in the Slow Cooker
I enjoy a good pot roast, but I was tired of the same old thing, so I started experimenting. Cooking the beef in horseradish sauce gives it a tangy flavor. Even my young children love this rump roast in the slow cooker, with its tender veggies and gravy. —Mimi Walker, Palmyra, PA
Chicken in Sour Cream Sauce
Tender chicken is deliciously dressed up in a flavorful cream sauce with fresh mushrooms. This is an excellent entree for your family or guests. —Jane Carlovsky, Sebring, FL
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Potato Chowder
One of the ladies in our church quilting group brought this savory potato soup to a meeting, and everyone loved how the cream cheese and bacon made it so rich. It’s easy to assemble in the morning so it can simmer on its own all day. —Anna Mayer, Fort Branch, IN
Overnight Bacon-and-Swiss Breakfast
When we have overnight guests, I like to prepare things ahead of time so we can enjoy the company. It often gets crazy when everyone first wakes up, and I like to have food available whenever people are ready to eat. I devised this slow-cooker breakfast recipe when I was feeding 22 people at a destination wedding. —Donna Gribbins, Shelbyville, KY
Slow-Cooker Chicken Parmesan
I love making this satisfying dish—it’s easy and elegant, and the slow cooker minimizes my time in the kitchen. I make this during football season too. For game days, I skip the pasta and serve the chicken on submarine rolls with a bit of the sauce and some chopped lettuce. You could also cut the chicken breasts in half and make sliders. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, WI
Slow-Cooker Mac and Cheese
This classic casserole is a rich and cheesy meatless main dish. I’ve never met anyone who didn’t ask for a second helping. —Bernice Glascoe, Roxboro, NC
Slow-Cooker German Potato Salad
Here’s the dish everyone looks for at our parties, so we always double the recipe. It was handed down from my mother-in-law and has been a family favorite for years. —Stacy Novak, Stafford, VA
Baja Pork Tacos
This delicious pork tacos recipe is my copycat version of the most excellent Mexican food we ever had, when we were visiting Flagstaff, Arizona. The original recipe used beef instead of pork, but this comes mighty close to the same taste. —Ariella Winn, Mesquite, TX
Slow-Cooker Peach Crumble
I look forward to going on our beach vacation every year, but I don’t always relish the time spent cooking for everybody. This slow-cooker dessert (or breakfast!) gives me more time to lie in the sun and enjoy the waves. Melty ice cream is a must. —Colleen Delawder, Herndon, VA
Beef Brisket Tacos
Birthday parties back home were big gatherings of cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents and anyone else we considered family. As soon as guests arrived, hot pans of shredded brisket, or carne deshebrada, appeared, along with frijoles, tostadas, salsas and huge bowls of salad. Brisket was the dish we always counted on because it could be made in the oven or a slow cooker. —Yvette Marquez, Muy Bueno Recipes + Stories, Littleton, CO
Potluck Macaroni and Cheese
You’ll always have a winner at the potluck when you bring macaroni and cheese. Here’s an extra-rich, creamy version for the slow cooker. —Jennifer Blondek, Chicopee, MA
Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches
My husband is a huge fan of pulled pork sandwiches, so my sister shared this incredibly easy recipe with me. At potlucks and family dinners, nobody can get enough of this root-beer-braised version. —Carolyn Palm, Radcliff, KY
Chili Coney Dogs
From the youngest kids to the oldest adults, everyone in our family loves these hot dogs. Inspired by the classic Coney dog, they’re so easy to throw together in the morning or even the night before. —Michele Harris, Vicksburg, MI
Slow-Cooker Barbacoa
My husband adores this barbacoa, which is beef roast simmered in lime juice, chipotle and cumin. He would eat it once a week if I would make it that often! We have it over rice with cilantro and a spritz of lime. —Aundrea McCormick, Denver
Slow-Cooker Creamed Corn with Bacon
Every time I take this super rich corn to a holiday potluck or work party, I leave with an empty slow cooker. It’s decadent, homey and so worth the splurge. —Melissa Pelkey Hass, Waleska, GA
Stuffed Chicken Rolls
Just thinking about this dish sparks my appetite. The ham and cheese rolled inside are a tasty surprise. Leftovers reheat well and make a perfect lunch with a green salad. —Jean Sherwood, Kenneth City, FL
Slow-Cooker Oxtail Soup
This wonderfully rich slow-cooker oxtail soup will warm your soul and your taste buds. Oxtail soup is a favorite family heirloom recipe. Don’t let the name of this dish turn you off. Oxtail describes the meaty part of the tail of an ox (now commonly cow). The portion is delicious but requires long and slow cooking. —Bobbie Keefer, Byers, CO
Forgotten Jambalaya
During chilly times of the year, I fix this slow-cooker jambalaya recipe at least once a month. It’s so easy—just chop the vegetables, dump everything in the slow cooker and forget it! Even my sons, who are picky about spicy things, like this easy jambalaya. —Cindi Coss, Coppell, TX
