A slow cooker cooks food slowly at a low temperature over several hours. It is excellent for soups, stews, curries, chili, pulled meat, beans, and tender roasts.
You can prepare ingredients in the morning and let them cook during the day.
Cooks food slowly over several hours at low heat. Best for stews, soups, chili, pulled chicken, pot roast, beans, and meal prep.
Major brands : Crock-Pot, Hamilton Beach, Cuisinart, GreenPan, Elite Gourmet.
Food & Wine’s 2026 testing picked Cuisinart as a top slow cooker and Hamilton Beach as a strong value pick
Best for: easy one-pot meals, tender meat, soups, and meal prep.
Limitation: not suitable when you need food quickly.
Sizes
- 6 quarts – This is also the safest general-purpose size. Serious Eats’ favorite slow cooker is a 6-quart GreenPan, and EatingWell’s best overall pick was a 6-quart Cuisinart.
- 1.5 to 3 quarts – Useful for appetizers, queso, oatmeal, or small portions. Not ideal for roasts or family meals.
- 7 to 8 quarts – Better for large cuts of meat, whole chicken, chili, soups, and entertaining.
Some of the Most Popular Slow Cooker Recipes for Easy Family Dinners
Here are some of the most popular slow cooker dishes, with simple recipe-style instructions. These are the kinds of dishes people search for most because they are easy, comforting, family-friendly, and work well as “set it and forget it” meals.
| Rank | Dish | Why It’s Popular | Simple Slow Cooker Recipe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Slow Cooker Beef Pot Roast | Traditional comfort food; tender beef with vegetables | Add chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, beef broth, salt, pepper, thyme, and rosemary. Cook 8–9 hours on low or 5–6 hours on high until tender. | |
| Slow Cooker Chicken Chili | Easy, healthy, and good for leftovers | Add chicken breasts, white beans or kidney beans, corn, diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, paprika, broth, salt, and pepper. Cook 6–7 hours on low or 3–4 hours on high. Shred chicken and stir back in. Chicken chili is often described as a true “set it and forget it” slow cooker meal. | |
| Slow Cooker Beef Stew | Filling, budget-friendly, and perfect for cold weather | Add beef cubes, potatoes, carrots, celery, onion, garlic, beef broth, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, and bay leaf. Cook 8 hours on low or 4–5 hours on high. Thicken with cornstarch slurry near the end. | |
| Slow Cooker Chicken and Dumplings | Creamy comfort food; very popular family dinner | Add chicken, onion, celery, carrots, broth, cream of chicken soup or cream, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook 6–7 hours on low. Shred chicken, then add biscuit dough pieces for the last 45–60 minutes. | |
| Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese | Popular side dish for kids, potlucks, and holidays | Add elbow macaroni, milk, evaporated milk, butter, cheddar cheese, cream cheese, salt, pepper, and paprika. Cook 1.5–2.5 hours on low, stirring occasionally. Do not overcook or pasta may get mushy. | |
| Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos | Simple meal-prep recipe; only a few ingredients | Add chicken breasts, taco seasoning, salsa, onion, and a little broth. Cook 6 hours on low or 3 hours on high. Shred and serve in tortillas with lettuce, cheese, sour cream, avocado, or salsa. | |
| Slow Cooker Meatballs | Great appetizer or dinner; popular for parties | Add frozen or homemade meatballs with marinara sauce, BBQ sauce, grape jelly sauce, or sweet-and-sour sauce. Cook 3–4 hours on low or 2 hours on high. Serve with pasta, rice, or toothpicks as an appetizer. Slow cooker appetizer lists commonly feature meatballs and dips. | |
| Slow Cooker Chicken Curry / Tikka Masala | Popular because slow cooking makes chicken tender and sauce rich | Add chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, curry powder or tikka masala spice, tomato sauce, coconut milk or cream, salt, and pepper. Cook 6 hours on low or 3–4 hours on high. Serve with rice or naan. | |
| Slow Cooker Cowboy Casserole | Hearty one-pot family meal with beef, potatoes, beans, corn, and cheese | Brown ground beef with onion first. Add potatoes, beans, corn, diced tomatoes, taco seasoning, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook 5–6 hours on low. Add cheese near the end. Southern Living named cowboy casserole its most popular slow-cooker recipe of 2025. |
Best Beginner Recipe: Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Ingredients:
3–4 lb pork shoulder, 1 cup BBQ sauce, ½ cup chicken broth or apple cider vinegar, 1 sliced onion, 3 garlic cloves, 1 tsp paprika, 1 tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp brown sugar.
Method:
Place onion at the bottom of the slow cooker. Add pork and seasonings. Pour BBQ sauce and broth over it. Cook on low for 8–10 hours. Shred the pork and mix it back into the sauce.
Serve as: sandwiches, tacos, loaded fries, rice bowls, baked potatoes, or wraps.
Best Family Dinner: Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Ingredients:
3 lb chuck roast, potatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, 2 cups beef broth, 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper, thyme, rosemary.
Method:
Place vegetables in the slow cooker. Add roast on top. Pour broth and seasoning over everything. Cook on low for 8–9 hours until the beef is tender.