Busy weeknights call for one thing: a meal that practically makes itself.
These 30 easy crockpot recipes are the ones I come back to again and again.
Just toss everything in, set it, and come home to dinner already done.
Here are my 30 favorite crockpot meals that my whole family loves.
1. Crockpot Crack Chicken Pasta
This creamy, cheesy pasta practically makes itself in the slow cooker, tender chicken, cream cheese, and ranch seasoning come together in the most irresistible sauce.
It’s the kind of meal the whole family asks for on repeat, and cleanup is a breeze. Click here for the full recipe →
I throw the chicken in frozen before I leave for the day and forget about it until the whole house smells like a ranch dressing miracle. No browning, no babysitting.
Boil your pasta separate and stir it in right at the end so it doesn’t turn to mush. Leftovers reheat great with a splash of milk to loosen the sauce back up.
2. Pulled Beef Slow Cooker
Fork tender pulled beef that slow cooks all day while you go about your life, the smell alone will have everyone gathering in the kitchen.
Pile it onto buns, stuff it into tacos, or serve it over mashed potatoes for an effortless crowd pleaser. Click here for the full recipe →
This is my go to for feeding a crowd on the cheap since a bigger cut just means more shredded beef for the same amount of work. It also freezes beautifully once it’s shredded and cooled.
I portion it into freezer bags flat so it thaws fast on a busy night. Pull one out in the morning and by dinner it’s ready to go.
3. Crockpot BBQ Chicken
Juicy, saucy BBQ pulled chicken with almost zero prep, just toss it in the crockpot and let the magic happen.
It’s perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or piled high on baked potatoes for a weeknight dinner that feels like a cookout. Click here for the full recipe →
Grab whatever bottled sauce you already have in the fridge and this comes together even faster. Frozen chicken breasts work fine straight from the freezer if you forgot to thaw again, no judgment here.
Set out buns, coleslaw, and pickles and let everyone build their own plate. It cuts down on the picky eater complaints at my table every single time.
4. Easy Crockpot Lasagna
All the cheesy, layered goodness of classic lasagna, without ever turning on the oven.
This slow cooker version is a total game changer for busy nights when you want something hearty and homemade without the fuss. Click here for the full recipe →
No boiling noodles ahead of time is the real win here, they cook right in the sauce as everything simmers. Just resist the urge to peek too often so it holds its heat.
It reheats like a champ the next day, honestly better once the layers have had time to set. Cut it into squares for lunch and it holds together just fine.
5. Mississippi Pot Roast
This legendary pot roast is tender, buttery, and packed with tangy, savory flavor from just five simple ingredients.
It melts right off the fork and makes the most incredible gravy, you’ll want to put it on everything. Click here for the full recipe →
This is the one I make when I need a Sunday dinner that doesn’t feel like a Sunday’s worth of work. Mashed potatoes underneath are basically required in my house.
Any extra gravy gets saved in the good Tupperware for pouring over leftovers all week. It also freezes well if you want to stash a batch for a rainy day.
6. Crockpot Pork Butt Roast
A slow cooked pork butt roast is one of those set it and forget it meals that always delivers big results.
The meat becomes impossibly tender and flavorful, making it ideal for pulled pork sandwiches, burrito bowls, or a simple Sunday supper. Click here for the full recipe →
Buy the roast when it’s on sale and toss it in the deep freezer until you’re ready, this one is forgiving about timing. A basic dry rub the night before adds flavor without any real effort.
Shredded and cooled, it keeps for days in the fridge and freezes just as well. I usually get three different dinners out of one roast.
7. Pork Carnitas
Slow cooker carnitas give you that crispy edged, citrus spiced pork you love from your favorite Mexican restaurant, right in your own kitchen.
Load them into tacos, nachos, or rice bowls for a meal that disappears fast. Click here for the full recipe →
For that crispy edge, spread the shredded pork on a sheet pan and run it under the broiler for a couple minutes before serving. It makes a huge difference and only takes a minute.
This is a great one to double, since taco night leftovers never seem to last long enough in my house. Squeeze fresh lime over it right before serving for a little extra brightness.
8. Slow Cooker Whole Chicken
Cooking a whole chicken in the crockpot is hands down the easiest way to get juicy, fall off the bone meat with almost no effort.
Season it however you like and let the slow cooker do all the work while you handle the rest of your day. Click here for the full recipe →
Once it’s done, save the bones and pan drippings for a quick homemade broth later in the week. It is one of those quiet little wins that makes you feel like you have it together.
Shred whatever you don’t eat that night for soup, sandwiches, or salads the next day. It is basically meal prep without ever calling it meal prep.
9. Crockpot Goulash
This hearty, old fashioned goulash is pure comfort food, ground beef, tender pasta, and a rich tomato sauce all made in the slow cooker.
It’s budget friendly, filling, and the kind of meal that takes you right back to grandma’s kitchen. Click here for the full recipe →
This is pure church potluck energy and it always disappears fast at those things. It also happens to be one of the cheapest meals on this whole list, which never hurts.
Add the pasta near the end of cooking so it doesn’t go soft and gummy. Leftovers reheat fine, just add a splash of water or broth to loosen it back up.
10. Chicken Tortilla Soup
Bold, smoky, and loaded with chicken, beans, and corn, this slow cooker tortilla soup is a weeknight hero.
Top it with crispy tortilla strips, sour cream, and shredded cheese for a bowl that tastes like it took all day (because it did, the easy way). Click here for the full recipe →
This is one of the easiest ways to sneak in extra vegetables since nobody is picking through a bowl of soup looking for them. It also happens to freeze better than most soups, since the broth base holds up well.
Set out toppings in little bowls and let the kids build their own. It turns dinner into something that feels a little bit special on an ordinary Tuesday.
11. Pulled Pork Burritos
Slow cooked pulled pork wrapped up in a giant burrito with all the fixings, this is the kind of dinner that has everyone excited to come to the table.
Make a big batch on Sunday and you’ve got easy lunches covered for the week too. Click here for the full recipe →
Wrap the extras individually in foil once they’re assembled and stack them in the freezer for grab and go lunches. They reheat fine in the microwave, foil off of course.
Rice, beans, cheese, whatever you have on hand works here, this recipe does not need to be fussy. It is a great one to hand to kids who want to build their own.
12. Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
This is one of the most popular recipes on this whole site, with over 80,000 pins and counting. Tender beef piled onto rolls with warm au jus on the side for dipping.
Serve them with chips or a simple salad and dinner is done. Click here for the full recipe →
The au jus is the whole event, so do not skip setting out little bowls of it for dipping. Kids treat it like a dunking game, which means they actually eat.
Leftover beef reheats right in the juice so it never dries out. Pile it on a roll the next day and it is arguably better than night one.
13. Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
Creamy, cozy beef stroganoff that simmers all day while you do anything else. The beef gets fork tender and the sauce turns into something you will want to drink.
Spoon it over egg noodles with a green vegetable on the side and watch it disappear. Click here for the full recipe →
Stir the sour cream in at the end rather than the start, so the sauce stays smooth. It is the one step worth remembering in an otherwise dump-and-go dinner.
Leftovers thicken up in the fridge, and a splash of broth or milk brings the sauce right back. It reheats into a lunch worth guarding.
14. Crock Pot Beef and Noodles
Old fashioned beef and noodles, the kind that tastes like a grandma made it. Chunks of beef go tender in a rich broth that turns into gravy for the noodles.
Serve it in bowls with bread for mopping and nobody says a word until the bowls are empty. Click here for the full recipe →
This is a great one for cheap cuts of beef, since the long slow cook does all the tenderizing for you. Tough meat going in, fork tender coming out.
The noodles go in near the end so they stay noodles instead of going to mush. Set a timer and the last step takes care of itself.
15. Crock Pot Baked Ziti
All the cheesy, saucy comfort of baked ziti without turning on the oven. Layers of pasta, sauce, and melty mozzarella do their thing in the crock.
Add garlic bread and you have an Italian dinner that costs almost nothing. Click here for the full recipe →
No boiling the pasta first, it cooks right in the sauce. That is one less pot to wash, which around here counts as a win.
This one feeds a crowd and reheats well, so do not fear the leftovers. A square of it in a lunch container is a very good Tuesday.
16. Crockpot Chicken Alfredo
This creamy chicken alfredo is a ginormous hit at our house, and that is putting it mildly. Chicken thighs cook down in a rich, zesty cream sauce that clings to every noodle.
Serve it over pasta and prepare for requests to make it again. Click here for the full recipe →
Thighs stay juicier than breasts through a long slow cook, which is why this recipe calls for them. They shred into the sauce like they were made for it.
Cook the pasta separately and stir it in at serving time. The sauce coats it fresh and nothing turns gluey.
17. Slow Cooker Lazy Lasagna
This is lasagna for the weeks when dinner is not getting made unless it makes itself. Frozen ravioli stands in for the noodles and ricotta, so you skip all the layering drama.
A bag of ravioli, a jar of sauce, sausage, and mozzarella, and the crock does the rest. Click here for the full recipe →
The ravioli goes in frozen, no thawing required. This is the kind of shortcut I will defend to anyone.
It is rich, so a simple salad on the side balances the plate. Leftovers cut into neat squares once it cools a bit.
18. Crock Pot Shredded Beef Tacos
A chuck roast, tomato paste, cumin, and chili powder turn into the best taco filling you have ever pulled apart with two forks. It simmers all day and shreds in about a minute.
Set out tortillas and toppings and let everyone build their own. Click here for the full recipe →
The leftover juice in the crock is liquid gold, so spoon some over the shredded beef before serving. It keeps the meat juicy on the plate.
Leftovers turn into nachos, quesadillas, or burrito bowls all week. One roast, three dinners, no complaints.
19. Slow Cooker Chicken Tacos
Just three ingredients – chicken breasts, taco seasoning and a can of Rotel. There is literally no more prep than that and it comes out tasting like you did way more.
Go ahead and throw it in some tacos or even some quesadillas and you’ve got a winner. Click here for the full recipe →
This is the recipe I give to people who say they can’t cook. If you can open a can, you can make dinner.
When it comes to shredding the chicken, use two forks to do it while it is in the crock pot. Let it sit in the juices for a few minutes so it soaks in all the flavor again.
20. Crockpot Philly Cheesesteak
Sliced beef and onions slow cook into the stick-to-your-ribs kind of good. It is a Philly cheesesteak that made itself while you were at work.
Pile it onto hoagie rolls with melty cheese and dinner feels like a night out. Click here for the full recipe →
Slice the beef thin before it goes in and it comes out tender every time. The Italian dressing mix in this recipe is the quiet hero.
Toast the rolls for a minute so they stand up to the juices. A soggy hoagie is a preventable tragedy.
21. Crock Pot Mac and Cheese with Corn
Macaroni, Velveeta, and two kinds of corn bake into the side dish that surprises even the pickiest eaters. Fair warning, it gets treated like the main dish at my table.
Serve it next to ham or burgers, or just hand out bowls of it and call it dinner. Click here for the full recipe →
The creamed corn is what makes the sauce silky, so do not swap both cans for whole kernel. The mix of the two is the trick.
Give it a stir partway through so the edges do not brown ahead of the middle. Beyond that, it runs itself.
22. Shredded Chicken in the Crock Pot
This one is not a single dinner, it is the head start on five of them. A big batch of seasoned chicken breasts or thighs cooks down into shredded chicken for the whole week.
Use it for tacos, quesadillas, casseroles, burrito bowls, whatever the week throws at you. Click here for the full recipe →
Make it on Sunday and weeknight dinners suddenly have a head start. This is meal prep for people who do not do meal prep.
It freezes in bags beautifully, so make more than you think you need. Flat-packed bags thaw fast on the counter while you get everything else going.
23. Crock Pot Baked Potato Bar
Baked potatoes without heating up the whole house, plus a toppings spread that turns them into dinner. Sour cream, cheddar, bacon, and chili, everybody builds their own.
It is the easiest crowd feeder on this whole list. Click here for the full recipe →
This is my summer trick, since the crock does not fight the air conditioning the way the oven does. Same baked potato, none of the hot kitchen.
Picky eaters love this one because nobody has to eat anybody else’s toppings. Dinner argument, solved.
24. Slow Cooker Chicken Noodle Soup
The classic feel-better soup, made the hands-off way. Chicken, vegetables, and broth simmer all day into the real thing, not the canned imitation.
Serve it with crackers or crusty bread and watch it fix whatever kind of day everyone had. Click here for the full recipe →
Noodles go in near the end so they stay tender instead of bloated. It is the only step that needs a clock.
This one freezes well if you hold the noodles out and add them fresh when you reheat. Future sick-day you will be grateful.
25. Easy Crockpot Potato Soup
Thick, creamy, loaded potato soup that starts with a bag of frozen hashbrowns. No peeling, no dicing, no apologies.
Top bowls with cheddar and bacon bits and it eats like a loaded baked potato with a spoon. Click here for the full recipe →
The cream cheese is what makes it silky, so let it fully melt in and give it a good stir. Lumps of cream cheese are just future deliciousness that needs a minute.
This is the soup for the first genuinely cold day of the year. Plan on zero leftovers.
26. Chicken Enchilada Soup
All the flavor of chicken enchiladas, no rolling required. Chili powder, cumin, and cilantro do the heavy lifting while the crock does the cooking.
Top it with cheese, tortilla strips, or a spoon of sour cream and it is a full dinner in a bowl. Click here for the full recipe →
The toppings bar is half the fun here, so set out little bowls and let everyone go overboard. It wins over kids who claim they do not like soup.
It reheats like a dream, and the flavors are deeper on day two. Make the full batch even if it is just a few of you.
27. Slow Cooker Beef Barley Soup
Tender chunks of stew meat and a broth loaded to the brim with vegetables and barley. It is comfort food at its finest.
A loaf of crusty bread next to it and you have a full dinner for almost no effort. Click here for the full recipe →
Stew meat is built for this, the long cook turns even the toughest chunks silky. Cheap cut, rich result.
The barley keeps soaking up broth as it sits, so leftovers come out thicker, almost a stew. Loosen it with a splash of broth or embrace the stew, both are correct.
28. Crockpot Apple Dump Cake
End dinner on the sweetest note with this ridiculously easy apple dump cake made right in the crockpot.
Warm cinnamon apples topped with buttery golden cake, serve it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and watch it vanish. Click here for the full recipe →
This is my go to when I need a dessert for a potluck and have exactly zero energy left to bake. Nobody has ever guessed it came together with barely any effort.
It holds nicely on warm for an hour or two if dinner runs long. Leftovers are great cold straight out of the fridge the next morning, I will not apologize for that.
29. Slow Cooker Pumpkin Dump Cake
Cake mix, canned pumpkin, and nutmeg turn into a warm fall dessert without heating up the kitchen. The cream cheese frosting situation on top is not optional in my house.
Serve it warm with whipped cream and fall is officially in session. Click here for the full recipe →
This is the dessert to bring when it is your turn to host and the oven is already full. The crock quietly handles dessert on the counter.
It is at its best warm, so time it to finish near the end of dinner. The smell alone will clear the table faster than any announcement.
30. Crockpot Lava Cake
Triple chocolate lava cake from a box of cake mix, a container of fudge frosting, and a cup of chocolate chips. It is one of the most popular crockpot desserts on this site for a reason.
Scoop it into bowls warm with vanilla ice cream and accept the applause. Click here for the full recipe →
It looks and tastes like you spent the afternoon on it, and it is genuinely three ingredients. I will never tell if you do not.
Serve it straight from the crock with a big spoon, this is not a dessert that slices. The gooey middle is the entire point.
Questions I Get About These Crockpot Dinners
Can I make these ahead of time?
Most of these hold up great made a day ahead and reheated, especially the shredded meats and the goulash. The flavors actually get better once they’ve had time to sit.
Do these freeze well?
Anything shredded, like the pulled beef, pork butt, carnitas, or BBQ chicken, freezes beautifully once cooled. I freeze mine flat in bags so they thaw faster and take up less space in the deep freezer.
Can I just double the recipe for a crowd?
Yes, most of these double easily as long as your crockpot has the room for it. The shredded meats especially are forgiving, since more meat just means a longer cook time, not a different method.
What if my kids are picky eaters?
Anything with a build your own setup, like the burritos, BBQ chicken, or tortilla soup, tends to win over picky eaters since they can leave off what they don’t want. Setting out toppings separately solves more dinner arguments than you’d think.
Can I swap the meat in these recipes?
In most cases, yes. Chicken and pork are pretty interchangeable in these styles of recipes, so use whatever you already have in the freezer and adjust the cook time a bit if needed.