Do you have a slow cooker sitting on your kitchen countertop, but you hardly ever use it? If so, now is the time to put it to use. A slow cooker offers a break from baked or fried meals, and it does not take a lot of effort to prepare a slow cooker meal. The added bonus is that these meals are just as delicious and hearty as other home-cooked meals.

Even someone who is new to cooking can prepare a slow cooker meal.

The following are 12 meals that you can prepare in a slow cooker. Chicken, pork, and vegetarian meals as well as chili, stews and even dessert can make tasty and comforting slow cooker meals.

Turkey And Potatoes

This is a delicious meal that can be made during the holidays or any time you are looking for a filling meal for your family. You will need:

ingredients:

• 2 pounds turkey breast, cut into chunks
• 4 large potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
• Add turkey chunks and cook until browned on all sides, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer turkey to a slow cooker.
• In the same skillet, add onion and garlic, and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
• Add onion and garlic to the slow cooker.
• Add potatoes, chicken broth, thyme, rosemary, paprika, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker.
• Stir everything together.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until turkey is cooked through and potatoes are tender.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

Cream Corn

To make Cream Corn in a slow cooker, you’ll need the following ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 6 cups of fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 1 cup of heavy cream
• 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
• 1/4 cup of butter
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: chopped fresh parsley or chives for garnish

Instructions:

Here’s how to prepare it:

• In a slow cooker, combine the corn kernels, heavy cream, cream cheese, butter, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 4-5 hours or until the corn is tender and the cream cheese is melted, stirring occasionally.
• Once the cream corn is cooked, taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, garnished with chopped fresh parsley or chives if desired. Enjoy!

Maple Sugar Ham

Maple Sugar Ham cooked in a slow cooker First, gather your ingredients

Ingredients

• 1 bone-in ham, about 5-7 pounds
• 1 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Instruction:

• Prepare the ham by trimming any excess fat. Place it in the slow cooker.
• In a bowl, mix together the maple syrup, brown sugar, Dijon mustard, apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, black pepper, and ground cloves.
• Pour the maple syrup mixture over the ham, making sure it’s evenly coated.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook the ham on low for 6-8 hours, or until the ham is tender and reaches an internal temperature of 140°F (60°C).
• Occasionally, baste the ham with the cooking liquid to keep it moist and flavorful.
• Once the ham is cooked, remove it from the slow cooker and let it rest for a few minutes before slicing.
• Serve the Maple Sugar Ham warm, and enjoy!

Vegetarian Chili

here’s a recipe for Vegetarian Chili cooked in a slow cooker

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 bell pepper, diced
• 1 zucchini, diced
• 1 carrot, diced
• 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup vegetable broth
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 1 tablespoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and garlic, and sauté until softened.
• Add bell pepper, zucchini, and carrot to the skillet. Cook for another 5 minutes.
• Transfer the vegetable mixture to a slow cooker. Add black beans, kidney beans, crushed tomatoes, vegetable broth, chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours, until vegetables are tender.
• Serve hot, garnished with your favorite toppings such as avocado, cilantro, or shredded cheese. Enjoy!

Mashed Potatoes

To make Mashed Potatoes in a slow cooker, you’ll need:

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds of potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth
• 1/2 cup of butter, cubed
• 1/2 cup of sour cream
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: minced garlic, chives, or cheese for flavor

Instructions:

• Place the diced potatoes in the slow cooker.
• Pour the broth over the potatoes.
• Add the cubed butter on top.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until the potatoes are tender.
• Mash the potatoes using a potato masher or fork.
• Stir in the sour cream until well combined.
• Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• For extra flavor, mix in minced garlic, chives, or cheese.
• Serve hot and enjoy!

BBQ Chicken

Here’s a recipe for BBQ Chicken cooked in a slow cooker

Ingredients:

2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup BBQ sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Season chicken breasts with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and smoked paprika.
• In a medium bowl, mix BBQ sauce, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, chicken broth, and Worcestershire sauce.
• Place chicken breasts in the slow cooker and pour BBQ sauce mixture over them.
• Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until chicken is cooked through and tender.
• Once cooked, shred the chicken using two forks and mix it with the BBQ sauce in the slow cooker.
• Serve the BBQ chicken on buns, over rice, or with your favorite side dishes. Enjoy!

Stewed Chicken

Here’s a recipe for Stewed Chicken made in a slow cooker:

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds chicken pieces (such as thighs, drumsticks, or breasts)
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 tablespoons water
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions:

• In a slow cooker, combine the chicken pieces, onion, garlic, paprika, thyme, oregano, salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using).
• In a small bowl, whisk together the chicken broth, tomato paste, and Worcestershire sauce. Pour over the chicken.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
• In a small bowl, mix the flour and water to create a slurry. Stir the slurry into the slow cooker, stirring well to thicken the sauce.
• Serve the stewed chicken hot, garnished with chopped parsley. Enjoy!

Pulled Pork

To make Pulled Pork in a slow cooker, you will need:

Ingredients:

• 3-4 pounds pork shoulder (also known as pork butt), trimmed of excess fat
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the pork shoulder with salt and pepper, then sear it in the skillet until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes per side.
• While the pork is searing, combine the chicken broth, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, chili powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper (if using), salt, and pepper in the slow cooker.
• Once the pork is seared, place it in the slow cooker and cover it with the sauce mixture.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours, or until the pork is very tender and falls apart easily.
• Remove the pork from the slow cooker and shred it using two forks. Return the shredded pork to the slow cooker and stir it into the sauce.
• Serve the pulled pork on buns with your favorite toppings, such as coleslaw, pickles, or barbecue sauce. Enjoy!

Beef and Onion Stew

Here’s a recipe for Beef and Onion Stew cooked in a slow cooker

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds of beef stew meat, cut into cubes
• 3 large onions, sliced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 cups of beef broth
• 1 cup of red wine
• 1/4 cup of tomato paste
• 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions:

• In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the beef cubes and brown on all sides, about 5 minutes. Remove the beef from the skillet and set aside.
• In the same skillet, add the onions and garlic. Cook until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
• Sprinkle the flour over the onions and garlic, stirring to coat. Cook for another minute.
• Transfer the onion mixture to the slow cooker. Add the browned beef, beef broth, red wine, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until the beef is tender.
• Serve the stew hot, garnished with fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Salsa Chicken

To make Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken, you will need the following ingredients:

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup salsa (use your favorite variety)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional toppings: shredded cheese, diced avocado, sour cream, chopped cilantro

Instructions:

• Season the chicken breasts with cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
• Place the seasoned chicken breasts in the slow cooker.
• Pour salsa over the chicken breasts, ensuring they are evenly coated.
• Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until the chicken is cooked through and tender.
• Once cooked, use two forks to shred the chicken directly in the slow cooker, mixing it with the salsa.
• Serve the shredded chicken with your favorite toppings, such as shredded cheese, diced avocado, sour cream, and chopped cilantro.
• Enjoy your delicious Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken!

The Kitchen Sink

To make The Kitchen Sink in a slow cooker, you will need:

Ingredients:

• 1 pound of ground beef
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 1 can of kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can of corn, drained
• 1 can of tomato sauce
• 1 tablespoon of chili powder
• 1 teaspoon of cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Optional toppings: shredded cheese, sour cream, chopped green onions

Instructions:

• In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain any excess fat.
• Add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet with the ground beef. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the vegetables are slightly softened.
• Transfer the beef and vegetable mixture to the slow cooker.
• Add the diced tomatoes, kidney beans, black beans, corn, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper to the slow cooker. Stir to combine.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, until the flavors are well blended and the chili has thickened.
• Serve hot, topped with shredded cheese, sour cream, and chopped green onions if desired. Enjoy!

Cake

Here’s a recipe for a slow cooker cake Slow Cooker Chocolate Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup boiling water
• Optional: chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles for topping

Instructions:

• In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and egg until well combined.
• Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until smooth.
• Stir in boiling water until the batter is well mixed and smooth.
• Grease the slow cooker insert with butter or non-stick spray.
• Pour the batter into the slow cooker insert and spread it evenly.
• Cover the slow cooker with a lid and cook on high for about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
• Carefully remove the insert from the slow cooker and let the cake cool for a few minutes.
• Use a knife to loosen the edges of the cake from the insert, then invert the cake onto a plate to remove it from the insert.
• Let the cake cool completely before serving. Optionally, top with chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles before serving.
• Enjoy your delicious slow cooker chocolate cake!

Related article

• Smoked Turkey recipe you sure can love
• How To Cook The Best Turkey
• Best Pumpkin Recipe

Conclusion

In conclusion, these 12 easy slow cooker recipes offer a convenient and delicious way to prepare meals. By utilizing your slow cooker, you can save time and effort in the kitchen while still enjoying flavorful dishes. Whether you’re cooking for a family dinner or meal prepping for the week ahead, these recipes are sure to please. So, dust off your slow cooker and start cooking!