10+ Crock Pot Recipes for Easy Weeknight Dinners

Crock pot recipes are a great way to prepare delicious meals with minimal effort. These recipes allow you to set it and forget it, making them perfect for busy days when you still want a wholesome dinner.

With a variety of options available, you can create everything from savory stews to sweet desserts, all while enjoying the convenience of slow cooking.

Using a crock pot can transform your approach to meal planning. You can combine ingredients in the morning and come home to a warm, flavorful dish waiting for you. This method not only saves time but also enhances the flavors, as everything cooks together slowly throughout the day.

1) Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken is a delicious and easy meal for any night. The chicken becomes tender and flavorful when cooked in a sweet and savory sauce. It’s perfect to serve with rice or vegetables.

To make this dish, you’ll need a few simple ingredients. You’ll combine soy sauce, honey, garlic, and a bit of pepper for a tasty glaze. The slow cooker will do the work, making your dinner preparation stress-free.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds chicken thighs or breasts
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup honey
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the chicken in your slow cooker.
2. In a bowl, mix together soy sauce, honey, garlic, and pepper.
3. Pour the mixture over the chicken.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours (around 95°C) or high for 3 hours (around 150°C).
5. Serve warm and enjoy!

2) Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

Crockpot Tuscan Chicken is a delightful dish full of rich flavor. You’ll enjoy tender chicken breasts cooked slowly in a creamy sauce. This recipe features sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and spinach for added taste.

Preparing this dish is easy. You only need about 10 minutes for prep time. Then, let the crockpot do the work while you enjoy your day.

Ingredients

• 4 chicken breasts
• 1 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup spinach
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the crockpot.
2. Add sun-dried tomatoes and garlic.
3. Pour in heavy cream and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
4. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Cook on high for 2.5-3 hours or low for 3.5-4 hours (about 120°C to 160°C).
6. Stir in spinach just before serving.

3) Simple Pot Roast

A simple pot roast is a classic comfort food that’s easy to make in your crock pot. You will need a chuck roast, which becomes tender after slow cooking.

To get started, gather your vegetables. Carrots, potatoes, and onions add great flavor and nutrition.

For seasonings, you can use onion soup mix or your favorite spices. Combine everything in the slow cooker for a delicious meal.

Ingredients

• 3 to 4 pounds chuck roast
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 4 potatoes, diced
• 1 onion, quartered
• 1 packet onion soup mix or seasoning of your choice
• 2 cups beef broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Place carrots, potatoes, and onions at the bottom of the crock pot.
2. Season the chuck roast with the onion soup mix.
3. Place the roast on top of the vegetables.
4. Pour beef broth over the roast.
5. Cook on low for 8 hours (about 93°C) or high for 4 hours (about 149°C).

4) Beef Stew with Root Vegetables

Beef stew with root vegetables is a hearty meal perfect for any day. You can easily make it in a slow cooker or crock pot. It combines tender beef with veggies like carrots, potatoes, and parsnips, offering great flavor.

To start, gather your favorite root vegetables. You can customize the recipe to your taste. Using a combination of herbs adds depth to the dish.

The slow cooking process makes the beef tender and the vegetables flavorful. This dish fills your home with an inviting aroma.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef stew meat
• 4 carrots, sliced
• 4 potatoes, cubed
• 2 parsnips, chopped
• 1 onion, diced
• 4 cups beef broth
• 2 teaspoons thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the beef in the slow cooker.
2. Add all vegetables on top.
3. Pour in beef broth.
4. Sprinkle thyme, salt, and pepper.
5. Cook on low for 8 hours (175°C) or high for 4 hours (190°C).

5) Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

Creamy Chicken Enchiladas are a delicious meal to make in your crock pot. You’ll love how easy it is to prepare. Just a bit of prep gets you started!

For this dish, you can combine chicken breasts with taco seasoning, cream cheese, black beans, and green chiles. Let it cook in the slow cooker on low for 6-8 hours (about 93-104 degrees Celsius).

Once it’s done, roll the mixture in tortillas and top it with your favorite enchilada sauce and cheese. It’s that simple!

Ingredients

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 can black beans (drained)
• 1 can green chiles
• Tortillas
• Enchilada sauce
• Shredded cheese

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken breasts in the crock pot.
2. Add taco seasoning, cream cheese, black beans, and green chiles.
3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours.
4. Roll the mixture in tortillas.
5. Top with enchilada sauce and cheese before serving.

6) Pulled Pork with BBQ Sauce

Pulled pork with BBQ sauce is a tasty dish that’s easy to make in your crock pot. You’ll enjoy tender, flavorful meat that’s perfect for sandwiches or on its own.

Start with a pork shoulder. This cut of meat becomes really tender when cooked slowly. You can add your favorite BBQ sauce right into the pot for rich flavor.

Cook it on low for about 8 hours or high for 4 hours until it’s easy to shred. Once done, mix the pulled pork with more BBQ sauce for a hearty meal.

Ingredients

• 3-4 lbs pork shoulder
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• Salt and pepper
• 1/4 cup water

Cooking Instructions

1. Trim excess fat from the pork shoulder.
2. Place pork in the crock pot.
3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Add BBQ sauce and water.
5. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours (or high for 4 hours).
6. Shred the pork with two forks and mix with sauce.

7) Vegetable Lentil Soup

Vegetable lentil soup is a warm and nutritious meal perfect for any day. It’s packed with healthy ingredients that make it hearty and filling. You can easily customize this recipe based on your favorite vegetables.

You’ll need lentils, carrots, tomatoes, and some spices for flavor. This soup is great for a cozy dinner or meal prep for the week.

Ingredients

• 1 cup lentils (brown or green)
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 carrots, diced
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 celery stalks, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon thyme
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the lentils under cold water.
2. Add all ingredients to your crock pot.
3. Pour in the vegetable broth.
4. Cook on low for 8 hours (about 93°C) or high for 4 hours (about 149°C).
5. Stir and serve hot. Enjoy!

8) Spicy Black Bean Chili

Spicy Black Bean Chili is a warm and hearty meal perfect for any day. This recipe is packed with flavor and easy to make in your crock pot.

Start with black beans, tomatoes, and bell peppers. You can spice it up with chili powder and cumin. For protein, try adding ground beef or keep it vegetarian with more beans.

Let your chili cook for several hours until everything is tender. It’s a great option for lunch or dinner. Serve with some bread or over rice for a filling dish.

Ingredients

• 2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper, chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 pound ground beef (optional)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. In a skillet, brown the ground beef if using.
2. Add all ingredients to the crock pot.
3. Stir to combine.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 175-190°F or 80-90°C).
5. Serve hot, garnished with toppings of your choice.

9) Savory Chicken and Dumplings

Savory chicken and dumplings is a comforting meal that is perfect for busy days. Using a crock pot makes it easy to prepare this dish with minimal effort.

Start with chicken breasts and add rich chicken broth to keep it juicy. You can also include veggies like carrots, celery, and onions for added flavor.

For the dumplings, simply mix biscuit dough and drop it on top of the chicken mixture. They’ll cook perfectly in the crock pot, soaking up all the delicious flavors.

Ingredients

• 1 ¼ lb (570 g) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup (240 ml) chicken broth
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cups (300 g) mixed vegetables (carrots, celery)
• 1 can of condensed cream of chicken soup
• 1 package of refrigerated biscuit dough

Cooking Instructions

1. Add chicken, chicken broth, and chopped onion to the crock pot.
2. Stir in mixed vegetables and cream of chicken soup.
3. Cook on high for 5-6 hours (about 85-90 °C).
4. After cooking, drop pieces of biscuit dough on top.
5. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes until dumplings are done.

10) Cheesy Beef and Pasta

Cheesy beef and pasta is a delicious meal that’s easy to make in your crock pot. It combines tender pasta with ground beef and creamy cheese for a comforting dish.

Start by browning the ground beef in a skillet. Once it’s cooked, add it to your slow cooker. You can layer it with uncooked pasta and your favorite pasta sauce.

Top everything with lots of cheese. As it cooks, the flavors will blend, and the cheese will melt into a creamy sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 2 cups uncooked pasta
• 3 cups pasta sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet.
2. Drain the fat, then add the beef to the slow cooker.
3. Add the uncooked pasta and pasta sauce.
4. Stir and top with shredded cheese.
5. Cook on low for 4-6 hours (about 175°F or 80°C).
6. Serve hot and enjoy!