10+ Easy Crockpot Recipes for Effortless Meals

Cooking can sometimes feel like a chore, but a crockpot can make delicious meals with minimal effort. Easy crockpot recipes are perfect for busy days when you want to enjoy a homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen. These recipes allow you to simply set it and forget it, making meal prep a breeze.

Whether you’re looking to whip up a hearty stew, tender meats, or tasty vegetables, there are countless options to explore. The beauty of crockpot cooking is that you can often throw in your ingredients and let the slow cooker do all the work while you focus on other tasks.

Let’s dive into some simple and satisfying recipes that will have your family asking for seconds!

1) Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs

Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs are a delicious dish that’s easy to make. The blend of honey and garlic creates a tasty sauce that complements the juicy chicken.

Start by seasoning your chicken thighs. Then, in a bowl, mix soy sauce, honey, and minced garlic. Pour this sauce over the chicken in the crockpot.

Set your slow cooker on low for about six hours or on high for three hours. You’ll know it’s done when the chicken is tender and fully cooked.

Serve the chicken with rice or veggies to soak up the tasty sauce. Enjoy this simple and flavorful meal any night of the week!

Ingredients

• 2-2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 cloves garlic, minced

Cooking Instructions

1. Season the chicken thighs.
2. Mix soy sauce, honey, and garlic in a bowl.
3. Pour the sauce over the chicken in the crockpot.
4. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
5. Serve with rice or veggies.

2) 3-Ingredient Salsa Chicken

This 3-Ingredient Salsa Chicken is a simple and tasty dish. It saves you time and effort in the kitchen while still delivering great flavor.

You will need boneless, skinless chicken breasts, salsa, and taco seasoning. These three ingredients combine easily in a crockpot.

Place about 1 pound of chicken in the slow cooker. Add a tablespoon of taco seasoning and a jar of salsa.

Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Once it’s done, shred the chicken with forks.

It’s perfect for tacos, burritos, or even over rice!

Ingredients

• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 jar salsa (about 16 oz)
• 1 tablespoon taco seasoning

Cooking Instructions

1. Place chicken in the crockpot.
2. Sprinkle taco seasoning over the chicken.
3. Pour salsa on top.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours.
5. Shred the chicken before serving.

3) Crock Pot Baked Ziti

Crock Pot Baked Ziti is a delicious and simple dish. It cooks in one pot, making clean-up easy. You can prepare it with minimal effort and let the slow cooker do the work.

To make this dish, layer ziti pasta, marinara sauce, and cheese in your crock pot. You don’t need to pre-cook the pasta. It cooks perfectly in the sauce as it simmers.

This recipe is great for family dinners or gatherings. You can customize it by adding ground beef or your favorite veggies for extra flavor.

Ingredients

• 12 ounces ziti pasta
• 4 cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup ricotta cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Spray the crock pot with cooking spray.
2. Add half of the ziti, then half of the marinara sauce.
3. Layer half of the mozzarella and ricotta cheeses.
4. Repeat the layers.
5. Cook on low for 4-6 hours (about 93-138°C).

4) Pot Roast with Vegetables

Making a pot roast with vegetables in a crockpot is simple and delicious. You can prepare everything in the morning and let it cook all day. This method makes the meat tender and flavorful.

Start by placing a 3 lb. chuck roast in the slow cooker. Add chopped potatoes, carrots, onions, and celery around the meat. Season with salt and pepper for taste.

Pour in beef broth to keep everything moist. Cook on low heat for about 8-10 hours (around 80-90 degrees Celsius).

Your pot roast will be ready when the meat is tender and the veggies are cooked through. Enjoy this comforting meal with your family!

Ingredients

• 3 lb. chuck roast
• 3 potatoes, peeled and diced
• 4 carrots, peeled and sliced
• 1 onion, cut into chunks
• 2 celery ribs, sliced
• Salt and pepper to taste
• Beef broth

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the chuck roast in the slow cooker.
2. Add the diced potatoes, sliced carrots, chopped onion, and celery.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Pour in enough beef broth to cover the bottom.
5. Cook on low for 8-10 hours (80-90°C).

5) Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili

Sweet Potato Black Bean Chili is a comforting dish that’s easy to make in your crockpot. It’s packed with flavor and nutrients, making it perfect for any meal.

To start, you’ll need sweet potatoes, black beans, diced tomatoes, and spices. This chili is not only delicious but also simple to prepare. Just chop the ingredients and add them to the slow cooker.

You can choose to cook it on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours. When it’s done, you can serve it with toppings like avocado or cheese.

Ingredients

• 2 sweet potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can diced tomatoes
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups vegetable broth
• 2 teaspoons chili powder
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in the slow cooker.
2. Stir well to mix.
3. Cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours (about 170°C) or HIGH for 4 hours (about 190°C).
4. Serve hot with your favorite toppings.

6) Glazed Apple Juice Pork Chops

This recipe for Glazed Apple Juice Pork Chops is simple and tasty. The pork chops cook slowly in a sweet and savory apple juice mixture. This makes them tender and full of flavor.

You will need pork chops, apple juice, brown sugar, garlic, and some spices. These ingredients blend well for a delicious glaze.

Cook the pork chops in your crockpot for an easy meal. Serve them with your favorite side dishes for a complete dinner.

Ingredients

• 4 pork chops
• 1 cup apple juice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the pork chops in the crockpot.
2. In a bowl, mix apple juice, brown sugar, garlic, salt, and pepper.
3. Pour the mixture over the pork chops.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 150-170°F or 65-77°C).
5. Enjoy your meal!

7) Simple Crockpot Mac and Cheese

Making mac and cheese in a crockpot is easy and rewarding. This dish will be creamy, cheesy, and perfect as a side or main dish.

You will need uncooked elbow macaroni, sharp cheddar cheese, colby cheese, and butter. Add these ingredients to your slow cooker for a simple meal.

Ingredients

• 3 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 cup shredded colby cheese
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 3/4 cups milk
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Add macaroni, cheddar, colby cheese, and butter to the crockpot.
2. Pour in the milk and stir to combine.
3. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
4. Cook on low for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally until the cheese melts.
5. Serve warm and enjoy your creamy mac and cheese.

8) Crockpot Ham and Lentil Soup

Crockpot Ham and Lentil Soup is a warm and hearty dish. It’s perfect for cold days and makes use of leftover ham. You’ll enjoy the tender lentils and flavorful broth.

To make this soup, you need a few simple ingredients. You can set it up in your crockpot and let it cook while you go about your day.

This dish is not only tasty but also nutritious. The lentils provide protein and fiber, making it filling and good for you.

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried lentils
• 1 large ham hock or 2 cups diced ham
• 4 carrots, chopped
• 2 onions, diced
• 3 celery stalks, chopped
• 6 cups chicken broth
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Rinse the lentils under cold water.
2. Add all ingredients to the crockpot.
3. Pour in the chicken broth.
4. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 95-105 degrees Celsius) or high for 4-5 hours (about 120-130 degrees Celsius).
5. Stir occasionally and enjoy!

9) Slow Cooker Chicken Curry

Slow cooker chicken curry is an easy and delicious meal you can prepare with minimal effort. You just throw everything in the pot and let it cook.

This dish is perfect for busy days. The chicken becomes tender and absorbs all the rich flavors of coconut milk and spices. You can even add your favorite vegetables to make it healthier.

Ingredients

• 2 lbs chicken thighs
• 1 can (13.5 oz) coconut milk
• 2 tablespoons curry powder
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Salt and pepper to taste

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the chicken thighs in the slow cooker.
2. Add the chopped onion and minced garlic.
3. Pour in the coconut milk.
4. Sprinkle the curry powder, salt, and pepper on top.
5. Cook on low for 6-8 hours (about 140-175°C).
6. Serve hot with rice or bread.

10) Minimal Dump and Go Chicken and Corn

This recipe makes cooking easy and enjoyable. You just dump the ingredients into your slow cooker and let it do the work. It’s a perfect choice for a busy day.

To start, gather boneless, skinless chicken, a can of white corn, black beans, and your favorite spices. You can also add some broth for extra flavor.

Once you have all the ingredients, put them in the crockpot. Then, set the crockpot on low for about 6-8 hours. The chicken will become tender, and the flavors will blend perfectly.

Ingredients

• 2 pounds (900 grams) boneless, skinless chicken
• 1 can (15 ounces or 425 grams) white corn, drained
• 1 can (15 ounces or 425 grams) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 cups (950 ml) chicken broth
• Spices of your choice (like cumin or chili powder)

Cooking Instructions

1. Place the chicken in the slow cooker.
2. Add the corn and black beans.
3. Pour in the chicken broth.
4. Sprinkle your choice of spices.
5. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours (around 175°F or 80°C).