Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes Perfect for Fall (2024)

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Christine Gallary

Christine GallaryFood Editor-at-Large

Christine graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, and she has worked at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW.com. She lives in San Francisco and loves teaching cooking classes. Follow her latest culinary escapades on Instagram.

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updated Oct 6, 2023

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Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes Perfect for Fall (1)

With shorter days and crisper temperatures heading our way, having a warm, home-cooked dinner waiting for us when we walk in the door is such a comfort. With the help of a slow cooker, the prep and cooking don’t have to happen at the last minute, which frees you up to focus on other important tasks, like mixing the perfect autumn co*cktail.

From comforting soups to hearty braises, there’s plenty to choose from with these 25 recipes. As a bonus, these recipes also make plenty of leftovers — perfect for lunch the next day.

Slow Cooker Dinners For Fall

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25

Slow Cooker Coconut Lentil Curry

This slow cooker coconut lentil curry is seasoned with garam masala & turmeric, laced with tomatoes, & finished with coconut milk for a touch of richness.

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2

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25

Curried Vegetable and Chickpea Stew

Plenty of vegetables and chickpeas are loaded into this stew, all cooked together in a rich curry-coconut sauce.

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25

Slow Cooker Vegan Pumpkin Curry

Grab an extra pumpkin from the pumpkin patch or grocery store in this homage to fall ingredients. Serve with plenty of rice to soak up all the sauce.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Burrito Bowls

These chicken burrito bowls only require five minutes of hands-on prep time — the rest of the work is done by your slow cooker.

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25

Slow-Cooked Bolognese Sauce

A recipe for Italian Bolognese sauce that can be made in the slow cooker or on the stove.

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25

Slow Cooker Brisket and Onions

The classic flavors of brisket you crave with the ease of the slow cooker. This recipe produces the most crowd-pleasing, tender pot of brisket you've made.

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25

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

This is a hearty slow cooker chicken stew with white beans, Southwest spices like cumin and coriander, and a few cans of fire-roasted green chilis.

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25

Slow-Cooker Sausage and Spinach Lasagna

Yes, a cheesy lasagna can be made in a slow cooker! This version has loads of spinach and sausage for the ultimate comfort-food dinner.

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25

Slow-Cooker Chicken in Milk

Our favorite chicken recipe ever can now also be made in the slow cooker! Milk may seem like a strange ingredient, but it turns into an amazing sauce as it braises the chicken.

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25

Slow-Cooker Black Bean Enchiladas

An easy recipe for slow cooker enchiladas with black beans and cheese. Vegetarian.

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25

Slow-Cooker Korean Short Ribs

Once these short ribs are quickly browned with the aid of the broiler, they’re slow-cooked in a savory sauce until super-tender. Serve with a side of rice or load into lettuce leaves with pickled vegetables for a fun lettuce wrap.

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25

Slow-Cooker Tuna Noodle Casserole

This easy recipe for tuna noodle casserole is made from scratch in the slow cooker or the Crock-Pot.

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25

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

Spicy, savory, and tender pork shoulder.

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14

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25

Slow-Cooker Celery Soup with Bacon

A humble bunch of celery can turn into a rich, creamy soup with the addition of some bacon, potatoes, and broth. Serve with some crusty bread for a warm and comforting dinner.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Enchilada Soup

A warm bowl of chicken enchilada soup, made in the slow cooker, tastes like you're eating an enchilada with a spoon.

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25

Slow Cooker Coconut and Green Curry Pork

This simple Thai curry stew has bold flavors and can feed a hungry crowd. While it’s great over rice, try with it with store-bought naan for sopping up all the yummy sauce.

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25

Mac and Cheese in the Slow Cooker

This slow cooker mac and cheese is so easy! With dry pasta, milk, and cheese, you'll be enjoying warm macaroni and cheese in just a few hours.

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Meatballs in the Slow Cooker

Meatballs in the slow cooker are a gorgeous thing. They’re gently simmered, so the meatballs stay tender while the sauce becomes luscious and rich. Whether they’re being served over spaghetti for a weeknight dinner or piled onto a meatball sub at a Saturday potluck, these slow-cooker meatballs are going to be a hit — guaranteed.

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25

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Spooned over some steamed rice, this easy slow cooker tikka masala is about to make your busy days very happy indeed.

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25

Slow-Cooker Beef and Barley Stew with Mushrooms

When you get a craving — especially if it’s for beef and barley stew when snow clouds are building outside — it’s best to just give in and make it. Stew is more of a technique than a recipe, so gather your ingredients and jump right into the kitchen. By late afternoon, you’ll have one mouthwatering pot of stew.

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25

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Chicken soup is one of my favorite things to make in the slow cooker. As long as you use dark meat, the chicken never overcooks during the long cooking time, and making a big batch means that you can have it for dinner and stock the freezer at the same time. This Tex-Mex version has fire-roasted tomatoes, carrots, and black beans in a lightly spiced broth, and hits all the notes when you need a bright-yet-warming meal.

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25

Slow Cooker Italian Chicken and Broccoli Bowls

The superstar slow cooker strikes again with this tasty combination of brown rice, white beans, chicken, and broccoli florets.

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25

Slow-Cooker Vegan Lentil Chili

The easiest slow cooker chili you'll ever make, thanks to the power of lentils. Dump everything in the slow cooker, walk away, then eat it up.

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25

Slow Cooker Veggie Pot Pie

This easy, deconstructed veggie pot pie is made in the slow cooker, so you can come home to healthy comfort food even on a busy weekday.

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25

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25

Slow Cooker Hearty Chicken Minestrone

The New Year brings different traditions for different folks. Some make black-eyed peas, others make firm resolutions. I make chicken stock. There’s something wonderfully industrious about making homemade stock, and this year on New Year’s Day, that’s where I found myself.

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autumn

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Recipe Roundup

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Cozy Slow Cooker Recipes Perfect for Fall (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between a Crockpot and a slow cooker? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker
  1. Raw Meat.
  2. Seafood.
  3. Pasta.
  4. Rice.
  5. Delicate Vegetables.
  6. Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
  7. Dairy.
  8. Wine and Other Liquor.
Jan 19, 2024

How to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Just plug in your slow cooker, add your chosen recipe's ingredients, set the cooker to low or high, depending on the recipe's instructions, add the lid and let it cook. Once your dish is done cooking, you can either switch the slow cooker off to turn off the heating element, or warm if you're not ready to enjoy it yet.

How long does it take chicken to cook in a Crockpot? ›

Step 4: Cook on High for 4-5 Hours or Low 7-8 Hours. Cooking time will depend on the size of your chicken. Chicken is done when the internal temperature reaches 165 F and juices run clear, but also when it's so tender you can shred it with a fork.

Is it better to cook on high or low in a slow cooker? ›

Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low. However, for all-day cooking or for less-tender cuts, you may want to use the low setting. It's safe to cook foods on low the entire time -- if you're leaving for work, for example, and preparation time is limited.

What's better than a slow cooker? ›

An Instant Pot is a countertop appliance that slow-cooks—and then some. It is a brand of multicooker, an appliance known for having lots of features, typically including slow cooking, pressure cooking, rice cooking, steaming, searing, fermenting, and more. In sum, multicookers do more than slow cookers.

Can I put raw meat in a slow cooker? ›

Can you put meat straight into a slow cooker? Meat can be added directly unseared and not browned.

Can I leave my slow cooker on low overnight? ›

Is it safe to leave a slow cooker on for 12 hours? Yes, you can use your slow cooker for longer than eight hours, as long as you keep an eye on it. Many slow cookers do have an automatic shutoff after 24 hours.

Can I leave food in a slow cooker overnight off? ›

Most appliances will automatically shut off after 20 or so hours on this setting, but you shouldn't leave food in a slow cooker for an extended length of time. The general rule of thumb is that 2-4 hours is the maximum length of time you can leave food in a slow cooker on warm.

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

What is the best meat to cook in a slow cooker? ›

Choose the right cut: Chuck roasts, short ribs, pork shoulders and lamb shanks (think fatty and tougher meats) become meltingly tender with the moist, low heat of a slow cooker. Leaner cuts like pork tenderloin tend to dry out. Likewise, dark meat chicken — thighs, drumsticks, etc.

Should you stir a slow cooker? ›

Resist the urge. Every time you lift the lid, heat escapes and adds up to 30 minutes longer to your cook time. Slow cookers are made so you don't have to stir with the low cooking temperature, so relax.

Is it OK to put raw chicken in slow cooker? ›

Yes, you can put raw chicken in a slow cooker! Slow cookers and Crock-Pots are designed to cook raw meats. The direct heat from the pot, lengthy cooking time and steam created from the tightly covered container destroys bacteria, making slow cooking safe. You can put frozen chicken in a slow cooker, too!

Why is my chicken tough after cooking in crockpot? ›

In addition, chicken breast has less fat and can become dry (chewy or rubbery) if cooked for too long. Without moisture, the protein fibers in the chicken become elastic.

Is it safe to cook raw chicken on low in a slow cooker? ›

Research conducted by USDA FSIS indicates it's safe to cook large cuts of meat and poultry in a slow cooker.

Can you put raw burger in Crockpot? ›

All you do is add up to 3 pounds of ground beef to your crock-pot (I have done as many as 5 lbs. at one time). Break up the beef and add ¼ cup water (per pound of beef). Turn your crock-pot on and cook on HIGH for 2-3 hours or LOW for 4-6 hours.

Do you have to brown stew meat before putting it in the Crockpot? ›

"Browning, or caramelizing, meat before putting it into a slow cooker isn't 100 percent necessary, but it is well worth the effort for the most flavorful and full-bodied end result," he says. "The caramelized surface of the meat will lend rich flavor and color to the finished dish."

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a Crockpot? ›

While there are some disadvantages to using a slow cooker, such as the risk of overcooking food or forgetting to turn it off, these generally pale in comparison to the benefits. For busy families or those who enjoy coming home to a hot meal, a slow cooker can be a great addition to any kitchen.

Do slow cookers heat up the kitchen? ›

It Won't Heat Up Your House

During the dog days of summer, we'd rather make no-cook recipes than turn on the oven. But don't forget your trusty slow cooker. This appliance won't warm up your kitchen while preparing a home-cooked meal.

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