17 Slow Cooker Favorites That Make Dinner Easy

When cooking feels like too much work, these dump-and-go slow cooker recipes can save your dinner without any stress or effort. Just toss all the ingredients into the pot in the morning before heading out, and a hot meal will be waiting when you get home. These dishes need zero special skills but deliver tons of flavor that tastes like you spent hours in the kitchen working hard. From tasty tacos to creamy pastas, every recipe makes dinnertime super easy so you can relax and enjoy your evening instead of rushing around.

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Table of Contents

1 Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks
2 Cochinita Pibil Tacos
3 Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
4 Slow Cooker Ancho Beef Tacos
5 Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sliders
6 Crockpot Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potato Casserole)
7 Slow Cooker Guajillo Beef Tacos
8 Slow Cooker Birria de Res
9 Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili
10 Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili
11 Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos
12 Slow Cooker Lasagna
13 Slow Cooker Ancho Pork
14 Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken
15 Crock Pot Stuffing with Sausage and Apples
16 Slow Cooker Sweet Shallots Chicken and Potatoes
17 Crockpot Ham and Beans Soup (with leftover ham or hock)

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

A platter of roasted chicken drumsticks garnished with green onions, cheese crumbles, and drizzled with sauce, served on a blue patterned plate. — Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks. Photo credit: Flavorful Eats.

Chicken drumsticks cook until the meat nearly falls off the bone, then get tossed in spicy buffalo sauce. Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks are perfect served with cool ranch dressing and fresh celery sticks on the side for dipping.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Drumsticks

Cochinita Pibil Tacos

Cochinita Pibil Tacos. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Pork gets marinated in orange juice and spices until it becomes incredibly tender and bursting with flavor. Cochinita Pibil Tacos pile onto warm tortillas with pickled onions for authentic street tacos made right in your own kitchen.
Get the recipe: Cochinita Pibil

Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

A creamy pasta dish with fettuccine noodles is cooked in a slow cooker, garnished with herbs. A fork placed in the dish rolls some pasta, ready to be served. — Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. Photo by The Magical Slow Cooker

Tender chicken and creamy Alfredo sauce get a spicy kick from Cajun seasoning as everything cooks together. Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo becomes complete when you stir in fettuccine noodles at the end for one-pot pasta perfection.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Cajun Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Slow Cooker Ancho Beef Tacos

Two tacos filled with Slow cooked ancho shredded beef, garnished with onions and cilantro, are on a plate. Served with a side of Mexican rice. A fork, limes, diced onions, and a small dish are in the background on the table. — Slow Cooker Ancho Beef Tacos. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Beef chuck roast transforms into delicious taco filling as it slowly cooks with ancho chiles and warm spices. Slow Cooker Ancho Beef Tacos let you load warm tortillas with your favorite toppings for taco night without any hard work.
Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Ancho Beef Tacos

Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sliders

BBQ Beef Sliders sitting on a white plate next to french fries and green lettuce. — Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sliders. Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Pulled beef simmers in tangy barbecue sauce until it becomes so tender it practically melts in your mouth. Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sliders pile perfectly on mini buns for game day snacks or quick weeknight dinners everyone will devour.
Get Recipe: Slow Cooker BBQ Beef Sliders

Crockpot Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potato Casserole)

A slice of cheesy potato casserole topped with crispy cornflakes on a white plate. A fork rests beside the plate on a white surface, with a blue and white striped cloth in the background. — Crockpot Funeral Potatoes (Cheesy Potato Casserole). Photo credit: Rose Bakes.

Creamy potatoes get covered with melted cheese and a crispy topping that cooks perfectly in the slow cooker. Crockpot Funeral Potatoes works great for family potlucks or your own dinner table with minimal fuss and super easy cleanup afterward.
Get Recipe: Crockpot Funeral Potatoes

Slow Cooker Guajillo Beef Tacos

Two corn tortillas topped with shredded beef, chopped white onions, and fresh cilantro are served on a decorative oval plate with a wooden background. — Slow Cooker Guajillo Beef Tacos. Photo credit: Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Beef becomes super tender and juicy as it cooks all day with guajillo peppers and flavorful spices. Slow Cooker Guajillo Beef Tacos make Taco Tuesday really easy, and the deep flavors will have your whole family asking for more servings.
Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Guajillo Beef Tacos

Slow Cooker Birria de Res

Birria de Res served in a clay bowl and topped with onion and cilantro. — Slow Cooker Birria. Photo by Mama Maggie’s Kitchen.

Beef cooks low and slow until it falls apart in a rich, spicy broth packed with deep flavors. Slow Cooker Birria De Res can be shredded for tacos or served straight in bowls, and everyone will definitely want seconds.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Birria de Res

Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

A bowl of shredded chicken in a creamy, tomato-based sauce with black beans and garnished with chopped cilantro. The dish is served in a white bowl placed on a light, textured surface. — Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili. Photo credit: Flavorful Eats.

This creamy chili uses white beans and tender chicken instead of traditional tomatoes found in red chili. Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili tastes amazing topped with avocado, cheese, and a squeeze of fresh lime for bright flavor.
Get recipe: Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili

Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili

A bowl of chili topped with sour cream, shredded cheese, and chopped green onions, resting on a patterned cloth. A wooden spoon and scattered green onions are in the background. — Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili. Mama Maggie’s Kitchen

Smoky chipotle peppers give this classic chili a slow-building heat that warms you up with every spoonful. Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili is hearty enough on its own or tastes even better topped with cheese and onions for extra flavor.
Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Chipotle Chili

Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos

Dried guajillo peppers give pork a mild heat and beautiful red color as it cooks throughout the day. Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos work perfectly for a taco bar where everyone builds their own with their favorite toppings piled high.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Guajillo Pork Tacos

Slow Cooker Lasagna

A slice of lasagna topped with basil on a white plate, accompanied by a fork and knife. A few tomatoes, basil leaves, and garlic cloves are in the background, set on a white surface. — Slow Cooker Lasagna. Photo credit: Corrie Cooks

Layers of pasta, meat sauce, and melted cheese cook together perfectly in the slow cooker for easy cleanup. Slow Cooker Lasagna is loaded with flavors that are hard to beat and will quickly become your new family favorite dish.
Get Recipe: Slow Cooker Lasagna

Slow Cooker Ancho Pork

A sweet and spicy ancho chile rub flavors every bite of pork shoulder as it cooks until tender. Slow Cooker Ancho Pork gets shredded for tacos, piled on sandwiches, or eaten straight from the pot because it tastes so good.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Ancho Pork

Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken

A plate of creamy tomato basil chicken with a rich sauce, garnished with fresh basil leaves and small tomatoes, accompanied by a light-colored napkin on the side. — Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken. Photo by The Peasant’s Daughter

Chicken breasts simmer slowly in a rich tomato sauce flavored with fresh basil until they become incredibly tender. Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken tastes amazing served over pasta or with crusty bread for soaking up all that delicious sauce.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Creamy Tomato Basil Chicken

Crock Pot Stuffing with Sausage and Apples

A crockpot filled with bread stuffing, featuring cubed bread mixed with cooked vegetables and ground meat. The dish is placed on a blue cloth with a small part of a table visible. — Crock Pot Stuffing with Sausage and Apples. Phot credit: My Therapist Cooks

Savory sausage, sweet apple chunks, and herbs mix with bread cubes and cook until crispy on top. Crock Pot Stuffing With Sausage And Apples turns out just like the oven version but without you needing to watch it constantly.
Get the recipe: Crock Pot Stuffing with Sausage and Apples

Slow Cooker Sweet Shallots Chicken and Potatoes

A bowl filled with a savory dish of spiced, cooked potatoes and chicken pieces. In the background, there's a wooden bowl with salad and wooden serving utensils. The focus is on the potato and chicken dish. — Slow Cooker Sweet Shallots Chicken and Potatoes. Photo credit: My Chef’s Apron

Chicken thighs and potatoes cook together with sweet shallots in simple gravy for a complete one-pot meal. Slow Cooker Sweet Shallots Chicken And Potatoes tastes like hours of work but only takes minutes to prep in the morning.
Get the recipe: Slow Cooker Sweet Shallots Chicken and Potatoes

Crockpot Ham and Beans Soup (with leftover ham or hock)

A bowl of ham and bean soup with white beans, chunks of ham, diced carrots, and celery, garnished with herbs. The soup is served in a white bowl on a blue textured surface. — Crockpot Ham and Beans Soup. Photo by Savory With Soul

Leftover ham gives this bean soup a smoky depth that tastes like it simmered all day long. Crockpot Ham And Beans Soup becomes a full meal when served with warm cornbread for dipping into the delicious broth.
Get the recipe: Crockpot Ham and Beans Soup