Back-to-School Slow Cooker Recipes

By MyRecipes
Updated July 17, 2018
Credit: Oxmoor House

Slow and steady wins the race, so the saying goes, and after you taste what your slow-cooker can do, you just might make that fabled saying your daily mantra. Get in the back-to-school swing with these simple suppers that are sure to please the whole family.

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Slow-Cooker Four-Cheese Spaghetti with Italian Sausage

Credit: Victor Protasio; Styling: Lindsey Lower

Slow-Cooker Four-Cheese Spaghetti with Italian Sausage Recipe

Switch up your go-to slow-cooker meals and go for a cheesy pasta dish that's loaded with hearty sausage. It's a great option for the entire family, and you can take the leftovers for lunch the next day.

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Slow Cooker Santa Fe Meatloaf

Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel; Food Styling: Anna Hampton; Prop Styling: Lindsey Lower.

Slow Cooker Santa Fe Meatloaf Recipe

Oven-baked meatloaf can turn dry, but the moisture-sealing magic of the slow cooker makes this one melt in your mouth.

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Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder

Credit: Photographer: Greg Dupree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Slow-Cooker Corn Chowder Recipe

This creamy soup makes an indulgent but not too heavy meal on a hot summer day. Pick the freshest sweet corn you can find.

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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas

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Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas Recipe

This slow cooker pork carnitas recipe is a perfectly simple and inexpensive way to feed a crowd. Set out a stack of warm corn tortillas along, with a few simple toppings, and allow everyone to pile on the unbelievably rich and tender pork as they please. 

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Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe

We love the heat level in this slow cooker take on tikka masala. If the spice kick is too much for your family, you can cut the red pepper down by half without losing any of the dynamic flavor layers.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti Recipe

Spend 20 minutes in the kitchen prepping this gorgeous, hearty sauce. Once the sauce simmers in the cooker, all that's left to do is cook a pound of pasta, and serve.

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Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings Recipe

The way to the family's heart is, well, through its stomach! Make a classic chicken and dumplings recipe even more Southern by topping the vegetable-and-chicken-packed stew with cornbread dumplings.

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Slow Cooker Beef Lettuce Wraps with Quick Pickles

Credit: Jennifer Causey Styling: Claire Spollen

Slow Cooker Beef Lettuce Wraps with Quick Pickles Recipe

The low, even heat of the slow cooker helps flavor powerhouses like miso, sesame oil, and soy sauce impart tenderizing moisture, umami depth, and savory personality to common pot roast.

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Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Chicken, Sweet Potato, and Corn Slow-Cooker Chowder Recipe

Great for a game-day get-together, this hearty and creamy soup feeds a crowd with little hands-on time required.

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Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Roast

Credit: Whitney Ott

Slow-Cooked BBQ Pork Roast Recipe

The slow cooker makes fall our new favorite season for barbecue. This pork shoulder simmers in a vinegar- and ketchup-laced liquid until tender and juicy. Top with pickled red onions. Pile the pork onto game-day sandwiches or baked sweet potatoes.

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Slow Cooker Rosemary Beef Chuck Roast

Credit: Photographer and Prop Stylist: Gina DeSimone; Food Stylist: Briana Riddock

Slow Cooker Rosemary Beef Chuck Roast Recipe

Set your slow cooker on low and go on about your day knowing that dinner is gonna be delicious. In this simple set-it-and-forget-it dish, beef chuck roast cooks in a flavor-packed rosemary marinade, full of fresh rosemary leaves and onions for a succulent, highly comforting entree. The habanero pepper delivers a detectable heat, but the spice factor is not overwhelming. However, if you’re sensitive to heat, use a quarter of the pepper instead of half (or omit it altogether). The remaining liquid in the slow cooker can be cooked down on the stovetop into a rich, flavorful gravy to top the beef, along with your favorite starchy side—rice, mashed potatoes, or roasted sweet potatoes would all make great options.

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Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil

Credit: Kelsey Hansen; Prop Styling: Kashara Johnson; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners

Slow Cooker Shrimp Boil Recipe

For a classic summery meal without a fuss, look no further than this slow cooker shrimp boil. With a simple ingredient list and a largely hands-off cooking method, this easy seafood boil is a perfect recipe to plan on for casual warm weather entertaining or even as a low-effort meal to make at the rental house during a beach vacation. We opted to pull the corn out after 30 minutes of cooking as we preferred it on the crisp side, but as long as your slow cooker is large enough, feel free to leave it in the pot as the shrimp and sausage cook. 

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Instant Pot Beef Stew

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Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe

This recipe was adapted from Cooking Light's wildly popular Classic Slow Cooker Beef Stew to create a simple, speedy version of a comfort food favorite. As the original recipe notes, a nutty dark beer adds richness and depth to the stew, but be careful not to choose a beer that's super-hoppy; it will taste too bitter.

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Slow-cooker Sloppy Joes

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lisa Powell Bailey

Slow-cooker Sloppy Joes Recipe

Sloppy joes are easy to prepare and budget-friendly. For this super-easy, hands-off recipe, throw all the ingredients together in 15 minutes and let your slow cooker do the rest of the work. This is our A+ recipe--just like the one's your mom used to make.

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5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork Recipe

Three family dinners start with this one recipe for succulent and tender 5-Ingredient Slow-Cooker Pulled Pork.

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Slow-Cooker Sunday Sauce

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller

Slow-Cooker Sunday Sauce Recipe

Canned whole peeled tomatoes work best in this delicious sauce. Use a pair of kitchen shears to coarsely cut them in the can, or squeeze them by hand.

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Chicken Enchilada Stack

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chicken Enchilada Stack Recipe

Think outside the "dish." You can enjoy the flavor and texture of enchiladas in a slow cooker; just stack the tortillas instead of rolling them. We suggest lining your slow cooker with a slow-cooker bag so you can easily remove the stack from the cooker.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups

Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Caroline M. Cunningham

Slow-Cooker Chicken Lettuce Cups Recipe

These cups pair the freshness of a salad with the heartiness of a taco.

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Creamy Tomato Soup

Creamy Tomato Soup Recipe

Canned tomatoes mean you can enjoy Creamy Tomato Soup all year long. Serve this slow-cooker soup on its own or alongside gooey grilled cheese for a go-to weeknight meal.

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King Ranch Chicken

Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia Pursell

King Ranch Chicken Recipe

You can never go wrong with comfort food! This slow-cooker version of the fan favorite King Ranch Chicken Casserole is sure to please the whole family.

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Salsa Chicken

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Salsa Chicken Recipe

Who wouldn't like to come home to falling-apart tender chicken simmering in salsa and spices? Serve this saucy dish over rice or stuffed into tortillas with your favorite taco toppings.

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Tangy Asian Meatballs

Tangy Asian Meatballs Recipe

With a different and delicious Asian-style glaze, these meatballs are a tangy addition to your family table. Serve these kid-sized meatballs with steamed rice and sautéed snow peas.

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Pulled Chicken Sandwiches

Credit: Oxmoor House

Pulled Chicken Sandwiches Recipe

You already love pulled chicken, so why not try it in a slow cooker? Savor this tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken sandwich with homemade ketchup-based sauce for lunch or dinner.

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Baked Ziti

Credit: Kana Okada; Styling: Susan Vajaranant

Baked Ziti Recipe

You only need 6 ingredients for this slow-cooker vegetarian pasta recipe that's perfect for weeknight dinners. Two jars of marinara sauce and three kinds of cheese provide satisfying flavor in this version of the classic dish.

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Shepherd's Pie

Shepherd's Pie Recipe

Use your slow cooker to make a traditional shepherd's pie that's filled with lean ground beef and vegetables and topped with creamy mashed potatoes.

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Cincinnati Chili

Credit: Kana Okada; Styling: Susan Vajaranant

Cincinnati Chili Recipe

This regional favorite is characterized by its unique combination of seasonings. Chili powder, cinnamon, allspice, cayenne, and cocoa powder add tremendous flavor to lean ground beef. Serve topped with cheese over thick spaghetti for an authentic Cincy experience.

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Sesame-Ginger Chicken

Credit: Oxmoor House

Sesame-Ginger Chicken Recipe

Serve the chicken over steamed rice to savor every bit of the sweet Asian glaze. This classic dish is a slow-cooker must-have on your weeknight meal planner.

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Potato Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Potato Soup Recipe

This classic soup gets a double hit of cheese--stirred into the soup and sprinkled over the top. Weighing in at less than 300 calories, you can feel good about serving your family a healthier option tonight.

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Simple Grits with Toppings

Credit: Oxmoor House

Simple Grits with Toppings Recipe

Nothing says "Southern hospitality" quite like a hearty bowl of grits. This 20-minute recipe is perfect for busy families that eat dinner at different times, as your slow cooker is used to keep the grits warm. Set out a toppings bar so each family member can customize his or her bowl.

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Turkey Tacos

Credit: Ryan Benyi; Styling: Andrea Steinberg

Turkey Tacos Recipe

Step aside, ground beef, because turkey is taking over this taco night. Serve the shredded meat in taco shells with your favorite toppings or try it as a taco salad.

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Spiced Apple Pork Chops

Credit: Oxmoor House

Spiced Apple Pork Chops Recipe

Essential to this recipe, the thickness of the pork chops ensures that the chops stay tender and juicy throughout the long cook time. Mashed sweet potatoes and sautéed Brussels sprouts complete this comforting meal.

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Vegetable Pot Pie with Parmesan-Black Pepper Biscuits

Credit: Oxmoor House

Vegetable Pot Pie with Parmesan-Black Pepper Biscuits Recipe

Leaving out the chicken doesn’t make this dish any less filling or tasty. The medley of vegetables topped with a fluffy and savory biscuit create phenomenal flavors and will appease every one in your family.

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Tuscan Stewed Chicken with White Beans and Tomato

Credit: Jonny Valiant; Styling: Kate Parisian

Tuscan Stewed Chicken with White Beans and Tomato Recipe

For a flavorful chicken dinner, serve this Tuscan-flavored chicken with a tomato and white bean mixture.

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Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and Apples

Credit: Ryan Benyi: Styling: A.J. Battifarano

Bratwurst with Sauerkraut and Apples Recipe

Simmer bratwurst in the slow cooker along with sauerkraut, apple, mustard and brown sugar to add rich, deep flavor to the sausages. Serve on buns for a hearty main dish.

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