Best Slow-Cooker Soups and Stews

Updated October 28, 2013
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Credit: Oxmoor House

Make a meal that feeds a crowd with these satisfying slow-cooker soup and stew recipes. These recipes feature the best flavor combinations that really meld together and fully evolve when cooked low and slow. The best part about these recipes is that once you prep, you're done! Let the slow-cooker do the work and you'll have dinner ready as soon as you get home in the evening. What could be simpler than that?

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Slow Cooker Chicken Chili

Credit: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Slow Cooker Chicken Chili Recipe

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Beef Marsala Stew

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Beef Marsala Stew Recipe

This is an ideal recipe for the slow cooker, where gentle, prolonged cooking turns tough beef into tender bites. Serve the stew over a mound of Fluffy Mashed Potatoes.

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Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Slow Cooker Chicken, Bacon, and Potato Soup Recipe

This chicken potato soup is perfect for ushering in fall: It's hearty enough for the beginning of soup season, yet brothy and veggie-packed so it doesn't feel too heavy. This recipe is ideal for a weekend, when you can check on the slow cooker after just a few hours. Although you can’t leave it unattended all day, this chicken potato soup still offers the benefit of hands-free, fuss-free cooking. Baby red, Yukon Gold, or fingerling potatoes will all work well here, as they'll maintain their shape nicely during cooking. Pair this easy chicken and potato soup with a slaw or kale side salad and crusty whole-grain bread for a healthy, satisfying dinner.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Posole

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Slow Cooker Chicken Posole Recipe

Think of posole as chili's brothier, lighter cousin, a Mexican version of chicken soup. Posole is also a name for the hominy, or rehydrated dried corn, that goes in the dish.

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Onion, Kale, Chickpea, and Chicken Soup

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Onion, Kale, Chickpea, and Chicken Soup Recipe

Few things beat a steaming bowl of veggie-packed chicken soup on a crisp autumn evening, and this one happens to be a perfect potion for the seasonal chills. You can leave the thyme sprigs in the broth (just ladle around them) so they'll keep releasing herbaceous goodness into any leftovers.

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Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Heather Chadduck

Chicken and Cornbread Dumplings Recipe

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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Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew

Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke

Sausage-and-Collard Greens Stew Recipe

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Soulful Chicken Soup

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Victor Protazio

Soulful Chicken Soup Recipe

No dish is quite as soothing as a hearty bowl of chicken noodle soup. Slow cookers couldn't have made the road to comfort any easier: Simply toss in the ingredients, switch on, and then walk away. We love old-fashioned, wide egg noodles for this recipe. To make sure they aren't mushy and overcooked, don't leave them in the slow cooker any longer than 10 minutes.

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Slow Cooker Chicken Congee

Credit: Jennifer Causey

Slow Cooker Chicken Congee Recipe

The slow cooker does all the work in this comforting rice porridge, breaking down the rice with fragrant ginger and star anise and poaching the chicken until silky. A bit of chili oil is the vibrant kick this dish needs. You can also use Sriracha or a squeeze of fresh lime juice. Cilantro or baby spinach leaves can work in place of the watercress.

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Creamy Leek and Parsnip Soup

Credit: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps

Creamy Leek and Parsnip Soup Recipe

This delicious Creamy Leek and Parsnip Soup is perfect for serving on a chilly fall evening. 

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Smoky Ham and Split Pea Soup

Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen

Smoky Ham and Split Pea Soup Recipe

This split pea and ham soup turns out creamy and delicious every time, all thanks to your slow cooker. Salty ham balances out the peas' light, earthy flavor, while the potatoes slowly release their starches to create the perfect silky texture. After 8 hours of hands-off, crockpot cooking, this split pea and ham soup is ready to devour (although leftovers fare well in the freezer, too). An easy, excellent recipe to add to your fall/winter rotation, this filling and flavorful split pea and ham soup is sure to become a new favorite in your house. Top with freshly cracked pepper and serve with a side of crusty bread. 

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Black Garlic and Lentil Soup

Credit: Eric Wolfinger

Black Garlic and Lentil Soup Recipe

For Bar Tartine in San Francisco, chef Nick Balla created this smoky, earthy soup as a tribute to his Hungarian-America father. Dried chiles, paprika sausage, hot paprika, and black garlic--regular garlic roasted for days until it turns sweet and jet black, with a licorice-like flavor--give the soup a rounded spiciness.

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Slow Cooker Tuscan White Bean Soup

Credit: Christopher Testani; Styling: Alistair Turnbull

Slow Cooker Tuscan White Bean Soup Recipe

You'll want to cook the vegetables and beans for 8 hours before adding the sausage. Garnish the finished soup with shaved parmesan cheese.

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Mexican Stew with Garlicky Bread Crumbs

Credit: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Amanda Widis

Mexican Stew with Garlicky Bread Crumbs Recipe

Prep this stew before leaving for the day. Let the slow cooker do the work for you, and a delicious Mexican-inspired meal will be ready when you return. Serve stew topped with panko mixture and garnish with cilantro, if desired.

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Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili

Credit: Oxmoor House

Three-Bean Vegetarian Chili Recipe

This soup has a mild chile flavor. If you want more heat, increase the amount of chili powder and don't seed the jalapeños.

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Curried Lentil-Tomato Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Curried Lentil-Tomato Soup Recipe

If it’s buried under bacon, then you know it’s got to be good. This is a yummy comfort food perfect for the winter months and appropriate for all members of your family.

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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.

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Posole

Credit: Oxmoor House

Posole Recipe

You'll love the aroma of cumin, oregano, and gently braised pork that will fill your home as the stew cooks.

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Easy Brunswick Stew

Credit: Oxmoor House

Easy Brunswick Stew Recipe

The secret is in the name of this recipe–it's so easy to make! Just combine all of the ingredients, set your slow cooker for 8 hours and serve this stew with your favorite side of bread.

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Chicken Stew with Green Olives

Credit: Oxmoor House

Chicken Stew with Green Olives Recipe

Give this stew a little crunch by lightly sprinkling almonds on top. The consistencies of the ingredients will mesh nicely with the flavors.

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Smoked Sausage Cassoulet

Credit: Oxmoor House

Smoked Sausage Cassoulet Recipe

This hearty soup is exploding with flavors. Meat lovers will crave this bacon-packed and sausage-enriched delight. For a thicker consistency, let the cassoulet stand 30 minutes before serving.

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Butternut Squash-Parsnip Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Butternut Squash-Parsnip Soup Recipe

This soup is simple, savory and extremely soothing on a cold winter night. To serve twelve to sixteen, make two batches of soup instead of doubling the recipe.

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Tuscan Chicken Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Tuscan Chicken Soup Recipe

This recipe uses many common pantry and refrigerator staples. All you have to pick up at the supermarket is fresh spinach and chicken thighs.

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Hearty Potato Soup

Credit: J. Savage Gibson

Hearty Potato Soup Recipe

Bread bowls are a sandwich shop favorite for a reason. Instead of venturing out into the cold night air, fill homemade Italian Bread Bowls with chunky potato soup featuring potatoes, onions, carrot, celery, and savory seasonings.

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Spicy Chicken Stew

Spicy Chicken Stew Recipe

Warm up on a cool evening by serving a stew with an extra punch of heat. Salsa and tortillas give this recipe Mexican flair.

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Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew

Credit: Susie Cushner

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Classic Beef Stew Recipe

Just like Mom used to make, our beef stew is packed with hearty chunks of meat and an array of vegetables. Be sure to have plenty of bread on hand to sop up the savory gravy.

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Smoked Turkey-Lentil Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Smoked Turkey-Lentil Soup Recipe

The quintessential slow-cooker recipe, all you need to do for this soup is throw all the ingredients in the cooker and let it do the work.

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Peasant Stew

Credit: Karry Hosford

Peasant Stew Recipe

Raid your pantry for everyday canned goods to prepare this classic stew. And at just over 200 calories per serving, feel free to go back for seconds!

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Black Bean Soup with Shredded Pork

Black Bean Soup with Shredded Pork Recipe

Budget-friendly black bean soup gets a makeover with the addition of tender pork. Have a garnish station ready with tons of toppings so that family members can customize their bowls.

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Moroccan Vegetable Stew

Credit: Karen Steffens

Moroccan Vegetable Stew Recipe

This Moroccan stew recipe is rich in nuts and spices and sweetened with currants. Serve with couscous and a dollop of plain yogurt.

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Vegetable-Beef Soup

Credit: Oxmoor House

Vegetable-Beef Soup Recipe

Think your weeknights are too hectic for a home-cooked meal? Then you haven't tried this recipe. With a little chopping and emptying of cans and bags, dinner is served!

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Thai-Style Pork Stew

Credit: Oxmoor House

Thai-Style Pork Stew Recipe

Take your slow-cooker recipe collection to new heights with the introduction of Thai cuisine. Serve this stew with lime wedges for an extra burst of flavor.

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Slow-Cooker Recipe: Smoky Pea Soup

Credit: Susie Cushner

Slow-Cooker Recipe: Smoky Pea Soup Recipe

Ham gives your average pea soup a savory twist that is prefect to enjoy as a simple, yet hearty meal. Add croutons for a crunchy bite, or bake a pan of cornbread to pair with this soup.

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Easy Brunswick Stew