7 Ways to Cook With a Slow Cooker

Go beyond chili and pot roast with recipes that almost make themselves.

1 of 8

Slow is the New Fast

Cooking Light magazine

Slow is the New Fast
Take a few minutes in the morning to toss in savory ingredients and, when you get home, a tasty meal will be ready. Whether you're making a main dish, a sweet dessert, or even butter (yes, butter), it doesn't get much easier than this.

2 of 8

Slow-cooker Beef Tacos

Slow-cooker Beef Tacos Recipe
Brown the meat in a Dutch oven, then let the slow-cooker work its magic as the rich spices meld. You can also serve the versatile, tender beef over baked potatoes instead of in soft tortilla shells.

3 of 8

Beer-and-Cheddar Fondue

Beer-and-Cheddar Fondue Recipe
Use a slow-cooker to keep the party going. The low setting keeps dishes like this festive fondue at the perfect temperature until the last guest has gone home.

4 of 8

Slow-Cooker Meat Loaf with Shiitake Mushrooms

Photography: Karry Hosford

Slow-Cooker Meat Loaf with Shiitake Mushrooms Recipe
Use a slow-cooker to upgrade your meat loaf–it prevents evaporation, so you'll end up with a super-moist dinner packed with flavor.

5 of 8

Overnight Apple Butter

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Cindy Barr

Overnight Apple Butter Recipe
Slow-cookers make more than meaty dinner dishes. Make a sweet, rich apple butter spread that goes perfectly on a toasted English muffin or served over pork chops. One taste and you'll never believe it's fat free.

6 of 8

Mocha Pudding Cake

Jim Bathie

Mocha Pudding Cake Recipe
Make the ultimate dessert–a fudgy mix of cake and pudding–in two easy steps. Stir ingredients in a bowl, then add to the slow cooker for about two hours. Dessert doesn't get much sweeter that that.

7 of 8

Chicken and Dressing

Jim Bathie

Chicken and Dressing Recipe
Plan a home-style dinner like grandma used to make with only 30 minutes of prep work. You'll come home to a house with smells reminiscent of Sunday suppers with the family.

8 of 8

How-To Video: Baking in a Slow Cooker

How-To Video: Baking in a Slow Cooker
Watch this video and see how to bake a cake in your slow cooker.

Replay gallery

7 Ways With a Slow Cooker

1 of 8

Slow is the New Fast

1 of 8

2 of 8

Slow-cooker Beef Tacos

2 of 8

3 of 8

Beer-and-Cheddar Fondue

3 of 8

4 of 8

Slow-Cooker Meat Loaf with Shiitake Mushrooms

4 of 8

5 of 8

Overnight Apple Butter

5 of 8

6 of 8

Mocha Pudding Cake

6 of 8

7 of 8

Chicken and Dressing

7 of 8

8 of 8

How-To Video: Baking in a Slow Cooker

8 of 8

Up Next

Everything in This Slideshow

Account

7 Ways With a Slow Cooker

1 of 8

Slow is the New Fast

1 of 8

2 of 8

Slow-cooker Beef Tacos

2 of 8

3 of 8

Beer-and-Cheddar Fondue

3 of 8

4 of 8

Slow-Cooker Meat Loaf with Shiitake Mushrooms

4 of 8

5 of 8

Overnight Apple Butter

5 of 8

6 of 8

Mocha Pudding Cake

6 of 8

7 of 8

Chicken and Dressing

7 of 8

8 of 8

How-To Video: Baking in a Slow Cooker

8 of 8

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery