Hands-Off Slow Cooker Meals That Do All the Work

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Sometimes you just need a meal that practically makes itself. That’s where these slow cooker dishes come in. With minimal effort, you can throw everything in the pot and let it handle the hard work. It’s perfect for busy days when you still want something comforting and home cooked. You’ll end up with a delicious meal without having to stay in the kitchen all day.

Slow Cooker 5 Spice Chicken

Slow Cooker Chinese 5 Spice Chicken
Photo credit: Budget Bytes

This Slow Cooker Chinese 5 Spice Chicken is tender, juicy, and infused with intoxicating flavor. Step by step photos.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker 5 Spice Chicken

Ham Bone Soup (Slow Cooker)

A bowl of hearty soup containing a variety of vegetables including carrots, potatoes, and corn, as well as beans and chunks of meat. The soup is garnished with fresh parsley and displayed in a white bowl with handles on a beige cloth background.
Ham Bone Soup (Slow Cooker). Image Credit: Noshing With the Nolands.

The Ham Bone Soup is a fantastic way to use up leftover ham, and the slow cooking process allows the rich flavors to develop perfectly. As it simmers, the ham releases all its savory goodness, blending with the vegetables and beans for a hearty soup. This is a wonderful option for busy days when you want a comforting bowl of soup ready with little effort.
Get This Recipe: Ham Bone Soup (Slow Cooker)

Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Delicious Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes ready to be enjoyed
Photo credit: The Cookie Rookie

These Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes are one of my favorite hands-off dinners! These crockpot sloppy joes come out perfectly saucy.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sloppy Joes

Vegan Sweet Potato Chili

A white bowl filled with a hearty, chunky stew featuring pieces of sweet potato, black beans, tomatoes, and other vegetables. The stew has a thick, reddish broth and is garnished with small green herbs.
Vegan Sweet Potato Chili. Image Credit: Namely Marly.

The Vegan Sweet Potato Chili is a wholesome and filling meal made even easier by using a slow cooker. The sweet potatoes and beans come together to create a rich, hearty chili that’s perfect for a cozy night in. This recipe is great for meal prep or when you want a flavorful vegan option with very little hands-on time.
Get This Recipe: Vegan Sweet Potato Chili

Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs
Photo credit: Upstate Ramblings

Effortlessly achieve delectable results with slow cooker country-style ribs. These tender and flavorful ribs are infused with peach preserves, honey, and BBQ sauce, ensuring a mouthwatering experience.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Country Style Ribs

Slow Cooker Beef Ale with Mushrooms

Slow Cooker Beef Ale With Mushrooms
Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe is a delicious foundation for your personal touch! Feel free to add your favorite vegetables or herbs to the slow cooker for a customized meal that’s perfect for your taste preferences. It’s a versatile and comforting dish that’s easy to make your own.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Beef Ale with Mushrooms

Recipe Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Recipe Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup
Photo credit: Real Balanced

This straightforward Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup recipe is perfect for everyone, especially novice cooks. Simply prepare your ingredients, place them in the slow cooker, and you’re done. Let it simmer on low all day for a rich flavor or opt for high heat if you’re pressed for time.
Get the Recipe: Recipe Slow Cooker Split Pea Soup

Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup

Slow Cooker Ham And Potato Soup
Photo credit: One Hot Oven

Indulge your family with the luxurious flavors of Slow Cooker Ham & Potato Chowder—a velvety, heartwarming delight in a bowl. Ideal for a swift, delightful dinner, relish a tasteful evening meal with ease. Your slow cooker handles all the preparation, serving up a gratifying dish of comfort with minimal fuss and maximum taste.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ham and Potato Soup

Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes

Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes
Photo credit: Noshing with the Nolands

Make dinner fast and easy with these Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes. Follow the recipe guide for preparing potatoes and cooking them in the slower cooker while you go about your day. Then when it’s time for dinner, add your favorite toppings!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Baked Potatoes

Slow Cooker Quinoa Taco Bowls

Slow Cooker Quinoa Taco Bowls
Photo credit: xoxoBella

You’ll be so glad to arrive home to a finished dinner thanks to this Slow Cooker Quinoa Taco Bowls recipe. Serve it with your favorite taco toppings, like corn, chopped tomatoes, and drizzles of sour cream.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Quinoa Taco Bowls

Slow Cooker Vegan Miso Ramen Soup with Tofu

A stacked white bowl filled with a vibrant, chunky soup garnished with fresh green herbs and sliced vegetables. Wooden chopsticks rest on the bowl's edges, and a slow cooker, fresh ginger, and assorted vegetables lie in the background on a wooden surface.
Slow Cooker Vegan Miso Ramen Soup with Tofu. Image Credit: xoxoBella.

The Slow Cooker Vegan Miso Ramen Soup with Tofu brings the comforting flavors of ramen right to your table with little effort. Slow cooking allows the miso broth to develop deep flavors, while the tofu absorbs the savory essence of the soup. It’s a satisfying and easy vegan meal that’s perfect for cooler days or whenever you’re craving something warm.
Get This Recipe: Slow Cooker Vegan Miso Ramen Soup with Tofu

Slow Cooker Apple Sausage in Onion Gravy

Slow Cooker Apple Sausage in Onion Gravy
Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

This tasty Slow Cooker Apple Sausage in Onion Gravy recipe is a classic British dish, served inside a large Yorkshire pudding.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Sausage in Onion Gravy

Corned Beef and Cabbage – Slow Cooker

A plate of corned beef with cabbage, sliced carrots, and baby potatoes. The beef is cut into thin strips and topped with fresh parsley. The dish is garnished with additional parsley and arranged in a visually appealing manner.
Corned Beef and Cabbage – Slow Cooker. Image Credit: Noshing With the Nolands.

This Corned Beef and Cabbage is a classic comfort dish made easier with slow cooking. The beef becomes tender and flavorful as it simmers all day, while the cabbage and potatoes soak up all the delicious juices. Using the slow cooker lets you free up your time while still enjoying a hearty meal that’s perfect for any occasion.
Get This Recipe: Corned Beef and Cabbage – Slow Cooker

Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks

Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks
Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

This recipe is a delicious foundation for your personal touch! Feel free to experiment with different herbs, spices, or vegetables to create a customized lamb shank dish that reflects your taste preferences. It’s a versatile and comforting dish that’s easy to make your own.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooked Lamb Shanks

Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu
Photo credit: Everyday Eileen

Sounds very fancy, right? But it’s as easy as possible with your slow cooker’s help. Instead of coating the rolled chicken, ham, and cheese with breadcrumbs and frying, roast the entree and top it with boxed stuffing mix.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Chicken Cordon Bleu

Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

A white crockpot filled with a savory dish of beef strips, colorful bell peppers, onions, and green scallions in a rich, dark sauce. A silver spoon rests in the pot. To the side are plates of white rice and a small bowl with green onions. A patterned cloth lies nearby.
Slow Cooker Pepper Steak. Image Credit: xoxoBella.

This Slow Cooker Pepper Steak is an easy way to get all the delicious flavors of a stir-fry without standing over a hot stove. The beef becomes tender as it cooks slowly, absorbing the savory sauce and melding perfectly with the peppers. It’s a great choice for a flavorful, no-fuss dinner that everyone will love.
Get This Recipe: Slow Cooker Pepper Steak

Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken

Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken
Photo credit: Erren’s Kitchen

Simply toss chicken with honey, soy sauce, and other delicious ingredients, then let your slow cooker do the work. Tender, flavorful chicken awaits you with minimal effort! perfect for busy weeknights!
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Honey Soy Chicken

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Bowls

Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Bowls
Photo credit: xoxoBella

These Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Bowls are super easy, budget-friendly, and perfect for a weeknight meal.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Ground Beef Taco Bowls

Chicken Tinga (Stovetop)

A close-up of a rich, flavorful soup in a black pot. The soup contains shredded chicken, topped with cilantro, crumbled cheese, thin radish slices, and thinly sliced red onions, all bathed in a vibrant red broth.
Chicken Tinga (Stovetop). Image Credit: The Cookie Rookie.

Chicken Tinga is a versatile and flavorful dish that’s perfect for tacos, burritos, or even rice bowls. While traditionally made on the stovetop, you can adapt this recipe for your slow cooker to let the spices and tomatoes simmer together slowly, intensifying the flavor. It’s an easy way to make a Mexican-inspired meal with minimal prep time.
Get This Recipe: Chicken Tinga (Stovetop)

Slow Cooker Sriracha Honey Garlic Pork Chops

Slow Cooker Sriracha Honey Garlic Pork Chops
Photo credit: xoxoBella

These slow cooker sriracha honey garlic pork chops make a great dinner any day of the year. They’re easy crockpot pork chops that are sweet and sticky, Chinese-inspired, and delicious.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Sriracha Honey Garlic Pork Chops

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About Jenny deRemer

I am a Charleston, South Carolina-based culinary novice, an ardent authority on all things travel, a designer by trade, and the creator of Not Entirely Average. I have a weakness for farmers' markets, delight in adventures way off the beaten path, enjoy documenting my many moods through photography, and have been known to conquer the occasional yard sale with gusto!

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2 Comments

    1. Nikki, little hands-on time is a real thing right now for so many folks and for so many reasons. When I grew up, slow cooker dinners meant gray meat or over-cooked mushy vegetables. Not now, and not with so many talented bloggers sharing their recipes for ribs, and baked potatoes and chicken and dumplings and…and…and just everything you can imagine having to perform over the stove or in the oven. I just made a ‘marry me’ chicken pasta I shared about a week ago from another blogger. OUTSTANDING. I am sold! Wishing for you many, many Blessings my friend. x – Jenny