10 Weeknight-Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes

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10 Weeknight-Friendly Slow Cooker Recipes

There are few things as satisfying as a meal that simmers in the slow cooker all day and is ready whenever you need it. These ten weeknight-friendly slow cooker meals are super versatile, work with many different side dishes, and are some of my family’s personal favorites.

While we’ve rounded up our top 10 picks below, that’s certainly not everything! You can find these and many more crockpot / slow cooker meals over at our Slow Cooker Recipe page.

Happy slow cooking friends!

 

1. Slow Cooker Green Salsa Chicken

slow cooker green salsa chicken

Slow Cooker Green Salsa Chicken is one of those dishes that has endless possibilities. Use the tender shredded chicken in quesadillas, tacos, nachos, fajita soup. This is my latest favorite way to make it, and it barely needs a recipe – just chicken with green salsa (salsa verde) and a few seasonings to make it a weeknight favorite.

 

2. Slow Cooker Chicken Carnitas

slow cooker chicken carnitas

Great for a weeknight, slow cooker chicken carnitas don’t need to be pre-cooked. Just combine chicken thighs and spices in the slow cooker and let them go. Right before serving, shred the chicken and broil it until tender and crisp. Use the carnitas in tacos, burrito bowls, or to make taco salads.

 

3. Slow Cooker Simple Beef Ragu

classic beef ragu

Few things beat the heartiness and versatility of a classic Italian meat and tomato sauce like this Simple Beef Ragu. This version includes instructions for the slow cooker, Instant Pot, or stovetop. Take the basic recipe and make it your own – add extra vegetables, fresh herbs, or some spice.

 

4. Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken

slow cooker hawaiian chicken

There’s no pre-cooking needed for this easy Slow Cooker Hawaiian Chicken that is sweet and savory with BBQ sauce, pineapple, and soy sauce. Just combine everything in the bowl of a slow cooker and serve the saucy chicken over rice or on sandwich buns.

 

5. Slow Cooker Taco Soup with Ground Beef

taco soup with ground beef

With savory spices, seasoned ground beef, corn, beans, and fire-roasted tomatoes, Taco Soup with Ground Beef is a soupy twist on taco night. Add your favorite toppings to finish these colorful bowls.

 

6. Slow Cooker Sesame Beef and Broccoli

slow cooker beef and broccoli

Sesame Beef and Broccoli isn’t only a combination for a stir-fry! Try this Slow Cooker Sesame Beef and Broccoli with tender pieces of beef in a sweet and savory sauce.

 

7. Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits

slow cooker chicken and biscuits

The rich, creamy soup base for Slow Cooker Chicken and Biscuits is made without any heavy cream and gets great flavor from chicken and vegetables simmered low and slow. Top it with homemade (or store-bought) biscuits and it’s sure to become a family favorite.

 

8. Slow Cooker Taco Meat

taco meat in a white bowl

Slow Cooker Taco Meat is made using lean beef and, thanks to cooking low and slow, comes out super tender with absolutely incredible flavor. In this super simple recipe that uses only two ingredients, it’s the method that matters.

 

9. Slow Cooker Mississippi Roast

mississippi roast over mashed potatoes

Mississippi Roast is a slow cooker pot roast that found its way to Pinterest fame in recent years. This is a clean version of the classic recipe that uses no packets, no processed ingredients, no MSG. It takes just 20 minutes to assemble and then cooks all day for a savory, delicious meal that will quickly become a family favorite.

 

10. Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Chicken

 bbq pulled chicken sandwich on a wooden cutting board

Sitting down to a meal of BBQ Pulled Chicken any time of year is to embrace the taste of summer. Make this weeknight-friendly meal in the slow-cooker or Instant Pot. It’s a great dish for pot-lucks, summer dinners, and is freezer-friendly too!

 

Favorite Tools for Slow Cooker Meals

For more slow cooker meals, click here.

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About Jess Smith

Jess is the recipe creator and photographer at InquiringChef.com. She spent nearly a decade as the Chief Recipe Developer for the award-winning meal planning app Cook Smarts. Her colorful, healthyish recipes have been featured in popular online publications including Parade, Hallmark, and HuffPost.

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